The Obedience of Faith

A. Romans as Pastoral Letter (chs 12–16)

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (CSB Rom. 12:1–2)

B. The “Obedience” of Faith

“ὑπακοὴν πίστεως has been variously understood as meaning: (i) ‘obedience to the faith’ (i.e., to faith in the sense of fides quae creditor, the body of doctrine accepted); (ii) ‘obedience to faith’ (i.e., to the authority of faith); (iii) ‘obedience to God’s faithfulness attested in the gospel’;

(iv) ‘the obedience which faith works’; (v) ‘the obedience required by faith’; (vi) ‘believing obedience’; (vii) ‘the obedience which consists in faith’.” (C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans, ICC [London: T&T Clark, 2004], 66)

“The verb ὑπακούω still displays its derivation from ἀκούω, ‘hear’ (see LSJ, ὑπακούω—range of meaning includes ‘give ear to, answer, heed’; LXX uses ὑπακούω to translate שָׁ מַ ע, ‘hear’); so what is envisaged primarily is response to a spoken word.” (James D. G. Dunn, Romans 1–8, WBC [Dallas: Word, 1988], 17)

I have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. My purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit… 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. (CSB Rom. 15:15–19)

C. Among All the Gentiles

“ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, ‘among all the nations.’ (τὰ) ἔθνη certainly means ‘the Gentiles’ (and not ‘the nations’ including Jews); it is used in the LXX to translate גּוֹיִם, usually = other/foreign nations; and in Greek usage it also usually denotes foreigners.” (Dunn, Romans 1–8, 18)

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV 1 Thess. 1:9–10)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. 5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles. (CSB Rom. 1:1–5)

A. Jesus the Messiah

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (CSB John 20:30–31)

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (ESV 2 Thess. 1:5–10)

B. The Prophetic Scriptures

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (ESV 2 Tim. 3:16–4:2)

C. The Gospel of God

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (ESV Rom. 1:16–17)

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. (CSB Rom. 5:6–9)