From Grace to Obedience

God accomplishes His work through obedient servants—grace received becomes grace lived.

INTRO

Context: Paul nearing the close of Romans, shifting from doctrinal exposition to personal mission.

Grace Recognized>Grace Commissioned>Grace Lived Out

I. Grace Recognized

(Grace seen among us — fruit as evidence)

Romans 15:14 “I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”

Paul begins by affirming visible fruit: goodness, knowledge, mutual instruction.

This is not flattery—it is theological confidence in the Spirit’s work.

Fruit is evidence of grace already at work at the individual level within the flock.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Pastoral Emphasis:

Grace precedes correction.

God is not finished with His people.

Confidence is rooted in God’s initiative, not human maturity.

Grace is recognized where God is already at work among His people.

II. Grace Commissioned

(Grace that defines the nature of our service — Priestly and Christ-centered)

Romans 15:16 “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

Priestly Service

Adam (representative)

Israel (kingdom of priests)

Christ (Great High Priest)

Church (living sacrifices)

Ministry is offering, not self-expression.

Christ-Centered Service

Romans 15:17–19 “In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;”

Christ is the efficient cause; believers are instrumental causes.

Paul labors, but only with Christ’s power.

Grace by faith guards against pride and passivity.

“Paul does not deny effort—he denies ownership.”

Colossians 1:28–29 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”

Grace does not terminate in belief alone—it commissions us into priestly service.

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Grace not only saves us—it sends us.

III. Grace Lived Out

(Grace embodied through obedient response, so that, clarity comes through walking)

Romans 15:20–21 “and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.””

Paul’s ambition is rooted in Scripture, not experience.

Obedience is grounded in the OT Law, fulfilled and summarized by Jesus:

Love God

Love others

Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Clarify the difference between:

Biblical obedience for all Christians

Personal conviction (Romans 14 conscience framework)

Romans 14:12 “So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

James 1:22–25 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

Pastoral Emphasis:

Clarity follows obedience, not introspection.

God establishes the steps as we walk.

Calling will often look unexpected, but it will be for our good and His glory.

Grace is lived through obedience shaped by God’s Word.

CLOSING

Grace Recognized>Grace Commissioned>Grace Lived

Tie back to Romans 12:1:

Our response to grace is thanksgiving and obedience.

Final encouragement:

God’s call becomes clearer as we walk faithfully.

Obedience is not the cost of grace—it is the fruit of grace.

God is at work through obedient servants—grace received becomes grace lived.