I began reading Romans this morning (managing to get through chapter one, every victory counts).
The first verse that really struck me was verse 5. Well, 5-6, which in the NIV translation says: “Through him and for His name’ssake, we received Grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes FROM faith.”
It was one of those statements that made complete sense to me once I read it, but that I had never thought of before. Obedience comes FROM faith. Well, if you don’t have faith in Him, why would you concern yourself with obeying Him? A question just now arises in my mind- that if obedience comes from faith, is one’s faith then measurable by their obedience? Hmmm.
After reading verses 5-6 I turned to my trusty sidekick-google (of course)- and searched for the definitions of the words obedience and faith. I did this recently with the verse stating “Honor thy mother and father” and discovered that my concept of the word “Honor” wasn’t exactly correct and this affected the way I perceived that commandment. So as to aid my understanding I’ve done the same with the key words obedience and faith out of Romans.
Obedience: compliance with an order, request or law or submission to another’s authority.
Synonyms include compliance, dutifulness, submission
Antonyms include disobedience and rebellion.
Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
Synonyms include: trust, believe, confidence, conviction
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
I think about that trust exercise that’s done in group therapy sessions where one person is instructed to close their eyes and fall backward into the arms of the other group members. It takes submission which requires trust. Obedience comes from faith.
What I also find noteworthy about verses 5-6 is that it says “THROUGH Him and for HIS namesake”
Really I just enjoy the inner connectivity of The Word.
Another commonly recited verse, Phillipians 4:13 states “I can do all things THROUGH Christ who gives me strength.”
Romans 8:37 tells us “We are more than conquerors THROUGH Him who loved us.”
Do we sense a pattern?
(I’m sure there are other examples, However it is rather late. 12:07 am my way.)
Not only do we see “Through Him” or “Through Christ” repeatedly but in John 15:5 Jesus Himself says “...apart from Me you can do nothing”
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me, you can do nothing.”
I feel like Ephesians 2:9 ties in here too. “Not by works lest no man shall boast”.
Because not only are we to do everything Through Him, but For Him, “For His namesake”. Or for His glory, not our own. “Lest no man shall boast”.
Wulp, I think this shall be it for the evening/morning...as it’s 12:17 a.m.
What a lovely way to wrap up eh? “I’m tired so good night!” Lol.
To be continued folks
The first verse that really struck me was verse 5. Well, 5-6, which in the NIV translation says: “Through him and for His name’ssake, we received Grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes FROM faith.”
It was one of those statements that made complete sense to me once I read it, but that I had never thought of before. Obedience comes FROM faith. Well, if you don’t have faith in Him, why would you concern yourself with obeying Him? A question just now arises in my mind- that if obedience comes from faith, is one’s faith then measurable by their obedience? Hmmm.
After reading verses 5-6 I turned to my trusty sidekick-google (of course)- and searched for the definitions of the words obedience and faith. I did this recently with the verse stating “Honor thy mother and father” and discovered that my concept of the word “Honor” wasn’t exactly correct and this affected the way I perceived that commandment. So as to aid my understanding I’ve done the same with the key words obedience and faith out of Romans.
Obedience: compliance with an order, request or law or submission to another’s authority.
Synonyms include compliance, dutifulness, submission
Antonyms include disobedience and rebellion.
Faith: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
Synonyms include: trust, believe, confidence, conviction
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
I think about that trust exercise that’s done in group therapy sessions where one person is instructed to close their eyes and fall backward into the arms of the other group members. It takes submission which requires trust. Obedience comes from faith.
What I also find noteworthy about verses 5-6 is that it says “THROUGH Him and for HIS namesake”
Really I just enjoy the inner connectivity of The Word.
Another commonly recited verse, Phillipians 4:13 states “I can do all things THROUGH Christ who gives me strength.”
Romans 8:37 tells us “We are more than conquerors THROUGH Him who loved us.”
Do we sense a pattern?
(I’m sure there are other examples, However it is rather late. 12:07 am my way.)
Not only do we see “Through Him” or “Through Christ” repeatedly but in John 15:5 Jesus Himself says “...apart from Me you can do nothing”
“I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit, apart from me, you can do nothing.”
I feel like Ephesians 2:9 ties in here too. “Not by works lest no man shall boast”.
Because not only are we to do everything Through Him, but For Him, “For His namesake”. Or for His glory, not our own. “Lest no man shall boast”.
Wulp, I think this shall be it for the evening/morning...as it’s 12:17 a.m.
What a lovely way to wrap up eh? “I’m tired so good night!” Lol.
To be continued folks
