The writings of the Apostle Paul provide instructions for the Church.

The Apostle Paul was the author of 13 of the 27 “Books” or “Letters” in the New Testament. All of Paul’s writings were “letters” to churches and individuals. This lesson surveys three of Paul’s letters: one to the Christians in Rome, one to the Christians in Corinth, and one to the Christians in the region of Galatea. Paul’s letter to the Romans is a profoundly important explanation of the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the Corinthian‘s is filled with doctrinal and practical knowledge. Paul’s letter to the Christians of Galatea is often regarded as “the letter to the Romans in a miniature”.

BEING MADE RIGHT WITH GOD

A. The Just Shall Live By Faith

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

…….Oh what a fearful thing it must be to fall into the hands of a living God (Heb. 10:32). There are many reasons why people feel like giving up and being unsettled at times, but in those moments never turn your back on repentance. There’s a difference in being weary from the battle and running from the battle. Being weary in battle will cause us to hit our knees, and sometimes that is it’s wonderful intention. Running from the battle means going back to those weak and beggarly elements of the world to try and find peace by feeding a carnal appetite. No matter what we go through, we must stay godly and righteous!

WHY? Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

…….God has done enough, been enough and caused us to experience and see enough to totally eliminate excuses. Though faith is believing in things that we cannot see, those invisible things that the world cannot see and understand have been revealed to us just like turning on a light in a dark room. It’s never Gods intention or fault for His children to go without knowledge and understanding. He has provided the tools and the means to visually and spiritually grab ahold of what it is you need. Even in the times you cannot see, continue to do what you know to do. Pull your strength from the roots that keep you standing! Even when all you have left to do is just simply hang on to the hand of God, that’s the best thing you can do in the first place!

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

…….The reason the glory (worship and praise) of God was changed is because this particular group of people only served God through observing the law. The only way a God fearing person can be easily swayed into idol worship is if the observing of the Lord was not out of true salvation and repentance. That person who has a true established relationship with the Lord will never find it easy nor be at peace with themselves by worshiping anything other than God himself!

Rom 3:20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

…….Once again, it is not an observance of laws and tradition that saves us or keeps us saved, it is that communicated relationship with Christ!

Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested (made clear), being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

…….I love the comparison Paul males between the the prophets (vs. 21), and all that believed (vs. 22) and all that have sinned (vs. 23). Because all have sinned, there is no one who is justified by the law. It is grace through redemption that brings a person to salvation through the redemption of Jesus Christ!

B. Having Been Justified By Faith

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified (declared just or innocent) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

…….Being justified by faith is this; an individual can pray the prayer of repentance and salvation without any knowledge of the word of God, and can get up from that altar declaring freedom through the cleansing power of the supernatural change that had just taken place! When God truly saved me, I wanted to know more about what it was that I felt that night at the altar! There was such a transformation that took place. It may not happen that way with every individual, but it has to happen that way for me because I was a wretched soul that experienced way too much of this carnal appeasing appetite! For once in my life I had found something that I had been looking for in too many different areas, that was the peace of God and freedom from myself!

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time (proper, convenient season) Christ died for the ungodly.

…….Obviously none of us were alive when Christ accomplished His great purpose, but His accomplishment was so powerful that it could still transform everyone in the time they realize that they are without strength. That realization that we can no longer make it without a supernatural help, and every time at that!

Rom 5:7  For scarcely (barely) for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure (slightly, possibly) for a good man some would even dare to die.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

…….The Apostle Paul goes beyond the possibility of dying for a righteous man and even a good man and goes straight to the worse scenario, while we were sinners. Let’s be honest, no person in a natural mindset is going to take the punishment of death for another. Any man in a sane mind is going to think about all those people who depend on Him if death occurred. But Christ, even in knowing the sinfulness of mans heart, and out of a love for the future of every person, with His mind set on what would be gained and not lost, freely died for us all.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation (sentencing of punishment) to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

…….(vs 1) Because we are feed from sin by God we no longer live in condemnation, no matter what the enemy tells you along the way. That is the purpose and reason we must continue to “walk in the Spirit”! What is it to walk in the Spirit? It is the continuous communication with God, not living and abiding in discouragement, but walking in and enjoying the amazing fruit that accompanies being full of His Spirit!

APOSTOLIC CORRECTION AND COUNSEL

A. Carnality Exposed

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto (until now) ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

…….There must come a time in every individual’s life that we graduate from childhood to adulthood. Paul here is giving a lecture because he has already told this church to grow up in the Spirit. How many of us can take it when a Pastor or church leader tells us it’s time to change? How does it sit with you? If we are ever going to grow in Christ we must be in accordance with Gods spiritual chain of command.

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

…….It is not those that walk in the Spirit that cause the division, strife and envying. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t be affected by it. I’ve seen it many times, people being accused wrongfully because they were somehow affected by carnal men’s carnality in the church, that is why it is forbidden.

1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

1Co 3:5  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

…….In the midst of a church toil, there is great danger in taking sides with any individual. This is where “church splits” happen. We must leave that up to the church deacons and trust God to fix the problem. With that said, no one waking in the Spirit should have fault with anyone walking in the Spirit.

1Co 3:6  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

B. Christ is Sufficient to Save

…….During the Apostle Paul‘s second missionary journey, while at Corinth, Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians. During the two years since Paul had ministered in Galatia, false teachers had been working among them, endeavoring to persuade them that, in addition to faith in Jesus, they needed to also embrace the rituals and ceremonies of Old Testament Judaism. This was in direct contradiction to the decision of the early church, that Gentile believers in Jesus Christ would not be required to convert to Judaism to be accepted in the church.

Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

…….This very example is the reason we must be so full of the Spirit, and ever learning the scriptures. When the enemy comes in and tries to sway the flock, it is up to the flock to have the knowledge and power to discern the works of the Devil.

Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

…….He takes them on a walk down memory lane and asks, everything Christ has done for you without the leaning of mans religion, has it been in vain? The answer is No! Don’t ever let your mind be changed about what God has done for you and where He has done it!

Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Gal 3:11  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Gal 3:12  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

…….Simply explained, just because one lives lawfully does not make them righteous, it only makes them lawful.

Gal 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Gal 3:14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

…….Paul’s message was, justification (salvation) is by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and cannot be obtained by mere religious rituals, ceremonies, holy days, and doing good deeds.

I want to leave you with this: We must never forget what an accomplishment it was when Christ saved us from our sins! The accomplishment that only the redemption power of Jesus Christ could offer that ignites the flame of faith in knowing that He will never leave us nor forsake us! Through all walks of life, the Spirit of Jesus will keep us encouraged and established with the foundation that will always remain. May we always remember the words of Christ in John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me……. Believing in Christ and what He has performed and promised will take us all the way to the end of life with confidence and encouragecment!