Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 1 of 5)

Unveiling the Mystery of the Gospel (Part 1 of 5)

The Power that Establishes the Believer

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ..." — Romans 16:25a

The Doctrine: Divine Establishment

In the closing of his letter to the Romans, Paul shifts from the logic of justification to a final declaration of God’s sovereignty. The Greek word for "stablish" (sterizo) means to fix something so firmly in place that it becomes immovable. Within the context of this entire letter, Paul is teaching that spiritual stability is a work of God, not an achievement of man. After sixteen chapters of explaining the depth of human sin and the riches of God's grace, Paul concludes that the only way a believer can remain firm in the "obedience of faith" is through the external power of God.

Extracting the Truth in Context

This "stablishing" does not happen in a vacuum. Note the specific boundaries Paul sets: "according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ." God does not stabilize us through vague spirituality or emotional experiences; He uses the objective truth of the Gospel. This is the same power Paul referenced in Romans 1:16—"for it is the power of God unto salvation." Furthermore, to be stablished, one must be anchored in the "preaching of Jesus Christ." This isn't just preaching about Him; it is the proclamation that He is the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan. In context, Paul is asserting that your stability is directly tied to your understanding of the Gospel he has just spent sixteen chapters explaining. If you are not grounded in the doctrine of Christ, you cannot be "stablished."

While We Were Yet Enemies

While We Were Yet Enemies

The Scripture: Romans 5:7-11 (KJV)

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

The Story: The Guard of the High Ridge

Elias was the Lead Ranger of a dangerous mountain pass. He spent his days keeping the trails safe and his nights warning travelers about the "Black Sector"—a part of the forest so dry that the grass felt like paper. He had signs posted everywhere: NO CAMPFIRES. EXTREME DANGER.

One afternoon, a group of young hikers arrived. They were loud and arrogant. When Elias warned them to stay on the main trail and follow the safety rules, they laughed. One of them stepped forward, grabbed Elias’s map right out of his hand, and tore it into pieces. He threw the scraps at Elias’s feet and sneered, "We don’t need an old man telling us how to have fun." They turned their backs on him and headed straight into the heart of the Black Sector.

Beyond the Smoke: Why "Shortcut Spirituality" is a Dangerous Game

Beyond the Smoke: Why "Shortcut Spirituality" is a Dangerous Game

Getting the Honey

In the world of professional beekeeping, there is a rigorous technicality that most of us never see. A seasoned pro doesn't just "go get some honey." They operate with a checklist of surgical precision: they handle frames with care, use specific knives for uncapping, monitor centrifugal force in the extractor, and obsess over moisture content using refractometers to ensure the water level is below 18%. It is a craft of patience, knowledge, and respect for the hive.

However, when confronted with this list of technicalities, a common reaction is to laugh and say, "That’s too much work. I’d just light a fire, smoke those bees’ little backsides, and grab the goods."

It sounds simple. It sounds efficient. But in the world of the hive—and in the world of the Spirit—the shortcut is often the path to disaster.

The Child at the Wheel

To understand why "simple" isn't always "better," think of a child sitting in the driver’s seat of a car. To a child, driving looks easy: you turn a key and press a pedal. But we all know that if that child actually puts that "knowledge" into practice, the result is a catastrophe.

The car isn't the problem; the car is a powerful tool designed for progress. The disaster happens because there is power without procedure and action without experience.

The Corinthian Crisis: Spiritually Gifted but Spiritually Empty?

The Corinthian Crisis: Spiritually Gifted but Spiritually Empty?

A Haunting Mirror

The sharpest rebuke in the New Testament wasn’t hurled at Rome’s pagans but at Corinth’s believers. Overflowing with gifts, miracles, and eloquence, they were still called “people of the flesh” (1 Corinthians 3:1). That warning echoes today: it is possible to speak Heaven’s language while living Hell’s logic.

Paul reminds us: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). If your faith is a platform for ego rather than a grave for pride, you are not walking with God—you are decorating yourself with His name. The Spirit does not empower performance; He crucifies self so Christ may live: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Infancy of Competition

Corinth divided itself between Paul and Apollos: “For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human?” (1 Corinthians 3:4). We divide ourselves between movements, teachers, and tribes. Beneath the robes of “discernment” often lurks envy.

If you measure your worth against another’s blessing, you are still an infant in Christ: “For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (1 Corinthians 3:3). The carnal mind craves being “first”; the spiritual mind bows deeper into the humility of the Cross: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Building with Straw or Gold

The Quest for True Godliness

The Quest for True Godliness

Paul writes,

“For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

What is godliness? It is not mere morality, nor the polish of discipline. Godliness is the life of God reflected in man—the reverent devotion that springs from faith in Christ, shaping both heart and conduct. It is the soul’s alignment with God, not through ritual or regimen, but through relationship with His Son.

• Consider the athlete. His body is trained to perfection, muscles honed through sweat and sacrifice. Yet his strength cannot lift him into heaven. His discipline may win medals, but it cannot win eternal life.
• Consider the monk. His mind is trained to silence, thoughts subdued by meditation. Yet his stillness cannot reconcile him to God. His discipline may bring peace of mind, but it cannot bring peace with God.
• Consider the scholar. His intellect is vast, his knowledge deep. Yet wisdom of the world cannot unlock the mystery of salvation. His books may fill libraries, but they cannot fill the soul with godliness.

All these pursuits—bodily, mental, intellectual—profit for a season. They shape life on earth, but they cannot secure life eternal. Godliness, however, is profitable in every way, because it is rooted in Christ.

Godliness is not achieved by human effort. It is received by faith. It is Christ living in us, His Spirit shaping our desires, His Word guiding our steps. It is the believer’s daily walk, not in the strength of flesh or brilliance of mind, but in the power of grace.

Paul’s contrast is vivid:

• Exercise of the body strengthens for a moment.
• Discipline of the mind calms for a season.
• Godliness in Christ secures both now and eternity.

True godliness is not found in the gym, the monastery, or the library. It is found at the cross. It is found in surrender, in faith, in Christ alone.

So the quest is clear: seek not merely the strength of the body or the mastery of the mind, but the life of God in the soul. Desire godliness, and desire it in the right place—in Christ, who is our righteousness, our peace, and our eternal life.

God's Two Governments (Book Preview: Chapter 1)

Hi all,

Below is the first chapter of my book called "God's Two Governments". As you may be aware, the book is on pre-order for two more days before it goes live on Amazon. If you are captivated or your interest is sparked by the chapter below, then take advantage of the pre-order price in these last two days. The book goes live on Monday at the full sale price. If you happen to purchase the book, and have read it, please return to the Amazon site and leave a review. It will help to keep the book visible on the site and allow more people to find it. My deepest thanks and appreciation for your support.

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Chapter 1: The Departure

The Setting

The morning air in Haran hangs heavy with the scent of ancient dust and the lingering smoke of cooking fires. Abram’s journey began in Ur, the city of his birth, where his story first took root. For some years, Haran had offered a new boundary of comfort after the migration of his father Terah, but now, at the age of seventy-five, the horizon looks different. He stands at the edge of his encampment, his eyes scanning the distance where the Euphrates snakes through the fertile crescent, wondering about the voice that has disrupted his peace. Though memories of his father linger in his heart, a deeper, more pressing weight stirs within his chest—a call that did not come from the idols of Ur or the traditions of his kin. It was a call that demanded a total severing of ties, a departure from the familiar shadows of his father’s house toward a destination hidden entirely in the mind of the Almighty.

His servants move with hushed efficiency, sensing the shift in their master’s spirit as they pack the heavy woollen tents and secure the livestock. Sarai watches him from the tent entrance, her face a mask of silent questions and unspoken fears about the wilderness ahead. There are no maps to consult, no established trade routes that can guarantee the safety of such a massive undertaking into the unknown. To leave Haran is to leave protection; to leave kindred is to leave identity and the safety of the clan. Yet, the atmosphere feels charged, as if the very stars that guided them from the south are now waiting for a new decree from the heavens. Abram breathes in the dry, morning air, and in the profound stillness of the Mesopotamian dawn, the heavens open with a promise that will alter the course of human history and set the foundation for an earthly kingdom.