In this series of articles on the topic of obedience, we will address three questions:
- Who is our great role model?
- What does “obedience of faith” mean?
- How can we personally practice obedience?
In the first part, we discussed fundamental biblical principles regarding obedience and highlighted our Lord Jesus Christ as the ultimate role model. In this installment, we will focus on the term “obedience of faith.” This phrase appears twice in the Bible, specifically in the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 1:5 and Romans 16:26). In the original text, it consists of two key components: faith and obedience.
Faith refers to a firm conviction in things that cannot be seen (cf. Hebrews 11:1). Obedience, as examined in the first part, is the act of submitting one’s will to a higher authority and acting accordingly. Therefore, faithful obedience encompasses not only the belief that God’s word is true and righteous, but also the actions that stem from that conviction.
Consider a practical example from everyday life: In Germany, the traffic regulations state that the speed limit in built-up areas is 50 kilometers per hour. Believing in this regulation means acknowledging its validity, but true obedience requires adhering to it. In God’s design, faith and obedience are inseparable.
The two passages in the Epistle to the Romans each convey a unique message from God. Let’s explore the content and recipients of these messages.
Faithful Obedience to the Gospel
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God (which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures) concerning his Son, descended from David according to the flesh. He was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about obedience of faith among all nations for his name’s sake, including you who are called of Jesus Christ)—to all God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!” (Romans 1:1-7).
This passage speaks of the gospel of God, the good news. It is not merely about ideological or religious doctrines but centers on a wonderful, glorious person: Jesus Christ.
He is:
- God Himself,
- Who became man to die for the ungodly,
- The source through whom all who believe in Him are justified and have peace with God,
- The one who grants eternal life and the hope of glory,
- The returning King who will come to reign on Earth in power and glory.
To proclaim this message, God entrusted the apostles with authority and sent them to preach the gospel to all nations. Rather than merely saying “among the nations” (the Greek word is “en“), we could interpret it as “in their respective situations.” Regardless of where the nations are or their relationship with God, the gospel was sent to all through the apostles—and later through others as well. We should be grateful that God included everyone in His message of salvation, not just His earthly people, Israel.
However, God expects every recipient of this message to accept it in faith and with obedience. The Savior desires “all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” and commands everyone “to repent everywhere” (1 Timothy 2:4; Acts 17:30).
The Bible clearly outlines the consequences of disobeying the gospel. There will come a day when God will “repay in the same way to all who did not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
At this point, every reader should consider: Have you personally believed in the message of the Gospel, and have you become obedient to “the image of the teaching to which you were committed” (Romans 6:17)?
Faithful Obedience to the Mystery
“But to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now made manifest, and by the prophetic writings, according to the commandment of the eternal God, made known to all nations through the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Romans 16:25-27).
In Romans 1:5, we see the first step of obedience of faith: the proclamation of the gospel that every person must acknowledge. By Romans 16:26, obedience of faith refers to the revelation of a mystery—this is the next step. A mystery is a fact or plan known only to its originator. Until the originator chooses to reveal it, it exists but is not publicly known. The originator, as the “keeper” of this secret, determines when and to whom it will be disclosed.
In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit reveals divine secrets on multiple occasions, including:
- The “secret of the kingdom of God” (Luke 8:10, among others),
- The secret of Israel’s present and future history (Romans 11:25),
- The secret of transformation in relation to the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51),
- The secret that Christ will one day have all things under His rule (Ephesians 1:9-10),
- The mystery of Christ and His church (Ephesians 3:8-12).
These references point to God’s plan, which He kept hidden in His heart from eternity but later proclaimed after the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Paul does not provide a detailed explanation of this mystery in the Epistle to the Romans. He simply states that it is connected to the preaching of Jesus Christ. In the Epistle to the Ephesians, he reveals the mystery in greater detail (Ephesians 3:8): it involves Christ and His church, meaning the collective of all the redeemed who have the Holy Spirit dwell within them. God gives this assembly, “which he purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28), to Christ as His body, referred to as “the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:23). This body is inseparably linked to Christ, its head.
If the angels rejoiced at the creation of the universe—a revelation of God’s greatness (Job 38:7)—they must admire His manifold wisdom today and throughout eternity as seen in the assembly (Ephesians 3:10-11). In the Old Testament, despite many indirect references and images, these thoughts of God remained a mystery. For example, the entire construction of the tabernacle—comprising gold-covered boards, various coverings, and furnishings of the sanctuary—symbolizes Christ and His assembly. When a priest entered the tabernacle at that time, he may have contemplated the glory of God but had no understanding of the mystery. Today, we can better understand this in light of the New Testament.
The revelation of this mystery connects God with obedience. The New Testament employs various images to describe the assembly, including the house of God, the body of Christ, and the bride of Christ. These images illustrate their relationship with God, their tasks on earth, and their heavenly character. They clarify that their origin is in heaven, which is their eternal home. All of this provides insight into God’s will regarding Christ and His assembly. This will must be understood in faith and practiced obediently.
The scope of this obedience of faith extends to “all nations.” The Greek preposition ‘eis’ (translated as “to the obedience of faith to all nations”) specifies the target group to be reached: all people. The command of the eternal God is directed towards them. However, obedience to the truth about Christ and His assembly can only be achieved by belonging to the assembly. This means one must first accept the faith obedience described in Romans 1:5 by believing in the proclamation of Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Savior. Those who have done so should strive to live in accordance with the assembly of God—with Christ as its head—as presented in His Word.
As children of God, we aim to do this together whenever possible, because the Holy Spirit has created unity within the assembly (Acts 2:1-4). We cannot maintain this unity as individuals (Eph. 4:1-3), nor can we effectively represent the assembly of God on our own. Therefore, the obedience of faith to the New Testament teachings about the assembly is a shared responsibility. The prerequisite is, of course, that I am personally obedient.
In the next issue, we will focus on personal obedience. Using the example of the prophet Jonah, we will explore the depth of God’s love and patience as He seeks to teach us obedience marked by understanding and conviction.
