Why is it that those who argue against the simplicity of obtaining righteousness never tend to strive against the simplicity of obtaining unrighteousness!?

Why is it that those who argue against the simplicity of obtaining righteousness never tend to strive against the simplicity of obtaining unrighteousness!

Have a look at these two verses in Romans 5.

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

…….

Rom 5:19  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

There are many people who are fully convinced of our guilt before God because of the sin of ONE man which was imputed to all of us and declared us to be sinners and guilty before God. But I find it interesting that there are very few people who are fully convinced of our justification before God because of the righteousness of ONE man which was imputed to us who believe in Him who declares us to be righteous and innocent before God.

If by one man sin came into the world and death by sin, surely it stands to reason that by one man righteousness came into the world and life by righteousness.

DM#17: Who is a minister to whom?

Doctrine of the Mysteries #17

Who is a minister to whom?

Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Many people would read this sentence and not even notice the specific audience mentioned to whom Jesus ministered. Detail like this is important and should not be ignored if one desires to understand the Bible in its true context.

Paul tells us that Jesus Christ was a minister to the circumcision. Thus, Jesus ministered specifically to Israel. This statement cannot simply be dismissed as irrelevant as we have confirmation from Jesus himself,

DM#9: O wretched man that I am!

Doctrine of the Mysteries #9

Time for a quick synopsis

Paul’s mystery doctrine is a spiritual message. It cannot be received or understood by the carnal mind. The Corinthians were informed about this in the very beginning of their epistle,

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Likewise, Paul starts the foundational epistle of Romans with the statement,

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. 

Paul was stating that to continue in his writings, one had to first be saved. In the context of this post, salvation is the condition for enrolment into the curriculum. This is confirmed in the fact that the next few chapters of Romans are a presentation of the gospel, informing us that all men are lost, and need to believe in Jesus Christ to receive the free gift of justification, a quickened spirit, and atonement by the grace of God, Rom 3:23-26.

Studying Scripture by Application of Right Division (2Cor 5:16)

Studying Scripture by Application of Right Division (2Cor 5:16)

When a person takes time to study the Bible, that study will ultimately result in the need to rightly divide, (2Tim 2:15). This cannot be avoided! As one cross-references scripture, it will lead one into both the prophetic and mystery programs, according to the intent and design of God’s written Word. Right division is the only way to accurately interpret scripture by keeping these two programs separate and distinct. Let’s apply this instruction on the key verse below to understand its true context.

2Cor 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Learning and adapting your life to the advice in Romans 5-8

Below is a comment from a reader based on the following post: 

• https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/08/stop-clinging-to-law-and-get-filled.html

The message of God’s tremendous grace is easy to confuse with a gospel that allows sin without consequences. I must struggle with sin as Paul describes in Rom 7, to try to live holy within the guard rails, not swerving toward either a gospel that allows sin, nor a gospel of salvation by works.

My Supportive Comment:

If you read Rom 5–8 slowly and in one sitting, you will find that is summarizes like this:

Rom 5 - We are justified (declared innocent) freely by the blood of Jesus Christ (Rom.5:1) when we believe in Jesus, trusting in the cross work for our salvation. This salvation is unconditional and permanent. Trusting in Christ saves you instantaneously and absolutely. Why? Because our innocence is declared by God through the righteousness of His Son, and not by our righteousness. We are saved by the obedience of Christ, not by our own.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 9: Widowed from the Law by Christ's Death)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 9: Widowed from the Law by the Christ's Death)

In Romans chapter 6, Paul has put much focus on the truth that we have died to the old Adamic administration, and therefore we have much to learn and know to renew our minds to this fact. It is our minds, and the pattern of our thinking, that must come up to the same level as the reality of our justification in heaven. Because of its foundational context, this knowledge is the first thing that we should learn, and know, after we get saved. Our minds must become so in tune with what Christ’s administration means, that our actions, reactions, thoughts, and language, should change to match the reality of the attributes in this new administration we have been transferred into.

But, where Romans 6 talks about our death to Adam’s administration, it is chapter 7 that introduces our separation from another stumbling block, —the law. Paul likens the believer to have been married to the law, but now, through Christ’s death, and our union with His death, we have been widowed from the law. As important it is to understand that we are dead to Adam’s administration, it is of equal importance that we understand our widowed status to the law.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 8: Reckon yourselves as dead to sin)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 8: Reckon yourselves as dead to sin)

I’d like to summarize things in this section and bring as much clarity to Romans 6 as possible, before we move on to chapter 7. Chapter 6 is of great importance because it is firstly a foundational chapter that will provide us with stability and grounding in our Christian walk, but secondly, it provides us with the information we need to know to ensure this foundation is being laid properly in our lives.

In Romans 5, Paul has led us through the positional aspect of justification which happens when you believe in Christ through the message of the grace gospel. Justification is a verdict of righteousness and innocence declared upon us by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. It is God’s work and something that happens outside of our influence and control. We are literally transferred from the administration of Adam into the administration of Christ. When we are moved into Christ’s administration, EVERYTHING changes. It is this understanding (and faith) that we need to know and become very acquainted with. The section in this study called, “The Two Administrations”, is what I refer to here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 6: Knowing Some Things)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 6: Knowing Some Things)

Where the focus of part 4 (of this series of post) was becoming aware that there is knowledge to gain, this part is going to deliver that knowledge.

We are still in Romans chapter 6 as part of this second cornerstone of the Christian faith, which is, God’s grace. Chapter 5 of Romans was the chapter on our justification, and how through faith in the cross work of Christ, we are transferred from Adam’s administration into the administration of Christ. The following points were discussed:

• Paul has led us through the positional aspect of justification in Romans chapter 5.
• Justification is a verdict of righteousness and innocence declared upon us by the imputation of Christ’s
• It is God’s work and something that happens outside of our influence and control.
• We are literally transferred from the administration of Adam into the administration of Christ.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 4: Positional Grace: The Two Administrations)

Start this post series from the beginning, here.

The Four Cornerstones of Romans (Part 4: Positional Grace: The Two Administrations)

This is the second part of Positional Grace. To gain proper context, please review Positional Grace (Part 1) before reading this post. 

In part 1 of Positional Grace we learned that this first level of grace is set in place in the heavens. In essence, positional grace is your justification. The moment you believe in Jesus Christ, hearing and responding to the gospel of grace, you become eternally saved. There are events that happen in heaven that account for your saved status. This is expounded upon in part 1, but the key points of these events are as follows,

The interesting differences between the ministries of Peter and Paul

The interesting differences between the ministries of 

Peter and Paul

The book of Acts revolves primarily around 2 apostles, Peter and Paul. One could divide the book of Acts as follows. Chapters 1-12 focus on Peter as the main apostle to the Jews, and chapters 13-28 focus on Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles.

Galatians 2:7-8 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles)

Q-A: What is the Real Meaning of a Dispensation? It's not a period of time. It's a way of life.