Bookends and other Things

  In reading through Romans recently i noticed that an identical phrase is used in the opening of the letter (Romans 1:5) and at the end. (Romans 16:26) Paul writes about the "obedience of faith" (ESV) He says he has received grace and apostleship to bring about this obedience of faith while in 16:26 he refers to the prophetic writing made known to all nations by the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith. ( ESV paraphrased) In 6:17 he thanks God, "that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed." (ESV) Put another way, faith produces obedience, something that mental assent, which we often mistakenly assume is true Biblical faith, cannot do. As a pastor friend told me, "The Bible does not know a faith that does not produce obedience." ( to the Lordship of Christ)
     Another set of bookends containing one theme is found in the book of Acts. Chapter 1; 2-3 speak of Jesus giving commands for forty days through the Holy Spirit to the apostles and speaking to them about the kingdom of God. The last verse of Acts, 28:31, tells us that Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God with all boldness. Kingdoms imply a king, and a king is one whom the people of the kingdom obey. Those who rebel are punished. "An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him." ( Proverbs 17:11 ESV)
    How do we know which Kingdom we are in? ( i.e. kingdom of darkness or kingdom of light) By whom we obey. What is a potential test? If we receive the Word of God. When the Word is patiently ministered in a reasonably complete and accurate manner and the person rejects or ignores it, then in all likelihood that person is a rebel. "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV) May we follow the example of the Thessalonians.