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Grace, Not Power: Paul’s Apostolic Heart for the Church

Romans 1:11-12 | A Dispensational Teaching Post

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” —Romans 1:11-12 (KJV)

Paul’s longing to see the Roman believers was both pastoral and doctrinal in nature. Paul had not yet been to Rome. He had not yet met these believers in person. Though his longing included mutual fellowship, his primary desire was to bring the grace doctrine to them—to see them firmly established in the gospel committed to his trust. His desire to visit was driven by love for the saints and a divine urgency to strengthen them through teaching, so they might stand mature and unwavering in Christ.

What Is Paul Really Saying?

“I long to see you”: This is not casual. It’s a deep yearning, showing Paul’s affection and spiritual concern.
“That I may impart unto you some spiritual gift”: Paul isn’t claiming to distribute gifts arbitrarily. He’s likely referring to teaching, encouragement, or apostolic insight that would strengthen their walk.
“To the end ye may be established”: His goal is spiritual establishment—not emotional hype or temporary excitement, but rootedness in truth. Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans around AD 57, sending it ahead to lay the doctrinal foundation of the grace message. Though the believers in Rome could read and begin to grasp the truth from his letter, Paul still longed to see them face to face. His desire was to establish them—not merely inform or stabilize them. When he finally arrived in Rome around AD 60, it was as a prisoner, yet his purpose remained unchanged: to personally establish them, grounding them in the grace doctrine, ensuring they were not only introduced to it, but firmly rooted and built up in it.
Additional considerations:

Romans 16:25: Believers are stablished by Paul’s gospel, the preaching of Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the mystery. This is a direct link between spiritual stability and doctrinal teaching.
Colossians 2:7: We are rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught. Establishment comes through instruction, not spiritual phenomena.
1 Corinthians 13:8–10: Sign gifts like tongues and prophecy were temporary. Once the full revelation came, they ceased. What remains is charity and truth—the enduring foundation for growth.
Ephesians 4:14-15: Paul warns against being tossed to and fro by false doctrine, and urges believers to grow up into him in all things. This growth comes through truth spoken in love, not through signs or wonders.

“That is, that I may be comforted together with you”: Paul clarifies—this isn’t one-sided. He expects mutual encouragement through shared faith.
“By the mutual faith both of you and me”: He’s not above them. He’s beside them. Their faith comforts him just as his comforts them. The phrase “mutual faith” reminds us that faith isn’t private—it’s communal. We draw strength from each other’s trust in Christ.

This is a model of spiritual fellowship: not hierarchical, but reciprocal.

What Is “Imparting a Spiritual Gift”?

Pleasing God in the Right Dispensation: A Contrast of Hebrews and Romans

Many Christians today are sincere but sincerely confused. They read Hebrews and Romans as if they’re saying the same thing to the same people. But they’re not. These two epistles are foundational—but for different audiences, in different dispensations, with different instructions for how to walk in a way that pleases God. Before we get into comparing 'what pleases God' between the two letters, let me start with a generalisation of Hebrews versus Romans.

Hebrews is written to Israel, specifically to Jewish believers preparing to endure the coming tribulation. It speaks from the framework of law and prophecy, calling them to hold fast, to resist apostasy, and to demonstrate their faith through visible obedience. It warns against returning to temple sacrifices—especially when the Antichrist reinstates them—and speaks of “the world to come” (Hebrews 2:5) and “the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25), pointing clearly to prophetic fulfilment. Christ is presented as the true High Priest, replacing the Levitical system, and Israel is called to come “without the camp” (Hebrews 13:13), echoing the flight from Jerusalem in Matthew 24:15. This is not Church doctrine—it is tribulation instruction for Israel under law and prophecy.

Romans, by contrast, is written to the Body of Christ, and it operates under grace and mystery. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13), lays out the believer’s spiritual identity in Christ, centred on justification by faith, sanctification, and the renewing of the mind. Romans reveals the mystery that was hidden in ages past (Romans 16:25), and though it addresses both Jews and Gentiles, it does so within the context of the Church—not national Israel. It teaches us to walk in the Spirit, not striving for acceptance through performance, but resting in the finished work of Christ. Our salvation is not dependent on the law but is entirely under grace (Romans 6:14).

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 5): Walking in the Spirit Daily

Before we continue, let’s take a moment to look back at where we’ve been. In Part 1, we saw the difference between the carnal mind and the spiritual mind. The carnal mind is natural to all of us—it’s how we think before we come to Christ, and it remains with us unless we renew it. In Part 2, we learned that renewal requires forsaking. We cannot hold on to old thoughts and expect new life. The Word of God must replace what we once believed. Then in Part 3, we were reminded that spiritual growth is a journey. It’s not about being perfect but about moving forward. Every step matters. And in Part 4, we saw that renewal is shaped by doctrine. The mind is not renewed by emotion or experience, but by truth—truth rightly divided and received with meekness.

Now we come to Part 5, and we begin to see how this renewed mind is lived out. It’s not just something we understand—it’s something we walk in. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25). This is not a once-off decision. It is a daily walk. It is a way of thinking, a way of responding, a way of living. The spiritual mind is not just for study—it is for life.

From Carnal to Spiritual (Part 1): The Mindset That Leads to Life and Peace

Paul’s words in Romans 8:6 (KJV) are not just a theological contrast—they’re a spiritual wake-up call:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

This isn’t a message to unbelievers. Paul is speaking to the body of Christ, to those already justified by faith, and he’s urging us to recognize the ongoing battle within our minds. The carnal mind is our default—it’s how we all start. It’s shaped by the world, driven by fleshly desires, and completely incompatible with the things of God. Before salvation, it’s all we know. And even after we’re saved, it doesn’t just disappear. It must be replaced—intentionally, persistently, and scripturally—with the mind of Christ.

Paul doesn’t present this as a binary switch. It’s a scale. Every believer begins with 100% carnal thinking. Through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2), we begin to move toward spiritual maturity. But this isn’t passive. It requires deliberate attention to the things of the Spirit. As Romans 8:5 says,

“They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

To “mind” something is to pay attention to it, to heed it, to let it shape your thoughts and decisions. The more we mind the things of the flesh—our comfort, our reputation, our earthly concerns—the more we drift toward death. Not eternal separation, but the daily death of peace, joy, and clarity. The more we mind the things of the Spirit—God’s Word, our heavenly calling, the body of Christ—the more we experience life and peace.

Spiritual Growth is from Heart to Mind to Heart

How does the bible describe the internal workings of biblical salvation? This thought occurred to me the other day, so I went to the source to find out exactly what happens.

Consider Lydia, a woman from Thyatira, whose encounter with the message of Paul is recorded in Acts 16:14: "One of those listening was a certain woman, whose name was Lydia, the seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." I heard an expression a while back that fits the context perfectly. "We are all blind until the Lord opens our eyes". This is so true! We wouldn’t even know the salvation that the Lord offers until His grace reaches us and we choose to receive it. Lydia’s heart, closed to the truth for all those years, was divinely opened by hearing the grace gospel, and it is in that very moment of faith that salvation took root within her. This example in Acts confirms a core principle: Christianity originates within the heart.

From that very moment a believer responds in faith and believes the grace gospel, they are justified and are saved from the wrath of God and from an eternal doom. From that moment on, nothing, absolutely nothing, can change that instantaneous and permanent standing with God. Paul confirms this perfectly in Romans 5:1-2 when he writes, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Notice how we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God! The hope expressed here is not a fear of an uncertain outcome, but an optimistic expectation and confident anticipation of its assured realization. Justification is permanent. God’s decree states that those how have faith in His Son are counted as righteous, an eternal promise He made to Abraham 4000 years ago, Romans 4:3: a promise that stands eternal and that guarantees peace with God, Romans 4:9-11.

Embracing Correction and Truth

Spiritual maturity is a journey—a transformative process that challenges us to move beyond our own understanding and align our hearts and minds with the truth of God's Word. This growth often involves reproof and correction, two elements that may feel uncomfortable but are essential for shaping us into the image of Christ. As believers, we are called to renew our minds through Scripture, allowing God's wisdom to displace our own, and in doing so, we begin to understand the deeper truths of God’s word, His will and His judgements.

The Galatian saints struggled with this, relying on their own efforts and clinging to the law of Moses instead of embracing the faith-centered doctrine that Paul taught. Their error lay in attempting to perfect themselves through fleshly endeavours rather than submitting to the transformative power of God's Word. This serves as a lesson for all believers: true transformation comes not from our own wisdom or actions, but from the renewing of our minds by Scripture alone. We cannot layer God's truth on top of our flawed thinking and expect to grow; instead, we must allow His Word to reshape us entirely.

Acknowledging our need for correction is critical in this process. Paul warns in 2 Timothy 2:25-26 that those who oppose themselves are caught in the snare of the devil, unaware that they are walking in false doctrine. The first step to freedom is recognizing and admitting our errors. This attitude of humility helps us to change our mind and leads us back to the path of truth. Like the Galatians, we may sometimes find it difficult to accept correction, especially when it challenges deeply held beliefs or exposes areas of weakness. Yet, this willingness to embrace reproof is vital for spiritual growth.

How do we grow out of the milk? (Point 1)

Many would not like what I am going to say, but it is a fact that most believers today never grow to spiritual maturity, but instead remain babes in Christ? I can point the finger to myself as I was one for many years. So, what makes a believer a babe in Christ? What qualities does this type of believer show? Well, Paul answers this quite clearly when he addresses the Corinthians. After speaking about the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory, in 1Cor.2, Paul then writes,

1Cor 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? [4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

The standout quality of a babe in Christ is carnality, which is opposite to a mature believer who walks by faith and after the spirit, according to the grace doctrine in Paul’s epistles. Carnal believers do not stand upon the Word of God but are controlled by their 5-senses, by their emotions, by visible things, and beguiled by ignorance and inexperience in the grace doctrine. This is why they are so unstable in their faith, being tossed to and fro by fables, by different doctrines, and by opinions, and why they are up and down like a rollercoaster in the various issues of life.

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat

If I was referring to a secular curriculum regarding mathematics, or computer programming, or any other trade or discipline, the word “milk” would refer to the basics, or introductory topics, and “meat” would logically be the more advanced levels of the curriculum. Now, though we can apply the same milk and meat logic to our biblical curriculum of Romans to 2-Thessalonians, we must also understand that the bible defines milk and meat as much more than just basics to advanced concepts. Scripture provides us with a much deeper understanding concerning the believer who is living on milk versus the believer that appreciates the meat. Let’s dive in and learn what the bible says about these things.

MILK:

1Cor.3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Heb.5:13 For every one that useth MILK is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

There is a lot packed into these two verses above. The first of which is: did you notice that the verses do not target the progression of the topic (as a secular curriculum would do), but rather, it targets the progress of the spiritual maturity of believers who receive the curriculum. That, my friends, is a significant difference, highlighting a different context for assessment or judgement. This curriculum is not man-made. It is a doctrine by inspiration of God. Let’s remember that!

Our doctrine is spiritual and makes us spiritual

Our doctrine is a SPIRITUAL curriculum that must be studied IN A SET ORDER. In this post, I’d like to delve deeper into the ‘spiritual’ aspect of the curriculum and investigate what ‘spiritual’ really means in this regard.

Rom_1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; [12] That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

‘Spirit’ and ‘spiritual’ in the context of Paul’s epistles has a few meanings, including the spiritual dimension and its entities and spiritual gifts. However, the predominant meaning, which may come as a surprise to many, is that it refers to the Word of God. It is Jesus Himself that revealed to us that the words He spoke ARE SPIRIT and life, Jn6:63.

As you read the following verses in Paul’s epistles, take note that the word ‘spiritual’ bears reference to the written or verbalized words of God shared by the apostle, or to the knowledge gained and applied from the Word of God, or to the individual who has matured in wisdom by the Word of God.

The Order and Spiritual Importance of our Curriculum

Introduction

The 9-church epistles of Paul, as presented sequentially in our Bibles today, from Romans to Thessalonians, make up a spiritual curriculum that teaches a believer to grow up in spirit from a babe in Christ to a mature son. It takes one from the milk of the Word towards the meat, from the carnal to the spiritual, from the principles of the grace doctrine to the obedience of righteousness.

If you were not aware of this very important detail, you can find more information about this curriculum in the following link: https://thebigpicturelink.blogspot.com/2023/10/as-grace-believers-what-is-our-primary_14.html.

This spiritual curriculum is designed to transform a new believer into a functioning and profitable member of the body of Christ, but as with any curriculum, it will only do its work of informing and transforming if the believer actually studies it correctly, in the right order, opening their heart to the knowledge it reveals, and believing its instruction.

I’d like to briefly focus on two key words in the above intro, namely, “Order” and “Spiritual”.

Start this lesson series here:
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 11 - Functional Salvation (Christ in you))

The primary topic of Romans 1 to 5 is justification, or as I also describe it by saying, “Just as if I never sinned”. Justification is a positional salvation, meaning that we do not experience this salvation in this natural realm or at this time. We are justified, imputed with the righteousness of Christ, and fully and permanently saved by God’s decree and by the cross work of Christ from a heavenly perspective, but justification does nothing to our flesh! Though our souls are eternally saved when we believe in Christ, our flesh and our lives here on earth do not change or get affected one iota. Another way we can understand this salvation is that we are placed in Christ, as confirmed by a myriad of verses, with the following being a sample of the many,

1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
1 Cor 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God —and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
Col 2:10 ...and you are complete in Him [Christ], who is the head of all principality and power.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

In contrast to positional (heavenly) salvation and being in Christ, Romans 6 to 8 deals with sanctification which is a conditional, or functional salvation. This means that after justification, our salvation continues to develop or grow and eventually starts to affect or influence our natural condition, functioning within us towards the outside and manifesting outwardly into the world. Through justification we are placed IN CHRIST, but sanctification is more appropriately understood as CHRIST IN US; His life being formed within us through the power of the written Word of God, influencing our thoughts, reasoning, speech, actions, and behaviours, to the degree that we give ourselves over in obedience to it. Here are a few confirming verses,

Types of Death in the Bible

When you read verses like the following, what does Paul mean when he says we must be dead to sin, or we have become dead to the law, or when sin revived, he died? This is obviously not physical death, otherwise Paul could not write the epistles in which we read these things. What death is he talking about, and what other types of death do we learn about in the Bible?

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Rom 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

There are many types of death depicted in the Bible, not just physical death.

there's physical death (we all know what this is!!)
there is the eternal (the second) death which an unsaved man dies and go to the hell
there is spiritual death in which an unsaved man (while he lives) is alienated from the life of God
there is positional death: a saved man’s union to the death of Christ; the moment you believe the gospel (ie: baptized into his death)
there is functional death: concerning something that doesn't operate or function the way it's supposed to:

The Second Coming has already taken place. It’s time to change your theology!

STATEMENT:

The Second Coming has already taken place otherwise you make Christ a liar and a deceiver because He told those same people that His return would happen in the lifetime of some of those to whom He was speaking. Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1, Luke 9:27, Matthew 24:34, Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62, Luke 22:69, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:22, Luke 21:32, John 21:22 speaking of John the beloved, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17, 5:4, Hebrews 10:37 is not a 2,000 year wait, James 5:8 is not a 2,000 year wait.

Christ came in the same clouds He ascended in Acts chapter one just as He spiritually appeared in the Old Testament over the mercy seat in the Mosaic tabernacle and later in the two physical temples in Jerusalem. He now temples in a sanctuary in each believer in His temple not made of hands! His Second Coming was a spiritual one and not a physical one.

The price of ignorance and the glory of knowledge in the word of God.

What is the biggest hindrance to spiritual growth and maturity? Unbelief? No! It's ignorance of the word of God.

Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

The bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. So, you don't have to hear the word of God to be in unbelief, you just have to not hear it. The root of unbelief is ignorance of the word. Paul said, "I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." Ignorance fosters unbelief.

Doctrine of the Mysteries #23

Be ye followers of me

1Co 1:11-12 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. (12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

There are two points to extract from verse 12. The first is a truth that babes in Christ will incline to outward attractions over spiritual truth. The second is a yearning that people would choose to follow Paul, or more accurately, Paul’s doctrine, than that of Apollos, or Cephas (Peter), or the earthly ministry of Christ. Let me elaborate on both points.

Doctrine of the Mysteries #20

We speak wisdom among them that are perfect

1Cor 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

My previous post ended by saying that due to ignorance of the progressive curriculum of Paul’s epistles, many believers today remain babes and children in Christ, unable to comprehend its spiritual nature. Let me explain this statement with a simple analogy. If a student, who is new to mathematics, ignores a prescribed mathematics curriculum, and skips over the first few chapters, jumping to calculus or trigonometry, it is safe to say that they will quickly get lost in the advanced concepts. The first few chapters would have introduced them to concepts that are crucial and relevant to the later understanding of these higher disciplines and theories.

Doctrine of the Mysteries #18

Our spiritual position and physical condition

Read the five verses below slowly and carefully and then compare the first two verses to the last three. There is a HUGE difference in how Paul describes the believers at Corinth.

1 Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are SANCTIFIED in Christ Jesus, CALLED SAINTS, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,

1 Cor 1:30 But of Him YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, who became for us wisdom from God —and RIGHTEOUSNESS and SANCTIFICATION and redemption—

1 Cor 3:3 ...for YOU ARE STILL CARNAL. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

1 Cor 5:1 It is actually reported that THERE IS FORNICATION AMONG YOU, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife!

1 Cor 5:2 And YOU ARE PUFFED UP, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.

Do you notice a difference? Paul is writing to the Christians at Corinth, a city infamous for its immorality. The last three verses reveal the low spiritual condition of the Corinthians, the fact that they were still carnal Christians, full of pride and still babes in the understanding of spiritual things. BUT, Paul calls them 'saints' in the first verse! Did you get that!

Insights into the messed up 'Modern Denominational' view of Salvation

Below is a comment on one of my posts regarding salvation by grace through Christ alone. After the comment, I reply with my answer, rightly divided.

COMMENT:

If people listen to the gospel that you preach, in which people are saved by grace alone, they would never be saved. Anybody can just narrate passages, but teachers should first learn before teaching. On a little side note before the shocker, Paul blatantly tells the Gentiles in the church that just as the Israelites have been cut out of the Olive tree, so can they, if they do not continue in His goodness. That means it is possible to NOT continue in His goodness, which he says will result in being chopped off! There are many more versus like I’LL SAY I NEVER KNEW YOU, and I’LL SPEW OUT OF MY MOUTH, and I WILL BLOT YOUR NAME OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, and many more.

Paul's Gentile Curriculum Explained (Romans to Galatians - The Milk)

Recently, I was asked by a friend to elaborate on Paul's 9-church epistles as a spiritual curriculum for the grace believer. I ended up making a video of it; at least the Romans to Galatians part. The rest to follow in subsequent videos. This post is just to advertise the video series and provide you with some encouragement to get back into the Word.

Not many people know this, but the 9-church letters of Paul (Rom. to Thess.) can be seen as a study curriculum for the grace believer. The curriculum guides the believer through a process of growth in Christ, renewing the mind and becoming educated on spiritual things. Although one can read any of Paul's letters, it is highly recommended to study the letters in the given order as provided in the Bible.

This video explains the first part of the curriculum (Rom. to Gal.) and details the validity and importance of it.

If you enjoyed the video, please share it with others too. TX

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO

As believers today, our walk is by faith, not by the physical senses

Faith is the route by which all spiritual blessings come into our lives. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Paul writes, “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.” We must understand that we can't see them with our physical eyes, we can't hear them with our physical ears, and we can't seek them with our natural senses.

So, how do we seek things that we can't sense with the natural man? How do we see those things and take hold of those things? It’s by the Word of God. We see them, and obtain them, through faith.

In Romans 5:5 Paul says, “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” How does the Holy Ghost shed God's love abroad in our hearts? Is it a feeling? Do we just close our eyes and see if we can feel that love being shed abroad in our hearts?

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