If the entire Bible had to be paired down to two chapters, Romans 1 and 1 John 3 would fit the bill perfectly relative to the Lord’s prerequisites for attaining eternal life.  Within those two chapters two of His most blunt speaking apostles write in language that even a child can understand.  This series will dissect a singular message from the hearts of two of the Lord’s most powerful and faithful men who wielded His sword of the spirit with zeal and power, knowing that doing so would cost them their lives.  We cannot allow them to have ministered and died in vain.  Much of this series involves the Lord’s “fine print” that is rejected by all but a few Truth seekers who willingly search for, find and enter His strait gate and walk His narrow way that lead to salvation (Mat. 7:13,14).  Let us now dine on some of His hard-to-swallow fare so that we can spend eternity reaping the reward for having sat at His Scriptural table.  Because the Scriptural references sometimes lead in other directions, bear with me when I follow them, at least for a short distance.

Romans 1:1-7: The Apostle Paul notes that he is called an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God which He had promised through the holy prophets to give to Jesus of Nazareth, the LORD (master) of every true saint.  Note in verse 1 that the words “to be” relative to Paul’s apostolic status are written in italics.  The words “to be” were added by Catholic translators.  Paul was not to be an apostle, he WAS an apostle.  This is an important fact due to what is found in verse 7 where it is written that true believers are called “to be” saints.  True (obedient) believers are not called to be saints (“holy ones”), THEY ARE SAINTS.  AND THEY ARE CALLED “SAINTS” BY BOTH GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS HIS SON.  The reason the translators added “to be” is because the Catholic Church believes that she alone determines who can be a saint, what is required to be made a saint and when such a chosen one can become a saint.  In verses 3 and 4 Paul reminds the church about her Lord being raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit.  Symbolically, true saints are raised from the dead spiritually by receiving that same Holy Spirit upon true conversion at which time they are imbued with the power needed to OVERCOME SATAN’S TEMPTATIONS TO SIN.  Keep this important fact in mind as we go forward (Lk. 10:19/Acts 1:8).  Note that the true convert receives power OVER sin, not power TO sin (break God’s Law–1 Jn. 3:4) with impunity.  Verse 5 is especially important relative to this fact.

In verse 5 Paul says that “we”–he and the other apostles–had received GRACE and apostleship for one purpose–“for OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH.”  Note the word “THE” relative to faith.  There is only one true faith–the Holy Bible—which was “once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  The words “faith,” “gospel,” “Word” and “Truth” are synonymous.  Faith is simply believing God’s Word (Rom. 10:19), which is His Truth (Jn. 17:17).  However, faith without obedience (“works”) is dead faith (Jam. 2:10,14,17, 18,20,24,26).  Verse 14 tells us that faith alone cannot save the soul.  Works that prove one’s faith are necessary (vs 18).  Martin Luther called James a “straw book” because it destroys the church’s all-faith-no-works theology.  Luther rejected James’ book and led his followers–the Protestant religion–to follow him.  This rejection of God’s Word is one of many reasons that the Catholic/Protestant religion is an abomination to God.

In Romans 1:5 Paul says that THE (one and only) faith (gospel/Truth/Word) is to be preached “among all nations.”  The Word/faith/Truth/gospel is to be preached everywhere at all times.  God’s grace is given to His messengers for that one purpose.  Grace is given to all others so that they can believe the Words of His apostles.  In verse 6 the Rome church is told that she is ALSO called and given grace FOR OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH/WORD/TRUTH/GOSPEL (vs 5).  LEARN TO LOVE GOD’S FINE PRINT–SALVATION IS FOUND THEREIN.  Notice that grace is given for obedience, not salvation.  Faith is given so as to know what to obey.  Neither faith nor grace, nor the combination of the two, produces salvation.  There is another, ultimately important ingredient in the salvation formula–OBEDIENCE.  WE MUST OBEY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN GRACE AND FAITH TO BELIEVE.  The basic message of Romans 1, 1 John 3, Jude 3 and James 2 is that without obedience to God’s Word (“works”), salvation is impossible.  Jesus had to obey God–produce works–in order to be man’s Messiah.  Are we better than Him?

Note in Romans 1:8 that the “whole world” had heard about the faith of those in the church at Rome.  This confirms verse 5 where we find that THE faith (Word/Truth/gospel) was to be preached “among all nations.”  What does this say about the two-headed church with its many “faiths?”  I was once asked what faith I belonged to.  Though I had not yet been converted, I knew there was only one faith, one Body of Christ and one Head of that body–Christ Himself.  Paul asks, “Is Christ divided?”  Of course not.  However, the Institutional Church is greatly divided relative to her many different doctrinal beliefs.  This is one of the primary reasons that she has no positive effect on the people of the world.   I can only imagine what power she would have if she would accept the Biblical God as her God, believe His Word, obey His Word and spread that Word throughout the whole world as a singular body.  This was God’s intention.  But man always has a choice of two gates to enter and two corresponding paths to follow.  Historically, religious man has entered Satan’s wide (come as you are) gate and broad (stay as you are) path.  Their descendants continue to do so and will continue to do so until the end of the age.  Again, NEVER UNDERESTAMATE THE POWER OF THE DEVIL.  His power over man, including churchman, is total.  This website exists to prove that fact.  L.J.