“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 1:20 – 2:1
Verses 1-3 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle or letter to the Gentile Christians living in Rome. He starts his epistle by declaring who he is and how he got into the ministry of the Gospel. First and foremost, he is a servant of Jesus Christ. He is no longer serving the Devil or the world. His LORD and Saviour is Jesus. Secondly, he was called by Jesus Christ to be an apostle, or one who is sent forth, for the purpose of preaching and teaching the Gospel. As a Pharisee, he hunted down Christians for the purpose of destroying the Church of Jesus Christ. But now he is establishing churches throughout the world. He further clarifies that the Gospel message of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would die for the sins of mankind, be buried, and then rise from the dead to conquer death and remit sins was prophesied by the prophets of old and recorded in Scripture. That the Messiah would come from the seed of David as far as the flesh was concerned was also prophesied, promised, and fulfilled by the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verse 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Jesus Christ was not hunted by the Pharisees because He was a prophet. He was hunted down and killed because He clearly stated and therefore claimed to be God. He was both man and God. His flesh was fully man but His flesh housed or was the temple of God Almighty. Jesus stated in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The flesh of God did not do the raising from the dead. The Holy Ghost raised the body of flesh up from the dead, thereby proving that Jesus Christ was “the Son of God with power”. No one else has risen from the dead and not died again. Lazarus was risen from the dead by the power of Jesus Christ. However, Lazarus still died a physical death again and was buried. But Jesus Christ physically rose from both the dead and then from this Earth, ascending into Heaven because His work on Earth was finished.
“I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” John 10:30-38
Verses 5-6 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: 6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
The Apostle Paul points out that it is through the Gospel (the death, the burial, and resurrection) of Jesus Christ that the Roman Christians have been forgiven of their sins and have received the Law of Grace whereby they are also apostles as they are to share their faith among their family members and in the community in which they live. Faith in God/the LORD Jesus Christ is no longer a Jewish religion of rituals and laws that no man can keep, but is a relationship with the one true God who extends to them His unconditional love.
Verse 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
All of the verses above are the Apostle Paul’s introduction to this amazing epistle. Notice that it is written to those people in Rome who are saints. What is a saint? One who has repented of sin, been baptized in Jesus’ name, and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Saints are living Christians in this world and Christians who have gone on to be with the LORD Jesus in Heaven.
In this epistle the Apostle Paul gives his signature sentence containing the word, ‘grace’. All the epistles written by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament contain closing, and sometimes opening sentences regarding the grace and peace of the LORD. Those written by the Apostles Peter, James, and John do not have this signature statement.
Verses 8-10 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; 10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Apparently the Church in Rome was known and well regarded because of their faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul states that they were the subject of discussion throughout the world. Remember that the Roman government was a one world system, the last one world system, and so they had garrisons of soldiers in England and all of Europe and also in Africa and parts of Asia. So if the Apostle Paul states that their Christian faith was known worldwide, it was. Notice that he was always praying for this Church and that he wanted to travel to Rome and minister among them.
Application: It is interesting that Satan chose Rome to be the center of his religion, Catholicism, which also spread throughout the world. Satan goes where the Christians are as his battle is with them and not with the unsaved. For those who may be angered that this writer does not view the Catholic institution to be a Christian organization, do the research and you will find that everything taught by the priests is opposite to the doctrines of Christianity. And any institution which has shed blood and engaged in pedophilia is not of the LORD Jesus Christ. Plain and simple.
Verses 11-12 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
The Apostle Paul wants to go to Rome for the purpose of edifying the saints who are living there so that they can grow in the Faith and have a relationship with him based on sound doctrine and the exercising of the gifts of the Spirit. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. and there are diversities of operations but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 His focus, as always, is the preaching of the Gospel, the salvation of souls, and the care of the churches.
Verses 13-15 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
The Greek word translated as “ignorant” is “agnoeo” and it means to be ignorant, not to know, not to understand, to be wrong, or to err or sin through mistake. The Greek word translated as “let” is “koluo” and it means to hinder, prevent, forbid, to withhold a thing from anyone, or to deny or refuse one a thing. The Apostle Paul wanted the Christians in Rome to know why he had not come to them. It was not because of a lack of desire, but because he was hindered from going to Rome. He does not elaborate as to the cause of this hindrance. He states that he wanted to have some involvement with them as he had with other Gentile Christians. He states that he is a debtor which means that he feels he has an obligation to the Roman church and feels duty bound to minister to them. The Apostle Paul is Christ-like and therefore has is no respecter of persons due to their race or culture. He wants to preach to everyone, including the Greeks and the Barbarians. The word barbarian means strange one or one who speaks a foreign language. The Greeks used this word to describe any foreigner who was ignorant of the Greek language. The word does not mean someone who is war-like and brutish.
Application: The following is because of the Greek word, agnoeo, in the verses above which is a derivative of the Greek word, gnosis, which means knowledge. In English the word gnostic means knowledge. Someone who claims to be a Gnostic is claiming to know or have knowledge of something. In Greek, when the prefix or letter ‘a’ which means “without” is placed in from of a noun it means the opposite. An example is the word, muse, which means to think. Amuse means to not think or without thought. So an Agnostic doesn’t know or have knowledge of something and is therefore ignorant. In the world those people who claim to be agnostics regarding the existence of the LORD God are simply saying by default that they do not believe in His existence and they are therefore ignorant and headed to Hell for their unbelief. This writer has engaged in conversation with people claiming that what I believe is foolish and they know this because they are Agnostics. They do not realize they are simply being deceived by Satan and that they are ignorant of the truth. Only the LORD Jesus Christ can open their eyes because they seem to be very proud of their status as one who is without knowledge and they are not willing to listen to the message of the Gospel. This writer’s brother was an Agnostic and all the witnessing to him in the past has had no effect. He simply decided one day that he would no longer be an agnostic not knowing if God exists but be an atheist or one who doesn’t believe in the existence of God. His present state is worse than before.
Verses 16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
The Apostle Paul was a murderer before he encountered the LORD Jesus Christ and His message of salvation while on the road to Damascus in Syria for the purpose of rounding up Christians for their faith. He personally knew the power of the Gospel and he could therefore boldly state that he was not ashamed of the Gospel. Why did he say, “to the Jew first”? Simply because the LORD Jesus came to the Jews with the message of salvation first, and then it was given to the Greeks or Gentiles by the apostles.
The gift of faith is given to every Christian and it is by faith that Christians should be living in this world. As faith is exercised, God increases that faith and it grows until the Christian is unmovable in his/her belief and understanding. But faith has to be exercised or used in order for it to increase.
Application: The Gospel message has power as it can change people from who they were as sinners into people who are completely different and living a righteous life pleasing to the LORD. There are many documented cases of street people addicted to drugs hearing the message of salvation and repenting of their past sins, being baptized in Jesus’ name, and when they came up out of the water all the needle marks on their skin had disappeared and so had their addiction to drugs. There are documented cases of people on their death beds who, when witnessed to, received the LORD Jesus Christ into their lives and were instantly healed. The New Testament account of the various disciples and apostles shares stories of people’s lives being changed through hearing and believing the Gospel message. Nothing else in this world can accomplish this. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is power and it provides the assurance of eternity in Heaven.
Verses 18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
The Greek word translated as “wrath” is “orge” and it means extreme anger. “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” Psalm 7:11 So the Apostle Paul is stating that God’s wrath is made known against those who are ungodly and wicked, living lives of self-obsession, lust, and pleasure and disregarding the things of the LORD. And these are people who hold the truth in unrighteousness. They have heard Scripture and yet choose to misinterpret it or disregard it and give their hearts to the things of this world. Remember in verse eight above the Apostle Paul said the the faith of the Roman Christians was spoken of throughout the whole world. And since then, television, radio, and internet has made the doctrines of Christianity easily available to all the world’s population. So no one has an excuse. Furthermore, even without hearing the Scriptures in some way, the very creation that can be seen morning and night manifests the LORD God Almighty and His creative power. His glory is seen in every flower petal, snow flake, animal and insect, mountain, star, sunrise and sunset.
Application: One primary way to “hold the truth in unrighteousness” is when churches calling themselves ‘Christian’ adopt the Catholic understanding of the Godhead. The Catholics have three gods: god the father, god the son, and god the holy spirit. They also have the goddess, Mary. (This writer has not capitalized the titles in the previous sentence as the Catholic gods are fake and not deity.) Scripture clearly teaches that there is only one God. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.” Deuteronomy 6:4 There are not three persons either. To be a person one has to have a physical body and Father God and the Holy Ghost are Spirits. Only Jesus had /has a body of flesh. When churches teach that the Godhead consists of three persons and no one can really understand it, they are lying and holding the truth in unrighteousness. Verse twenty above states that the Godhead is clearly seen and understood. It is not a mystery.
Trinity means three or the state of being three. When continually using this word, congregations are being brainwashed to believe in three gods and yet also somehow believe there is but one God. But there cannot be one God who is almighty (and who therefore is the Almighty) and who is three gods at the same time. This is confusion. God is not the author of confusion. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 Man and only man is the author of confusion. The truth is that there is One God, the Father, who is Spirit and who is omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) and who chooses to manifest of show Himself to His creation in three ways: as Father, as the only begotten Son, and as the Holy Ghost. No man has ever seen the Father as He is Spirit. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” John 1:18 Mankind has seen the body of flesh, Jesus, who Father inhabited when on Earth so that mankind could walk and talk with Him and not die. And when that body of flesh died on the cross, His Holy Ghost was then given to those people who repented and were baptized in Jesus’ name. This is why Jesus told his disciples that He would never leave them nor forsake them. His Spirit came and dwelt inside mankind, in those who accepted the gift of salvation and then obeyed the Gospel. Today His Spirit comes and dwells inside those who accept the gift of salvation and obey the Gospel. By holding on to the false doctrine of the Trinity, believers and Christians alike are potential recipients of God’s wrath. He is the Word and He gave His Word for all to read. There should be no confusion and there is no excuse of adopting false doctrine. One verse that is exceedingly fearful is found in Matthew 7:21-23. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in they name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
Verses 21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
The Apostle Paul states that men and women who have known God but who have failed to glorify Him and to be grateful to Him for His mercy and grace have over time had their hearts hardened to the things of the Gospel and have created gods in their own image. They have thought of themselves as wise ones but are instead fools.
Application: “Once saved, always saved” is a lie promoted by many mainstream organized evangelical establishment churches. The verses above are teaching that people knew God. To know God one has to have experienced Him. The verses above do not say, “when they knew OF God or About God”. Clearly these people fallen from grace had a relationship with God at one time. Yet they voluntarily gave that relationship up for things of the flesh, of the world, and of Satan. Scripture clearly teaches that one has to endure in the Faith to the end of life before salvation from sin, death, and Hell is guaranteed.
Application: The Apostle Paul refers to idols being made representing people, birds, animals, and insects. Idols and idol worship was the norm in the days of the early Church and they are still seen today. Crosses worn around the neck and cross earrings are a form of idol worship. The cross with a dead body hanging on it that is supposed to represent Jesus Christ is an idol and it is found in many churches today. The buildings of Catholicism are full of statues of dead people and many Catholics bow and kiss these idols as a form of worship. All pagan religions have carved representations of people and things found in the world. Witchcraft has idolatry, as does many halls of government around the world. A nation’s flag is a form of idolatry to which people in the USA pledge their allegiance rather than pledging their allegiance to the LORD Jesus Christ. For many believers, idols do not take the form of carved representations but are from technology. Try taking a smart phone away from people even for a short time. Sports is a huge idol for people in the western world. Most forms of entertainment are idols for many people. An idol is something people give their heart to and which becomes a large part of their life to which they give their time and their treasure.
Verses 24-25 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The Apostle Paul goes on to explain that because people who knew God rejected Him, He responded by letting them follow after the lusts of their own hearts and therefore their flesh. To these people, anything goes and their will is more important than the will of God. They live with and through lies and pervert the truth of the Gospel and the Law of God, and they live for the present with no thought of their future life in eternity.
Verses 26-27 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Here the Apostle Paul is describing the results of following after the lusts of the flesh which always leads to sexual sin. When people ignore the truth of God and make their own laws and gods they easily fall into adultery and homosexuality. Here the Apostle Paul is describing homosexuality in both women and men.
Application: Homosexuality is not a result of genetics or of a dysfunctional family, but is a result of people rejecting the LORD and of the LORD rejecting them and giving “them up unto vile affections.” And as a result, disease and disability results which is the “recompence of their error.” Plain and simple.
Verses 28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1)
Application: People engaged in living a sinful life rarely think about God. Their thoughts are focused on themselves, on their lusts which are driving their behaviors, and often upon ways to hide their sins from others. As a result, God gives them minds that are unfit or unprincipled. They cannot think righteously. It is as if God says, “You have rejected me and give me no thought so I have rejected you and your thoughts will only be evil.” And since all actions originate in the mind first, these people’s evil and lust-filled thoughts become evil and lust-filled actions. As a result, even knowing that sin leads to physical and spiritual death, these people do not care and keep sinning and keep enjoying it.