Paul's letter to the Romans begins and ends with him talking about the obedience of the faith (see Rm16:25-26).  According to Paul's gospel, the faith he is talking about is the mystery hid from the beginning of the world, namely, that through Christ, salvation is extended not only to the seed of Abraham in Isaac, but now to the Gentile as well.  That through that gospel and the preaching of Christ: that Christ died and rose from the grave, that through Christ we can receive forgiveness of sin and become new creatures, that through Christ we can receive the Holy Spirit, his gifts and fruit, and through Christ the gift of eternal life, that now the pagan can receive all that too.

            Have you received grace and apostleship for the obedience of the faith?  For Paul the purpose of the church is to extend the invitation of salvation and the blessings of Christ to the pagan world.  The church is to constantly be sending out missionaries to evangelize the gospel and receive new members to be educated and anointed for future ministry and outreach.  A thriving church is not one that is constantly increasing in membership, simply following the laws and ritual of that particular denomination, but one that is constantly sending out people into the missionary field.  That for St. Paul is the purpose of the church.  The whole purpose of Paul talking about salvation by faith in Christ apart from the Law is to get us to realize that the Gentile can be saved too.  That since only the Jew was given the Law, the Law cannot be the means of salvation. 

            What are you doing with the grace you have received from Christ?  Are you spreading the good news or are you simply living in the law and church ritual?  Is your church only seeking to increase its membership or is it promoting missionary enterprises?  Is your church merely content with teaching the Law or is it advocating missionary missions? 

            Much of the denominational church is dead because it does not see through the eyes of Paul 's gospel but only for some at that, with the preaching of Christ.  It is stagnant because it wants to receive new members but does not promote the need to send out missionaries and evangelists to reach the pagan community.  The great Commission that Christ advocated is left for the clergy and the church is seen only in a pastoral role and not an evangelical one.  This is a great, great tragedy of which the pagan suffers the most, not experiencing the gift of Christ.  The salvation of the Gentile is so important to God that in God's estimation, it is worth the price of martyrdom for the saints of God.

            I ask you again, have you received grace and apostleship for the obedience of the faith?  That is how Paul begins and ends his letter to the Romans: on the obedience of the faith. It is Paul's gospel!

Nuff said.  amen