In a book that emphasizes the importance of faith, the book of Romans makes some of the strongest arguments in Scripture for the inseparable connection between faith and obedience. The words “faith” or a form of “belief” occur more than 60 times in the book of Romans, and the words “obey” or “obedience” are found 20 times. It is especially powerful when God uses “faith” and “obedience” together at the beginning and end of this masterpiece of a book.
The first and last chapters both speak of “obedience to the faith” (1:5; 16:26). God not only emphasized “obedience to the faith” but also used “faith” and “obedience” interchangeably in these chapters. He told the brethren, “Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (1:8), then he told them, “Your obedience has become known to all” (16:29).
In God’s eyes, faith and obedience cannot be separated. With Him, one cannot exist without the other, for by one the other is perfected and found pleasing in God’s sight!