FAQs Mondays: What Does God Require of Man?

This week we return to our Frequently Asked Questions series.  This week's focus is on what God requires of man.  The previous post can be found here.


What is the duty which God requires of man?

The duty which God requires of man is the obedience that comes from faith.  Paul states, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6).  Of his ministry Paul said, "For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed" (Rom. 15:8). Again Paul states, "but [the gospel] has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26). 


What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?                              
The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law. Paul states, "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even thought they do not have the law.  They show that the wok of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or excuse them" (Rom. 2:14-15).  Again he states, "for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.  Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come" (Rom. 5:13-14).

Summary

We have learned that God requires the obedience of faith as revealed in the moral law.  Next week we will begin to answer the question: "What is the moral law?".