The Faith. Romans 1:5 “The Faith” is the body of truth comprised of all the scriptures and the carrying out of them by those who believe and act upon them. When acted upon in spirit and truth, the words of truth make the Lord's people, people of faith who commit themselves to "the faith." "The faith" is that which God has given us to know Him by and to give structure to our lives in a way that pleases Him. Truth is not just the information of what is right but the corresponding statement with a fact. Obedience of faith is faith lived out practically moves a believer to obey what is written in the scriptures.
Paul was gifted with apostleship by the grace of God, who gave him the ability to carry out foundational work in the Church. When God has gifted one, there is a reason behind that gift. He was to be obedient to the body of truth given to him by the Holy Spirit and take it to the Gentile nations for the Lord's name to be known by them. The Gentiles were to be obedient to "the faith" as well as the Jews. The body of truth they were to receive went way beyond the Old Testament scriptures. They included the truths of the New Testament that were put down in writing by the apostles and those who were in the foundation of the Church.
The churches of God were established in the faith by those who taught them the truth of the Gospel [Acts 16:5]. Those who are believers in Christ are exhorted to “stand fast in the faith” [1 Cor.16:13]. Paul preached “the faith” [Gal.1:23], the doctrines he had once tried to destroy. That body of truth is revealed [Gal.3:23], and all who believe “the faith” are in “the household of faith” [Gal.6:10] with all believers in Christ.
Even though he had never seen them, Paul wanted those to whom he wrote to know he was an apostle who had been designated as such by the grace of God. A faulty Gospel message is different from obedience to the faith. It has consequences that deny Christ the glory that should be His and leave those who hear the false message confused and lost. At stake is the name and Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, which believers will declare worldwide.
Believers in the household of faith are expected to live consistent lives that reflect and represent the truth of the Gospel. We live in this world today as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. That involves contending for the faith by joining other believers with one mind to strive together for the faith of the Gospel [Phil.1:27]. That means we keep the faith so that our conscience can remain pure [1 Tim.3:9] in contrast to those who deny the faith [1 Tim.5:8].
When He was here, the Lord Jesus knew that people as a whole would depart from faith and asked a rhetorical question: “Shall He find faith on the earth?” [Lu.18:8] when He returns. In contrast to that, Paul kept the faith [2 Tim.4:7], as does God’s elect [Titus 1:1], who are charged to “be sound in the faith [Titus 1:13].
We are being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. The Corner Stone, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the One from which the truths of the faith are measured. We are not to be obedient to the traditions of men if they are not true to "the faith." The writings of the early Church fathers are just that - writings. They are not in the body of truth called "the faith." We are built on this foundation so that we, too, will obey "the faith" and carry that message of truth to our generation. This has been going on since the times of the apostles, and it is God's method to call the Gentiles to faith and to yield to the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.
His name is known worldwide by those who have put their personal faith in Him because of "the faith" that was delivered to them by obedient servants. We also have the responsibility to pass on the message of salvation to others in the area where we live. We have been forgiven our sins by responding to “the faith” and putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. He forgave us, and others need to know He will forgive them.
In our life of faith, we commit ourselves to live a new life in Christ and witness to others through our words and deeds, which add weight to our testimony of a changed life. That begins with a new attitude toward God and a new value of everyone, regardless of age or place in life. That comes with the new nature God imparts in us when we come to Him in faith. We are not to be odd people, but people with a different mind toward “the faith” and the outworking of that faith by our conduct and practice of life.