The word "believe" means believe, trust and commit, as well as obey.
The Gospel is - Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent means: turn to God in submission to His kingdom and rule as Lord.
If a person is called to turn to God, then by default they are called to turn away from Satan as their Lord.
The way we obey the Gospel command to turn to God, is by confessing Jesus as our Lord, which demonstrates we no longer serve Satan as lord.
This is how we are transferred out of the kingdom [domain] of darkness, into the kingdom of God; The kingdom of His dear Son.
This is how we are forgiven of all our past sins and trespasses, and sanctified by obeying the truth.
This is the Gospel Jesus sent His apostles to preach including Paul.
Words of Christ in red -
14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,
‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said,
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that
they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:14-20
Whenever we see anything accomplished "by faith", such as justified by faith, or sanctified by faith, or saved by faith, there is always obedience involved.
That's why it's called "the obedience of faith".
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for
the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26
- the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
It's called the obedience of faith, because faith without the action of obedience is dead: dormant, lifeless.
James explains -
Was not Abraham our
father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:21
Not the works of the law
Not the works that earn
Not good works
It was by the corresponding action of obedience, by which Abraham was declared to be righteous.
This is the righteousness of faith.
So by us obeying the Gospel, by confessing Jesus as our Lord, we are sanctified by faith: Saved.
We begin our journey of following our Lord.
JPT