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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
Preface
This is
the final chapter of Romans, and Salutation is given individually to the saints
by name. At the same time caution is given to avoid those who caused divisions
in the doctrine. Those who serve their
own belly are false preachers, and they deceive simple people. Gospel is to obey
the faith, and it is made known to all nations.
"Acts
2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls. …
47 ....
And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
In the new covenant, people began to join, and church
began to grow. At Acts 5, we see the story of
Ananias and Sapphira his wife. "Acts 5:13
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them:
but the people magnified them."
Despite the miracles done by the apostles, they
did not dare to join them out of fear; but people magnify them; and it is by the design of God. So, the
people of God will always be few, for Paul or Peter or
for any true servant of God. But the worldly preachers will have huge crowd
following them.
"Romans 16:1&2. 1
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a
servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2
That ye receive
her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever
business she hath need of you: for she hath been
a
succourer of many, and of myself also."
It is usual to give commendations and appreciations at the end of a letter. Here Phebe is introduced as the servant of the church, and so she
must have been a good helper.
In verse 2,
Paul is asking to help her, even to serve her if possible, since she was ‘a
succourer of many, and of myself also.’
A succourer is the one who provides help during difficult times in need,
distress or difficulty. So, she could be a rich and generous woman, she served
the church by helping the poor out of her own substance; hosted ministers of the Gospel,
and
proved herself to be a great godly person.
"3-5. 3
Greet
Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4
Who have for my
life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all
the churches of the Gentiles.
5
Likewise greet
the church that is in their house. …"
Priscilla and Aquila also helped Paul as Phebe helped him.
They were husband and wife. They even risked their lives to save the life of Paul,
for which the church also was grateful to them.
Verse 5 says
that church gatherings were in houses.
Colossians 4:15 and Philemon 1:2
mention about house churches.
"5 ... Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ." Epaenetus was a beloved person to apostle Paul and he was also a firstfruit from Achaia. Firstfruits are those who have received the holy Spirit and converted from being a worldly person to a Spirit person, and they are in the body of Christ. "1 Corinthians 16: 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)," The first martyr Stephen was also a firstfruits from Achaia. They were addicted, means that their instinct and purpose in life is to ministry or to take care the needs of the saints of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"
6-12. 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us." It seems that this person Mary is a good woman. Mary was a common name among them and there could be many as Mary. But this Mary could have helped Paul and was exceeding useful in encouraging the ministers of the Gospel. "7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." These were relatives to him, they also suffered in prison for the cause of Christ, they were also apostles, and they were not converted by Paul since they were in Christ even before him. "8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved." They were also helpers and his beloved. "10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord." These verses are just the names of people and short comments about them."
13-16. 13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine." Apostle knew him, as one 'chosen in the Lord'; meaning that he was a choice believer in Christ, an excellent Christian of high calling. Apostle Paul refers his mother as, his mother and mine; she could have treated Paul as her own son. "14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them." Here were few more names to salute. "16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you." What it means to salute one another with a holy kiss? It is Christian salutation wishing spiritual unity, with eternal happiness to one another; and it should be mutual, hearty, and sincere, and this is meant by the "holy kiss." The church of Christ is the body of Christ, that is Spirit Church. The church that was led by Paul, salutes them."
17&18. 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." The important phrase here is that we must keep the doctrine of Jesus Christ that they have learned. But most present-day preachers twist the doctrine of Jesus Christ, and preach the doctrine of the devil. Here we find two things: 1) The doctrine of Jesus Christ: God made the old testament covenant with its promises and blessings, old since it was decayed. "Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." And God has made a new covenant in its place. Our preachers neither know what the new covenant is, nor they ceased to preach the old testament blessings to churches. This is false and deception. 2) They preach the gospel for their belly, but not for Jesus Christ: They show posters of the loving face and crucified body of Jesus Christ, to receive money from you for some kind of project, or at least in the name of tithes and offerings. The true gospel of Jesus Christ in the new covenant must be preached with the power of God, to obey his commands to inherit the kingdom of God in heaven. "Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" We must preach this message with the presence and power of Jesus Christ with us. Most preachers are not preaching this, and they do not have the presence and power of God either. Apostle Paul tells us to reject the teachings of modern-day preachers, since their gospel is false. But the tragedy is that the churches are already deceived."
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil." They are obeying people; obedience is the number one foundation of godliness. And if you obey God, you got it all. Notice what Paul says; "yet I would." So, something is not done yet; what is it? They are Jews and Gentiles, mixed congregation; the first thing a preacher must do in this situation is to make them One, since Jesus Christ has made them One, let them forget their racial identity. Preachers including Paul must teach them to forget the racial division, and to realize and establish the true division, and it is to be good or evil. So, teach them to be good, but not to be evil. Good will come to the light who is Jesus Christ, and the evil will not come to light, but will go to the darkness, who is the devil. This is the true division in the world according to God, but it is neither 'Jews and Gentiles', nor 'Christians and non-Christians'. God covers all people."20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly..." God was the God of wars in the old testament, he was fighting for his people. In the new testament, he is the God of peace. But even now preachers rejoice in that David killed Goliath, and in that Pharaoh's army was immersed and killed in the red sea. Preachers still do it because they do not know that God has established the new covenant with his people, he will quietly bruise Satan under out feet because he is now the God of peace. "20 continues ... The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." The grace of God was even in the old testament and it was with all godly people. But we ignorantly claim that grace is with all Christians, and it is with Christians from when they are born, but grace is not given to non-Christians. So, we all will go to heaven by the grace of God, but not by what we do. Is it true? Whatever it is, most preachers preach this in many different ways, and most Christians believe this lie and are very happy with it.
How will God bruise Satan under our feet? God the Word became the man Jesus just like you and me. He was to enter the ministry of God when he was 30. Satan confronted him and it was a war lasted for forty days. God used the man Jesus, and bruised Satan under his feet, very quietly and with ease. We do not study the details of all temptations here. Satan wants to destroy Jesus and the ministry of God, with deception. The head of Satan is the plan of Satan; and it was crushed. Satan took off with defeat, Jesus returned with power. God will do the same with us also if we follow Jesus.
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21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. 23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Timothy worked with Paul. He says that Sosipater was his relative. Tertius helped him to write this letter. Gaius was the host who was taking care of the church. Erastus was the chamberlain of the city; chamberlain is the position of the treasurer or the comptroller of the city. Quartus is a fellow brother. Then he wishes everyone with the grace of God, and grace is the power of God."
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," God has the power to establish us is him. What is the mystery which was kept secret from the beginning? 1) All people are one for the purpose of heaven; even though God has separated them as Jews and Gentiles, in the world. We may see it in "Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power." The mystery is that Gentiles is the fellow-heirs with Jews for eternal kingdom of God; that is now non-Christians are fellow-heirs with Christians for eternal kingdom of God, according to what we do in obedience to God in our lives. However, it is still a mystery to most Christians, even though God has revealed it to them in scriptures. Then, Paul says "my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ." Both are the same. But this serves as a stumbling stone scripture. False preachers boldly preach that since we are Gentiles, we must have Paul's gospel, since Paul is for Gentiles and Jesus was for Jews. Next; Jesus openly preached his gospel saying that we must obey the commands of Jesus Christ to inherit the kingdom of God in heaven. Salvation and heaven are by what we do."26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" Now faith is believing that the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ is in the omnipotent God and he is God; and now he is a Spirit and he is not a man anymore. If we see him as a man, or even God the Father as a man, we are not seeing God, but we are in deception. We must study all scriptures by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Ghost instructs the Spirit. All scriptures the Man Jesus spoke were given to him by God the Father. "John 8: 28 Then said Jesus unto them, ... and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." So, what he spoke must be given pre-eminence, and must be used to calibrate all other scriptures, prophesies, and all such things. Even though it is revealed that the gospel is the message to obey Jesus Christ to inherit heaven, almost all churches, with the influence of Satan, who did deceive Eve at the garden of Eden, preach that if we obey Jesus Christ, it will be works, and we are not saved by works, but by grace, and deceive all people. Grace is power of God; but it is not unmerited favor. Most preachers say that grace is an unmerited favor of God; and it is a lie.
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27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." This is the wish, blessing, or salutation at the end of a letter, and there should be much to it. Yet, the only wise God refers to God the Father. He is mostly compared to be the head of even to the Holy Ghost and to Jesus Christ. "1 Corinthians 11:3 … the head of Christ is God." Here God is God the Father, and he is the planner of all things, all the time, including when Jesus became a man, and when Jesus became God again. All the glory that is displayed to be given to him, through the Lord Jesus Christ the Mediator.Note: If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find an error according to scripture,
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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 Corinth 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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