Paul's Curriculum for Maturing in Spirit and having Christ formed within you

Paul's Curriculum for Maturing in Spirit and having Christ formed within you.

• Romans to Galatians is focused predominantly on believer growing up and learning of God while here on earth.
• Ephesians to Thessalonians is focused on sonship and sets sights on life in the heavenly position and for eternity.

 

Romans:

A general outline of the Romans foundation of salvation, justification and sanctification. Of critical note is the lessons of walking by grace and faith, avoiding the flesh and the law. Romans 5, 8 and 12 are key chapters that conclude valuable foundational lessons learned in the chapters that precede them.

• Rom.1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• Rom.3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
• Rom.4-5 Justified by faith without works (by Gods work and grace)
• Rom.5 Cannot live by faith in the flesh
• Rom.6-7 Cannot live by faith under the law
• Rom.8-12 No condemnation, set free, renew the mind, be a living sacrifice,
• Rom.13-16 Living practical Christian morality

 

Corinthians:

A book of correction: Believers trying to live the Christian life in the flesh.

• 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: … 3 For ye are yet carnal:
• 2 Corinthians 13:1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates (rogue, villains, wrongdoers, sinners destined to damnation)?

 

Galatians:

A book of reproof: Believers trying to live the Christian life by the law.

• Gal.1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
• 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? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
• Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again >>> until Christ is formed in you, <<< (Paul’s ultimate goal in all his ministry!!)
• Gal.4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
• Gal.5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ... 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. ... 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. ... 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

Ephesians:

Grow up in Christ and setting sights on the heavenly blessings as well as that which is eternal. Paul also lays focus on the mystery doctrine.

• Eph.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
• Eph.2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
• Eph.3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
• Ephesians 4:14 That we hence forth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
• Eph.2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

 

Philippians:

Highlights the work of the Spirit in producing faith, love and hope in a believer. Paul has confidence in the maturity of the Philippian believers to work out their own salvation. This is not a responsibility you give a child!! Sets the sights for the high calling of God and a call to be perfect.

• Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling [license in liberty, no more laws for children]. … 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke [without reproof], in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
• Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded:

 

Colossians:

These believers are mature to be bearing fruit in every good work. This is the result of God working in and through them. Paul teaches the meat of the Word in regards to the mystery doctrine, Christ ‘formed’ in you. More focus on seeking those things that are above and placing less focus on that which is earthly.

• Col.1:3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; …10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
• Col.1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
• Col.3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

Thessalonians:

These are mature believers operating in faith, love, and hope to such a degree that they are ensamples for other churches in their area. There faith is growing exceedingly, and Paul is boastful about their maturity and example. They are manifesting Christ within them to the degree that they are persecuted and under constant tribulation from the world. This is a sure sign of maturity in Christ.

• 1 Thess.1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
• 2 Thess.1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God,

Additional Info:

It is interesting to note how some of Paul's epistles flow into each other by ending off with a specific idea, and then continuing with that idea in the beginning of the next epistle. The fact that Paul's letters were not written in the order they appear in the Bible makes this occurrence quite in intriguing and adds credibility to the structure, or curriculum, in the church epistles.

2 Corinthians to Galatians:

• At the end of 2 Corinthians, Paul warns against false teachers who preach another gospel (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
• Galatians begins with Paul expressing his astonishment that the Galatians have so quickly turned away from the true gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).

Galatians to Ephesians:

• Galatians concludes by emphasizing the concept of the “new creature” (Galatians 6:15).
• Ephesians starts to educate believers on the new creature when Paul writes about their new identity in Christ and the spiritual blessings they have received (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Ephesians to Philippians:

• At the end of Ephesians, Paul encourages believers to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• Philippians then shows how to practically live out this spiritual armor through joy, unity, and humility (Philippians 1:27-2:18).

See also: The Big Picture: As grace believers, what is our primary objective? (Part 2) (thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com)