<html><head></head><body><div><div><div><div><span></span><br></div>Romans 16;(24),25-27<div><br></div><div>24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.</div><div>(This verse is not found in all ancient manuscripts.)</div><div><br></div><div><b>25. &nbsp;Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery&nbsp;</b><b>which was kept secret for long ages</b></div><div><b>26. &nbsp;but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writing is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—</b></div><div><b>27. &nbsp;to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>The phrase, <i>“to bring about the obedience of faith” </i>is how Paul began the letter to the Romans, chapter one, verse five. &nbsp;This phrase is used as ‘book ends’ for this letter.</div><div><br></div><div>When Paul writes, <i>“according to my gospel” </i>he includes all the good news of life in and through Christ. &nbsp;The gospel begins with the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. &nbsp;But, this salvation goes beyond the forgiveness of sins and the promise of Heaven when we die. &nbsp;It includes the entire, daily&nbsp;new-life God gives to those who by faith, <i>“walk by the Spirit” </i>(Galatians 5;16), denying themselves, carrying their crosses and following Jesus in the obedience of faith.</div><div><br></div><div>Notice, Who strengthens us for the obedience of the faith? &nbsp; Our&nbsp;Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.</div><div>Through what does He strengthen us? Answer, <i>“the prophetic writings”, </i>God’s living and active Word.</div><div><br></div><div>I will attempt to re-send you the Verse of the Day 6/29, it includes further&nbsp;thoughts on the phrase <i>“obedience of the faith.” &nbsp;</i>I do not claim them as my thoughts.</div><div><br></div><div>Please allow the prayer from that day at the beginning of summer to again be our prayer now with summer having disappeared in the rear view mirror as we drive in into the dark of winter. &nbsp;God grant that His Word enlighten us always.</div><div><br></div><div>Love,&nbsp;</div><div>Grandpa Pickle Pastor.</div><div>“A chapter a day…”</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br><br><div><a href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&amp;c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&amp;af_sub1=Acquisition&amp;af_sub2=Global_YMktg&amp;af_sub3=&amp;af_sub4=100000604&amp;af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>&nbsp;Romans 1;3-6</span></div><div><br></div><div><b>3. &nbsp;the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh</b></div><div><b>4. &nbsp; and designated Son of God&nbsp;in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ&nbsp;our Lord,</b></div><div><b>5. &nbsp;Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,&nbsp;</b></div><div><b>6. &nbsp;Including yourselves, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Paul explains that his ministry of the Gospel has a purpose which is seldom preached about.</div><div><br></div><div>Most Believers would say the purpose of the Ministry of the Gospel is to save souls,&nbsp;proclaiming&nbsp;forgiveness and eternal life&nbsp;through the gifts of repentance and faith in Jesus. &nbsp;Paul says otherwise!</div><div><br></div><div>He says the purpose of his Apostolic&nbsp;Ministry of the Gospel is,&nbsp;<i>“to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of the his&nbsp;name&nbsp;among all&nbsp;the nations.”</i>&nbsp; (v. 5)</div><div><br></div><div>The&nbsp;<i>“obedience of faith”&nbsp;</i>means the obedience which comes from, or which belongs to,&nbsp;the gift of faith given us through the Word and Spirit.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>This is not obedience done in order to gain salvation. &nbsp;Our salvation is already ours as God’s gift to us. &nbsp;This is the&nbsp;obedience which comes as a result of being ‘baptized into Christ’. &nbsp;It comes from Christ indwelling us by the Spirit.</div><div><br></div><div>Just as it was (and is) the will of Jesus to do the Father’s will, so&nbsp;we too have ‘that same&nbsp;will’ to do the will of the Father. &nbsp;This is called having,&nbsp;<i>“the Mind of Christ.”</i>&nbsp; (1 Corinthians 2;16).&nbsp; The Mind of Christ comes to all repentant Believers&nbsp;as God’s gift to us. &nbsp;It belongs to, and is part of the gifts of repentance and faith.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div>This is Paul’s way of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. &nbsp;A kingdom must have a King, and the King assuredly has a Will. &nbsp;Those who belong to a kingdom serve the will of the King.</div><div>All earthly kings use coercive threat to motivate their subjects, or sometimes promised reward for good service as&nbsp;noblemen. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>But, the Kingdom of God brings about obedience in a ‘spiritually organic’ way, not by threat or promised reward, but as a result of our own new nature.</div><div>Obedience of faith is natural, it is in our new spiritual DNA. &nbsp;For we have died and been raised. &nbsp;We have been been made&nbsp;<i>“children of God” &nbsp;</i><span>(John 1;12). &nbsp;Which means we are now</span><span>&nbsp;children&nbsp;</span><u>from God.</u><span>&nbsp; W</span><span>e are the&nbsp;</span><i>“workmanship of God, created&nbsp;<u>in</u>&nbsp;Christ Jesus for good works.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</i><span>(</span><span>Ephesians 2;10)</span></div><div><br></div><div>We&nbsp;<u>are</u>&nbsp;truly,&nbsp;<i>“born anew.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</i>(John 3;1-6)</div><div><br></div><div>If we are disobedient to the will of the Father, we are living in the flesh according to the sinful nature of the old-Adam. &nbsp;If we are doing the will of the Father, we are walking by the Spirit as the New-man. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>We take no credit for this, “<i>For God is at work&nbsp;<u>in you, both</u></i><u>&nbsp;</u><i><u>to will</u>&nbsp;and to work&nbsp;</i>(obey)&nbsp;<i>for His good pleasure.”</i></div><div>(Philippians 2;13). &nbsp;To God alone belongs all the glory. &nbsp;Good works are done through us by faith which believes&nbsp;<span>in God indwelling us. &nbsp;Therefore, God is doing the good works not us, like the hand of a&nbsp;great artist guiding the hand&nbsp;of one of His children who holds the brush. &nbsp;Our bodies are now consecrated to be&nbsp;God’s divine paintbrushes!</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Prayer: &nbsp;Merciful Father, bless us this day to be&nbsp;Your obedient children,&nbsp;instruments in Your hands. &nbsp;Deliver us from trying to serve you in our own strength. &nbsp; Bless us to embrace by faith,&nbsp;<i>“the Law of the Spirit of Life&nbsp;<u>in</u>&nbsp;Christ Jesus.” &nbsp;</i>(Romans 8;2). &nbsp;</span><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span>In Jesus we pray, Amen.</span></div></div><div><span><br></span></div></div></div></div></body></html>


Romans 16;(24),25-27
24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.(This verse is not found in all ancient manuscripts.)
25.  Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages26.  but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writing is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27.  to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
The phrase, “to bring about the obedience of faith” is how Paul began the letter to the Romans, chapter one, verse five.  This phrase is used as ‘book ends’ for this letter.
When Paul writes, “according to my gospel” he includes all the good news of life in and through Christ.  The gospel begins with the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.  But, this salvation goes beyond the forgiveness of sins and the promise of Heaven when we die.  It includes the entire, daily new-life God gives to those who by faith, “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5;16), denying themselves, carrying their crosses and following Jesus in the obedience of faith.
Notice, Who strengthens us for the obedience of the faith?   Our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Through what does He strengthen us? Answer, “the prophetic writings”, God’s living and active Word.
I will attempt to re-send you the Verse of the Day 6/29, it includes further thoughts on the phrase “obedience of the faith.”  I do not claim them as my thoughts.
Please allow the prayer from that day at the beginning of summer to again be our prayer now with summer having disappeared in the rear view mirror as we drive in into the dark of winter.  God grant that His Word enlighten us always.
Love, Grandpa Pickle Pastor.“A chapter a day…”



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 Romans 1;3-6
3.  the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh4.   and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,5.  Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6.  Including yourselves, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;

Paul explains that his ministry of the Gospel has a purpose which is seldom preached about.
Most Believers would say the purpose of the Ministry of the Gospel is to save souls, proclaiming forgiveness and eternal life through the gifts of repentance and faith in Jesus.  Paul says otherwise!
He says the purpose of his Apostolic Ministry of the Gospel is, “to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of the his name among all the nations.”  (v. 5)
The “obedience of faith” means the obedience which comes from, or which belongs to, the gift of faith given us through the Word and Spirit. 
This is not obedience done in order to gain salvation.  Our salvation is already ours as God’s gift to us.  This is the obedience which comes as a result of being ‘baptized into Christ’.  It comes from Christ indwelling us by the Spirit.
Just as it was (and is) the will of Jesus to do the Father’s will, so we too have ‘that same will’ to do the will of the Father.  This is called having, “the Mind of Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 2;16).  The Mind of Christ comes to all repentant Believers as God’s gift to us.  It belongs to, and is part of the gifts of repentance and faith.
This is Paul’s way of proclaiming the Kingdom of God.  A kingdom must have a King, and the King assuredly has a Will.  Those who belong to a kingdom serve the will of the King.All earthly kings use coercive threat to motivate their subjects, or sometimes promised reward for good service as noblemen.  
But, the Kingdom of God brings about obedience in a ‘spiritually organic’ way, not by threat or promised reward, but as a result of our own new nature.Obedience of faith is natural, it is in our new spiritual DNA.  For we have died and been raised.  We have been been made “children of God”  (John 1;12).  Which means we are now children from God.  We are the “workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works.”   (Ephesians 2;10)
We are truly, “born anew.”   (John 3;1-6)
If we are disobedient to the will of the Father, we are living in the flesh according to the sinful nature of the old-Adam.  If we are doing the will of the Father, we are walking by the Spirit as the New-man.  
We take no credit for this, “For God is at work in you, both to will and to work (obey) for His good pleasure.”(Philippians 2;13).  To God alone belongs all the glory.  Good works are done through us by faith which believes in God indwelling us.  Therefore, God is doing the good works not us, like the hand of a great artist guiding the hand of one of His children who holds the brush.  Our bodies are now consecrated to be God’s divine paintbrushes!
Prayer:  Merciful Father, bless us this day to be Your obedient children, instruments in Your hands.  Deliver us from trying to serve you in our own strength.   Bless us to embrace by faith, “the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.”  (Romans 8;2).    In Jesus we pray, Amen.
