The call for obedience in the book of Romans

[savedsinner]

Paul’s letter to the Romans opens and closes with a call to obedience. What exactly is this call to the obedience of faith and how does it fit into the Protestant understanding of “saved by faith alone” which they believe the letter to the Romans teaches?

Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; To all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:15-19
But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that from Jerusalem and as far round as Illyr’icum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ,

To me it sounds like he is telling the Romans that you need to be obedient in your faith, and this obedience is summarized in Romans 13:8-10:

Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And yet Paul seems to say that we are saved by faith apart from works of the law.

 

[Seraphim25]

The call to obedience is by faith. However, works from the law is what Paul is referring to here. We have to remember that the Jews in the old testament HAD to practice laws to ensure the proper relationship to God. After Jesus’s resurrection the law of the old covenant was no longer nessecary. Especially, the sacrifice of many innocent lambs.
Paul was facing many issues with the early church especially this one. Does works of the law matter or not. Paul affirms that by believing in Jesus was absolute in the salvation. But the works of the law became dead and thus freed us to a newness of life in Christ.
The works of the flesh are now dead as long as we have the spirit of God dwelling within us. Paul attests to the first sign that we have the spirit of God dwelling within us is: we can say out laud that Jesus Crist is lord, and also by calling God ABBA/father! Another clear sign is giving up the works of the flesh. Rivilary, jealousy, adultery, fornication, profanity and others just to name a few.
What of the workings of God and were does that fit in unto the new covenant? Jesus tells us that we must love!!! Love is the absolute fulfillment of the law. We must love God with all of our heart mind and soul and our neighbor as ourselves. Jesus also made a statement that the sheep know me and hear my voice and I know them because they belong to me and FOLLOW/OBEY me. If their isn’t any works then where does the OBEY come in?? If we truly love God then we do what he commands us to do. LOVE!!! love is the full expression of Gods love for us and he wants us to Love him back!!!. How did God himself show/display his love for us? by sending his only Son to save a wretched sinner like me!! Love is work!!! To love those who hate and despise you. To treat others as you want others to treat you no matter if they neglect the proper treatment back to you. This is extraordinarily difficult and at times can become overwhelming. But With God by our sides who can stand up against us?
James another prommenant figure but unfortunately less spoken of in these matters is the very aspect of works!! James specially tells us that works without faith is dead! For example: If you say I believe in God and thats it and another says I believe in God too but I will demonstrate my faith by what I do. Showing that we have the faith in God by doing what is necessary for others to see Christ in them is essential. Similarly, if you read Abraham and his son Isaac we note that the only way he was found righteousness with God is ACTING out his devotion by willingly going to sacrifice his son to God.
Just as all of Gods sons/daughters must do if we call ourselves Christians act out our faith to reveal God and to show and demonstrate Gods power so that others maybe set free of the bondage of sin. But, we must act out our faith because we LOVE God and his people not for any other reason. Paul warns us if we do incredible things but by doing them without love is useless and it amounts to nothing. Showing love causes no harm to our neighbors and that is why we have such an awesome Father, son and Holy spirit.
The Lord God is my righteousness!! Glory be to you on high almighty father and to you lord Jesus Christ forever and ever and to the holy spirit.