Obedience of Faith for All Nations for His Name’s Sake

When the Apostle Paul explained his purpose as an apostle, he said, “Through [Jesus] we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name” (Romans 1:5), Paul explained his goal and purpose clearly. He received grace for the obedience of faith for all nations for His name’s sake.

How important was this task?

The task for which God appointed Paul was so important that he explains his attitude toward the gospel and reiterates the essential nature of the task at hand.

First, Paul’s attitude toward the gospel. Notice how he words it:

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. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

He explains that he is not ashamed of the gospel! Why? Because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Essentially, he understands that if God has called him to help all nations for the obedience of faith, then only the gospel is up to that task. In other words, if the task is beyond human strength, then the tool you use to accomplish the task must be above human strength as well. Therefore, Paul chooses the gospel since it is the power of God for salvation.

In order for one to be obedient by faith, he or she must believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Belief in Jesus is the first step toward obedience. As many know, then baptism. And, everything else.

Jesus described the disciple-making process in similar terms to Paul. Jesus said to the disciples:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Paul described his ministry as grace to help all nations for the obedience of faith; Jesus described it as teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.

A disciple believes in Jesus and obeys Him as his or her Lord.

At the end of Romans, notice Pau’s dual emphasis there as well!

Paul concludes his letter very similar as to how he started it. Notice this text:

But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given to me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And in this way I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already known by name, so that I would not build on another person’s foundation; but just as it is written: “They who have not been told about Him will see, and they who have not heard will understand.” (Romans 15:15-21)

Paul rejoiced that in the power of the grace given to him to preach the gospel, the Gentiles or nations were becoming obedient by word and deed – in what they said and what they did.

That’s incredible, isn’t it? He had one purpose; God helped him in that purpose.

Also, in the next chapter:

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)

Through the gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ, the nations become obedient of faith.

Why is this important for us?

As we live for Jesus Christ, we need to focus our attention two different ways:

• First, we need to personally live obedient to the faith. If we are going to be good disciples of Jesus Christ, then we must follow Jesus as Savior and Lord. To follow Jesus means that we believe on Him through the gospel and obey Him as our authority.
• Second, we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others so that all nations will become obedient by faith. The mission continues. People in the world still need to hear the gospel of Jesus. People still need to believe and become obedient by faith. Not everyone has heard the message of Jesus.

So what will you do? Will you live obediently by faith to the message of Jesus Christ in the Bible? Further, will you share the message of Jesus with others?