Faith and Obedience

In the introduction of Romans, Paul tightly couples faith and obedience.

Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 1:5 NKJV

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,
Romans 1:5 ESV

Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.
Romans 1:5 BSB

through whom we have received favour and office of the emissary for belief-obedience among all the nations on behalf of His Name,
Romiyim (Romans) 1:5 TS2009

Reading Hebrews today, I noticed again how unbelief and disobedience are linked.

^3:16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? ¹⁷ Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

^4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,

^4:11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 3:16-19, 4:6, 11-13 NKJV

In fact, the Greek word Strong’s g543 – apeitheia in Hebrews 4:11 can be translated either disobedience or unbelief!

• 

May we all be obedient servants!

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46 NKJV

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 NKJV

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵ You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶ Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³² “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴ Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴ “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵ For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

More: Disobedience is Unbelief

In a prior post I noted two passages in Hebrews that link unbelief and disobedience.

And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:18-19 ESV

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:11 ESV

It turns out there is more. I noticed some translations of Hebrews 4:11 use disobedience, and some use unbelief. From Biblehub:

---

New International Version
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

English Standard Version
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Berean Study Bible
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore we should be diligent to enter into that rest, so that no one should fall by the same example of disobedience.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

King James Bible
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

King James 2000 Bible
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

American King James Version
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let us hasten therefore to enter into that rest; lest any man fall into the same example of unbelief.

Webster’s Bible Translation
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Weymouth New Testament
Let it then be our earnest endeavour to be admitted to that rest, so that no one may perish through following the same example of unbelief.

Young’s Literal Translation
May we be diligent, then, to enter into that rest, that no one in the same example of the unbelief may fall,

---

I looked up the Greek, then the Strong’s g543 – apeitheia. Wow! This is the definition!

Definition: willful unbelief, obstinacy, disobedience.

This reference on the page is even simpler.

Disobedience is unbelief! Suddenly, this scripture means more to me.

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Luke 6:46 NASB

I will be looking into this more. I suspect there is no faith without obedience.

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

 

Saved Not OF Works, but FOR Good Works

I wish, a little, that it wasn’t so. But it seems to be part of my mission to remind and educate people about the Coordinating Conjunction “For” that occurs right after the well-known “Saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest anyone should boast” passage.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

All over the Bible the need for having good works, good fruit and obedience leap out at me.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
‭‭Titus‬ ‭1:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:11-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8 ESV

This is the key good work — to believe the gospel!

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:28-29 KJV

Abide in Jesus and good works and good fruit will happen!

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
John 15:4-8 KJV

Beware, beware, beware good works apart from Jesus!

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Do not ignore the coordinating conjunction “For.”

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

Jesus looks at our works.

He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Revelation 22:11-12 KJV

Are you ready to have your work judged?

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.