To: Saints_in_Christ_Jesus@cyberspace.com
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
If anyone (even an angel from heaven) should preach
to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached, let him be accursed (1:8
& 9). The gospel that we preached came through the revelation of Jesus
Christ (1:12).
As I was on my way to Damascus, to kill Christians,
God called me. It was after three years that I met Peter and James at
Jerusalem. I stayed there for fifteen days. Then I went to Syria and Cilicia to
preach. I preached "salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works of
law". (Acts 9)
I have been crucified with Christ. The life I now
live in the flesh I lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me (2:20).
The Bible wrote that Abraham believed and God
accepted him as righteous. (Gen 15:6). The law only came 430 years later
(3:17). The law was given as a custodian till the coming of Jesus Christ, so
that we might be justified by faith. (3:25).
Before you knew God, you were under bondage to gods
you created by your own imagination (4:8). Now that you knew God do not exchange
one form of bondage for another. You are no more a slave but an heir under the
covenant of promise. We are free from all forms of bondage. (5:1)
By faith we now wait with hope for the
righteousness of God. Your faith works through love. You should love your
neighbours as yourself. (5:14)
Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the
flesh. For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit. The work of the flesh
are;
- fornication, impurity, licentiousness,
- idolatry, sorcery,
- enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness,
dissension, party spirit, envy,
- drunkenness, carousing,
- and the like.
Those who do such things could not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. (5:19-21)
Those who have been born of the Spirit would
manifest;
- love, joy, peace,
- patience, kindness, goodness,
- faithfulness,
- gentleness, and
- self-control. (5:22-23).
Of course no one can cheat on the grace of God, so
do not mock God. Those who called themselves Christians but live according to
the desire of the flesh cannot inherit eternal life. (6:7-8).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Paul@heaven.com
