PAULINE DOXOLOGY - PART 7

THURSDAY 09 NOVEMBER 2023

Through this wonderful topic, I believe that we will end up grasping ethical considerations alongside God's perfect plan showcasing the path of successful empowerment practices, in relation to being established in faith in this present world - in accordance with Pauline gospel regarding Christ. More below!

Reference: Romans 16:25-27 New International Version (NIV) "Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

The next segment, in line with the series of sequential steps of my expository structure is:

"So that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith"

This implies that God has given all other nations, access to Christ, which can lead anyone who believes in Him to obedience that comes from faith. So apart from the Jews, every other nation on earth has the right to receive salvation that is in Christ and yield to the ministry of the Word and Spirit, in order to have the full riches of complete understanding, in the knowledge of God's mystery, namely, Christ. This fundamental truth is deeply rooted in God's plan and purpose for all mankind, and firmly embedded in His mysterious will, regarding Christ.

Simply put, to fulfil His good plan for all mankind, God laid out the intention and carried it out through the glorious gospel of Christ, with immense pleasure. Zero wonder Paul stated in Romans 11:25 saying, "For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (NASB).

To that effect, Paul's conviction about the potency of the glorious gospel was grounded on this affirmation: "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile" (Romans 1:16 NLT). Beloved, Pauline epistolary persuasions have enlightened us to a great extent, about this mystery which is situated at the core or centre of God's perfect will.

Put in another way, all of his epistolary expressions are geared towards resulting in the true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself. Job 11:7 says, "Can you discover the depths of God? Can you [by searching] discover the limits of the Almighty [ascend to His heights, extend to His widths, and comprehend His infinite perfection]?" (AMP). Can we fully discover the depths of God on earth? Can we discover the limits or grasp the perfection of the Almighty? Beloved, the Scripture is talking the about vastness of God's mystery, Christ, which cannot be fathomed.

Furthermore, 1st Timothy 3:16 (NASB) reads, "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory." What did Paul mean when he said, "By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness"? In other words, it means that Christ, the great mystery of godliness is an inconceivable perfection. We can declare what He came to accomplish for us by confession, but the mystery behind His revealed status in the flesh and all His earthly manifestation remains a great wonder. The mystery is the hidden truth of godliness. Got it?

When we study Acts 13:43-47 (AMP), we shall fully grasp the reason apostle Paul turned to preaching Christ to the Gentiles. Verse 47 specifically noted, "For that is what the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have placed You as a light for the Gentiles, So that You may bring [the message of eternal] salvation to the end of the earth.'" Stay tuned for part 8. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Acts 28:28; Romans 3:29; Isaiah 49:16; Ephesians 2:14-16; Galatians 3:8; Ephesians 3:6-9.

Exuberant Declaration: I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile. Glory to God!