Showing posts with label foundation. Show all posts

Stablished upon 'the faith'

For what purpose did Paul receive grace and apostleship? For the obedience to the faith. In Romans, his intention is to impart this to those believers so that they may be established. Now, it's crucial to understand: the faith has already been established and cannot be altered. The Book of Romans states its truths. You can’t change it. Romans says what it says, and it did so long before you got here. It is firmly rooted and established. Our responsibility as a believer is to get your faith in line with what has been imparted, made known, and established for us.

Paul clearly tells us that we are to be established in the faith. THE faith! How many denominations are there? One. Certainly not. There are thousands! Well, something is terribly wrong! When you have several Christians and each of them have a different belief, there’s something clearly wrong, because the principles in Romans, and the rest of Paul’s epistles, have been established, written, and taught for two millennia. Paul's ministry was concluded before 70 A.D., approximately 1,950 years ago. This disparity among various denominations is shameful, isn't it? Despite this duration of time, numerous Christian denominations exist. Ask about baptism, and you’ll receive several different doctrines. Inquire how to gain forgiveness or justification with God, and you’ll get several unique answers. Why is there such difference?

That FORM of Doctrine (Part 2 - Inform)

Start this lesson series at with the Introduction here.

Inform (Information - The Work of Faith)

Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE which was delivered you.

If you are not delivering a sound form of doctrine, all you are doing is preaching stories and fables based on a vain imagination.

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.
1Ti_1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith:
2Ti_1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

What do we mean by form?

The doctrine and sound words that Paul gave to us by inspiration of God is structured in a specific form. It’s in the form of a curriculum that is designed to save us and then educate us from babes in Christ to sons of God. Since it has a design, we cannot just live on a few favourite scriptures. We cannot isolate a few passages and not study the form.

That FORM of Doctrine (Introduction)

The word of God, as given in Paul’s epistles, was designed for our godly edification. The word edifies us, from the foundation and through spiritual growth, to renew our minds, form Christ in us, and bring us to the point of godly living through good works.

It is not an instant process. Like a seed is planted, it must first take root, be fed and nurtured, and only then does it start to produce fruit. Similarly, Paul uses a building analogy. The word must first have a foundation, then only can we start to build upon it with materials that glorify God.

1Co 3:6-9 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

This series will highlight that with study and faithfulness, with time and diligence, the word will take form in your heart, do a work within you, and bring you to the point of godliness and profitability for God.

Doctrine of the Mysteries #24

I have laid the foundation

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.

In our key verse above, Paul tells us that he is a master builder who has laid the foundation for the new dispensation of grace that God started through his ministry. This foundation is based upon the mystery doctrine that God revealed to Paul and which he wrote about in his epistles. However, before we discuss this foundation, we must take note that there is another foundation which God had previously laid. Furthermore, it is of great importance that we are aware of both, what the significance of each is, and that we know which foundation is the one we should build upon.

God’s previously laid foundation

The writer of Hebrews informs us of this previously laid foundation. It is a foundation that belongs to Israel. It consists of their doctrine and is the base upon which their faith and services to God ought to be built. Let’s have a look at the passage,

Explain how the doctrine taught by Paul is different to that taught by Peter?

QUESTION:

I don’t see how the doctrine Paul taught differed from Peter (as an example) except Paul preached to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews (who knew the Torah). If you are claiming the doctrine that Paul taught supersedes or is the only way to “get off the milk” of a new believer, which verses would you specifically point to and why?

ANSWER:

The answer is too extensive to write in one reply as it concerns the whole of Paul’s revelation of the risen and glorified Christ, however, I can provide a few thought-provoking scriptures that you can read and consider.

You have two statements I can respond to (in very short summation),

1. I don’t see how the doctrine Paul taught differed from Peter (as an example) except Paul preached to the Gentile and Peter to the Jew (who knew the Torah).

Doctrine of the Mysteries #19

Perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment

1Co 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

The Bible presents Paul’s epistles in an order specific to how we should study it and teach it. This order is important to unifying believers in the principles of ‘the faith’, Rom 1:5, to promote unity through doctrinal knowledge.

Are you building on the correct foundation?

Heb 6:1-2 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews is an instructional epistle written to those Jews who would be living during the 7-year Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom. The writer of Hebrews provides the necessary doctrine relevant for these believers during this time. The verse above is of particular interest because the writer informs these believers not to go back to the Old Covenant and relay a foundation that has already been established. He writes that these believers are to press on to perfection by trusting in Jesus, the living and glorified Christ, their Messiah, who has overcome the world, who holds a position in heaven above the angels and has obtained a more excellent name, who is greater than Moses, who ratifies a New Covenant, and who is the perfect sacrifice and the High Priest of their salvation.

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 1: God's Righteousness)

Introduction

The epistle of Romans is the foundational epistle of the Christian faith. An analysis of its contents reveals that the letter can be divided into four parts, each part representing a cornerstone of the Christian faith. Missing any one of these four cornerstones, the faith foundation of a Christian can become compromised and shaky. It is vitally important to have a good understanding of each of these four cornerstones to ensure that the foundation of your faith is stable and secure.

Cornerstone 1: God’s Righteousness (Rom.1-3)

We learn from scripture that God is absolute in EVERY way. He is absolutely righteous, absolutely holy, and absolutely just.

Deut 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

The 4 Foundational Cornerstones of the Christian Faith

ROMANS is the foundation book in Paul’s epistles. It is the book that firstly, establishes 'the faith', the doctrine that provides us with a fundamental knowledge of God's will and purpose for us as grace believers today, and secondly, that 'stablishes' a grace believer, meaning that it lays a foundation of truth, or principle, that helps us to be grounded and stable in our faith, and guides our walk to complement Gods will and purpose for us, not only here on earth, now, but also in the life to come, our heavenly destination as the Body of Christ.

If one takes a step back from the details in the Roman epistle, and looks at the contents from an overview perspective, one will see four key principles emerge. These four key principles are of great importance. As the title of this post suggests, they are the four cornerstones that keep the foundation of our faith stable. Without any one of these cornerstones, our Christian faith will be unstable and ineffective. Anything that we build upon this foundation will be shaky and problematic, and our growth in the doctrine of 'the faith', will be hindered, weakened, or even completely stunted. Needless to say, recognizing these four key foundational principles, and gaining an intimate knowledge of them, are crucial.

“The Faith” and “Of Faith” in Romans

The book of Romans lays the foundation of truth for us as Christians to be established on. It is the basis on which we build upon in our knowledge and in deeds. It is interesting to note how the book refers to two types of “faith”, one found in the opening verses of the first chapter, and the other found in the closing verses of the final chapter. Let me elaborate on the significance and meaning of this.

The Faith

Rom.1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

The phrase, “for obedience to the faith among all nations”, refers to, “the faith”. The word “the” informs us that this is a unique and distinct body of doctrine. This doctrine called, “the faith”, is the definition and sum content of what we need to know and apply, so that we live by the will and purpose of God in this day and age. In essence, it is the ‘modus operandi’ of our Christianity, the pattern, or template, of our faith.

Building your Faith on the Romans Foundation

The book of Romans contains the foundational principles of our faith. Yet, when one gets to studying the content of Romans, it becomes clear that the majority of Christianity is either ignorant of, or rebellious of these foundational truths. I have a factual statement to make in this regard and I hope that it will hit home with any Christians who are interested in growing in their faith and having Christ formed within them.

"If a believer is not established upon the truths in the Romans epistle, their spiritual education will suffer, their spiritual growth will be stunted, and their faith will remain weak, susceptible to vain practices and deceptions."

Encamped in the Foundational Book of Romans

I've been spending a LOT of time in the Bible, studying Romans in particular, in preparation for the Bible Studies I host. All "The Journey" posts are basically an outflow of the studies I've done in this regard. Now, although I'm close to the end of Romans, I will be honest an say that I myself am not ready to leave Romans. There is a conviction within me to stay encamped here and work through it again. The Word of God is truly living and active, and right now it has a hold on my heart. There are yet deeper truths to source from this incredible book. On the other hand, it is a foundational book, which attests to its importance. One should not push on until these foundational topics are fully comprehended and integrated, into the mind, not only for me, but for you too, the readers, who connect with and share in my posts. I trust that you will benefit from this lingering in Romans as much as I am currently.

The Book of Romans: Our Spiritual Establishment and Solid Foundation

Romans is a foundational book, providing a believer with the fundamental doctrine of salvation, justification, and positional sanctification through the cross of Christ. Yet, the more I read it, the more I see how the truth it presents is structured to detach and separate us from this world, and prepare us to receive a mystery revelation regarding God's plans for our redemption, to the glory of Jesus Christ.

We are only officially informed of the details of this mystery, in other letters, and in particular, that of Ephesians, but even in Romans, Paul lays out in our doctrine, details that are aimed at getting our minds and focus off of this world and its vanity, and set on the faith that there is something greater ahead, a mystery that is going to be revealed, and that cannot compare to what we currently have here.

So, Romans is meant to draw us away from this world, and activate our faith, so that we can see what God has planned for us from before the foundations of this world (Eph.1:4). Let's have a look at some key statements and verses that prove this point.

Start here at the Introduction: The Journey Begins

The Journey: Part 13 - Established in the Doctrine

The purpose of Romans to Galatians is to establish our faith according to Paul's gospel. Notice how the book of Romans ends,

Rom.16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans to Galatians is about establishing you. It has to do with laying the foundation of your faith. It's to take your faith and to establish it according to Paul's gospel, and this is in accordance to the commandment of the everlasting God. God has commanded all men to be in obedience of faith to what He has made known,

Rom.16:26 But now is made manifest, 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:

What is "THE FAITH "

Col.2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you [corrupting THE FAITH] through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Paul uses the phrase, "THE FAITH", to identify the working of an independent, living truth, existing as a foundation, in the heart of the believer. THE FAITH is in simple terms, the Bible, the Word of God, embedded in the heart of the believer. However, in a more accurate definition, THE FAITH is not all the Bible, but rather, a "specific set of doctrine" from within the Bible. What is more, the "specific set of doctrine", as foundational truth in the heart, is determined by the dispensation in which one lives. Let me explain.

THE BOOK OF
REVELATION

(Rev.4:6)

The Structure of Creation

What is my purpose for discussing this topic? Well, it is certainly not primary doctrine that we need to know and that can save us. But, it can inspire us and provide us with some sense of the greatness of God and His multi-layered creation. We know from scripture, and from our knowledge of the physical realm, that God is ordered and structured, so we can easily accept that when it comes to the invisible and metaphysical realms, this same order and structure would be maintained. We cannot measure and fully understand the nature of things in the spiritual realm, but the principles that govern that realm can be related to by our understanding of the realm in which we live. If we project our knowledge from this realm into the invisible, knowing that the physical realm is a mere shadow, or reflection, of the invisible realm, then we can only stand in awe and wonder at what we can expect to find when we, as the body of Christ, pass over into that realm at our call to come home (Romans 8:23). Remember, you and I have a heavenly destination. Our eternal purpose, as the body of Christ, is to govern this realm. So, this is why it is motivational and insightful to delve into this topic, even though we cannot even fully fathom the basics of it yet.

Building on the Foundation

Matt.16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We are probably all familiar with parts of this text above. The part I want to draw attention to is the middle part of verse 18. Jesus mentions that upon this rock, upon this foundation, I will build my church. Notice the future tense of "I will". It was only after Jesus death that the Holy Spirit could be poured out upon the apostles to empower them as witnesses of their Messiah. It is from the events in the first part of Acts that we learn that the church, the Jewish assembly, the little flock (Luke 12:32) of saved Jews, took shape upon the foundation with Peter at the helm.

Paul, The First into a New Program

It is incredibly important to understand God's Word in the right context, and this is greatly supported by identifying periods of time, being aware of patterns or nuances, recognizing people groups and changes in program or instruction throughout the Bible. The example below is one such instance where, based on what Paul says, "that IN ME first...as a pattern...", it could be a bit confusing what he means by it! We have to dig in deeper and analyze why Paul said this and understand it in context with right division in the Word.

Two Verses that might Challenge your Doctrine (Part.2)

This is part 2 of the series

Click here to start with Part 1

The two verses I deal with in this article played a HUGE role in helping me to understand the Bible in its proper context. If one does not understand how to divide the Word and bring context to the two verses that are mentioned in this article, they can be pretty hard to interpret correctly. As I mentioned before in part 1, these are the two verses that got me on the path of studying the Word in a dispensational way, (or as Paul puts it, rightly dividing the Word of truth, 2 Tim.2:15). The reason is because these two verses mention some very interesting things, things that will cause you to question if you actually read the verse correctly, things that will certainly make you think twice about what Paul was really saying.

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