Obedience of faith
Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake. (Romans 1:5
Paul received grace and apostleship to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles and also to bring them the obedience of faith. But what has obedience of faith to do with the Gospel - the Good News? Is it not enough to believe that Jesus Christ has done everything to save us? May it never be! However, to understand this, we must know that the purpose of the Gospel is not blind obedience, but to make people blessed. (Matthew 5:3-11) In fact, we can not do so by believing in Christ's death, but by doing his speech (obey); In fact, we do not become blessed by believing in Christ's death, but by putting into practice (obeying) all his words, especially those of the "sermon on the mountain" which ends with these words:
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24)
As disciples of Jesus - or normal Christians - we should not let ourselves be seduced by what the “wise” of this world think and say. It is enough to believe Christ, who himself learned obedience, and obey his words to be blessed.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. (Hebrew 5:8)
As in the time of Jesus, today the great multitude is more interested in health, miracle, and wealth than to follow him. There are only a few, a small group, who follows Jesus' invitation, to give up everything, and push themselves through the narrow gate to the narrow way of life: the way of obedience that leads to happiness and perfection.
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
The rich youth (Matthew 19: 16-22) went away sadly from Jesus, doubting the treasures in heaven would be equal to his many goods. Besides riches, there are often fathers, mothers, wives, children, neighbors, work, business, who are obstacles to follow Jesus Christ on the way that lead to life, to believe him and obey him.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, he is the one who will save it. (Luke 9:24)
All the Hebrews who came from Egypt crossed the Red Sea, saw the miracles in the desert and shared the same blessings. But from the earliest adversities almost all murmured. What do the miracles of God without the obedience of faith? They believed God's promises from the Promised Land, but did not obey his words. Only Joshua and Caleb believed and obeyed. By faith and obedience, the adversities and tribulations of the desert became a blessing to them. For them, to obey meant: to persevere, to believe and to remain firm. And to this we are also exhorted by Jesus:
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4)
To remain on the vine means, persevering in all kind of trials and adversities (under cold, heat, rain, hail) and bear fruit. And as this is not always easy, we constantly need this Exhortation:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)
There are countless situations in life where we can overcome the evil with good. There are unjust employers, impossible colleagues, hostile neighbours, stubborn spouses, disobedient children... There are especially good opportunities where we can overcome evil with good. Better than complaints, anger, conflict and punishment (which only aggravate the circumstances), act good words and gifts. Chocolate and flowers often soothe afflicted hearts. If success does not follow, the wicked need more good things, more good words, delicacies, flowers. Discord, misery, and wickedness are so easily overcome. Faith in God's Word gives courage and strength to do well, without any particular prayer meeting. Through faith and obedience ends the desert life, we discover new sources of living water as long as we say, Father:
Yet not what I will, but what you wills. (Mark 14:36)
Our will is our life. If we give it up, we no longer live for ourselves, but we do the will of another. If we obey Jesus' words, he lives in us; Instead of demanding, we do whatever he says and are similar to him. In following Christ, we also learn to bless those who curse us and love us who hate us.
The preaching of the Word of God reveals what sin is. One can say, teach, and discuss much about sin. However, perceptibility can not be forced. But whoever hears from the word of God, to overcome evil with good, he feels how the spirit speaks to the heart. God's Spirit works with those who love the truth to the point they get converted when sins, like the works of the flesh; errors and faults, like the works of the body; are revealed. Thus is revealed what we can correct.
Not only unbelievers have quarreling; also believers are arguing and quarreling often and go to the judge to get right, when it comes to money. Are they blessed? Do they get peace and quiet? To assert his right is to die, to believe, and to obey. It is not prayer time, but faith in faith shows us how everything works for the best and glory works. That is why it says:
If you believe, you will see the glory of God? (John 11:40)
When Paul took leave of the church of Ephesus, he warned the elders:
After my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:29)
To be preserved from these wolves, we must be vigilant and differentiate between true and false servants of God. Those who are bitter, angry, jealous, unchaste, and the like, show that their old man is still alive, that they have a corrupt spirit, and that their piety is only a means of gain. (1. Timothy 6: 5-10) True servants are examples which show brothers and sisters what is wrong, exhort them, but do not demand, to do God's will. Paul never stopped exhorting each one with tears.
What is the point of seeking, in this passing world, always new and exciting things? The works of the flesh do not lead to heaven, but in misfortune and tribulation. Unfortunately, many need to experience great distress before they are ready to do what they know to be good. But whoever is willing to give up everything and die with Christ does not need years, but obedience of faith to obtain a victorious life and happiness.