"For whom we receive the grace and the apostolate to lead all nations to the obedience of faith for the sake of his name"
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God saves us, dear listener, by His grace. That is God's method for salvation. No one could be saved if God were not kind. It says here: "By whom". Now, God the Father is the source and the Son is the means. "By whom we receive" may refer to all apostles, but especially Paul as the apostle to non-Jews.
Now, "Grace" and "the apostolate" are two words of great prominence that Paul uses here. "Grace" is the general term that refers to the whole, while "the apostolate" is the specific term that limits itself. "Grace" is the great word of the great apostle. All the things of God had come to him through "grace," both his salvation and his apostolate. "Grace" is the unmerited favor of God. Through His "grace," God gives heaven to sinners who deserve hell.
Now, although the word "apostolate" refers only to those who were technically apostles; every believer is really a "sent" by God. The word "apostle" means "sent," and is someone who is "sent," is a witness with a message. We have also received "grace and apostolate." If you, dear friend, have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you must be busy doing something for the proclamation of God's Word to others. That is the work of those who have received "grace and apostolate."
Now, we read here in this verse 5, also: "For obedience to faith in all nations." And this literally means: "To obedience to faith." Obedience comes from faith as a direct result or fruit. Chronologically and logically, too, faith comes first and then obedience. The apostle Paul on the road to Damascus first asked: "Who are you, Lord?" Now, that led to his salvation; and then asked: "what do you want me to do?" Saving faith leads to obedience.
The fact is that faith is obedience. This epistle begins with obedience and ends with the same note. Listen to what he says in chapter 16, verse 26: "But it has been manifested now, and that by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, all nations have been made known to obey the faith". Now, this expression here? all the people? they are the Gentiles or non-Jews, contrasted with the Jews.
Obedience of faith is very important. God saves us by faith, not by the works we do. But after he has saved us, He wants to talk to us about our works, about our obedience to Him. Saving faith makes one obedient to Jesus Christ. Maybe someone says, "Well, is there a difference in faith?" Certainly there is; The difference in faith lies in its object. The object of our faith must be Jesus Christ. Saving faith is a faith that trusts and believes in Him.
My faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a saving faith. Saving faith is what brings us to the place where we surrender to the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Credits for the author Luis de Miguel de la Biblica school.
Credits for the author Luis de Miguel de la Biblica school.
