Today Paul tells the Romans that God is the judge of all and “whoever you are who judge, for whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same thing.” So Paul says instead of judging each other’s sins, repent of your own sin to avoid the wrath of God. For God “‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil…For there is no partiality with God.”

Paul calls out the Jews for honoring God with their mouths but breaking the law with their actions. He says “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you” and their disobedience as God’s chosen people.

Paul is concerned about the state of their hearts and tells them that a Jew “is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.”

Paul says we are ALL sinners incapable of perfectly keeping the law but the good news is that we are not judged by the law; the law exposes our sin and our need for a Savior. “For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”

Paul explains that Abraham was justified by his faith before the law was ever given. “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Abraham received the sign of circumcision as “a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.”

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” And the same righteousness that was imputed to Abraham shall be “imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”

More to the Romans tomorrow so keep reading.

(Romans 2:1-4:25)

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Today Paul concludes his first letter to the Corinthians by asking that a collection be taken up for the Christians in need in Jerusalem. Paul says he will come to take the collection back to Jerusalem but he isn’t leaving Ephesus until after Pentecost. In the meantime Paul says Timothy is on his way and he urges them to “watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong, let all that you do be done with love.”

Back in Ephesus, “there arose a great commotion about the Way.” A silversmith named Demetrius is upset that people are converting to Christianity and no longer buying his handmade false gods, which is negatively impacting his cash flow. Money appears to be the motivating factor for Demetrius’s work but he raises a claim guised under religious convictions. Demetrius says, “Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

When the people hear this, they are filled with wrath and seize Paul’s companions. But since Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen did not have a legitimate charge against them, the city clerk lets them go.

“After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia.” Paul and his companions visit the church in Macedonia and when they make their way to Corinth they remain there for 3 months. “Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, toward the end of his third missionary journey, AD 54.”

In the letter to the Roman church, Paul says, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world…For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’ “

Paul explains that we, as sinners, need salvation through Jesus Christ bc “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Paul says that the people did not glorify the holy God but instead took pleasure in sin, which led to spiritual and moral decay including sexual lust, homosexuality, and a corrupt mind.

But there is always hope for sinners through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Tomorrow Paul will explain how Christ took our punishment so that we may be deemed righteous and restored to God. Keep reading.

(1 Corinthians 16:1-24, Acts 19:21-20:6, Romans 1:1-32)

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Paul says, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” He goes on to say that a person speaking in tongue does not benefit the church unless they have an interpreter who can translate for others. Paul warns the Corinthians not to speak in tongues within the body of the church without an interpreter in case an unbeliever visits the church and assumes they are out of their minds. Therefore, Paul encourages prophesy within the body because unbelievers can understand prophesy, a word from the Lord, which could lead an unbeliever to conviction, repentance, and salvation.

There is obviously some disorderly conduct within the church concerning people with the gift of tongues, prophesy, and the women speaking out of turn. So Paul gives them a warning to keep silent within the gathering of the church. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

Women hardly had any rights during this time. Therefore, Paul tells the women of Corinth church to keep silent and be submissive, as the law says. But as Sarah Ruden explains in Paul Among the People, Paul flips the culture by saying, “and if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home.” Paul is all about bringing equality among the Christians. This is why Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

Paul then begins teaching them about resurrection, starting with Christ. He says that after Jesus’s resurrection, ”He was seen by Cephas [Peter], then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

”But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Paul explains that when Jesus returns and puts an end to evil for good, all who have resurrected will receive new bodies raised up in glory. He says when the last trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised incorruptible. ”So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Tomorrow we read the closing remarks to the Corinthians and Paul writes to the Romans. Keep reading.

(1 Corinthians 14:1-15:58)

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Today Paul addresses some issues concerning corporate worship. He first speaks to husbands and wives. “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Paul says that although men and women have different roles, they are both of equal value to the Lord. “Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God.”

Paul says that women should keep their heads covered during worship. Sarah Ruden explains this in her book, Paul Among the People: “Respectable Greek and Roman women traditionally wore concealing veils in public. Marriage and widowhood were the chief things that a veil signaled…The veil was the flag of female virtue, status, and security. In the port city of Corinth, with its batteries of prostitutes – including the sacred prostitutes of the temple of Aphrodite – the distinction between veiled and unveiled women would have been even more crucial.” She goes on to explain how society was changing at that time; “slaves being freed; divorce proliferating; many more women entering into trades other than their most common trade of prostitution – any or all of these things could have made the veil a matter of controversy.” In one of her concluding comments Ruden says, “I think Paul’s rule aimed toward an outrageous equality. All Christian women were to cover their heads in church, without distinction of beauty, wealth, respectability – or of privilege so great as to allow toying with traditional appearances.” You gotta love Paul’s outrageous pursuit of human equality!

Next Paul rebukes the Corinthians for carelessly taking the Lord’s supper. Before Jesus was crucified, He gave His disciples bread which represented His body and wine which represented His blood of the new covenant. Then Jesus told His disciples to take the bread and wine in remembrance of Him pouring out His blood for the sins of many. (Matthew 26:26-28) The Lord’s supper is not to be taken lightly. Therefore Paul says, “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Paul then moves into discussing spiritual gifts. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

Paul says that although the church is made up of many different people with differing gifts, they are still one body. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”

We end the reading with Paul telling them the most important, above any gifting, is having love. Then Paul explains what love is – “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Keep reading.

(1 Corinthians 11:2-13:13)

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The Corinthians are wrestling with whether they can eat meat purchased at the temple markets that has been sacrificed to idols. Paul tells them that there is only one God so food sacrificed to the false gods doesn’t really matter since those gods are nothing.

Some Corinthians have this knowledge so they freely eat the meat with a clear conscience. But other Corinthians do not have this knowledge so eating the meat sacrificed to idols weighs on their conscience. Therefore Paul tells them, ”But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak…But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”

Paul is less concerned about the food and more concerned about the Corinthians’ care for one another. He does not want them to be puffed up with their knowledge but to have love for each other.

Paul uses his life as an example to them. He says that he lives in a way to further the gospel no matter the cost to him. Although Paul has the right to be financially supported by the church, he chooses to support himself. Paul says, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel…What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.”

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more…I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

Paul warns the Corinthians not to become idolaters, sexually immoral, and complainers like the people did in the wilderness with Moses during the Exodus Era – “Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

The Israelites were not unique with their idolatry, sexual sin, and complaining. Paul explains that we ALL suffer from temptations in this lifetime, “but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God…just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

Keep reading.

(1 Corinthians 8:1-11-1)

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Paul tells the Corinthians not to judge one another or boast in themselves as they have all received a gift that no one earned; the Holy Spirit and salvation by grace through faith. Paul describes his life and the lives of those truly following Christ, which is quite the opposite of fame and public platforms – “To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

Therefore, he warns Corinthians not to be haughty but to imitate him. And since Paul can’t be there with them he sent faithful Timothy, “who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for allowing a man who was sleeping with his dad’s wife to remain in the church. Paul tells them to “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” So the purpose of church discipline is ultimately for the spiritual good of the one being disciplined as well as the welfare of the ones inside the church. Allowing unrepentant sin to continue could negatively influence others as “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.”

Paul goes on to tell them to “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Paul explains that sex is to be within the boundaries of marriage between a man and a woman. And the husband and wife do not need to deprive one another of sex “so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Paul tells them not to divorce, even if they are married to an unbeliever. “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy…For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” God is the one who saves; however, Paul is saying that the believer’s life has a positive impact on the children and can lead the spouse to faith. Therefore, your marriage and your spouse’s salvation are something to entrust to the Lord.

Paul does say that there are perks to not being married. The unmarried have fewer distractions and can therefore be more focused on worship and missions. But Paul tells everyone to be content with where they are when called by the Lord, regardless of the situation, married or not.

Tomorrow, more from Paul to the Corinthians. Keep reading.

(1 Corinthians 4:1-7:40)

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Today we meet a Jewish man named Apollos, “an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures,” who comes to Ephesus. “When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” Apollos goes on to refute “the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.”

Paul arrives in Ephesus and baptizes the believers in the name of Jesus. “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them…” “And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months…But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

From Ephesus, Paul writes a letter to the church in Corinth. He tells them not to fight over who baptized them but to be one in Christ; “no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Paul says that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Paul reminds them that he came to them in weakness. “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

For “no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

Since Paul and Apollos are just ministers of the Lord through whom the new converts believed, Paul tells them that they do not need to quarrel over which one baptized them. Paul explains how sharing the Gospel works – ”I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Tomorrow more from Paul to the Corinthians. Keep reading.

(Acts 18:24-19:20,1 Corinthians 1:1-3:18)

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Today Paul concludes his first letter to the church in Thessalonica with several closing remarks; one being “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

A few months after his first letter, Paul writes another letter from Corinth to the Thessalonians. In this letter, Paul explains that the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ has not yet occurred. Although the church is experiencing persecution, Paul tells them this is not the tribulations that will occur on the day of Christ.

Paul exhorts them not to be “shaken in mind or troubled” by the false teaching concerning the Lord’s second coming. He says that before the coming of Christ, there will be a massive departure from true faith in the Lord and the Antichrist will appear, claiming to be God. The power which has been restraining Satan will be removed, revealing Satan at the Lord’s perfect timing. ”For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” So at Jesus’s second coming, the deceiver and all those who have been deceived will be destroyed.

But Paul encourages the church by telling them that “God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle… the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”

Paul ends the letter by instructing them all to do their share of the work load and not to grow wearing doing good but to admonish those who do not obey the word.

In Corinth, Paul continues to preach that Jesus is Christ, in the synagogue to the Jews. When the Jews oppose Paul, Paul says from now on he will go to the Gentiles. So Paul goes to the house of Justus, which is next to the synagogue, and continues preaching. “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” So we see again faith coming by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

“Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.’ And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”

“So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him.” Paul leaves Priscilla and Aquila in Ephesus to do the work of the ministry but Paul travels on, landing back at the church in Antioch. “After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.”

Tomorrow we read about Paul’s 3rd missionary journey so keep reading.

(1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3:18, Acts 18:4-23)

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While in Athens, Paul’s spirit is provoked when he sees all the idolatry in the city. Therefore, Paul preaches of the God of Creation and tells the people to repent, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man who He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Some who hear Paul mock him, but some believe.

After Paul leaves Athens, he goes to Corinth where he meets Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. Paul stays with them, for they were tentmakers like Paul. While in Corinth, Paul writes 2 letters to the church in Thessalonica.

In the first letter, Paul commends the Thessalonians for their faith. Paul goes on to remind them how he, Timothy, and Silas preached the Word of God to them. “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness – God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ…For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.”

Paul writes about how they sent Timothy to encourage the church that was under persecution. He says that Timothy reported back the good news of their faith and love for one another. And Paul expresses their desire to return to the church in Thessalonica.

Paul encourages the believers to live lives that are pleasing to God. “But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more, that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

Since some in the church have been killed for their faith, Paul assures them that there is life after death. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.” And at Jesus’s second coming; “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

More to the Thessalonians tomorrow. Keep reading.

(Acts 17:16-18:3, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5:11)

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The council agrees to James’s recommendations regarding the Gentiles and sends a letter to the church in Antioch. Representatives from the church in Jerusalem, Judas and Silas, accompany Barnabas and Paul to Antioch. When the letter is read confirming that the Gentiles don’t have to be circumcised but should “abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality,” there is great rejoicing over its encouragement.

Some days after reading the letter, Paul and Barnabas get into a heated debate about whether or not to take Mark with them on their next missionary journey. This dispute causes Paul and Barnabas to separate, with Paul taking Silas to churches in Syria and Cilicia, and Barnabas taking Mark to churches in Cyprus. Therefore, the Lord uses this conflict to further the spread of the Good News by doubling their labor.

On Paul’s second missionary journey he meets Timothy, a young man well respected and full of faith because of the influence of his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy is not circumcised because his father is Greek but since his mother is Jewish, Timothy is considered Jewish. Therefore Paul has him circumcised before they begin their mission work together in order to not offend the Jews.

Later Paul receives a vision which leads him and his companions to the city Philippi in Macedonia. There they meet Lydia who, as well as her entire household, converts to Christianity after hearing Paul share the gospel. She then convinces Paul and his companions to stay at her home.

However, trouble soon arrises when Paul casts out of a slave girl a spirit that possessed her and gave her predictive power. Her masters, who were profiting off of her, are not too happy about losing their means to get rich. So they bring Paul and Silas before the magistrates who beat them and throw them in prison. But the Lord rescues them and the keeper of the prison and his entire family come to faith through the whole miraculous rescue.

Once released, they continue their mission work. In Thessalonica, Paul preaches Jesus Christ. “And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar…”

So Paul and Silas flee to Berea where they once again go into the synagogue and preach. “Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.”

Now Paul is on the run again and goes to Athens. Keep reading.

(Acts 15:22-17:15)

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