In verse five of chapter one the Apostle Paul tells the people in the Rome church that the objective of the Christian life is to be “obedient to THE faith.” In verse twelve he identifies that faith as “our MUTUAL faith.” That makes it clear that there is only ONE FAITH relative to true Christianity and that it is based only on God’s Holy Bible. He tells us in Romans 10:17 that true Christ-level faith comes from His Word, meaning that the true saint TAKES HIM AT HIS WORD AS IT IS WRITTEN IN HIS HOLY BIBLE, also known as the Gospel. It is vitally important that we keep in mind that the Scriptures never refer to any doctrine other than God’s doctrine.

Deviation from this rule is what has caused what was once one church–the Church of God as it is called 12 times in the New Testament–to be splintered into hundreds of man-created sects, each with its own name, its own “truths” and its own plan of salvation, its own god and its own savior. Each of the denominations was founded by a man in search of a following who has a “better way” than God’s way. Of late some denominations are going to the extreme in order to lure people into their Satan-empowered organizations. For example, there is a church that believes that one does not need to repent following their sins, for God already knew what they were going to do and had already forgiven them for doing it. Another group believes that God’s grace allows them to change whatever they want to change in His Word. This is not the Catholic Church, but rather a new and improved version of that religious abomination. Another leader tells his disciples that God wants them to have fun. Sex is fun, therefore, in order to please God they can have as much sex as they want with whomever they want. Perhaps the most egregious statement came from the pastor of a church I was involved in many years ago. He said that Jesus did not feel the whips and the nails that attacked His body. Nor did He feel the spear that penetrated His heart. I left that church and never looked back. This false prophet was a seminary graduate. I have a relative who was in a seminary where they taught that Mary’s conception was not miraculous, but normal, like any other conception. The final two teachings came from the church in which I grew up. It is incredible how church doctrines have changed over the years. Because church people reject so much of Christ’s Word they would not recognize Him if He appeared and introduced Himself. If someone came preaching the Lord’s message he and his message would be rejected. I know this from personal experience. I have not ministered to a church in decades.

Only by adhering to the commandments, precepts and statutes of the Lord can we receive from Him what He has promised us. This is made clear in Leviticus 26:1-13 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14. Note that God is speaking to and about His “Chosen People” then and now. Anciently they were the Israelites. Today they are the true saints in His Church, known as “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). These are they in His church who are obedient in every aspect of their lives, Jesus of Nazareth being their standard/example/pattern. These are they who embrace the Apostle Peter’s command to “be ye holy as/because your Father in heaven is holy” (1 Pet. 1:15,16). These are His Very Elect saints who have answered His call to “grow spiritually unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). These are they who embrace THE MUTUAL FAITH of all who prove their love for Christ by obeying His Father’s commandments (Jn. 14:15), who are His true disciples (Jn. 8:31), who abide in His love (Jn. 15:10), who will inherit eternal life (Mat. 19:17). Note that in the previous sentence, one’s spiritual status depended on his/her obedience to God’s commandments (Law). And let us be reminded that Jesus had to obey those same commandments in order to remain in His Father’s love (Jn. 15:10). In John 15:22-24 Jesus tells us that those who do not obey His Word prove that they hate both Him and His Father. Read Luke 10:16 and Deuteronomy 5:1,9; 7:9,10) where we are told by the Lord that DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S LAW PROVES ONE’S HATRED TOWARD HIM. Concerning the Old Testament, always keep in mind that it was recorded and preserved as a teaching tool for us today (1 Cor. 10:11) and that the New Testament Church was founded on the teachings of both the prophets and the apostles (Eph. 2:20).

Concerning the level of faith one must have in order to qualify for salvation, we are called to attain “the measure of the statute of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). In verse seven Paul calls the obedient ones in the church “saints,” meaning “holy ones.” Recall that faith comes from the Word of God. In verses 16 and 17 of the focal passage we find the Lord, through the Apostle Paul, telling us that THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION BECAUSE IT (THE GOSPEL) REVEALS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. Notice that the Gospel does not save us simply because we know it and believe it. It has power UNTO salvation, meaning that it will lead us TO eternal life IF we obey it UNTO righteousness, meaning unto the “measure of the statue of the fulness of Christ” which is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.

Church people do not believe that we will be judged by our obedience to God’s Word. I once had a woman ask me if I actually believed that I had to obey God’s Word in order to be saved. My answer was “yes.” She thought I was mentally deranged for thinking such nonsense. She spoke for billions who believe that, being already saved, all one has to do is believe in Jesus as Savior. Recall that Jesus warned that few would enter the church through His strait (difficult) door and walk His narrow (holy) path to salvation. He added that many would enter the church through Satan’s wide (come as you are) door and walk his broad (stay as you are) path to destruction (Mat. 7:13,14). Many are called to obey God, few answer His call (Mat. 22:14). Read Who Are God’s People? and “My People Called By My Name,” key words–People and Called respectively.

Relative to the part God’s Law plays in the salvation process, verse 16 sheds much light on the subject. Here Paul notes that the Gospel of Christ tells us how salvation was made available “TO THE JEWS FIRST, THEN TO THE GENTILES.” In 3:1,2 he asks a question concerning the fact that JEWS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER GENTILES when it comes to receiving salvation. What is that advantage? His answer is that Jews have had the Law (“oracles of God”) for thousands of years. If, as we are told, the Law has no part to play in the salvation process, why does the Jew have an advantage over the Gentile relative to salvation? The answer is obvious–the Jew already knows what the Gentile must learn. Let us study God’s Law, learn it, believe it and obey it. Only those who do so will join Him in His eternal kingdom. L.J.