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Romans 1:5; 16:26 – The Obedience of Faith in the Great Physician
“The obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26) is an intriguing phrase because of its paradoxical nature. Because of this there is an overemphasis by one side, and almost total neglect by another.
That “faith” obeys is a conundrum to some because they look at faith as just a mental concept – I believe or trust certain facts to be true. They don’t see it as a total commitment of mind and body. It is not some religious concept. It’s about as everyday as you can get since it means “trust.”
An illustration: The doctor gave me good news. He can fix my back. I went to the hospital because I had faith in my doctor. That old hymn “Trust and Obey” is about “the obedience of faith.” In my submission to him I did everything he asked. Nothing I did fixed my back because I don’t have that power. The most important thing I did was trust and obey. If I believed the doctor but did not obey, then nothing good would have happened. Everything he said to do was for my benefit and not his. Truth is, if I accidentally messed something up, my doctor could still fix my back.
But some overreact against “faith only” by over emphasizing the obedience. Their faith is in themselves and lawful works done perfectly. That’s like me thinking I fixed my back.
The other side overreach. They define away or ignore the word “obey.” That’s like thinking I didn’t have to go to the hospital.
So what is the right understanding of this glorious phrase? Romans teaches that the works of law, any law, cannot save. Our faith cannot be in it or our working it. Truth is there is no power whatever in what we do. The power is in the gospel (good news) about Jesus (Romans 1:16). God gave the Jews the Law, but to everyone God gave Jesus. So the obedience of faith is in Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. I trust Him completely, therefore I obey in faith doing everything He asks, knowing nothing I do actually “repairs” my relationship with God. Again truth is, even if I accidentally mess up, Jesus and only Jesus, the Great Physician, can fix me any way. Intrigued?
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