What is ‘the faith’ and ‘obedience of faith’

What is ‘the faith’ and ‘obedience of faith’

In the epistle of Romans, Paul lays out the foundational doctrine of the grace believer. He writes about the key elements of our faith, how to walk effectually in the faith, and what the resulting fruits of living in that faith would be. Before the dispensation of grace, Israel had to walk in obedience to the rigid letter of the Mosaic law, Exo 31:18; Exo 32:16, but now, grace believers are expected to walk in obedience to a new doctrine, not of the letter, but of the spirit, Rom 7:6, imparted into their hearts by the Word of God.

THE FAITH

Paul opens his Roman’s letter with the following statement,

Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

The key words in the above verse are, “for obedience to THE faith”. I’ll deal with the meaning of obedience at the end of this article, but first we must understand what is meant by “the faith”.

Note that it says, “the faith”, and not just “faith”. In English, the word “the” is an article that is used to indicate a specific noun. When we use “the” before “faith”, it refers to a particular faith, not just faith in general. In this context, Paul is drawing attention to the doctrine that he taught, as “the faith”, as opposed to the doctrine that Jesus and the 12-apostles taught to Israel. So, the statement, “for obedience to the faith”, concerns an adherence to the specific doctrine that Paul taught verbally, and was about to write out, by inspiration, in the Romans epistle.

OBEDIENCE OF FAITH

In his closing statements in the letter of Romans, Paul writes,

Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Since the entire letter of Romans identifies what “the faith” is, Paul ends the letter, reminding the reader of the importance of having “obedience of faith”. This statement is missing the article word, “the”, thus the context is not on what defines the faith, but rather on the application of it.

HOW DO WE WALK IN OBEDIENCE OF FAITH?

It comes down to knowledge. Throughout the book of Romans, Paul tells us about 30 times to know things. That is a lot! Paul uses phrases as follows: Now we know that, —Knowing that, —Know ye not, —Have they not known, —For we know that, —According to knowledge, —For who hath known, —Knowing the time, —Filled with all knowledge. The whole of Romans is about learning and understanding a new spiritual doctrine. Paul encourages us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we might know, in increasing manner, the will of God, and when we get to the very end of Romans, Paul again reminds us of the importance of keeping in obedience to this imparted knowledge.

A LIVING OBEDIENCE

In the beginning of this article, I mentioned that Israel was bound to the Mosaic law. Their relationship with God was based on their obedience to very specific laws, written in literal stone. Our relationship to God is very different. It is not based on the letter of the law, but on a spiritual doctrine that is to live within us. After we get saved, we are expected to learn and understand Paul’s new doctrine, 1Tim 2:4, and then allow it to flow out of us by means of obedience. In other words, we obey, in faith, the workings, or promptings of the living Word, that emanate from the knowledge we have gained in it. Walking in obedience to the knowledge of Paul’s doctrine, is walking in the Spirit, or walking by faith. As we grow in this “obedience of faith”, we find the life of Christ being formed within us, Gal 4:19. We suddenly discover how the Word within us is mortifying the deeds of the flesh, Rom 8:13, without us even trying to do it ourselves. We find that we experience less and less condemnation within our minds, Rom 8:1, and we find the fruits of the Spirit being produced in increasing quantity and quality, Gal 5:22-23. This is when God begins to work within us to will and do according to His good pleasure, Php 2:13. All this happens naturally and spontaneously without us trying to do anything. The key is to get the new spiritual doctrine of Paul into us, to learn it, to understand it, and to allow it to influence us and work itself out of us as we obey it.

Friends, the walk of a grace believer is simple. Get saved and stay filled with the knowledge of Paul’s doctrine. Then, allow it to live out of you! Thats it! There are no rules, no ordinances, no traditions, and no works that you need to do or perform. It is Galatians 2:20 coming into reality and fulfillment,

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Amen