OUR FATHER WHO HAS BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING

Beginning a deeper look into the book of Ephesians, we start with chapter 1 verses 1 - 6 where the Apostle Paul introduces himself by his name and then by the apostolic office that was he was called to by God and he then addreses the recipients of his letter as the saints who were located in the town of Ephesus and he address another recipient group as the 'faithful in Christ Jesus'.

He then extends the blessings of grace (covering of sin) and of peace (a clear conscience) from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Paul then praises God and Father of the Lord Jesus who has blessed us with the full compliment of available spiritual blessing in heavenly places (which are the access, favor, power and knowledge needed to thrive in the spiritual realm) which He conferred on us who believe through Christ. 

Paul describes the process that brought us to this point starting from before the foundation of the world  when God chose us with the hope that we would ulitmately stand lovingly before God in holiness and blamelessness. 

The reason we would be able to stand before God in this condition is because He predestined us to be eligible for adoption as sons of God through Jesus Christ. This was according to the God's own good pleasure. The qualification of many sons into His family is to the praise of the glory of God's grace which was the instrument by which God made us acceptable into the divine family.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO IS THE ONLY WISE GOD

The book of Romans chapter 16 veres 17 - 27 concludes book in this way;

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. 24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

As Paul reaches the end of the book of Romans in a postscript, he encourages the believers in Rome to be cautious regarding those who caused divisions and offence because they had no intention to serve the cause of the Lord Jesus but rather to jockey for their benefit by taking advantage of the gullible ones in their midst.

Paul commends the Romans for their obedience that was notable to degree that they became known for it but he advises them to be prudent and aware of the intentions of evil. Paul assures them that  in the end, the Lord Jesus will be the absolute victor over Satan.

Paul then passes greeting from the people on his side including Timothy, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, Tercius (who is revealed to be the person who physically transcribed the letter as dictated by Paul), Gaius, Erastus and Quartus.

Paul then gives his last blessings according to the only wise God who was able to establish them by the mystery hidden in the gospel of salvation that was kept hidden from the beginning of the world. This mystery was now being brought to life in their midst as elucidated in the sacred prophetic scripture.

Glory to God through Jesus Christ for all eternity.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO NOTES PARTICIPANTS IN THE LABORS AND RISKS OF THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM

In the 16th and final chapter of the book of Romans, from verses 1 -  16, the Apostle Paul first commends a lady called Phoebe whom he described as helper of many including himself and worthy to be received honorably as a saint. extends greetings to those who had been alongside him as he pursued the work of the gospel some of whom had risked their lives for him. Paul tells the Roman believers to assist her in whatever manner she needed them to as she conducted activities in their area.

Paul then goes onto extending greetings to those who had served with him and those who had undergone persecution with him. Some of the people had been introduced to Christ through him and he singled out some as those who were beloved by him.

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Phoebe - Servant from the church of Cenchrea

Pricilla - Fellow worker - Risked her neck for Paul

Aquila - Fellow worker - Risked her neck for Paul

Epaetenus - First fruit of Achaia - Beloved

Mary - Co-worker who labored much

Adronicus - Countrymen - Old believer - Notable among apostles - Prisoner

Junia - Countrymen - Old believer - Notables among apostles - Prisoner

Amplius - Beloved

Urbanus - Fellow Worker

Stachys - Beloved

Apelles - Appoved in Christ

Aristobulus´ household - Greet

Herodion - Countrymen

Narsissus´ houshold who were in the Lord  - Greet

Tryphena - Labored in the Lord

Tryphosa - Labored in the Lord

Persis - Beloved - Labored much

Rufus - Chosen in the Lord

Rufus' mother - Greet

Asyncritus - Greet

Phlegon - Greet

Hermas - Greet

Patrobas - Greet

Hermes - Greet

Philologus - Greet

Julia - Greet

Nereus - Greet

Nereus' sister - Greet

Olympas - Greet

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE SPIRIT LOVES US

The book of Romans chapter 2 verses 22 - 33,

22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

As the Apostle Paul began to conclude his letter, he mentioned that he wanted the Roman believers to pray with him through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Holy Spirit that he would not be saved from the hostile quadrants of the unbelievers in Jerusalem and tha t he conduct himself properly among the saints in Jerusalem.

Paul then blessed them hoping that he would get a chance to be with them with joy and refreshment.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO DISPLAYED GREAT SIGNS TO WIN THE GENTILES

Romans chapter 15 verses 14 - 21 says this;

14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:

“To whom He was not announced, they shall see;

And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Having strongly adjured the Roman church, the Apostle Paul expresses confidence that the recipients of his letter were knowledgable enough to conduct their affairs as Christians correctly.  As a minister who primarily was sent to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, Paul indicated that he had a high expectation of the church at Rome because they were the people of the law and had more exposure to the foundations of the faith than the Gentiles did.

As such, he was reticent to let them know of the astonishing displays of power that God was doing among the Gentiles through him to make them obedient and so on the strength of these great demonstrations of power by the Spirit of God, Paul was propelled to take the gospel to every place where the name of Christ was not known for even the prophets of old foretold of the time when the gentiles would be recipients of Salvation of God.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO FILLS US WITH JOY AND PEACE

In Romans chapter 15 verses 7 - 13 the Apostle Paul says this;

7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,

And sing to Your name.”

10 And again he says:

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”

11 And again:

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!

Laud Him, all you peoples!”

12 And again, Isaiah says:

“There shall be a root of Jesse;

And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,

In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Whereas the Lord Jesus came as a servant to the circumcision because of the promises that were made to the fathers of Israel, the route of salvation also went into the world of the Gentiles as the prophets of old often foretold so therefore, Paul exhorts the believers among the circumcision to receive the Gentiles into the fold even Christ recieved them.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOM WE GLORIFY IN UNITY WITH HOW WE THINK AND HOW WE SPEAK

In the book of Romans chapter 15 verses 1 - 6, the Apostle Paul explains that in the kingdom of God, it is the responsibility of those who are strong to make accomodations for those who are fragile.

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHOSE KINGDOM IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY

The book of Romans chapter 14  - 23 conveys the concept of love being the highest principal that we should adopt because in the practice of love, all the law is fulfilled.

In our liberty, we are to live in consideration of others and if our liberty causes doubt in others, we should constrain ourselves willingly in order to maintain peace and preserve those who are fragile in their faith.

 14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Amen.

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