Paul also mentions that there is an “obedience to the faith" (or obedience of faith) at the beginning and end of the book of Romans (See: Romans 1:5, Romans 16:26).
Now although Paul can speak of people’s initial response of choosing to believe the gospel as an act of obedience in which he describes it as
"obeyed the gospel" (Romans 10:16; 1:16) the purpose of Paul’s apostleship was not merely to bring people to conversion but also to bring about transformed lives that were obedient to God.
Notice that Paul said they
have (already) received grace and apostleship
FOR/UNTO obedience to the faith in Romans 1:5. Just as in Ephesians 2:10, Paul said that we are created in Christ Jesus
FOR/UNTO good works. Paul did not say that they did not receive grace and apostleship until they produced obedience afterwards. Obedience that is produced "out of" faith is works and we are saved through faith, not works. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Romans 6 says, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16). So we have to have obedience unto righteousness. Romans 6 also says, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Romans 6:22). So our obedience unto righteousness is being servants of God, and having fruit unto holiness with having the end of everlasting life. This is all a part of “the obedience to the faith.”
In regard to Romans 6:16, works-salvationists typically ignore "servants of obedience unto righteousness" and simply stress "obedience unto righteousness" as if works of obedience which "follow saving faith in Christ" are "unto righteousness," as if we are saved by works. Unbelievers are not slaves of obedience unto righteousness no matter how much so-called obedience that they attempt to conjure up through the flesh in a vain effort to obtain salvation by works. (Matthew 7:22-23)
There is a contrast here between servants/slaves. There are only two kinds of servants/slaves in this world, in the spiritual sense;
servants/slaves of sin unto death, or
servants/slaves of obedience unto righteousness. When we place our faith exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation/believe the gospel by trusting in His finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation, we then
become "servants of obedience unto righteousness."
Being slaves of sin is put in the past tense. Paul goes on in Romans 6:18 -
"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."
Notice in Romans 10:10 - For with the heart one
believes unto righteousness..
Notice in Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but
believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith (not his works)
is accounted for righteousness.
There is no such thing as “the disobedience of the faith.” For Ephesians 5 says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:3-6).
Those who are born of God are characterized by obedience and not disobedience. Ephesians 2:2 - And you He made alive, who were (past tense) dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked (past tense) according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who
now works in the sons of disobedience. (unbelievers) "The sons of disobedience" who practice such sins (lifestyle or bent of life) is descriptive of the
unrighteous and not the righteous. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21)
#7. John 3:36 (The Greek word “apeitheō” used in John 3:36 for “believeth not” (KJB) is translated as “obey not” or “disobedient” in other English bible verses. For example, 1 Peter 3:1 and 1 Peter 3:20 translates apeitheō as “obey not” or “disobedient.” It is used in context to being disobedient in regards to one’s righteous conduct (Whereas John 3:36 is translated as believeth not” in the King James Bible). Some translations render the KJB’s John 3:36 “believeth not" as “obey not” in other Translations (NLT, ESV, BLB, NASB, ASV, EXB, GNT). In other words, “believeth not” is synonymous with “obey not.” In fact, you can check this Greek word for yourself and its usage here at BlueLetterBible.
G544 - apeitheō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV)
I often hear works-salvationists (particularly Roman Catholics) cite John 3:36 in the NASB and "stress" the word "obey" to imply that we are saved "by" obedience/works. In regard to "does not obey the Son" in the New American Standard translation of the Bible, this does not mean that receiving eternal life is received based on the merits of our obedience/works which "follow" believing in the Son but
obey by choosing to believe in the Son.
If John wanted to make obedience the central theme in salvation here, he would have said: "He who believes
and obeys the Son has eternal life," but that is not what John said.
To obey the Son here is to choose to believe in the Son.
The King James Version renders this same verse as: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that
"believeth not the Son" shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The NIV says
"rejects the Son" and the HCSB says,
"refuses to believe in the Son." To refuse to believe in the Son is to disobey, rebel, be disloyal and refuse conformity. Strong’s definition of apeitheo is "
to disbelieve willfully and perversely." *In the context of 3:36, to "not obey the Son" means to
reject the Son by refusing to believe in the Son. Your misinterpretation of these passages of scripture above culminates in
salvation by works at the back door.