Romans 1:5
5 By [dia] whom [hos] we have received [lambano]
grace [charis] and [kai] apostleship [apostole], for
[eis] obedience [hupakoe] to the faith [pistis] among
[en] all [pas]
nations [ethnos], for [huper] his [autos] name [onoma]: KJV-Interlinear
5 through whom we have received
grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake, NASB
The design of the gospel of Christ, and doctrine,
is to bring people into compliance and therefore obedience to God. Where there is no compliance, there is no
true faith, only pretense. Unfortunately
too many people who could succeed, do not, because they simply do not read
their full study each day.
These things are given and made so easily available,
so that you can succeed far beyond your imagination. You have only to want that and then pursue it
with a genuine desire to learn and grow.
By whom, is a reference to Jesus Christ.
The plural of we, refers not to all people, but
only to those who specifically received the appointment of apostleship directly
from Jesus Christ himself.
Paul makes it clear that he did not receive his
appointment from man, or from any university, or from any academic training,
not even from himself. He received his
appointment directly from God, and from no other source.
God makes appointments to all people. If God appoints you to anything, then you
possess the fundamental abilities to advance and function in that
appointment. Just having a title does
not make you perfect. You still have to
work within the boundaries of that appointment.
For example, God appointed us all to the human
race. In that framework, we all have to grow up, we all have to go to school,
we all have to learn social skills, and work ethics and so forth.
All that we are, came to us through grace, and from
God. None of us are self-made. None of us are better than anyone else. Each person has an appointment that is
exclusive to him, and made from Gods wisdom and sovereign decision.
For obedience to faith, is the reason that Paul was
selected and appointed an apostle. To
teach, to write, to spread the gospel and doctrines of Christianity, to all
people.
He was not made an apostle so he could wear nice
clothes, or have a fine home, or rub elbows with the elite class. Paul was appointed to pursue a specific task,
which he did.
You, have an appointment of some kind. Perhaps you have not yet discovered it. But, by pursuing your daily study, you will
discover your calling, whatever it may be.
Whether it is to be a doctor, an inventor, a diaper
changer, a ditch digger, or whatever, it is God who appointed us all for
whatever it is that we do in life.
He did not do it so we could pursue sin or party
our life away.
He did it to give each one of us a means of making
a living and having a function in this life, so we could learn doctrine, and
grow up spiritually to our full potential and purpose, and be prepared for the
next, eternal life, with maximum preparation.
In so doing we not only comply for our own sake,
but we comply in order to help others achieve their potential and
opportunities.
You have an opportunity as well as an obligation to
God, to move forward in your own spiritual life, as well as to give others that
opportunity.
And it is all for Christ.
Jesus Christ is the total embodiment of truth, and
grace, and salvation, and blessing, and opportunity, and meaning and purpose,
and completeness of our self.
He has given each one of us all that we need in
order to succeed. If we fail it is
because we simply do not try, do not comply, do not care.
