Subscription Lists

...separated to the gospel of God,
Romans 1:2 which He promised before through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son who came of the seed of David according to flesh, 4 who was marked out the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord;

Separated to the good message of God. Aphorizō (af-or-id'-zo) meaning to set off by boundary, also exclude, divide, appoint, sever... When I look at this I see a goodly portion of Paul's teaching summed up in this one word. The Divine message sets us apart from the world and Paul used a lot of words to tell the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, and even Titus and Timothy this. He reminded Philemon as well. It is a recurring theme throughout the New Testament that we are merely sojourners here and our temporarily away from our true home, Heaven.

How interesting it means to be set apart by a boundary, sort of like evil cannot cross this line. It is how I view the Holy Spirit as the seal to our hearts so that no other being may penetrate or take possession of God’s own possession, His bondservants.

Aphorizō isn’t a pleasing word to say like selah, or charis; but like those words the meaning is so vast beyond all measure. We are separated like the sheep from the goats. We are protected. There is nothing that can take away or trespass within our territory.

Paul knew beyond any doubt that the work he was doing was God’s will and had been His will even when Paul was in his mother’s womb. He told the Galatians in his letter to them, Galatians 1:15 But when the one who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me by his grace was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me in order that I would proclaim the gospel about him among the Gentiles, immediately I did not consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia and I returned again to Damascus.

For three years he was separate from the apostles that came before him, separate in Arabia being taught by Jesus Himself, not being counseled by flesh and blood. We would do very well to remember this that our best teaching comes from the Holy Spirit Who gives us understanding of the most intricate scripture in a most intimate way.

...separated to the gospel of God, Romans 1:2 which He promised before through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son who came of the seed of David according to flesh, 4 who was marked out the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord;

Which He promised and it came to pass. Paul reminds us at every turn how faithful God is, was and always will be. This encouragement also riddles his writings. I often wondered why Paul's writings had such long sentences. It seems to me that he has a sermon in every phrase. It is not that he is wordy, for each sentence is packed with such tremendous lessons.

Here is the meat that satisfies my soul. Amen.

I think that Paul purposefully set aside his ego in order to reach the most with the Gospel. Paul calls attention to what the prophets of old had said about Jesus, how we can know beyond doubt Jesus is the Messiah because of those ancient prophecies. It is this huge degree of authority which Paul gives to the Gospel because it was written in scripture centuries before. This is exemplified here eloquently; and we tend to believe more in what the ancients say rather than what our brother says when it comes to scripture. It seems to have more weight, which is right because scripture is to edify, correct, and enlighten us. Even though Paul speaks with all the authority that Jesus gave him three days after he saw the light on the road to Damascus, he still points toward Scripture.

Paul then reminds the Romans that Jesus is exactly who God says He is and points out that He was resurrected. That, my friends, seems to be the Essentials of Belief.

Romans 1:5 by whom we received grace and apostleship to obedience of faith among all the nations, for His name's sake, 6 among whom are you also, called-out ones of Jesus Christ; 7 to all those who are in Rome, beloved of God, called-out saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also called-out ones of Jesus Christ, called to a purpose according to His own purpose. 2 Timothy 1:9 Who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus [before time began], 2Thessalonians 2:14 for which purpose he called you through our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter calls us to remember what we know. We humans have a tendency to forget as time goes by, but we must stir up our minds by way of remembrance (2 Peter 3:1). We are saved for a holy calling and we should stir up the embers of our passion for pleasing Him into a flame so that we might continue to be that light on a hill. How else will we be found at our work, watching for Him, being ready for Him?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

The First Sin