Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Flows from Faith

Obedience in the Christian life is not about our efforts but is a result of faith. True obedience flows from a heart that trusts in God, as any act not rooted in faith is ultimately sin. This highlights the importance of nurturing our faith to live obediently. When we focus on strengthening our faith, we align ourselves with God's will, allowing His grace to empower our actions. This divine setup ensures that God remains the source and enabler of our obedience, emphasizing His role as the giver of grace. [04:22]

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you struggle to obey God. How can you nurture your faith in this area to allow obedience to flow naturally?

Day 2: Faith as the Source and Substance of Obedience

The relationship between faith and obedience is crucial. Faith is both the source and substance of obedience. When we believe, we are obeying, and this obedience is pleasing to God. This understanding helps us focus on strengthening our faith rather than merely trying to be obedient. By nurturing our faith, we allow God's grace to work through us, leading to genuine acts of obedience that honor Him. This perspective shifts our focus from self-effort to reliance on God's strength and guidance. [02:30]

"And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it." (2 John 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a recent decision you made. Was it rooted in faith? How can you ensure that your future decisions are guided by faith and not merely by obligation?

Day 3: Dependence on Grace Through Faith

God's design for our lives is that all our obedience and ministry are dependent on His grace through faith. This ensures that He remains the source and enabler of our actions, emphasizing His role as the giver of grace. When we rely on God's strength, He receives the glory, and we receive the help we need. This divine setup emphasizes the importance of living in dependence on God, allowing His grace to flow through us and guide our actions. [06:54]

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you relied on your own strength rather than God's grace. How can you shift your focus to depend more on His grace in your daily life?

Day 4: Exaltation of Christ's Name

The ultimate goal of our obedience and ministry is the exaltation of Christ's name. Our lives are meant to reflect and glorify Christ, ensuring that He is known and loved in the world. This is the heart of our calling and the reason for our existence. By living in the strength that God supplies, we ensure that He is glorified in all things. This perspective helps us align our actions with God's purpose, allowing His name to be exalted through our lives. [08:52]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect Christ's love and glory in your interactions with others today?

Day 5: Serving in God's Strength

By relying on God's strength, we ensure that He receives the glory in all things. When we serve in the strength that God supplies, He is glorified, and we receive the help we need. This divine setup emphasizes the importance of living in dependence on God. It reminds us that our achievements are not based on our own efforts but on God's grace working through us. This understanding encourages us to seek His strength in all aspects of our lives, allowing His glory to shine through our actions. [13:01]

"Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a task or responsibility you have today. How can you consciously rely on God's strength to accomplish it, ensuring that He receives the glory?

Sermon Summary

Through the grace and power of the risen Son of God, we are called to a life of obedience that flows from faith. This obedience is not a product of our own efforts but is a result of the grace we receive through faith. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in Romans 1:5, where he speaks of receiving grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations. This concept of "obedience of faith" can be understood in two ways: obedience that comes from faith or faith that is itself obedience. Both interpretations highlight the integral relationship between faith and obedience in the Christian life.

In the Book of Romans, obedience is a recurring theme. Paul underscores that true obedience is not achieved through works but through faith. This is because any act not rooted in faith is ultimately sin, as it does not please God. Therefore, the focus should be on nurturing our faith, as it is through faith that grace flows, enabling us to live obediently. This divine setup ensures that God remains the source and enabler of our obedience, emphasizing His role as the giver of grace.

The ultimate purpose of this divine arrangement is for the exaltation of Christ's name. Our lives, ministries, and acts of obedience are meant to reflect and glorify Christ. This is why God orchestrates our salvation and ministry to be dependent on grace through faith. If our achievements were based on our own efforts, we would receive the glory. However, when we rely on God's strength, He receives the glory, and we receive the help we need.

In essence, our existence and purpose are to exalt Christ in every aspect of our lives. By living in the strength that God supplies, we ensure that He is glorified in all things. This is the heart of our calling and the reason for our obedience.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience in the Christian life is not about our efforts but is a result of faith. True obedience flows from a heart that trusts in God, as any act not rooted in faith is ultimately sin. This highlights the importance of nurturing our faith to live obediently. [04:22]
2. The relationship between faith and obedience is crucial. Faith is both the source and substance of obedience. When we believe, we are obeying, and this obedience is pleasing to God. This understanding helps us focus on strengthening our faith rather than merely trying to be obedient. [02:30]
3. God's design for our lives is that all our obedience and ministry are dependent on His grace through faith. This ensures that He remains the source and enabler of our actions, emphasizing His role as the giver of grace. [06:54]
4. The ultimate goal of our obedience and ministry is the exaltation of Christ's name. Our lives are meant to reflect and glorify Christ, ensuring that He is known and loved in the world. This is the heart of our calling and the reason for our existence. [08:52]
5. By relying on God's strength, we ensure that He receives the glory in all things. When we serve in the strength that God supplies, He is glorified, and we receive the help we need. This divine setup emphasizes the importance of living in dependence on God. [13:01]
** [13:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - Introduction to Obedience of Faith
[01:13] - Grace and Apostleship
[01:29] - Two Interpretations of Obedience of Faith
[02:13] - Faith as Obedience
[03:23] - Importance of Obedience in Romans
[04:02] - Faith and Sin
[05:15] - Obedience Comes from Faith
[06:03] - Grace Received by Faith
[07:07] - Focus on Faith, Not Works
[08:03] - God's Role as Giver
[08:52] - Exaltation of Christ's Name
[10:00] - Purpose of Our Existence
[11:10] - Dependence on Grace Through Faith
[12:11] - Serving in God's Strength
[13:19] - Ministry Philosophy: 1 Peter 4:11

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 1:5
- Romans 14:23
- 1 Peter 4:11

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Observation Questions:

According to Romans 1:5, what is the purpose of the grace and apostleship that Paul received? How does this relate to the concept of "obedience of faith"? [00:53]
In the sermon, what are the two interpretations of the phrase "obedience of faith" mentioned, and which interpretation does the pastor lean towards? [01:29]
How does Romans 14:23 define actions that are not rooted in faith, and what implication does this have for Christian obedience? [04:02]
What is the ultimate goal of our obedience and ministry according to the sermon, and how is this reflected in Romans 1:5? [08:52]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the relationship between faith and obedience challenge the idea of achieving righteousness through works? What does this imply about the nature of true obedience? [05:15]
Why might Paul emphasize that obedience comes from faith rather than works? How does this perspective affect the way Christians should approach their spiritual lives? [06:54]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that God’s design for our lives ensures that He remains the source and enabler of our actions? How does this understanding impact our view of grace? [08:03]
How does the pastor explain the reason God set up our salvation and ministry to be dependent on grace through faith? What does this reveal about God’s character and His intentions for us? [11:10]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent situation where you tried to achieve something through your own efforts rather than relying on faith. How might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [07:07]
Consider the areas of your life where you struggle with obedience. How can you focus on nurturing your faith to address these struggles? What practical steps can you take this week? [07:25]
The sermon emphasizes the exaltation of Christ’s name as the ultimate goal of our obedience. How can you ensure that your daily actions reflect and glorify Christ? [09:07]
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to rely more on God’s strength rather than your own. What changes can you make to depend more on His grace? [13:01]
How can you cultivate a mindset that prioritizes faith over works in your spiritual journey? What resources or practices can help you strengthen your faith? [07:40]
Think of a person or situation that challenges your faith. How can you apply the principles from the sermon to respond in a way that honors God? [08:19]
Reflect on the statement, "I exist ultimately because...". How would you complete this sentence in light of the sermon, and what changes might this perspective inspire in your life? [09:22]

Sermon Clips

Through the living Son of God risen with power we have received Grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith. So Grace is given for a calling like apostleship or motherhood for a particular effect in the lives of children you could say or in the lives of the Gentiles, and the effect here is described as The Obedience of faith. [00:43:20]

In the Book of Romans obedience is very important. Chapter six is going to talk about obedience you are a slave to the one you obey whether to righteousness or to sin. Chapter 9 verse 32 says by faith and not as though it were were by works we obey the law. Chapter 14 verse 23 says whatever is not from faith is sin. [00:18:21]

Which means any attempt at obedience or any other Act which isn't springing from a heart of faith winds up in just being sin because it displeases the Lord without faith it is impossible to please God Hebrews 11 6. Well because of those kinds of verses and because of this word obedience I'm inclined to go with the NIV here and say that the meaning is the goal or the effect of Paul's apostleship and Grace is to bring about faith which yields obedience. [00:55:25]

If our gift and our ministry and The Obedience of that Ministry are given by grace and if Grace is received by faith and not by works then that obedience is channeled through faith and is called in point number two The Obedience of faith. Faith correlates with Grace and therefore The Obedience that comes from Grace also is The Obedience that comes from faith. [00:39:02]

So if you want to be an obedient person and live the Christian life the way Paul conceives it then work on your faith don't try to work on your works because you'll wind up being a legalist. Work on your faith focus on the Lord faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. [00:42:27]

Why does God have such a passion to be the giver here the gracer, and why does he establish it so that works our works do not get it Faith like a little child receiving it gets it why did he set up a Salvation and why did he set up an apostleship a motherhood a singleness a pastorate a studentship a nursery worker why did he set up the Christian life so that all of life is a believing reception of Grace which then empowers obedience? [00:46:47]

The ultimate goal of all God's dealings with you is that the name of Christ would be exalted in your life and in your job and in your family and among your friendships and everywhere you go this afternoon and tomorrow will Christ be exalted will people read the banner of Christ off your life that's why you exist. [00:35:32]

God raised up Pharaoh he dealt with Pharaoh the way he did for this ultimate reason that the name of God would be known in the world. God means for the name of his son who is his own image to be known in the world so verse 5 gets at it by saying that Paul's apostleship and the grace for it and the effect of that apostleship by bringing about The Obedience of Faith which receives Grace is all unto this end for the sake of the name of the Son of God that he might be known and loved that exalted and treasured and glorified. [00:37:26]

Now this is why God makes our salvation and our ministry and all our obedience dependent upon Grace through faith if our obedience if our ministry were to come by works we would get the glory if I accomplish the pastorate in the strength that John Piper supplies John Piper will get the glory if I accomplish the pastorate in the strength that God supplies God will get the glory and I will get the help. [00:41:10]

Whoever serves is to do so in the strength which God supplies so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belong the glory and the Dominion forever and ever amen. Everywhere I go to speak I was in Orlando on Thursday night I spoke in video conferencing with Perth Australia seven o'clock Thursday morning I went up to Winnipeg a week ago. [00:45:00]

Let him who serves serve in the strength that God supplies in order that God would get the glory and I always use those gestures like that and that's my theology just like that and if you get that if you if you are deaf here this morning and can read my lips perhaps and you see God I need you I need you for this ministry I need you for this sermon I need you for the baby dedication I need you to make it good for Noel today. [00:49:22]

Faith correlates with Grace and therefore The Obedience that comes from Grace also is The Obedience that comes from faith. So if you want to be an obedient person and live the Christian life the way Paul conceives it then work on your faith don't try to work on your works because you'll wind up being a legalist. Work on your faith focus on the Lord faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. [00:39:02]

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Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Flows from Faith

Day 2: Faith as the Source and Substance of Obedience

Day 3: Dependence on Grace Through Faith

Day 4: Exaltation of Christ's Name

Day 5: Serving in God's Strength

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living Obediently Through Faith and Grace

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