Christ the Center of the Bible: Christ in His Body. Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, and Galatians.
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ROMANS - Christ is our Salvation.
The Apostle Paul writes this letter to the believers at Rome.
`Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.....to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints;...`(Rom. 1 & 7)
In his letter, Paul sets forth that Christ is the power of God unto salvation. He shows that all mankind have sinned and are guilty before God - zealous Jews, proud Greeks, boastful Romans and a multitude of ordinary, common sinners like ourselves.
There is presented a courtroom scene. God the judge of all the earth, summons Jew and Gentile before the bar of justice. Their special pleas of `not guilty` are carefully considered and answered, clearing the way for the final verdict from the judge.
Finally the Judge pronounces the verdict.
`All the world .....guilty before God.` (Rom. 3: 19)
Against this there is no defense. Every mouth is stopped. There is no room for excuse. The condemnation of the world is settled. The next step in order will be to reveal the plan of God to save a lost world.
The judge on the bench says, “Is there anyone to appear for the prisoners?” Then the Son of God says, “Yes, I am here to represent these. It is true they have committed these sins. It is true they are guilty, but I bore their guilt on the cross. I died in their place that they may go free. I am their righteousness.” And the Judge sets them free.
`....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood....` (Rom. 3: 23 & 24)
We read that every benefit is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
`For if by one man`s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.` (Rom. 5: 17)
Then we see His supreme authority as Lord.
`For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.` (Rom. 14: 9)
The Apostle Paul writes this letter to the believers at Rome.
`Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.....to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints;...`(Rom. 1 & 7)
In his letter, Paul sets forth that Christ is the power of God unto salvation. He shows that all mankind have sinned and are guilty before God - zealous Jews, proud Greeks, boastful Romans and a multitude of ordinary, common sinners like ourselves.
There is presented a courtroom scene. God the judge of all the earth, summons Jew and Gentile before the bar of justice. Their special pleas of `not guilty` are carefully considered and answered, clearing the way for the final verdict from the judge.
Finally the Judge pronounces the verdict.
`All the world .....guilty before God.` (Rom. 3: 19)
Against this there is no defense. Every mouth is stopped. There is no room for excuse. The condemnation of the world is settled. The next step in order will be to reveal the plan of God to save a lost world.
The judge on the bench says, “Is there anyone to appear for the prisoners?” Then the Son of God says, “Yes, I am here to represent these. It is true they have committed these sins. It is true they are guilty, but I bore their guilt on the cross. I died in their place that they may go free. I am their righteousness.” And the Judge sets them free.
`....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood....` (Rom. 3: 23 & 24)
We read that every benefit is through the Lord Jesus Christ.
`For if by one man`s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.` (Rom. 5: 17)
Then we see His supreme authority as Lord.
`For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.` (Rom. 14: 9)
1 & 2 CORINTHIANS - Christ is our Sanctification.
The Apostle Paul writes to the disciples that came to the Lord when he was in Corinth. He had stayed there for over a year, working as a tentmaker, with the help of Aquila and his wife, Pricilla. (Acts 18) The Jews opposed Paul so he then went to the Gentiles. They received him and learnt much of God`s word.
`And he (Paul) continued there (Corinth) a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.` (Acts 18: 11)
Then after some time Paul moved on to other places to preach that Jesus is both Lord and Saviour. Then there came reports concerning the believers at Corinth that there were divisions among them, carnal behaviour and controversies. All these are addressed in the letters to the believers at Corinth.
`For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe`s household, that there are contentions among you.` (1 Cor. 1: 11)
The city of Corinth was the most important city of Greece in Paul`s day and its wealth was fabulous. Luxury and immorality were rampant among the population. There was much culture and art, plus study of philosophy and their gods were gods of pleasure. Thus it was that this worldliness had come right into the midst of the believers.
There were divisions among them; believers going to law against other believers; behaviour at communion was disgraceful; even contention over spiritual gifts. Finally the believers wrote Paul about these things, and asked his advice on the matter. The two letters to the Corinthians were written in answer to their requests.
The Apostle Paul addresses each matter and then goes on to explain how believers should act. He spoke of living a life pleasing to the Lord, and being members of one body, caring for each other and using the spiritual gifts for building up the Body.
`For by one Spirit we were baptised into one body.......(and) the members should have the same care for one another.` (1 Cor. 12 & 25)
In Paul`s letter to the Romans, we find the theme to be salvation - righteousness through Jesus. In these letters to the Corinthians he enlarges it into the life of righteousness in the believer. This comes through sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit whereby the mind and affections of the believer are purified from all control by sin. It is a process that the believer is active in.
`Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.` (2 Cor. 3: 17 & 18)
The Apostle Paul writes to the disciples that came to the Lord when he was in Corinth. He had stayed there for over a year, working as a tentmaker, with the help of Aquila and his wife, Pricilla. (Acts 18) The Jews opposed Paul so he then went to the Gentiles. They received him and learnt much of God`s word.
`And he (Paul) continued there (Corinth) a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.` (Acts 18: 11)
Then after some time Paul moved on to other places to preach that Jesus is both Lord and Saviour. Then there came reports concerning the believers at Corinth that there were divisions among them, carnal behaviour and controversies. All these are addressed in the letters to the believers at Corinth.
`For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe`s household, that there are contentions among you.` (1 Cor. 1: 11)
The city of Corinth was the most important city of Greece in Paul`s day and its wealth was fabulous. Luxury and immorality were rampant among the population. There was much culture and art, plus study of philosophy and their gods were gods of pleasure. Thus it was that this worldliness had come right into the midst of the believers.
There were divisions among them; believers going to law against other believers; behaviour at communion was disgraceful; even contention over spiritual gifts. Finally the believers wrote Paul about these things, and asked his advice on the matter. The two letters to the Corinthians were written in answer to their requests.
The Apostle Paul addresses each matter and then goes on to explain how believers should act. He spoke of living a life pleasing to the Lord, and being members of one body, caring for each other and using the spiritual gifts for building up the Body.
`For by one Spirit we were baptised into one body.......(and) the members should have the same care for one another.` (1 Cor. 12 & 25)
In Paul`s letter to the Romans, we find the theme to be salvation - righteousness through Jesus. In these letters to the Corinthians he enlarges it into the life of righteousness in the believer. This comes through sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit whereby the mind and affections of the believer are purified from all control by sin. It is a process that the believer is active in.
`Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.` (2 Cor. 3: 17 & 18)
GALATIANS - Christ is our Justification.
During the Apostle Paul`s second missionary journey, he was delayed in Galatia by sickness. Though ill, this tireless servant of the Lord could not remain silent, but kept preaching God`s word. His theme was Christ crucified. (Gal. 3: 1)
It was at this time that many people became believers in Galatia. (Gal 1: 6) They were scattered over a rural district and the people were country folk. Teachers of the law followed after Paul moved on. They taught salvation by works, claiming that the believers should be circumcised, and do the works of the law.
These teachers explained that the reason Paul had not taught them this was because he was not a true apostle and had learned his doctrine from others. This had upset the new converts.
False teachers had begun to `bewitch` the people by telling them they must keep all kinds of ceremonies. Paul wanted them to know that nothing, no fetishes, or works, or ceremonies, could bring them to Christ. Salvation comes by believing in Christ - nothing else.
Being very fickle and loving something new and a change, the Galatian believers were on the verge of accepting the views of these false teachers. Paul saw the urgency and quickly wrote this letter to them.
`I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.` (Gal 1: 6)
He defended his apostleship saying that his teaching was authorized by God Himself. (Gal. 1: 11 - 24) He proves that he received his teaching directly from the Lord. He did not consult with any one as to what he should preach but retired to the wilds of Arabia for three years and there listened to God. He was taught by the Spirit.
Paul even had to rebuke Peter for being two-faced about Jewish customs when he was at Antioch. Their friendship still held after this serve test.
So what does justified mean? God credits to my account what Christ has done - just-as-if-I`d done it. A criminal is pardoned though he cannot be regarded as righteous. But justification is that act of God whereby He not only forgives us but puts Christ`s righteousness to our account. He gives us righteousness not our own but Christ`s.
`...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.` (Gal. 2: 16)
During the Apostle Paul`s second missionary journey, he was delayed in Galatia by sickness. Though ill, this tireless servant of the Lord could not remain silent, but kept preaching God`s word. His theme was Christ crucified. (Gal. 3: 1)
It was at this time that many people became believers in Galatia. (Gal 1: 6) They were scattered over a rural district and the people were country folk. Teachers of the law followed after Paul moved on. They taught salvation by works, claiming that the believers should be circumcised, and do the works of the law.
These teachers explained that the reason Paul had not taught them this was because he was not a true apostle and had learned his doctrine from others. This had upset the new converts.
False teachers had begun to `bewitch` the people by telling them they must keep all kinds of ceremonies. Paul wanted them to know that nothing, no fetishes, or works, or ceremonies, could bring them to Christ. Salvation comes by believing in Christ - nothing else.
Being very fickle and loving something new and a change, the Galatian believers were on the verge of accepting the views of these false teachers. Paul saw the urgency and quickly wrote this letter to them.
`I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.` (Gal 1: 6)
He defended his apostleship saying that his teaching was authorized by God Himself. (Gal. 1: 11 - 24) He proves that he received his teaching directly from the Lord. He did not consult with any one as to what he should preach but retired to the wilds of Arabia for three years and there listened to God. He was taught by the Spirit.
Paul even had to rebuke Peter for being two-faced about Jewish customs when he was at Antioch. Their friendship still held after this serve test.
So what does justified mean? God credits to my account what Christ has done - just-as-if-I`d done it. A criminal is pardoned though he cannot be regarded as righteous. But justification is that act of God whereby He not only forgives us but puts Christ`s righteousness to our account. He gives us righteousness not our own but Christ`s.
`...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.` (Gal. 2: 16)