Do you take note of what the Bible says when reading it, such as tenses (past, present and future), the actual meaning of words, punctuation, figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, et cetera? Particularly the words BUT NOW, NOW, YOU ARE or HENCEFORTH, words the Apostle Paul uses so many times which obviously pertain to the present tense.
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,
Paul could easily have said, “To him that is of the power to stablish you according to THE gospel…..” but he didn’t. He clearly stated, “NOW to him that is of the power to stablish you according to MY gospel…..”
What else did he mention in relation to his gospel (“my gospel”) which concerns the present tense (“now”)?
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to His earthly ministry?
or
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to institutionalized, mainline denominationalism?
or
The preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Kingdom Gospel?
NO.
He clearly said:
“….. and the preaching of Jesus Christ ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY”
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:
Paul could have said, “Is made manifest”, or he could’ve stated, “Was made manifest by the 12 Apostles”, or even, “Was made manifest in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John”, but he didn’t. He clearly said “BUT NOW is made manifest”.
What is NOW made manifest? The revelation of the mystery revealed to the Apostle Paul by the ascended Christ.
And how else is it made manifest? By the scriptures of the prophets. What was made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets in Israel’s Old Covenant? HOW that Christ died for our sins ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES – He suffered on Calvary cross, He died in our stead, He was a propitiation for our sins. And that He was buried ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES – for 3 days and 3 nights. His burial confirms that He died and it also confirms that He rose again from the dead on the 3rd day. If he wasn’t buried, He didn’t die, therefore He couldn’t resurrect from the dead. Common sense.
If there was no confirmation in the Old Covenant by the prophets how that Christ died for sins, was buried and rose again on the third day, it goes without saying that there would be no proof of Christ having died for our sins, being buried and rising again from the dead on the third day, and in turn no-one would be able to prove there is an ascended Christ who revealed a mystery to the Apostle Paul.
The mystery revealed to Paul by the ascended Christ is based on Christ’s death for our sins, His burial and His resurrection on the third day for our justification. It’s all about Him and what He did, His plan of salvation which was given directly to the Gentiles as opposed to Gentiles having prostelyze or having to go through Israel in order to be saved, because there is no Israel today one can prostelyze through in order to be saved.
Because He rose from the dead, we are justified. Why? Because He lives, we as believers will live eternally with Him in glory. And why will we live in glory with Him for eternity? Because we are justified. Why are we justified? Because we believe in His finished work on Calvary’s cross and His resurrection, which means we believe what HE DID for us. When we believe the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) a change in our judicial standing and spiritual status takes place.
Romans 3:21-25:
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Yet contrary to this scripture, mainline, institutionalized denominationalists still proclaim to keep the law in order to gain righteousness, and in so doing seek to be justified in the eyes of God by their own good works instead of by faith alone in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection alone.
And not only that, but we gain God’s righteousness by the faith of Jesus Christ (Pauline doctrine) today, meaning that salvation is only to be found in Pauline doctrine, particularly 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Pauline doctrine is a faith, namely the faith of Jesus Christ in this current dispensation which we are to believe.
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The spiritual status of mankind in his unsaved state – sinners who have come short of the glory of God.
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Justified freely by His grace. Freely means freely. It doesn’t mean one has to do anything/something in order to gain justification in the eyes of God. All it takes if faith/trust/belief in Christ’s finished work on Calvary Cross for one’s sins, as well as His resurrection for one’s salvation.
So what was the Apostle Paul referring to before verse 21?
He was asking what advantage the Jew had in times past, and what did circumcision profit anyone in times past? His answer was that the Oracles of God were committed to the Jews in times past – Genesis was written by Moses, they were given the Law, they were set apart from the Gentile nations, salvation was of the Jews (John 4:22).
Yet, even if Jews do not believe,today it will not make the faith of God of none effect today because Gentiles no longer have to prostelyze in order to be saved.
Jews no longer have a spiritual advantage over Gentiles. All people have been declared guilty before God.
No-one is justified by the law today, instead the law is there to give us the knowledge of sin – where we have and do go wrong.
I have noted two areas in Paul’s epistles where he states to NOW and BUT NOW. It’s up to you to study further….
