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I am a retired pastor of
the Church of God (Tennessee). My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India. |
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Email: Pastor True Gospel
We are about to study
the epistle to Romans 12 by apostle Paul. It is addressed to the Romans. The receivers of the epistle could be the church, Spirit church which is the body of Christ, common people of that day, and mostly us who can buy a bible and study it. There are vast number of preachers who teach without knowing the truth of God, and there are a few preachers who teach the truth of God. But we do not know who is who. So, let us see the basics to understand the truth of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is God and he is our master. We must learn all from him.1) “Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. … 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Among the audience, there are people who are blind who will not see, deaf who will not hear, and foolish who will not understand. Jesus Christ made sure that they do not to understand. I used to spend hours and days to make them understand, but in vain, and it was in my experience in teaching.
2) Jesus Christ told the Pharisees, Scribes, religious zealots who claim that they are children of Abraham, that they do not understand scriptures since the teachings are too much or too hard for them. It is in "John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word." That is, those who are very zealous of their denominations, working as pastors, bishops, deacons, and in such positions cannot accept the truth. So, do not waste time in teaching them the truth, knowing that it will be in vain.
3) "Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying," We all know about the sermon on the mount. We all think that this is preached to the common people at the mountain. Read the verse; notice that as the multitude came, Jesus climbed on the mountain so that common people may not climb after him. But the disciple climbed after him. Verse 2 says that he taught to his disciples. So, the sermon of the mount will not be applied to common people, but they are strong messages for his disciples only. For an example: "Matthew 5: 13 Ye are the salt of the earth:… 14 Ye are the light of the world. ..." His disciples are salt and light. If we teach it to common people, they are just nothing, Pharisees are junk, and Scribes are just dirt; we cannot teach them that they are salt and light. So also, in the epistle, the teacher must know what is for who; without knowing, blind teachers teach anything to anybody, which are not appropriate. Any epistle has different kinds of messages to different kinds of people. So, the guidance of the Holy Ghost is very important in studying the word of God. False teachers quote "Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," and preach all kinds of nonsense. But if the listener is not called to be a disciple by God, this verse or even the entire sermon of the mount does not belong to him. So, stay away from it. If you chose to live as his disciple, you may carry YOUR cross daily and follow him. "Matthew 16: 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Do not preach such verses to common people; and if you do, you are not preaching the message of God to them. If you do not preach such message to the disciples, then again, you are not preaching the message of God to them. The teacher of the word of God must have discernment.
4) We just saw that the disciple of Jesus Christ must live a perfect life, and they are under strict scrutiny for their own good. But the common people who want to be saved and just to escape hell, have a very low expectation. "Matthew 19:18 … Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness," These are the expectations from ordinary people. It is not difficult not to kill, but to kill is difficult, and so on. That is, if they do not do harm to anybody, they have fulfilled the requirements to escape hell, and then they go to paradise. Teach these to common people, so that they may escape hell and go to heaven. Ask them to repent. Do not take offering from them.
So, the bottom line is that all things in the bible are not to everybody in the world; and they are not even for you. There are a few particular messages just for you in the bible. God will show them to you, through the Holy Spirit, if you have good conscience. Instead if you have evil conscience, Satan will teach you the bible, as he taught the word of God to Eve at the garden of Eden, by beautiful serpent preachers, who will entice you real well.
"1
I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
In the old testament,
God requires sacrifices to forgive sins. But at the death of Jesus on the
cross, God removed the old covenant, the promises with blessings and curses,
and he makes new covenant with his people. It will be an eternal covenant,
and its rewards will be according to what we do. Some of us get paradise, and some
of us get
new heavens, and so on. In the new covenant, instead of requiring
sacrifices, God, by his mercy, gives us grace, Spirit, and his power in
various measures according to our zeal and needs. If
we are just trying to escape hell, that is to go to paradise, we do not need more
measure of Spirit from God. Instead, if we try to go to the heavens, or to Zion the
dwelling place of God itself, then, the requirements of God is more, and we
will need his mercies in a greater measure, which God will give accordingly.
Here, God requires us to give live a holy life, with the proof, which will
show in our life that is our bodies, so that others will see. It we prove in
our life, God will
accept us in the heavens.
To become holy is not easy; and so, God may give even his
presence to us. "Romans
8:13
For if ye live
after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds
of the body, ye shall live."
This is living sacrifice. So you need to begin with being born of the
Spirit.
"2 And be not conformed to this world: ..." It is our conversion from worldly life to Spiritual life, and here it is explained well. "Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:" In time past, that is, previously we lived in sin, but now no more. And "
2 again ... but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," Mind renewing is transformation of the person. Mind is synonym to Soul; so, if mind renews, we are new persons. "2 Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Ephesians 4: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Then we are in Christ Jesus, and we are holy and righteous as Jesus Christ. And "2 again ... that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The perfect will of God in us is that "1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, …" That is, we must not live for our flesh, but for the Spirit. What is that we may prove? Christians have learned to make many bold statements quoting scriptures, but they live like the old testament Pharisees and Scribes. But God demands that we must live like what we say and prove it. If we prove, it is truth; if not, it is a fake lie."3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Grace was given to Paul. He was converted from being a prejudiced and biased man for Jews, and he was a scripture scholar, who hated the converts of Jesus Christ. Even after his conversion, he remained as a proud Jew. So, God allowed a thorn to him, and gave him grace to bear the thorn. "2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." The combination of thorn and grace, kept him in ministry. With this experience of grace, he advises us also, not to think above what God has given to us. It is a practical lesson. Then he says to think soberly, it does not refers to drunkenness, but to think with common sense. Then he advises to act only according to the faith that God has given to us, but not to go overboard. Our faith may be increased if we grow in the knowledge of the Son of God.
"4-8. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." These description will very well fit with the ceremonies we have in the full gospel, or Pentecostal churches, if course with flaws. But in the beginning, the church could have been more as Spirit churches, since there was no regulations and administration other than the guidance of apostles. Here the body in Christ refers to the church. However, for practical purposes, we have the organized church, but not the body of Christ as a church. It consists of worldly and rebellious people. God gives them also the gifts of the Holy Ghost as in "Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them." So, for compromised understanding, let us assume that the body in Christ may be the local churches. Please remember that the letters of Paul could be also stumbling stones to smart aleck preachers! So, with the caution let us accept that they are the local churches. God gives the gifts of the Holy Ghost in local churches, in all the denominations. Paul advises to operate the gifts with simplicity; but we see that in a few churches they make it a havoc and confusion like riots.
"9-11. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;" These advises are general; these can be applied to anybody; of course they apply to churches also. "11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" A true godly person will not be slothful in any job, even in secular job. They must work as he is working for Jesus Christ, it is also serving God. They would have received the Holy Spirit already, but always working towards in growing in the Spirit. Then, what is serving God? Most of the time we think serving God is to prepare a sermon and preach it in a church, or in a group. "Ephesians 6:5&6 say, 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;" Serving God may be to do a honest job righteously in a secular job, rather than preaching prepared sermons. If you are a preacher, preach only the truth of God.
"12-16. 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;" These advises are very well be accepted by the Spirit Church, but not by worldly churches. "13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality." At the present time, prominent preachers have private planes and they are thinking about buying private jet planes. Poor saints are still poor. Consider them. "14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not." It depends upon what kind of persecution there is. If they are life threatening and violent, run and escape. But if they are such as verbal insult or such, you may ignore them. Use common sense. "15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." Such are very good advises to follow.
"17&18. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." These are good advises. It says that if it is possible; and so, remember that they are not just thrown at you as mandatory.
"19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." I find it difficult to teach this verse. However, if your nature is not to take revenge for any injustice, it will come to you easily. Even otherwise, God advises not take vengeance. Then, you may even see that they who did hurt you, may not do well in life; that is, God may have something to do with it.
"20
Therefore if
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou
shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21
Be not overcome
of evil, but overcome evil with good."
If God has led you in such a situation, use the opportunity to obey God. God will
bless you.
Note:
If any point needs explanation,
OR,
if you find an error according to scripture,
God Bless
You
Please write to me
in the 'Mail
Box'
below.
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Matthew 28:20, & Mark 16:15. Jesus Christ preached his commandments to obey, as his
Gospel; it is the true Gospel to inherit Eternal life. Genesis 3:1-4 & 2 Corinthians 11:2-4. But Preachers, who are Serpents of Satan, preach the life of man Jesus just to believe, but not to live as a chaste virgin, as the gospel; it is another gospel, which cannot and will not give Eternal life.The true gospel will convert evil people to do good and thereby they will inherit the kingdom in heaven.
John 3:19-21 say that people are two kinds, evil and true. Evil doers will not come to the Light, who is God; but people of truth come to God for their deeds to be made manifest. We have good and evil people by our standard of our society or culture. These evil people may be converted to be doers of truth by the power of God, and they may inherit the kingdom of God in heaven.
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Email: Pastor True Gospel
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