07 March 2008

The obedience that comes from faith

I was chatting to a very good friend last night who had read through the whole book of Romans yesterday(!). He was telling me how wonderful it was to be able to see the bigger picture in the book by reading it all in one go - and how clearly he'd seen that Romans is all about the obedience that comes from faith (Romans 1.5, 16.26).
[For those who haven't come across this before, this is a really helpful thing to look for when you're reading a book of the Bible: look first at how the book starts and how it ends. If there's a clear common theme, there's a very good chance that everything in between will be related to that theme!]
But what is the obedience that comes from faith? (Or the "obedience of faith" as the ESV puts it?)
  • Is Paul saying we should try to change our outward actions once we've come to Christ in order to please God? Is that the obedience that comes from faith?
  • Or is he saying that once we have faith in Christ, God sees Christ's obedience and looks upon us as if we were just as obedient as him?
While I think these things are both true (although I would want to say the first with some caution as you'll see later), I don't think either is what Paul is driving at here.
What I think he's really talking about is this:
  • As we put our faith in Christ and all he has done for us; when we trust from the heart all he has promised to be for us, we begin to be transformed by that truth. The self-centred things which used to seem so appealing to us begin to loose their appeal. We become increasingly freed from a need to be thought of highly by others (and by ourselves!). And the natural consequence of that is that our lives begin to increasingly reflect the results of that: self-giving love for others; a gentleness that comes from not needing to assert ourselves against others; a sense of peace through troubles that comes from a deep inward security in Christ's acceptance of me. I could go on (Galatians 6.22-23)
On what basis have I come to this conclusion?
First, I think Paul is talking here in Romans about pretty much the same thing as he is in Galatians (which I've written about previously).
Secondly, I think that is the whole thrust of Paul's argument, particularly in chapter 8 - which seems to me to be the climax of the letter and contains some of the most awesome promises imaginable:
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8.28, NASB)
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8.32)
Romans 8 begins with Paul telling us to live according to the flesh, but to live according to the Spirit. But what on earth does that mean?! Here's my best shot: living according the flesh (or the "sinful nature" as the NIV puts it) is living in a way that exalts us, that makes us feel good about ourselves (don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that we shouldn't try to live in a way that makes us happy, rather I'm driving at the source of our happiness). Now that might mean indulging our lusts and cravings in sex or possessions or a high-flying career. Or it might mean making ourselves feel morally superior by living outwardly in a way that is seen as holy. Surely, the Pharisees lived according to the flesh!
The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8.7-8)
In contrast, living by the Spirit is living in a way that makes us feel good about God. It is about finding all our joy, in knowing that he accepts me not because of anything about me but because of Jesus; finding all our fulfilment in knowing Him as my friend and Lord and Saviour for eternity. It is living depending entirely upon the promises that he has made for me that have been irrevocably purchased for me by the death of Christ on the Cross.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8.15-17 NRSV)
And so, Paul calls us to put to death the deeds of the body not by trying hard to appear holy before men and God, but rather by trusting in God's unshakeable promises to us as his children:
for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8.13-14 NRSV)
As we trust in those promises and see how breath-taking it is to know the Eternal God personally, we'll stop being caught up with pleasing ourselves and start being caught up utterly by Him. And consequently, our lives will increasing demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, the obedience that comes from faith

Father, please grant me, grant us an ever increasing trust in you and satisfy us in all you have promised to be for us in Jesus

I've still got plenty more thinking to do on this - and I'm quite sure that in places I've overstated things or missed the point, so please do add comments to tell me what you think!

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