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Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles

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Paul was a chosen vessel of Jesus Christ. He tells of his calling saying, "I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles." Friends, that's the title and the office Jesus Christ gave him. What was his office? Apostle of the Gentiles, given to him by Jesus Christ. Paul continues to say the following in Rom.15:16, "That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." Now answer this: You know what makes Gentiles acceptable to God and sanctified by the Holy Ghost? The ministry given to Paul! Wow! Outside of Paul's ministry, you and I were a bunch of strangers and foreigners to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Eph.2:12. Then, in Eph.3:2-3, Paul tells us that the dispensation of grace was given to him for us that he may make known to us the mystery doctrine for the Bo...

That in me FIRST

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1 Tim.1:15-16 ... that in me first ... The key word here is 'FIRST'. First in what? —Salvation of course! But how could this be since God had shown mercy to save many others before Paul? Paul was certainly not the first person to ever be saved! No, but we must understand that Paul's conversion started a brand new 'mystery' program, the program of grace, and he was the first to be saved into this new program. Paul is the first member immersed into the Body of Christ. He was divinely selected by the risen Christ to become the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15; Gal.1:1). Christ would reveal to him the secrets of this new dispensation (Eph.3:1-5) and provide him the gospel of grace (Gal.1:11-12). This is why Paul says that in Christ Jesus he has begotten us through the gospel (1 Cor.4:15). ______________ Please share these with friends and family. Use this WhatsApp channel to receive these quick Bible lessons on your phone: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGag8iJP212...

Can practical love alone save a person?

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SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT: Forget theology and let love be the primary function of your ministry. No need to tell others what they must believe or not believe, it will be evident what you believe when nothing but love flows from your lips. MY RESPONSE: One cannot just love another or do kind deeds alone for them to get saved. They need to learn the gospel. Rom.10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard [the gospel]? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ... Paul says it is the gospel that is the power of God to save (Rom.1:16). Showing love in deeds towards others is a great testimony of your faith, but those deeds cannot save anyone. Just being kind and doing good and loving others has great value and can soften their heart, but if the recipient never understands the message of the gospel concerning the cross and resurrection of Christ, all that love and care you give them is ultimately meaningle...

His cross marks the start of your salvation, His resurrection is God's power to run the race and win the prize of the high calling of God

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The blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross was the pinnacle of sacrifice and love and accomplished our redemption through the forgiveness of sins. Romans 4:25 confirms this absolute fact, Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.  But there is more to that verse than being delivered from our offenses by the propitiation (appeasement, satisfaction) of His blood. There is also the power of God which raised up Christ from the dead for our justification. Not only did His resurrection justify us, declaring or making us righteous in the sight of God, but that same power also became the source for our ability to walk in newness of life, Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.   Many believers think of the death and resurrection of Christ as the work done by God's grace to sa...

God's grace is in His Word

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The Word says, “I’m not under the law but under grace,” but what does that mean? What's grace and how are you under grace? Well, consider this: The Bible says grace through what? Faith. Eph.2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith;". Then, faith comes by what? Hearing. Rom.10:17a "So then faith cometh by hearing,". Hearing by what? The word of God. Rom.10:17b "and hearing by the word of God."  So, ultimately, where is grace? It’s found in the Word. Thus, when you say you’re under grace, it means you are to place yourself under the authority of the written Word of God: study it, let it renew you, apply it in your life by faith. It's then that you'll experience God's grace, not only for justification, but for sanctification in this life too. 1Thess.2:13 "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the wo...

The sad state of biblical ignorance in the world today

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A BEAUTIFUL SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENT: The gospel tells us that we must believe that Jesus died for our sins. The actual process of salvation is performed by the Holy Spirit which includes the Word of God renewing our mind and bringing us to obedience of Christ. So, it truly is good news. SOMEONE’S RESPONSE: Ridiculous! Show me a verse that says that!! MY REPLY: The bible tells us to study it line upon line, here a little, and there a little, Isaiah 28:10. No one verse is going to divulge the entire salvation process which involves justification, sanctification and glorification. Thus, one has to read the Bible and learn these things as the verses, throughout many pages, connect and confirm each other. I can give you a starting point by referring you to 1Cor.15:1–4 and Eph.2:8–9. Then, from these verses, allow the scripture to lead you into more cross-references and it will start to build a clear picture of the process of salvation in Paul’s epistles. ______________ Please share these wit...

Being led by the Spirit comes from your knowledge of the Word of God

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Our principal duty as believers, which is also the will of God for us, is to come to the knowledge of the truth, 1Tim.2:4. How do we come to the knowledge of the truth? We study the written Word of truth and learn how to rightly divide it, 2Tim.2:15. We allow the Word of God to dwell in us richly, Col.3:16. We allow it to renew our mind so that it makes us wise unto its doctrine, allowing it to reprove, correct, and instruct us. Being led by the Spirit of God is not being led by some ethereal voice or premonitions, but rather, it is simply having a knowledge and understanding of the written Word within you. You walk by the Spirit (or walk by faith) when you obey the truth of God’s Word, applying it to your life circumstances and scenarios. Notice what Paul says here, Rom.6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17  But God be thanked, that ye were t...