September 6, 2023
Garden Springs Grace Church, Spokane, Washington
We have had wonderful fellowship with brothers who are studying the Word of God verse by verse. We have briefly outlined the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Romans.
The first thing that is surprising here is that Paul is appealing to a church he did not found and had never seen or known its members except some individuals.
One day I was talking to a woman who wasn’t in the right standing with God in her life. Some time later, she told me: “I have my own pastor and mentors. You are nobody for me to talk about this!” This is completely inconsistent with the teaching of our Lord Jesus. After all, if we consider ourselves to belong to one Body, one Church, I, as a brother, have the right to tell a person the truth. This is how proud and religious people reason than those who strive to know God and for a closer relationship with Him.
The Apostle Paul acted in the same way when he wrote to those people who did not even recognize his apostleship and opposed the true teaching in every possible way.
The Epistle to the Romans is considered to be a teaching about the foundations of Christianity – the living walk with God. The Apostle Paul reveals the concepts of sin, salvation, spiritual growth, the opposition of the Spirit and the flesh, reasonable service to God and the sovereignty of the Lord, whose will is perfect in all its manifestations.
Although we are born into a wicked world with an inherited sin, we can find forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Having received forgiveness of the sins we have committed, we not only receive salvation from sins (not IN sins, but FROM sins), we are freed from the power of sin.
In the second part of the letter, Paul teaches a practical walk with God, emphasizing personal responsibility for one’s actions.
In this epistle, Paul lays out the work of the Law and Grace like nowhere else, highlighting the importance of being led by the Holy Spirit if we are to truly become His followers. And the deep knowledge of the Holy Spirit, first of all, is manifested in the ability to resist the works of the flesh and walk in the holiness and righteousness of God.
The most important sign of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer is life according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit will definitely reveal itself in such a person. Paul talks about this in detail in chapter eight.
In our time there are many people who claim a special relationship with the Holy Spirit, while they do not know Him at all, because by deeds they deny Him. “They profess that they know God, but in their deeds they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and worthless for every good work.” (Titus 1:16).
That is why He is called the Holy Spirit, because He does not tolerate anything unclean or unholy. On this occasion, John writes: “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
Whoever says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word truly has the love of God perfected in him. By this we know we are in Him. Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk as He walked.” (1 John 2:3-6). And also: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.” (1 John 3:7).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1).
“Whoever transgresses and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in the teaching of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, nor greet him.” (2 John 1:9-10).
May we continue to walk in the truth.
Max Volkov in Christ