All throughout the Old Testament and in Jesus’ time on earth God is dealing with the Israelites. At their rejection of Jesus, under the Law, as their redeemer King a time was set aside for the entering of the rest of humanity, non Jews, into the Body of Christ. This mystery was dependent only on faith in Jesus Christ. Israel is His called out chosen people. The Body of Christ enters in by His gift of grace.
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
We are saved by grace, the gift of God, to all of people who accept it by faith in Jesus. The long suffering of the Lord is our salvation. This mystery was revealed to Paul by Jesus. This was hard for Peter and the Jewish believers in Christ to understand that the Gentiles could be saved by their faith alone in Jesus. The corruptible will put on the incorruptible and we will be changed.
Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
Jesus is the hope of the world. When we accept Him, by faith in Him, we will rise again in the same power that raised Him bodily from the dead. We will be reunited with our perfect body, soul and spirit. For the Lord will descend and with the trump of God we who are alive will be caught up together with all others in the Body of Christ to meet Him. Carla
ancient manuscripts place Romans 16:25–27 after 14:23 or 15:33, while others omit the verses entirely. These verses contain a doxology—a hymn to God—using several of the key themes of the letter (e.g., mystery, Gentiles, and obedience). Faithlife Study Bible
The word establish is only used twice in Romans. At the beginning of the book, Paul expresses a desire to visit the Romans that he might impart some spiritual gift to them so that they would be “established” (1:11). Now he praises God who is able to do it. God used the gospel, which is the preaching of Jesus Christ, to establish the Roman believers. Paul speaks of his message as a mystery (11:25) because God’s complete plan of salvation was at first hidden but now was being revealed. The revealed mystery is that the church will consist of both Jews and Gentiles united in Christ (Ephesians 3:1–13).
revelation (Greek apokalupsis) (16:25; Ephesians 1:17; 3:3; Revelation 1:1) Strong’s #602: Revelation is God’s communication to people concerning Himself, His moral standards, and His plan of salvation. God has made Himself known to all people everywhere in the marvels of nature and in the human conscience, which is able to distinguish right from wrong (1:18–20; 2:14, 15). The message of salvation was seen dimly through Old Testament sacrifices and ceremonies. But the full and final revelation of God has occurred in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1, 2). At the Cross, Jesus revealed supremely God’s self-giving love (Romans 5:8). The good news is not complete until we hear that He rose again triumphantly over sin, Satan, and the grave, and is alive forevermore. The content of God’s special revelation concerning salvation is found in “the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of … the apostles of the Lord and Savior.
Colossians 1:26–27 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Ephesians 1:9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,
Romans 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Ephesians 3:3–6 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)…
Joy exists not only when our lives are easy but also when the Lord gives us the opportunity and ability to endure hardship for His glory. There is a cost to follow Christ, as Jesus told His disciples: "'A servant is not greater than his master. ' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:20). The gospel goes against the grain of the world, which means pushback is not only normal; it's expected. Yet we become more like Christ in His suffering as well as His strength.
The world will give us numerous opportunities to shy away from sharing the gospel and its life-giving Truth ... but the Spirit empowers us to prevail. The Good News of Christ cannot be stopped! We as believers can stand firm in our decision to honor those in authority while also obeying the commands of Jesus. And if we are pressured to stay silent regarding the gospel, we can bravely "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). Never underestimate how God can use a person's life, including yours, for the advancement of the gospel! First5
Rabbi Naomi Levy’s reminder, “God who was speaking those words to each one of us, ‘Let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet.’”
How do we remind one another of the infinity that is within us, when times are tough, dark and hurtful?
And how do we remember, even in the belittling and demanding places, that we can hear and affirm that voice, and with it, walk one another home?
It is so easy (and tempting) to see our vulnerability as a weakness, or limitation or flaw, and not as the affirmation of a strong and resilient heart.
“Liberation begins with an awareness that you are worthy of so much more than whatever form your chains have taken today.” Cole Arthur Riley Sabbath Moments
No comments:
Post a Comment