Obedience of Faith

Now to him that is of power to stablish 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:
(Romans 16:25-26)

[deep voice] Faith... the final frontier...

Oh wait, that's something else. Never mind.

Paul says in Romans 16, that the gospel went out to all nations by the commandment of the everlasting God, predicted and foreordained by God according to His holy prophets, made known in these last days, (See, I can make really long sentences like Paul too!)... But all of this was for the purpose of: Obedience of Faith. I think that's a little bit of an obscure term.

We think of Obedience as an action, or a work. When we do what someone tells us to do, we're being obedient to that person. Faith, on the other hand, is not an action, not a work. So, what's the concept being portrayed here?

Well, I think of two things. Probably the most exact and true to the purpose of the text is this: We are supposed to be obedient to God by exercising faith. God's commandment, according to I John 3:23, "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ..." God's command is to believe, and when we are obedient to that command, it is called the obedience of faith.

I also think there's another implication or meaning in the phrase, obedience of faith. I believe it is suggesting that not only is faith the result of obedience, but that faith will be the driving force of obedience. That is, faith, from the heart, will motivate us to obey God. Mental faith will just have us answer all the questions right, and know what to say in whatever situation we find ourselves, but when you believe from the heart, then your life will demonstrate that faith through obedience.

At least that's the way I understand it. You know, it's Just a Thought...