Faith In First Corinthians, Part 1: The Believer’s Faith Stands in the Power of God, Not in the Wisdom of Man; One Baptism into the Body of Christ By the Holy Spirit; Divisions Among the Members:
Volume 5, Number 42The word faith occurs 7 times in 1st Corinthians and 7 in 2nd Corinthians. Today we’ll begin to examine the context of its first occurrence: “And my (Paul’s) speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand (be) in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4 - 5. We won’t get to these 2 verses in this study, but we will cover part of what leads to their conclusion. In the first 3 chapters of 1... Continue reading →
Introduction to the Corinthian Epistles, Part 3: The Righteous, Albeit Carnal Corinthian Saints Demonstrate both the Holiness and Sinfulness in All Believers:
Volume 5, Number 41The word “faith” occurs 7 times in the first epistle to Corinthians and 7 in the second. Seven in Scripture is the number for Spiritual perfection and the believers in Corinth were spiritually perfect. Paul addressed them: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be (“to be” not in the original) saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2. Thus we know the Corinthians (and all believers since) are:• “Sanctified,” from the Greek... Continue reading →
Introduction to the Corinthian Epistles, Part 2: Review of the Miraculous Sign Gifts Recorded in Acts:
Volume 5, Number 40Our last study reviewed the elements of the Gospel of the Kingdom taught by Peter and the 12 for the Nation of Israel compared to the Gospel of the Grace of God revealed to the Apostle Paul for both individual Jews and Gentiles and it argued that Paul taught the Gospel of the Grace throughout his ministry. Noting 1st Corinthians is Paul’s only epistle that mentions the sign gifts I re-examined the book of Acts to identify every occasion where signs, wonders and miracles are mentioned to put the teaching of Corinthians in perspective. As near as I can tell,... Continue reading →
Introduction to the Corinthian Epistles, Part 1:
Volume 5, Number 39The Corinthian epistles are very unique and insightful. For instance, 1 Corinthians is the only epistle in which Paul deals with tongues and water baptism. And although Paul labels as Saints those in the church at Corinth, there were many living carnal lifestyles. All of Paul’s epistles have been applicable to the church, the Body of Christ since they were written, and the Corinthian letters are no different; many believers since have lived similar to the Corinthians. During Paul’s time, Corinth was populous, thriving and the chief city of the Roman province of Achaia (the southern area of Greece). Goods... Continue reading →
Words Unique in the Pauline Epistles:
Volume 5, Number 38Words can mean different things to different people so it’s important to understand individual words in Scripture. Before we move on from Romans to Corinthians, I’d like to point out 10 prominent words in the Pauline epistles with a view to define the meaning of the original Greek words translated variously to English. I’m not a student of Greek but have studied various Greek/English references and compared Scripture with Scripture in this endeavor. The King James Version (KJV) is used here so if the reader uses another version, he/she may find a different English word used to translate the Greek.... Continue reading →
“For whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” Romans 14:23b
Volume 5, Number 37Now at the end of our examination of the use and significance of the word faith in the book of Romans, we consider the last 7 times the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to use it in the last 4 chapters. Seven is the number for Spiritual perfection in the Bible, which is apropos as we find the 7 verses under consideration are instructive and informative for believers. The first 2 were previously covered (Faith Study Vol 5, No 35, https://www.faith-studies.com/article-volume-5-number-35) but are repeated here, as they begin the thought stream of the 7; “For I say, through the grace given... Continue reading →
Jesus, the Captain and Finisher of Faith, Through Which Salvation Comes by God’s Rich Mercy, Great Love and Grace:
Volume 5, Number 36Our last study addressed thanksgiving for the measure of faith God apportions to members of Christ’s Body, i.e., those who are Called Saints, Romans 12:3 - 8. As we approach the day when many throughout the world celebrate the birth of Jesus, it’s good to contemplate His faith and God’s provision for eternal life; how He planned it and how it’s received. Simply put, salvation is imparted by God’s Grace and comes “through” faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should... Continue reading →
Romans 12:3 - 16: Thanksgiving for the Measure of Faith God has Given to Each Member of Christ’s Body Who are Called Saints:
Volume 5, Number 35(Note: this study has been edited/updated on the Website since first published on November 25, 2021.)Today, we’ll begin with the 34th occasion of the word “faith” in Romans; “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. Paul makes it clear that God inspired what he wrote: “through the grace given unto me,” which repeats the opening words of Romans: “By whom (God)... Continue reading →
Romans 12 - 13: The Believer’s Conduct; Rewards & Loss:
Volume 5, Number 34(Note: this study has been edited/updated on the website since originally published on October 27, 2021.)Our last study opened the 12th chapter of Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1 - 2. Whereas Israel was commanded to follow the Law, Exodus 20:1 - 17; Exodus... Continue reading →
Romans, the Linchpin of the Bible and the Believer’s Reasonable/ Logical Service:
Volume 5, Number 33Two dictionary definitions for the word “linchpin” are 1) “something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together,” and 2) “the most important member of a group or part of a system, that holds together the other members or parts or makes it possible to operate as intended.” I submit that just as the Lord Jesus Christ is the “linchpin” of creation, Colossians 1:15 - 18; Hebrews 1:2 - 8, so the epistle of Romans is the “linchpin” of His Word. Romans looks back to the beginning, providing the key to how salvation was accomplished for Abel, Noah,... Continue reading →