Lesson 6 - Question 31 of 38 

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Grace and the Obedience of Faith:

So far in this lesson, we have looked at 1) promises that God made that required no action on man's part...and 2) promises that God made that were conditional upon man being obedient.  We looked at Romans 1:5 where Paul's mission is to bring about the obedience of faith among the people.  Christians are to have an obedient faith...a faith that will obey God whenever obedience is required by God.

Grace

The grace of God is demonstrated in the gifts that He gives and the promises that He makes to man.  Men and women do not force God to give gifts.  We cannot do enough good works to earn the gifts or the promises that God gives.  Instead, God gives gifts and promises of His own accord...out of His love toward us.

Examples of Faith - When One Obeys, Where is Their Faith?

When God by His grace makes a promise of a gift to us...we have the choice to accept the gift or to reject it.  If the promise is not conditional upon us doing something, then God expects us to have faith that He will give us what He has promised.  If the promise is conditional upon us doing something, then God expects us to obey...and have faith that He will do what He promised for those who obey. 

Following are three examples:

Faith in God's Promise (Given By Grace)

God's Gift

The Obedience of Faith Required

You will "be clothed with Christ." "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."  Galatians 3:26-27 (NAS)
You will "walk in newness of life." "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection..."  Romans 6:4-5 (NAS)
You will receive "forgiveness of sins." "And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 (NAS)

In Colossians 2:12, the apostle Paul reminds us of where we place our faith as we obey:

"...having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:12 (NAS)

Question:

According to Colossians 2:12, when a person is buried with Christ in baptism, he or she is raised up with Him through faith in what?

Their Own Actions The Working of God The Preacher


Other Translations - Colossians 2:12:

having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. (NIV)

buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (NKJ)

having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ASV)

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (KJV)

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