Knowledge that will stablish you in the faith

Knowledge that will stablish you in the faith

Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you

1. according to my gospel,
2. and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [doctrine], which was kept secret since the world began,  26  But now is made manifest,
3. 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:

The above passage is one of my favourites in all of Paul’s writings. It is essentially a very short summary of the book of Romans, but more importantly, it provides a condensed list of instructions that provide a grace believer with stability in their faith and walk. Let me briefly analyse this passage.

Paul opens the passage by saying that it is Jesus Christ who is of power to stablish us in our faith. Stablish translates to stability, grounding, and a solid foundation. Where a believer is established in Christ at salvation, they then become stablished as they grow in the knowledge of the truth. The three points that Paul lists, provides the student with exactly what knowledge to grow into.

The first item is “my gospel”. This is the gospel that Paul preached. It is the grace gospel that declares the cross of Christ. It is different from the conditional Kingdom gospel that Jesus and the 12 taught to Israel, Act 2:37-38. Paul's unconditional grace gospel affirms one to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, 1Cor.15:1-4, and by trusting in the cross work, they are justified and saved, not by their own works or faith, but by the work of Jesus Christ and by His faith, Rom.3:22, Rom.5:1-2.

The second item is the “mystery doctrine” that was revealed to Paul by a risen and glorified Jesus Christ. This doctrine preaches Jesus Christ, but not His earthly ministry, which so many church denominations preach, but rather, a brand-new body of doctrine, of spiritual principles and guidelines that we are to learn and practice today. It is not a doctrine of laws and observances in the physical realm, but of spiritual knowledge about our new position in Christ. This doctrine teaches us about our transference from Adams ministration into that of Christ, about our growth and edification into the Body of Christ, about a renewal of the mind, growing in the mind of Christ, learning the ways and will of our Father, and preparing ourselves for a spiritual vocation in the ages to come. This doctrine is a mystery since it was never revealed in the prophets. It is a doctrine that differs from the prophetic program of Israel. Paul instructs Timothy to study it and rightly divide it from the doctrine of the Kingdom, and in so doing, he will become a workman that handles the Word correctly, and is approved of God, 2Tim.2:15.

The third item is the “scripture of the prophets”. Although our doctrine is found exclusively in Paul’s 13-epistles, one cannot ignore the prophets (which is in reference to the rest of the Bible). We learn and practice the mystery doctrine, but we need to understand the mystery doctrine in contrast to the rest of scripture. One cannot only have one side of the story. In order to truly understand the mysteries, one needs to compare it with the prophets. One will only get the full picture of God’s redemption plan by knowing both parts. One will better know one’s place in God’s plan when one knows how the two parts work with each other to accomplish the will of God. Although the two parts are distinct and separate, they both fulfil the purpose of God in the redemption of man and creation, Eph.1:10; Col.1:20.

Learning and understanding each of these three bodies of knowledge will bring a person to an absolute stability in one’s faith, in one’s spiritual walk, and in one’s relationship with God. This passage is a summary of what is comprehensively detailed in the whole book of Romans, which is our foundational doctrine.

Paul ends this passage by informing us that learning and applying this knowledge is in accordance with the commandment of the everlasting God. It is doctrine that is to be made known to all nations in this dispensation of grace, and it is God’s will that each of us should respond to this doctrine by the obedience of faith. This means that we renew ourselves with its instruction and that we allow it to influence us in thought, in speech and in action. We are to obey the promptings of the Word within us and act upon it in life situations, and in so doing, we walk according to the Spirit of the Word, we mortify the deeds of the flesh, and we become more Christ-like as the Word forms Christ within us, to the glory of God.

Amen.