HoHum:
On 11 May 2000 a lady found a new e-mail message on her computer, which simply said, "I love you". Like many would, she clicked to open the message, and the so-called "Love Bug" was born. With lightning speed it raced around the world, bringing politics and business to a halt. It was a deadly computer virus that caused millions of computer software programs to crash. One virus, but so much contamination. But it’s not the first time that a single virus has caused so much grief to mankind. In fact, it’s a kind of replay of a deadlier virus that hit Planet Earth more than six thousand years ago polluting the first human couple, Adam and Eve. Despite God’s warning not to click on to Satan’s message, they did so with appalling consequences for them, and through them to all mankind. That virus is called "Sin".
WBTU:
Talking about Paul’s closing doxology to the book of Romans for holiday season
A point of discussion is vs. 26 where Paul says: that all nations might believe and obey him. Paul also said this at the beginning of this book. “Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Romans 1:5, NIV.
Some in our day talk about how belief in the gospel is the only thing that is required in order to be saved. Nothing else is required like repentance, confession or baptism, just belief. Because of this prevailing idea, many want their ticket punched to get to heaven and nothing more. As long as they are “saved” that is all that matters. Doing what Paul talks about in Romans 12:1-2 is so foreign to them: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1, 2, NIV. After this opening verse Paul goes on and gives more information on what that looks like in chapters 12 to 15. They believe that this is something for good Christians to do but it is not required. Nothing is required like serving Christ or even going to church only belief. One can live same way as before “saved,”.
Saving faith in Jesus Christ produces obedience to Jesus Christ. He is our Savior but He is also our Lord. Cannot have one without other. Those who have Jesus Christ as Lord and live obedient lives to Him make God look glorious. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Look carefully how the obedience that comes from faith fits in these verses. Paul begins this doxology by saying that one of the reasons glory belongs to God is that God is able to strength us through the gospel. In these other phrases Paul unpacks the gospel for us.
The aim of the gospel is not just belief but obedience. One of the things that Paul is against is a works salvation and we see this all over Romans. So how do obedience and faith come together without having a works salvation? Two things to keep in mind:
1. Some translate the phrase in Romans 1:5 as the obedience to the faith. The concept of “obedience to the faith” is in the Bible. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8, NIV. “Obeying the faith” and “Obeying the gospel” would seem to be the same. Now this is not talking about our response to God’s law which is required of all humans and all of us fall short of. This is talking about the sinner’s response to the gospel, meeting the conditions for receiving the saving grace offered in the gospel like faith, repentance, confession, and baptism. Talking about the gospel commands. However, this is not what Romans is talking about here.
2. Might translate it as “obedience resulting from faith.” Here “faith” equals the act or attitude of believing and “obedience” equals a Christian’s good works. The NIV translation of “obedience that comes from faith” seems to be the best translation of this phrase (Dr. Jack Cottrell). Must understand that the emphasis here is on the word “faith.” God is interested in the obedience that comes from faith in Jesus Christ. The outcome of the gospel is obedience- an obedience that springs from faith and not from legalistic requirements. God wants obedience, but he wants the obedience of faith. The goal or intended result of the gospel is sanctification. The gospel certainly includes the good news that we are justified by faith in the Cross of Christ, but it also includes the good news that we are by God’s grace freed from the grip of sin and equipped with what it takes to live a life of obedience. This is the second part of the double cure. First part is justification, second part is sanctification. First part is pardon from sin, second part is freedom from sin and ability to live our lives on God’s Word.
Thesis: Talk more about how the obedience of faith relates to justification from Romans 5
For instances:
Justified by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1)
Justification is a legal term. It refers to standing before a judge in a courtroom and hearing the judge’s declaration: “No penalty for you!” But how can a righteous judge do this to guilty people and still be a righteous judge?
By the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9). The blood of Christ is absolutely basic for grace, for justification. What was Jesus doing on the cross? Paying the penalty for our sins! So if we are under Christ’s blood, our sins are covered, they are “hidden” from God’s sight. When God looks at us, He does not see our sins! Therefore He can say, “No penalty for you!” “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:1.
By faith (Romans 5:1). Justifying faith includes two things:
1. Assent: believing that certain things are true, most importantly the gospel of Jesus Christ
2. Trust: Believing in Jesus as my Savior. We are justified, come under the blood of Jesus, by faith. When? When we are united with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Spiritually for us this happens at baptism. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:4, 5, NIV.
The Free Gift of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 5:17)
Romans 5:12-21 is section that I avoided when I was preaching through Romans. Main thoughts here are talking about first Adam and what he did and how that affected all mankind and the second Adam (Jesus Christ) and what he did and how that affected all mankind.
In Vs. 15-16 Paul has spoken of the “gift” that comes to all through Christ; here he identifies its content as “righteousness.” This is the “righteousness of God” established by Christ’s atoning death and received by sinners through God’s grace and our faith. Receiving this gift of righteousness is the event of justification.
Those who receive the gift will “reign in life” through the power of this one man, Jesus. Rather than being slaves of death, they will reign in abundant life. As Christians we are already partaking of the abundance of grace, especially justification, and we are already reigning in a spiritual way over sin; but in the life to come we shall reign as kings in a never before known way!
Many appointed righteous in Christ (Romans 5:19)
This is talking about the obedience of Jesus against the disobedience of Adam. The obedience here is the one supreme act of righteousness and obedience, the cross of Christ.
In other words, the “gift of righteousness” (vs. 17) that we receive by grace is “the obedience of the one man” by which we are counted righteous. As the result of Christ’s one act of obedience, all who receive it are actually counted righteous (justification)
Grace reigning through Christ’s righteousness (Romans 15:21)
Now we are getting close to the way our own obedience relates to justification. Look at vs. 21 and then Romans 6:1.
Now what does through righteousness mean in vs. 21? Is this talking about Christ’s righteousness imputed, counted to my credit, or is this talking about my own righteous conduct? Vs. 21 is talking about Christ’s righteousness counted, imputed to us. Since this is the case, some might think, “Since Christ’s righteousness is imputed to me, then it doesn’t matter what I do.”
Those who think this get something very right and also something very wrong. What they get right is: grace reigns through righteousness means grace counts us righteous because of Christ’s righteousness. What they get wrong is: our obedience doesn’t matter. This is why Paul wrote chapter 6-8 of Romans.
The obedience of faith is the fruit of justification
So what does our obedience have to do with justification? Our obedience is not the basis of our justification. However, our obedience is the fruit of our justification. The faith that justifies is the kind of faith that, by the HS, changes us. If our faith in Christ leaves us unchanged, we don’t have a saving faith.
Obedience- not perfection, but a new direction of thought and affections and behavior- is the fruit that shows that the faith is alive. “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:24, NIV. Faith justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone. It is always accompanied by a new life (Romans 6:4).
