PAUL THE APOSTLE 11
PAUL THE APOSTLE 11
If Christians fall into sin and apostatise they will forfeit their salvation. They must retain their faith to be saved. Faith lays claim to the unseen realities of God and His Person; it presses on even if some of God's promises have not yet manifested; it risks everything for God and His purposes, and endures even in the face of death. The writer urges Christians to walk in the way God has prescribed for them, putting off everything that hinders their walk and any specific sin they have clung to. Jesus is the perfect example of faith to inspire them to persevere. Next, the writer admonishes Christians to keep on loving one another, to welcome strangers into their home - they might be angels, to remember those in prison for their faith as though in prison with them, and those suffering for their faith as though suffering with them. He explains that marriage is honourable - the emotional pleasure of sexual intimacy within marriage is ordained by God. Christians are to be content with such as they have and not covet more, so that they can testify to God, who
will never leave them nor forsake them, as being their source of supply.
The writer further admonishes Christians to appreciate those who instruct them in the word of God, and to copy their faith. He exhorts them to reject the corrupt world system and its practices, and be prepared to bear the contempt and abuse and shame that Jesus bore. Christians are to maintain a yielding disposition, and remain open to the persuasion of their leaders to make their work a joy and not a burden. The writer concludes the epistle with prayer and greetings and a benediction. He asks the recipients of the epistle to bear with it (CP 1:1 - 13:25).
This section of our study on the epistles of Paul is now completed, as too is the overall study. It is interesting to note here in closing the study that Peter includes Paul's epistles as part of the inspired sacred scriptures (CP 2Pe 3:16). Paul's epistles, formulating, interpreting, and applying the essence of Christianity, are vital to Christian theology and practice. Paul was the most influential teacher of Christianity, and his achievements proclaim him as an unexcelled missionary statesman. He was truly a chosen vessel unto God.
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