October 18, 2023
by Rick Combs
Many confess that they have faith. But what do they have their faith in? Is it in Jesus’ earthly ministry teachings and the gospel of the Kingdom? Or is it in the Old Testament promises given to Israel? We can have faith in things biblical or non-biblical. As Christians, we base our faith on the Scriptures, the Word of God. Even if we believe scripturally of what is in our Bibles, we must narrow it down to what is written to us today. It is not enough to be scriptural, but we must also be dispensational for us to understand truth. For you to obey what God told Noah or Moses to do is not going to work.
Remember what we read in 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Therefore, we must rightly divide the scriptures to understand how we are established in the faith today. Our header verse gives us this in Romans 16:25, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.”
How are we going to be established in the faith? It is by having faith according to my gospel, the Apostle Paul says. It is not just any gospel. It is Paul’s gospel. What is Paul’s gospel? The gospel that God commissioned Paul to preach was the Gospel of the Grace of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 gives us a very clear declaration. “… I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, … by which also ye are saved, … how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
Paul continues further that the preaching of Jesus Christ is according to the “revelation of the mystery”. He then defines “the mystery”. It is that information which was kept secret since the world began. This is very specific and is hard to misunderstand unless we allow hearts to remain cold and closed from the truth.
Here are additional according to scriptures that instruct us in the faith.
Romans 16:26 “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.”
The gospel of Grace and the mystery revelation was kept secret, but now is made manifest or revealed. The body of Christ is established by 3 things; 1 – Paul’s gospel, 2 – the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, 3 – and by the scriptures and the prophets which is all scripture of the Old Testament and the New Testament outside of the Pauline Epistles. All scripture is for our learning, but the Pauline Epistles are to us today.
Ephesians 4:7 “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” All of us in the body of Christ are given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. That is massive – superabounding – measureless grace. It is so much that it cannot be calculated or measured (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” What more could be said! All our need met – according to God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus. It doesn’t say our wants, but our need. The context is Paul speaking from prison in the most horrific conditions. Notice verses 11-12 of this chapter, he knows how to be abased and to abound. Do we?
Colossians 1:11-12 “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father…”
Do you need patience? How about longsuffering? God strengthens us with all His might. This is according to His glorious power! It is not in our own strength. We can be joyful during trying times while giving thanks unto the Father.
Grace and peace unto you.
Amen