Paul Is My Apostle

Friday, August 7, 2009

Paul is My Apostle has Moved to Wordpress!

Hello everyone,

I have finally taken the time to move this blog to its own domain and have also upgraded to Wordpress.

Please come over and visit me there.

In Christ,

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Fellowship With The Saints

When I was a younger person, I never looked forward to going to church. When I became an adult, I stopped going to church shortly after my first child was born, and never set foot into a church for more than 20 years.

But when I started learning about grace, and found a church to attend that taught the grace message, I found that I wanted to spend time with other people who understood the Bible rightly divided. It's wonderful to be around your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ who care about you, want to know what's going on in your life, and want to both comfort and edify you. Paul says:

(1 Thessalonians 5:11) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

From Strong's Greek Dictionary:
Comfort: to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

Edify: to be a house builder, that is, construct or (figuratively) confirm: - (be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

In Christ,

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Back From Camp

My youngest son and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend church camp this year. We had a great time visiting with the other saints.

It is a comfort and a joy to be amongst grace believers. Folks who really get it, folks who rightly divide the Word of truth and know how God is working in this dispensation of grace.

I've invited some that we met at camp to visit my grace blog, so now I need to get busy and keep my commitment to share as I learn.

Please consider subscribing by email. Look for the words "Subscribe via email" in the right hand panel near the top of this blog.

In Christ,

Friday, May 2, 2008

Do We Make Too Much of Paul?

Today I'm going to send you to a link where you can read an excellent journal article by Richard Jordan.

Do We Make Too Much of Paul?

This is a fascinating read, I encourage you to spend some time with your Bible as you read it.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Why Worry When People Don't Like Me?

All my life, I've been very worried when people don't like me. I believe it stems from my childhood, because my mother loved me very much, but clashed terribly with my sister who was born when I was 22 months old. My mom never seemed to like my sister very much and was sometimes very mean to her. It scared me. I always wondered when I would be next. My mother did turn her wrath toward me on several occasions, but I tried my hardest to be the best little girl I could be, so that she would never be mad at me. In my mother's defense, she tells me she cried many tears and prayed many times over the discord she felt toward my sister, and went to many churches asking for prayer to get over her problem.

My mom became involved in the Pentecostal religion when I was five years old. Here my fears were magnified because now I not only had to do my best to be perfect and please my mother, but appease the wrathful God we served. It seemed no matter how good I was, I always had to be worried about going to hell. I could never do enough, it seemed to keep from going to hell. I asked forgiveness and remember asking Jesus into my heart dozens, if not hundreds of times as a child because every sermon seemed to be about how we were sinners and going to hell.

When I had children, I had to force myself to start getting over this concern, and accept the fact that not everyone was going to like me because even though I was expert at camouflaging myself for whomever I happened to be with at the moment, it was not possible to expect my children to have that talent. But not only that, I didn't want my children to become like me. Scared to death if I couldn't do everything everyone expected me to, they might cease to like me. Did you ever try to do everything everyone wanted you to? It's impossible. Trust me, I've tried. You can only please some of the people some of the time.

I still struggle with this problem. I was having a problem with it last night, and I was laying in bed thinking to myself about this concern I have, about people not liking me, is not in line with what I'm learning from the Bible.

Here's one verse I found which tells if I'm operating in the flesh then I can't please God. And which further makes me think why am I so worried about pleasing man, when I should be striving to please God?

Romans 8:8 KJVR So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Paul tells us to please our neighbor for our neighbor's edification:

Romans 15:2 KJVR Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

The definition from Strong's for please is "to be agreeable". So, get along with your neighbor. I don't believe that means bend over backwards and do everything you can to make your neighbor like you. Trust me, being a dispensationalist you are going to find a lot of people don't like you. It makes so much sense, it is such GOOD NEWS, yet people cannot grasp it.

What does edification mean? "The equipping of believers with sound doctrine so that they experience genuine spiritual growth, which results in doctrinal unity, personal integrity and corporate harmony."

Most importantly, Jesus died on the cross for me, hundreds of years ago, to save me from my sins before I was even born. God sent his son to do that work. That says to me that God loved me that much, to send his son to die. God loved me that much, and I wasn't even born.

Paul tells us in Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:3 KJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

What does it matter if ANYONE likes me? I am already blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Why would I need anything else?

Paul also tells us we are complete in Colossians:

Colossians 2:10 KJV And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

We are already "complete". From Strong's reference: From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

We are finished, we are perfect. That extends to other areas of my life, like the size of my body. Society might tell me I'm not perfect, but you know what? God says I am complete in him. I'm perfect just the way I am. Why waste my energy and thoughts on worrying about such mundane things like this? We will have a new body

We live in a sin cursed world - we can't expect to be happy every moment. We can only do like Paul says and learn to be content in whatever state we are in. If someone doesn't like me, I can't let that get me down, and put me into a depression. I am perfect and complete in the Lord, and depression is not part of being complete and perfect.

Philippians 4:11 KJV Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Oh, and remember up above where I was talking about doing everything I could to please a wrathful God in order to not go to hell? When I learned about rightly dividing the word of truth, I learned that the Bible is all for us, but not all to us. My salvation is not dependent on pleasing or appeasing God. The God of the Old Testament had a covenant with the Israelites and he doled out punishments for disobedience and sin, and he rewarded them for good behavior.

That's not the role God is working in today. We aren't the Israelites. We are living in the age of grace. God sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. All we have to do is believe that we are sinners, that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, that he was buried and rose from the dead in three days. That is it. No works. We don't have to be baptized, we don't have to pay tithes, we don't have to go to church three times a week, we don't have to do anything, but believe. It's that simple.

Are you saved? Would you like to know where you will spend eternity? I invite you to visit Do You Know Where You Will Spend Eternity? from Florida Grace Bible Berean Church. Please notify me if this link breaks!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Glory In Tribulations

I had a difficult day today.

I had to do some research and gather some documentation and it was hard to make my way through it.

Then I got home and things started bumming me out.

I'm tired, so that makes things seem even worse.

I wrote an email to a good friend, who I knew would be able to read my venting. As I ended my email, I thought I'd try to look for something on the bright side. As I sat there a moment, my study from Romans the other day came to mind. The part about how we are to "glory in tribulations". Here the passage is again.

Romans 5:1-5 KJV Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We live in a sin cursed world, so our lives are not going to be happy every minute. Which brings to mind another scripture verse - how I wish I had these memorized, but thankfully I have my e-Sword so I can find what I'm looking for quickly.

Philippians 4:11 KJV Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Paul spoke these words. He says he learned to be content in whatever state he was in.

I can strive to be content in whatever state I'm in. Paul went through depression, too.

Today, while waiting for copies of the information I was gathering, I read more of Romans. I'm into Chapter 7 now. Paul says "God forbid" many times in Romans so far. Four times that I have noticed. I'm curious how many times I will find it in Romans:

Romans 3:4 KJV God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 3:6 KJV God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

Romans 3:31 KJV Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Romans 6:2 KJV God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 6:15 KJV What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Romans 7:7 KJV What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Romans 7:13 KJV Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Romans 9:14 KJV What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

Romans 11:1 KJV I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:11 KJV I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

I was able to really absorb what I was reading today. Paul talking about dying to sin. How our fleshly bodies, our "old man" wants to sin. It is hard to put into words! He's talking about the law and grace.

I have to get to bed now.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Reading Romans

Romans is the newbie chapter of the Bible for grace believers.

I've begun to work my way through it. Today I read these scriptures. I'm finding it's important as you read the Bible, to find out who the message is to. Romans was dictated by Paul, and written by Tertius. Paul is our pattern, Paul is our apostle, so Romans is written to us.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We are justified by faith. Justified according to Strong's means: From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent: - free, justify (-ier), be righteous.

So we have peace with God through the work that Jesus did at the cross, and by our faith, we are innocent, free, righteous.

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We are living in the age of grace, so we're standing in grace. Because of the work Jesus ("by whom" refers to Jesus in 5:1) did at Calvary, our faith (faith alone! no works!) grants us access into this age of grace. We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. I'm not exactly sure what that last little bit of the passage is trying to say.

Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

And not only do we hope of the glory of God, but we glory in tribulations, because having hard times serves to teach us to be more patient. So we're to be happy for difficult times, because this teaches us to have patience.

Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Learning to be more patient gives us experience. ?? Strong's for the word "experience" 1382:

Strong's Reference 1382: From the same as G1384; test (abstractly or concretely); by implication trustiness: - experience (-riment), proof, trial.

Strong's Reference 1384: From G1380; properly acceptable (current after assayal), that is, approved: - approved, tried.

Strong's Reference 1380: A prolonged form of a primary verb δόκω dokō (used only as an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of G1166); of the same meaning; to think; by implication to seem (truthfully or uncertainly): - be accounted, (of own) please (-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow.

So going through hard times - trials - teaches us patience, and we become experienced rather than novices at being patient. And this experience gives us hope.

So it follows that this hope goes back to the glory of God.

Tribulations lead to patience > patience leads to experience > experience leads to hope > hope for the glory of God.

Which leads me to want to know more about the "glory of God"? It is mentioned many times in the Bible:

Psa 19:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Joh 11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Rev 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

Rev 21:11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

I noticed these similarities about the glory of God:

It is in heaven.
Notice that you can see the glory of God, as referenced in several of the verses above.
It appears that the glory of God is very bright since in Revelation 21:23 the city did not need light either from the sun or moon.

Back to my reading of Romans:

Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I'm not sure what "hope maketh not" ashamed is trying to say. Perhaps because we are not certain? That we only have hope?

The love of God is "shed abroad in our hearts". Strong's for shed abroad = From G1537 and χέω cheō (to pour); to pour forth; figuratively to bestow: - gush (pour) out, run greedily (out), shed (abroad, forth), spill.

Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ died for the ungodly (unpious, wicked - sinners), when we were yet without strength.

Strength as in numbers of people? Strength as in physical strength? Morally without strength?

Rom 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

There seems to be a difference between a "righteous man" and a "good man". A man would hardly consider dying for a righteous man, but for a good man, some would take the chance to die for him. ??

And here we are - sinners - not "righteous" nor "good" men, and God bestowed his love upon us, by having Jesus die for us. Even while we were sinners.

Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

So now we are justified - innocent, free, righteous - by the shed blood of Jesus, and we are saved from the wrath of God by Jesus' work at Calvary.

I could go on, but I think I'll stop here for today.

Friday, August 7, 2009