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)
Faith is the bond of a living union with Jesus Christ, and so the obedience of faith arises out of union with Him: “I am the vine; you are the branches” (John 15:5).
Paul says, “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). God calls us to a life of faith, not just a moment of faith, or to a decision of faith. We live and walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
The obedience of faith is very different from the obedience of works. The obedience of works is an effort that you have to find within yourself. But the obedience of faith arises from your living union with Christ. Christ in you is the hope of glory! (Col. 1:27).
Christ came to save His people from their sins. That means He came to make obedience possible. He is able to deliver you from the power of sin. That deliverance will be complete in heaven. But what He completes in heaven, He begins now. The obedience of faith is about pursuing in the power of Christ, now, an obedience that will be complete, by the grace of Christ, then.
This opens the door of hope. God does not call you to obey, so that you can come to Christ. He calls you to come to Christ, so that you can obey.
Where do you see examples of the obedience of works and the obedience of faith in your own life?
