So it is with God. The donor is God, the check is faith, and obedience cashes the check. Specifically, the Roman Christians died to sin, were baptized into Jesus Christ, thereby being baptized into His death and being buried with Him in baptism, and arose to walk in newness of life. In other words, they obeyed the command to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and receive the Holy Spirit. If a person does not obey, then he does not truly believe, and if he does not believe then he has not received the grace of God.
Obedience is the criterion of faith.
We must respond in obedient faith to receive the grace of God in our lives. We must not be mislead into thinking that no response on our part is necessary for us to be saved. MO 63042-2299 1st UPC of Leesville, Louisiana. All rights reserved.