June 24, 2022 – Friday
Romans 1:5 NIV
5 Through Him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sake.
Romans 1:5 NASB
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name
Comments
This is Paul stating he received from Jesus received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for His name’s sakeNIV or grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name NASB with the underlined the in italics in the original – more on this later.
If we are looking to understand grace in this verse we can look at all the versions here and find the AMPC (Amplified Bible Classic Edition) simply follows grace with the parenthetical description God’s unmerited favor which is certainly correct. Too often we think of grace as God’s favor and neglect to remember it is His unmerited favor given out of love through His Son Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Returning to the word the prior to obedience in both the NIV and NASB. Most versions of this verse do not have the prior to obedience, especially the various KJ versions and YLT. So what is the deal with the word the? The NASB likely has it in italics because it is not in the original. So why the the? The word the is defined as being used to point forward to a following qualifying or defining clause or phrase. Thus, it is used herein to point us to the obedience that comes from faith NIV or the obedience of faith NASB.
Why? Because this obedience is different. It is not ordered. It does not come from a slave master or as in the military from someone of higher rank or a superior on the job where one’s livelihood would be at stake. No, this obedience is results from faith and faith in Him, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Paul received grace and apostleship so he might bring all the nations – Gentiles – to such faith. It is only through such faith that we can be led to obedience.
When we reflect upon our faith and our obedience, we can clearly discern that it is our faith that leads us to obedience. If we want to walk with Jesus daily, we will do what is necessary to protect and increase our faith. Prayer, worship, fellowship, Bible study, and others are all useful in this regard. Let us not be the Christian that A.W. Tozer describes when he writes, Most Christians don’t hear God’s voice because we’ve already decided we aren’t going to do what He says.
Bottom Line: Let us deepen our faith, so that we might more easily find ourselves in obedience.
Prayer: Almighty God, Help us to continually find ways to deepen our faith and our walk in Your will. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek