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Obedience and Disobedience: A Theology of Faith and Unbelief

🧭 Obedience and Disobedience: A Theology of Faith and Unbelief

Thesis

New covenant obedience in Christ is not mere moral or behavioral compliance—it is the fruit of mature faith. Disobedience, conversely, is not simply rebellion but the manifestation of unbelief or the lack of faith. Unbelief can be a sign of not knowing God, but also of not being fully convinced of his promises or having a lack of faith, see the Faith Of Abraham. This spiritual law is illuminated through the Greek term ἀπείθεια (apeitheia) in Hebrews 4:6 and Paul's declaration in Romans 14:23 that "whatever is not from faith is sin."

📖 Hebrews 4:6 — Disobedience as ἀπείθεια (Unbelief)

"Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience [ἀπείθεια]." — Hebrews 4:6 

  • Greek Interlinear:
    δι᾽ ἀπείθειαν — "because of apeitheia"
    • Root: ἀπείθεια = not persuaded, unbelief, disobedience.
  • This term is not behavioral but volitional—it describes a mind that does not accept or trust in God's word. For the child of God there is a Reasonable Service to enter that renews the mind so to accept and be obedient to God. This is our sanctification, to have the Mind of Christ.
  • Hebrews 3:19 confirms this:

    "So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief [ἀπιστία]."

Conclusion: Disobedience here is not a failure of action but a failure of faith. Corrective behavior or teaching that focuses on obedience rather than the root cause, unbelief, is not productive in maturing children to be like Jesus. 

Legalism is basically the outwardly display of obedience, existing as false humility, piety, and obedience for self promotion (or because they were discipled or taught even through example.) Cleaning the outside of the cup while the inside is still dirty, is how Jesus describes it. God looks at the inward, the heart, and cleanses the inward first. 

The importance of faith can not be stressed enough, for by faith we understand the universe was created by God, and that he exists, and is a rewarded of those who diligently seek him. For more on faith see Faith Exists: Substance and Evidence of Things Unseen, Faith's Foundation, Existence of Things Unseen.

📖 Romans 14:23 — Sin as Absence of Faith

"...For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." — Romans 14:23 ESV

  • Greek Interlinear:
    πᾶν δὲ ὃ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως, ἁμαρτία ἐστίν
    • πίστεως = faith, trust, belief.
  • Paul’s context is conscience and liberty, but his principle is universal: faith is the only valid source of righteous action.
  • This echoes Hebrews: actions disconnected from faith are inherently sinful—even if externally moral and religiously motivated. 

🔄 Harmonizing the Two Passages

Concept Hebrews 4:6 Romans 14:23
Greek Term ἀπείθεια (unbelief/disobedience) πίστεως (faith)
Root Issue The failure to enter rest was due to unbelief; their disobedience, as they were destined to, was due to unbelief Actions without faith are sin
Theological Insight Disobedience = unbelief Sin = unbelief or absence of faith

Together, these texts reveal a spiritual law:
Faith is the root of obedience. Unbelief is the root of sin. See, New Testament Laws: Governing Principles

🧩 Supporting Scriptures

  • John 3:36 — "Whoever believes [πιστεύω (pisteuō)]in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey [ἀπειθῶν, from apeithés, not believe] the Son shall not see life…"

    • Here again, disobedience is equated with unbelief. 
    • Salvation is equated as a gift, so is faith and grace. 
      • "For by grace are you saved through faith and this is not of yourselves, the gift is from God so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). 
      • A gift contrasted to a wage; "now, the one working, the wages are not credited as a gift but rather as debt. Now, the one not working but believes [pisteuō], to the extent in the one who justifies the ungodly, their faith is reckoned, to the extent of righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5). 
      • Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2)
      • Believing is the work of God (John 6:29)
      • By Grace: grace is a gift from God along with righteousness (Romans 3:24; Romans 5:17).

  • Romans 1:5 — "...to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations…"

    • Obedience is the fruit of faith, not its substitute. 

  • James 2:17 — "Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

    • Works (obedience) are the living expression of faith.
  • Ephesians 4:1-16 — "... to build up the body of Christ so we all attain unity of faith and knowledge of the Son, to mature adulthood..."
    • Purpose: The work of ministry produces a unity of faith in knowledge of Jesus that grows up children to mature adulthood, the measure of that being Christ's image. 
    • The lack of obedience in the church is therefore related to the building up in faith. This we are warned about in the same passage, human cunningness and deceitfulness, keeps children tossed to and fro...
  • Hebrews 4:16 — "... so that not any fall in the same model of unbelief" 
    • Apostasy is a falling away, the root cause is a lack of faith.
  • 1 Timothy 4:1  — There are forces at work that are against the unity of faith and the purpose of Christ in the church as expressed in Ephesians 4:1-16.

📖 A Foundation in Faith 

Faith is the foundation of spiritual life, the means by which we are justified, transformed, and assured of God’s promises. The scriptures and articles at LoveFulfilled.org consistently emphasize the importance of faith and that faith is not merely belief—it is divine persuasion that leads to righteousness, confidence, and spiritual maturity.

In Seeking First His Righteousness, faith is described as the channel through which we receive divine approval: “We are born of Spirit, justified by faith in Christ, made righteous by the blood of Christ.” This righteousness, the article explains, is dikaiosynēn—a state of being approved by God through faith. 

The article Faith Exists Assurance deepens this by defining faith as hypostasis—“support, substance, endurance, and assurance”—underscoring that faith is not vague hope but firm confidence in unseen realities. 

In God Working in You, faith is shown to be the work of God in the believer: “Jesus said believing is the work of God,” revealing that faith itself is a gift, not a human achievement. Together, these articles affirm that faith is the living root of transformation, obedience, and assurance—without which spiritual life cannot flourish.


📖 A Foundation in Love 

Faith and love are inseparable foundations of spiritual maturity, as emphasized throughout the new testament teachings. Therefore to speak of faith we need to speak of love. Faith produces obedience as a fruit of growth, and love energizes and fulfills the purpose of that obedience. Love is a sign of obedience, and love is a work or expression of true faith.

In the article Doctrine of Faith and Love, Paul’s instruction is clear: “the end thing of this doctrine is love, out of a pure heart and a good conscience and a real faith.” This shows that love is not a separate virtue but the culmination of true faith. 

The article Love: A Work of Faith expands this by stating, “Faith without works is dead, but love in action is a work of faith,” emphasizing that love is the visible fruit of living faith.

Furthermore, Enduring Love reminds us that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, rooted and founded in love” (Ephesians 3:17), affirming that love is the soil in which faith grows and matures. 

Together, these articles enforce a spiritual law: faith activates obedience, and love perfects it. Without faith, love lacks foundation; without love, faith lacks obedience. 

📖 Active Faith: Obedience Expressed Through Works of Love 

To reconcile the tension between “faith without works is dead” (James) and “faith without love is nothing” (Paul), we must recognize that the “works” James refers to are not legalistic deeds but acts of love—the very expression Paul insists must accompany faith.

  • James 2:17 — “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James is addressing a faith that claims belief but shows no compassion. His example: not showing favoritism between rich and poor in the church, helping the brother in worldly need—works of love.
  • 1 Corinthians 13:2 — “If I have all faith... but do not have love, I am nothing.” Paul warns that even miraculous faith is void without love. Love is the soul of faith; it believes, rejoices in truth, and exists sources of hope and endurance (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).

Love is the work that gives faith life. James demands visible evidence of faith—Paul defines that evidence as love. Faith is energized by love (Galatians 5:6), Paul writes the only thing that strengthens us is faith working through love.” This is the bridge between the two apostles.

In Love: A Work of Faith, the author writes, “Faith without works is dead, but love in action is a work of faith,” directly connecting James 2:13–17 to the practical outworking of love. The article explains that serving one another in love—especially within the church—is the mature expression of faith. 

Similarly, Works That Mature Our Faith states, “Faith is also energized by love… faith without love is nothing,” echoing Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 13:2. It concludes that “love is an action, a work of faith,” and that faith matures through such loving works. The older article Faith and Love affirms this unity, noting that while Paul says we are justified by faith and not by works, and James says faith without works is dead, in context of scripture, we see that they agree… faith produces works of love. 

These articles collectively affirm that James’s “works” and Paul’s “love” are not contradictory—they are complementary expressions of living faith, clarifying they speak in harmony, that “works” are acts of love.


📖 A Foundation That Produces Obedience

Spiritual maturity is forged through being a new creation, rooted and founded in faith and love—forming the believer’s inner strength, stability, and capacity to walk in Christ’s fullness. Obedience is the fruit of maturity in Christ. 

The article New Testament Growth in Christ: From Foundation to Fullness emphasizes that maturity is a lifelong journey beginning with a “radical spiritual new birth” and progressing through endurance toward “the fullness of God in Christ.” This growth is not static but dynamic, built on the foundation of faith and love. 

In Rooted and Founded, Built Up In Him, the author explains that being “rooted and founded in love” (Ephesians 3:17) means being strengthened by the Spirit in the inner being, with truth increasing faith and faith energized by love. 

The article Faith’s Foundation further clarifies that faith is hypostasis—a substructure of assurance and endurance—making it the bedrock of spiritual growth. 

Finally, Maturity Through the Knowledge of Jesus teaches that love matures in the believer when obedience to Christ’s words becomes joyful rather than burdensome. 

Together, these articles affirm that maturity is not merely doctrinal knowledge—it is the lived experience of being deeply rooted in faith and love, producing endurance, obedience, and Christ likeness and the fullness of God.

🪜 Teaching Framework for Reproducibility

  • Teach that spiritual maturity is not behavior modification but transformation.
  • Teach faith that is energized by actions of love. 
    • This is the command of Jesus, to love one another, therefore a lack of love for His brethren is disobedience and a sign of not knowing God or unbelief.
  • Equip others to discern obedience not by external conformity but by maturity in faith and love which comes in the knowledge of God's Son. 
    • Maturity comes not through historical knowledge of the Bible. The writer of Hebrews tells us the Mosaic Law matured no one, neither does serving, these things had a veiled glory.  Teachers should point to unveiled glory, to Jesus in whose face shines the glory of God, which transforms people. 







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