The End

Romans 9-16

    The end of Romans is beautifully written.  Paul tells us of our role as Christians, believers, and people.  He says that originally the Jews were God's chosen people, but because of their rejection of Jesus the gospel was opened up to the Gentiles.  This was a good thing since the Gentiles were given the gospel.  The Jews are not lost forever, though, they will also be given another shot at grace.  This shows God's love further and His hope of bringing all the lost sheep back into the fold.  Paul explains that as long as we follow and believe in Christ we will have redemption.  It is only through this faith that we are saved, actions are not enough.  Just as faith without works is dead, so is works without faith.  
      While this life maybe hard, we do have hope for a brighter future.  God calls upon us to live a perfect life in an imperfect world.  This life is full of heartache, disappointments, and failures.  Life can seem too hard at times, and above all this God is telling us that just enduring is not enough, but that we have to live the way He wants.  This could be impossible if not for Christ and grace and mercy.  That gives us hope and if we have this hope in Christ we can have peace.  No matter what happens, no matter the pain and suffering we may endure, we can still have peace in this life and hope in the life to come.  
      After we believe ourselves, then comes the serving.  Paul tells us that we are not to look down on others who have less faith.  Instead, we are to help those sheep who are lost or wondering.  It is through our actions as Christians that can determine if we lead others to Christ or away from Him.  This where being "Christian-like" comes into play.  We are to take on the body of Christ and to act as He would.  We are to encourage and love others.  We are all God's children and we all have God's mercy and goodness.  He loves everyone of us and we should love each other.  Romans is a great book that describes Christ's role in our lives.  I enjoyed reading it very much. 

Romans 1-8

        In the beginning of Romans, Paul is talking about sin.  He tells of how we all sin and fall short of what God expects from all of us.  The first few chapters describe the sin and how no man is perfect.  Paul reveals though that we can be forgiven.  The acts we do to repent of our sins can never be enough to make up for the sins we commit.  We cannot save ourselves from our sins.  God does not receive anyone who is not perfect.  So how can we be forgiven?  Are we destined to be cast into outer darkness?  If this is so what is the point of being good?  What is the point of doing good works?  While we, ourselves, can never do enough to receive salvation on our own (since no one in this life is perfect) there is one greater than us all who can save us.  It is through His grace and mercy that we can hope for salvation after this life.  This person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus who suffered and died for us to release us from the bonds of death, is the only one who can help us reach salvation.  Even though we are judged by our actions, we can still be saved from our sins.  Because of what Jesus did for us, we can ask for forgiveness when we fall short of perfection.  Through faith in Jesus and in the Atonement we can hope for salvation.  This faith is known as justification through faith.  After we do all we can, faith in Christ does the rest.  This is the message Paul was preaching in the beginning of Romans.  It is a message of peace and love.  It proves that our God is a merciful and loving God who provides for us when we can not provide for ourselves. 

1 Corinthians 8-14

Paul starts off by explaining that the culture is to believe in many gods.  He says this is wrong and that as Christians we should believe in only one god.  This is counter-cultural for the time, since this is not what the majority of the people believed and it was not generally accepted.  Besides God, Paul explains there is also the Christ who is Jesus.  He then goes on to rejoice in his Christian liberty.  He says "Am I not an Apostle? Am I not free?" (9:1) This is seems to suggest that by believing in Christ and by following Him, we gain freedom.  Paul continues to preach the gospel to all people.  He literally gives his life to this cause.  What is his reward for this?  He explains that "when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge." (4:18) He then goes on to explain that while Christ has made him free, he has yet made himself the servant to all those he preaches to.  
God seems to expect so much from those who decide to follow Him.  Paul gave up everything to preach His word to all men.  God expects us as Christians to give up worldly desires and to follow Him in whatsoever thing He asks us.  At times it can seem like too much is expected, but Paul gives us encouragement in 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  We see that our God is a kind, loving God who does not give us trials to break us, but instead test us.  And in these trials He is always there and will guide and help us as long as we live as He would have us and keep faith in Him.  
Paul then talks about the importance of charity.  He says that all other gifts and powers are worthless unless you have charity.  He even says acts of kindness are nothing if they are not done with charity.  Paul says that charity suffers and bears all things. He also says that if you have charity you can hope for all things.  Paul ends again by emphasizing the importance of charity.

1 Corinthians 1-7

Paul starts off by telling the followers of Christ that they should be like minded.  He explains that all true saints are perfectly united in the same mind and in the same judgment.  This means that there should not be a separate set of standards for Christians, but their beliefs and convictions should be the same and be what Jesus taught.  Paul then tell that those who follow Christ should preach the gospel and in doing so they would save souls.  Paul also explains that it is not only the most religious or most prominent people who should be preaching the gospel, but anyone who believes in the gospel and has been converted to Jesus's church.  
Paul then goes on to explain that it is the spirit that will be with us as we preach the gospel.  The spirit will reveal what needs to be said when teaching others.  Those who are "natural men" will not be able to receive the gospel, because they are hardened against it.  He then goes on to talk about the milk and the meat.  When you have a baby you feed them milk until they are old enough to eat real food or "meat."  This is just like followers of Christ.  Paul was teaching them the "easier" gospel principles first.  He was giving them the milk of the gospel.  He said they were not ready for the meat.  Paul explains that all of us our temples unto God.  He says that God dwells in each of us and that we should not defile ourselves.  

Philemon and Philippians

Both of these books speak of love.  It speaks of the love between Christ and man, believers of Christ and each other, and believers of Christ and those that they spread the gospel to.  The books talk about the bond between those who do the Lord's work and carry on his will.


Paul tells how members should be of one accord and one mind.  This means that our goals and pursuits should be the same.  This goal should be to draw closer to God and do His work on earth.  


Paul talks about how he has given up everything for Christ.  He says to not look behind at sins and wrongful desires, but to look forward to the finish line.  He says that we should strive toward perfection. Paul tells us we should look toward Christ who can make our worldly, sinful bodies perfect.  Paul tells us to be honest, true, and chaste and to seek out things that are pure, lovely, of good report and praiseworthy.  If we do these things we'll have peace.  


Even though these things seem hard, Paul says they are possible.  He explains that he has endured many trials.  He says that we too will experience trials in our lives.  But he gives us hope and encouragement.  He says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). 

Galatians

Galatians was written by Paul.  The whole book is only six chapters.  Galatians begins with Paul bearing his testimony.  He preaches about the gospel and prophecies its divinity.  He then goes to Jerusalem were he continues to preach.  He then explains about Christ and resurrection.  He states, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I live now in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (2:20).  


Paul angrily tells the Galatians the Law of Moses is no longer needed.  He explains that Christ fulfilled this and that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone.


Paul explains that with Christ we are free.  It is only when we sin that we are put in bondage.




Throughout Galatians, Paul repeats many of the teachings that Christ himself explained.