One Spirit, One People

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By his Death and Resurrection, Jesus formed one covenant community – One New Man – based on faith in him – Ephesians 2:11-22.

The Apostle Paul is adamant. There no longer can be “Jew or Gentile” for disciples of Jesus. The old distinctions are inappropriate among the One People of God. By his shed blood, he “dismantled the middle wall of partition” that separated Jews and Gentiles so “he might reconcile them both in one body for God through the Cross.” God is building both into one building, one habitation of God in the Spirit founded on Jesus.

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Both Jews and Gentiles

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The equality of Jews and Gentiles before an impartial and just God is pivotal to Paul’s Gospel. They stand or fall before Him on the same basis.

Paul wrote his Letter to the Romans with two purposes. First, to prepare the ground for his visit to the city and his planned missionary trip to Spain. Secondly, to deal with conflicts between Jewish and Gentile believers. In the Letter, Pual explained his Gospel, and he then discussed the status of the Jewish people and the conflicts troubling the Roman Church.

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Salvation & Wrath Revealed

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Paul presents his Gospel to the assemblies of Rome, a message about God’s righteousness or wrath for all men, Jews and Gentiles alike.

Paul described the Gospel message in his Letter to the Romans. It was the “power of God for salvation” to all men who accepted it. Due to our sin, two forces are at work in the world, righteousness and wrath. God provides the solution to our plight through Jesus and the announcement of his Good News. His salvation is available to all men and women through the “faithfulness of Jesus Christ.”

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From Faith, For Faith

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Men are not justified before God from the works of the Mosaic Law, but rather from the faith of Jesus Christ.

Paul demonstrates that all men have sinned in his letter to the Romans. Jews and Gentiles alike violate God’s revealed will, therefore, no one is justified before Him “from the works of the Law.” Jews have the Mosaic Law but fall short of its requirements. Gentiles have the witness of their conscience yet live and even revel in their sins. If no one is set right before God “from the works of the Law,” how are we reconciled with Him?

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An Overwhelming Flood

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The New Testament warns of a future apostasy caused by deceivers, false prophets, and the Lawless One before the return of Jesus.

The New Testament warns us that before Jesus returns his Church will be under assault from within by deceivers, “false anointed ones,” and “false prophets,” and it does so repeatedly. Before the “Day of the Lord” begins, his disciples will be confronted by the “Man of Lawlessness,” a figure linked to the final “Apostasy,” the final great “falling away” from the true faith.

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