Sermons on Romans 1:5
The various sermons below converge on the understanding that Romans 1:5’s phrase "obedience of faith" encapsulates a dynamic and relational faith that is inherently active and communal rather than merely intellectual assent. They emphasize that faith is not a static belief but a transformative trust that results in visible obedience, which glorifies Christ and advances the gospel mission. A common thread is the recognition that this obedience flows from grace received through faith, underscoring the inseparability of faith and obedience in the Christian life. Several sermons highlight the phrase’s linguistic ambiguity, exploring whether obedience is faith itself or the fruit of faith, with a general consensus leaning toward obedience as the outworking of faith. Theologically, these messages consistently affirm that the ultimate purpose of faith and obedience is the glorification of Christ’s name, with grace functioning as the divine source that ensures God alone receives glory. Additionally, the communal aspect of faith is stressed, portraying the Christian life as a shared journey where believers mutually encourage one another in obedience and grace is extended horizontally to others rather than being a debt owed vertically to God.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their emphasis on the scope and focus of the obedience of faith. One interpretation broadens the term "nations" to include both Jews and Gentiles, highlighting the universal scope of Paul’s mission, while others focus more narrowly on the Gentile mission field. Some sermons frame grace as creating a debt not to God but to others, shifting the emphasis from vertical accountability to horizontal responsibility, whereas others maintain a more traditional view of grace as a divine gift that results in obedience to God. The role of the Spirit and human agency also receives varying attention: one sermon underscores the Spirit-empowered nature of obedience and the missionary’s role as an instrument of Christ, while others focus more on the mutual encouragement within the church body. The nuance in interpreting "obedience of faith" as either the essence of faith or its fruit leads to different pastoral emphases—either on faith as the act of obedience itself or on obedience as the natural outflow of genuine faith. Some sermons stress the communal and reciprocal nature of faith within the church, while others highlight the individual’s response to grace as a catalyst for outward sharing.
Romans 1:5 Interpretation:
The Obedience of Faith: Glorifying Christ Together (MLJTrust) offers a unique and detailed interpretation of Romans 1:5 by focusing on the phrase "obedience of faith" as a deliberate and comprehensive term chosen by Paul. Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that faith itself is inherently obedient, not merely a mental assent or "believism," but a turning away from sin and a turning toward God in grateful response to Christ's work. He also provides a nuanced linguistic analysis of the Greek word translated as "nations" or "Gentiles," contending that "nations" is the better translation because it encompasses both Jews and Gentiles, reflecting Paul's universal gospel mission. Lloyd-Jones further unpacks the phrase "for his name's sake," explaining that in biblical usage, "name" represents the full revelation and glory of a person—in this case, Christ—so that the ultimate purpose of Paul's apostleship is to glorify Christ, not merely to save individuals.
Living as Debtors of Grace: Sharing God's Gift (Desiring God) interprets Romans 1:5 by emphasizing the relational dynamic of grace and apostleship. The sermon uniquely frames the reception of grace not as creating a debt to God, but as making the recipient a debtor to others who need grace. The preacher uses the analogy of receiving a gift and the futility of trying to pay it back, insisting that grace, by definition, cannot be repaid to God. Instead, the only appropriate response is to share the gift with others, thus reframing the "obedience of faith" as a communal, outward-flowing reality rather than a private or transactional one. This interpretation is further illustrated by the analogy of discovering a remedy in a disaster and feeling compelled to share it with fellow sufferers, rather than hoarding it or feeling superior.
Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together (Desiring God) provides a distinctive interpretation by treating Romans 1:5 as Paul's personal mission statement and the church's collective calling. The sermon highlights the "obedience of faith" as both the proximate goal (the immediate aim) and as a visible, communal fruit that magnifies God's name. The preacher stresses that faith is not an abstract commodity but a personal, relational trust that results in visible obedience, which in turn brings glory to Christ. The mutuality of faith and spiritual gifts within the church is emphasized, with the preacher noting that Paul's desire is not only to impart faith but also to be encouraged by the faith of others, making the "obedience of faith" a shared, reciprocal process within the body of Christ.
Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace (Desiring God) offers a nuanced interpretation of Romans 1:5 by exploring the ambiguity in the Greek phrase "obedience of faith." The sermon highlights that the genitive construction could mean either "obedience that comes from faith" or "obedience which is faith." The preacher uses English analogies like "acts of courage" (acts that come from courage) versus "block of wood" (block made of wood) to illustrate the ambiguity. He leans toward the interpretation that obedience is the effect or fruit of faith, aligning with the NIV translation, but acknowledges that both readings are theologically true. The sermon also references the importance of the word "obedience" in Romans, suggesting that Paul intentionally uses both terms to emphasize that true obedience is inseparable from faith, and that faith is the channel through which grace—and thus obedience—flows.
Paul's Mission: Faith, Obedience, and Christ's Glory (Desiring God) also delves into the ambiguity of the phrase "obedience of faith," noting that it could mean either "obedience which is faith" (i.e., faith itself is the act of obedience) or "obedience that flows from faith" (i.e., faith as the root of all Christian obedience). The preacher inclines toward the latter, interpreting the phrase as the all-encompassing behavior of the Christian life that springs from faith. He further distinguishes between the means (word, deed, power of the Spirit) and the goal (obedience among the Gentiles), emphasizing that the obedience Paul seeks is not self-generated but is the result of Christ working through him by the Spirit.
Romans 1:5 Theological Themes:
The Obedience of Faith: Glorifying Christ Together (MLJTrust) introduces the theme that the ultimate purpose of the gospel and apostleship is the glorification of Christ ("for his name's sake"), not merely individual salvation. The sermon explores the idea that to believe in Christ is to glorify him, and that unbelief is the essence of sin because it withholds glory from Christ. This theme is developed with the assertion that the Christian life is fundamentally about living for the praise and glory of Christ, and that all obedience and faith are ultimately directed toward magnifying his name.
Living as Debtors of Grace: Sharing God's Gift (Desiring God) adds the distinctive theological theme that grace, when received, does not create a debt to God but a debt to others. The preacher insists that attempting to "pay God back" for grace nullifies its very nature, and that the only faithful response is to extend grace to others. This reframes Christian duty as a horizontal, communal responsibility rather than a vertical, transactional one with God.
Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together (Desiring God) presents the theme of mutuality in the church's pursuit of the obedience of faith. The sermon uniquely stresses that spiritual gifts and faith are not the possession of a few leaders but are distributed throughout the body, so that the obedience of faith is cultivated through reciprocal encouragement and ministry. This theme is further developed by emphasizing that faith, as a gift from God, is both the means and the result of God's glory being magnified in the church.
Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace (Desiring God) introduces the distinctive theme that all Christian obedience is ultimately designed for "the sake of the name"—that is, the exaltation of Christ's name. The sermon argues that God structures salvation and ministry so that all obedience is rooted in grace received by faith, ensuring that God, not the believer, receives the glory. This theme is developed with the assertion that if obedience came by works, humans would claim the credit, but by making faith the channel, God remains the sole source and recipient of glory.
Paul's Mission: Faith, Obedience, and Christ's Glory (Desiring God) adds a fresh facet by emphasizing the deflection of glory from the missionary or minister to Christ. The preacher notes that Paul refuses to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through him, highlighting a theology of agency where Christ is the source, the Spirit is the power, and the human agent is the instrument. This theme is distinct in its focus on the interplay between divine agency and human participation, and the necessity of Spirit-empowered ministry for the obedience of faith.
Romans 1:5 Historical and Contextual Insights:
The Obedience of Faith: Glorifying Christ Together (MLJTrust) provides historical context by discussing the composition of the Roman church, noting that it included both Jews and Gentiles, which is crucial for understanding Paul's use of "nations" rather than just "Gentiles." The sermon also references the apostolic commission in Acts, where Paul is sent to both Jews and Gentiles, and situates Paul's mission within the broader biblical narrative of God's plan to unite all nations in Christ. Additionally, the sermon references the Old Testament practice of God revealing himself through names, explaining how this cultural understanding informs Paul's use of "for his name's sake."
Understanding Grace: The Foundation of Our Callings (Desiring God) provides historical context by situating Paul's apostleship and the concept of grace within the broader narrative of the early church. The sermon references Paul's calling on the Damascus Road and his background as a persecutor of Christians, emphasizing that grace is not a response to human merit but a sovereign act of God. The preacher also notes the cultural misunderstanding of "grace" in contemporary society, contrasting it with the biblical reality of grace as unmerited favor and divine enablement for ministry, which would have been a radical concept in the honor-shame culture of the ancient Mediterranean world.
Romans 1:5 Cross-References in the Bible:
The Obedience of Faith: Glorifying Christ Together (MLJTrust) references several passages to support and expand on Romans 1:5. Acts 26 is cited to show Paul's commission to both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 1:16 is used to highlight the universal scope of the gospel ("to the Jew first and also to the Greek"), and Romans 3:22-23 and 3:29 are referenced to demonstrate the universality of sin and the need for salvation among all nations. Ephesians 2 is brought in to illustrate God's plan to unite Jews and Gentiles, breaking down the dividing wall. John 12 is cited to explain Jesus' statement about drawing all men (all nations) to himself, and John 17 is referenced to show that Christ is glorified in his people. 1 Peter 2:9 is used to describe the church's calling to proclaim the excellencies of Christ. The second Psalm is referenced as a prophetic anticipation of the Son being glorified and worshiped by the nations.
Living as Debtors of Grace: Sharing God's Gift (Desiring God) references Matthew 6:12 (the Lord's Prayer) to discuss the concept of debt and forgiveness, Romans 1:23 and 3:23 to explain the idea of exchanging God's glory for lesser things, and Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10 to define spiritual gifts as stewarding grace within the church. These passages are used to reinforce the sermon's argument that grace creates a debt to others, not to God, and that the church is called to mutual ministry.
Living Out the Obedience of Faith Together (Desiring God) references Romans 10:9 to discuss the invisibility of faith, Romans 6:17 to show that obedience from the heart is a gift of God, and Matthew 5:16 ("let your light so shine...") to illustrate the visibility of obedient faith. Philippians is mentioned as an example of mutual ministry between Paul and the church, and 1 Peter 4:10 is alluded to in the discussion of spiritual gifts.
Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace (Desiring God) references several passages to support its interpretation of Romans 1:5. Romans 6 is cited to show the importance of obedience in the Christian life, while Romans 9:32 and 14:23 are used to argue that true obedience must spring from faith, as anything not from faith is sin. Hebrews 11:6 is quoted to reinforce that without faith it is impossible to please God. The sermon also brings in 1 Peter 4:11 to illustrate the principle that all service should be done in the strength God supplies, so that God receives the glory, directly paralleling the logic of Romans 1:5. Finally, Romans 9:17 is used to show that God's ultimate purpose is the proclamation of his name, even in his dealings with Pharaoh.
Understanding Grace: The Foundation of Our Callings (Desiring God) cross-references Romans 12:3, 12:6, and 15:15 to show that grace is the means by which Paul and all believers are gifted and empowered for ministry. These passages reinforce the idea that grace is not just unmerited favor but also divine enablement for specific callings. The sermon also alludes to Romans 4:4 to illustrate that grace cannot be earned by works, further grounding its interpretation in the broader Pauline corpus.
Paul's Mission: Faith, Obedience, and Christ's Glory (Desiring God) references Romans 15:18-21 and the closing verses of Romans (the "mystery" now revealed to all nations) to show that the theme of "obedience of faith" bookends the letter. The preacher also mentions 2 Corinthians 3:18 to support the idea that the Spirit works to make believers see Christ, drawing a parallel between Christ's agency and the Spirit's power in producing obedience.
Romans 1:5 Christian References outside the Bible:
The Obedience of Faith: Glorifying Christ Together (MLJTrust) explicitly references Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones himself as the preacher, but also alludes to the hymn by Joseph Ler ("O Jesus Christ, grow thou in me...") as a prayerful response to the call to live for Christ's glory. The sermon also references the tradition of interpreting the "name" of God in the Old Testament, drawing on broader Christian theological reflection about the significance of names in Scripture.
Romans 1:5 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Living as Debtors of Grace: Sharing God's Gift (Desiring God) uses a detailed secular analogy to illustrate the nature of grace and debt. The preacher describes receiving an inheritance from his mother and the joy of giving it away, contrasting this with the inappropriate response of trying to pay back a gift. He also uses the scenario of a disaster where someone discovers a remedy and feels compelled to share it with fellow sufferers, rather than hoarding it or feeling superior. These analogies are employed to make the point that grace, like a gift or a remedy, is meant to be shared freely, not repaid or withheld, and that the proper response to grace is to become a conduit of it to others.
Understanding Grace: The Foundation of Our Callings (Desiring God) uses imagined examples from American popular culture to illustrate the common misunderstandings of the word "grace." The preacher speculates that if one were to ask people on the street what "grace" means, they might first mention Princess Grace of Monaco (a "pretty princess who died a few months ago in a car wreck"), then the graceful movements of an ice skater, followed by the tradition of saying "grace" before meals, and only lastly the idea of undeserved kindness. This detailed illustration is used to highlight the gap between secular and biblical understandings of grace, setting up the need to recover the biblical meaning as it relates to Romans 1:5.