Angels Marvel at the Obedience of Faith

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.


"Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" (Rom 16:25, 26).

In this verse, the importance of obedience of faith is seen as the "the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures..." The obedience of faith springs from love of God Father, God Son, and God Holy Spirit. Without that love there can be no obedience, no true discipleship.

The relationship between faithful humanity and God is a matter into which even the angels desire to look (1 Peter 1:12).

In the Greek New Testament, there are only two words in this phrase: upakohn pistews -"obedience of faith." "Obedience" (upakohn) is in the accusative case showing that it is the designed result of God’s “grace” and “apostleship” (Rom. 1:5). Such grace is a cause of astonishment to the angels!

Grace (pistews) is a gift that cannot be earned. Apostleship is the God-given authority to convey the revelation of God’s salvation, to share the Gospel of saving grace. From the beginning, the Holy Trinity has been working out the salvation of all who turn to the Holy One.

This is the teaching point from Ephesians 3:9-10: "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."

The grace of God, the gift of faith, and the obedience of love are a cause of wonder among the heavenly hosts. These are to be celebrated in the Church and we are to pray for their increase.

Related reading: On God's Terms; Put Handles on Your Faith

The Faith That Overcomes

Edward F. Lundwall, Jr.

The key verse for this study comes from 1 John 4:9 - "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."

This verse provides a clue as to how faith overcomes the world cultural system. John writes a good deal about the world, by which he means fallen humanity, bondage to the flesh and to this world under Satan's rule. While God made humans with an innate need to worship, the world remains ignorant of saving faith in the Son of God.

Indeed, the world promotes all sorts of idols and idolatrous worship. Ideologies, false religions, and materialism are tools in the hands of rulers to manipulate their people. Karl Marx was correct in describing these non-biblical religions as an “opiate” to give people false hope and a feeling of security. 

Many have an “unknown god” often described as “the man up stairs!” Sadly, they confuse their “man upstairs” with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. They want him to come to their aid in times of trouble, as if He were an lucky charm to ward off evil. They do not have a real relationship with Him and so He can be blamed when things go wrong. 

This describes millions of people. They are in a condition of spiritual deafness. They cannot be classified with the immature Believers to whom John directs his epistle. May they hear the Good News of God's love and forgiveness at least once in their lives, though the preaching of the Gospel seems to have grown cold in our time.

John is writing to believers who lack a strong foundational faith. He wants them to know, adore, and serve a Living Lord, and to have full assurance of salvation (1 John 5:10-13). In a detailed way, he is repeating wthe witness of John the Baptist: "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

John points to Jesus Christ as your anchor. By Him and by His blood you are able to overcome. Biblical faith is centered in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As He overcame the world, so those who are in Him will overcome.

Related reading: Freedom in Mature Discipleship; His Power Within You

His Power Within You

The Apostle Paul was starkly truthful about the human condition. He described the unregenerate as "dead" in their trespasses and sins, and he said that this condition is "according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:1, 2)

Disobedience and spiritual rebellion are the way of the world. They express themselves in violence, hatred, racism, sexual perversion, arrogance, and the lust for money and power. Paul was truthful as to the source of this darkness: Satan or the Devil, described as "the prince of the power of the air." To their own detriment, many dismiss his existence.

Fortunately, there is a more powerful force at work in the world, the Holy Spirit. A. W. Tozer wrote, "When we have the Holy Spirit we have all that is needed to be all that God desires us to be."

The Holy Spirit brings spiritual regeneration. By the Spirit we are "born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23) 

The Spirit makes us to be "partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)

The Spirit convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" and according to Jesus Messiah the root of the sin is "because they do not believe in me.” (John 16:8-10)

Scripture says that "every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God" and that spirit is of the antichrist. John explains why worldly voices gain a greater audience. "They are of the world and they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them." (1 John 4:3-5)

The Spirit of truth guides us into all truth and discloses the things of God the Father and God the Son to us. (John 16:13-16)

The Holy Spirit teaches us "all things" and brings to our remembrance all that Jesus said. (John 14:26)

The Apostle Paul prayed that "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." (Ephesians 1:18)

The works of darkness are exposed by the light of Christ and the matchless inward and outward working of the Holy Spirit. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Thanks be to God!

Related reading: You Must Be Born Again; Formed and Informed by the Bible; By Grace, Through Faith

By Grace, Through Faith

By Hope Ellen Rapson

By grace, through Faith

Your Spirit lives within

Not outside, but inside

Freeing me from sin.

I need not be shackled

By the sins of my past,

With confidence and joy

I can look at last---

To becoming all

You’ve designed for me,

To become like Christ,

To reflect Your glory.

I can do Your will;

I can cope with life.

I can grow in love;

I can conquer self.

I can choose as Christ

To serve the lost

Sharing the good news

Whatever the cost.

By grace, through faith,

Your Spirit lives within

Not outside, but inside

To free me from sin.

(Try singing this to the tune of Amazing Grace!)