Romans 3:28 : We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Here we may draw hurtful conclusions, if we do not keep in mind Paul's line of argument. Paul is not contrasting faith and the obedience of faith, but he is contrasting justification by works of law and justification by faith. In Romans 1:5 he speaks of "the obedience of faith" --that is, obedience of which faith is the source or foundation--an obedient faith. Works of law is an entirely different thing from obedience of faith. When Paul talks about faith, he means an obedient faith. Many have stumbled through Romans without ever recognizing the fact that Paul makes that plain in the very beginning of his letter. To make works of law refer to the obedience of faith is to enshroud ourselves in a fog of confusion from which we will not be able to emerge with any clear ideas of the gospel plan of salvation. To be justified by works of law requires that works, as measured by law, be perfect. A sinner can never be justified by works of law, for no amount of works will change the fact that he has sinned. But the death of Christ made it possible for those who believe in him to be justified. But just here another hurtful error has been made--namely, the limiting of faith to an acceptance of him as a sacrifice for our sins. Faith is decidedly too limited in scope, if it does not include also submission to Jesus as our King; for Jesus will save no one in whose heart he is not al-lowed to reign as King. But the death of Jesus for all made it possible for all to be saved.