Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelations 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.

The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul. In verses 25 to 27 Paul links his unfolding of the gospel with that mystery which was his special duty to make known among the Gentiles. This mystery was a sacred secret hidden in God until such time He chose to manifest it; not until Israel had been given every opportunity to receive Christ both in the incarnation and resurrection. When they refused Christ, God made known what had been in His heart – that from all nations, Jews and Gentiles, He would redeem and take out an elect company who would be formed into one body to be associated with Christ. The gospel is not a system of human philosophy or the result of human investigation but the revelation of the purpose of God. Paul often calls his gospel the “wisdom of God” in contrast to the wisdom of men.

The gospel is a mystery; a system of truth beyond the power of the human mind to discover, which God has revealed for our faith and obedience. It is formed from eternity in the divine mind, revealed by the prophets and the apostles and the preaching of Jesus Christ. By the command of God it is to be made known to all nations. The gospel is ultimately not about us/our happiness, but the goal is the glory of God through Jesus Christ. To glorify God we need to be established in the gospel – to believe in the gospel and our faith must translate into a lifestyle so that others will see the greatness of God through us. We must believe the gospel, be turned from our sin, trust in Christ and His death in the cross as the only payment for our sin – not trusting in our good works to contribute to our salvation. There is a sense in which we see clearly in the Old Testament – in this side of Christ – that a Savior is promised.

The gospel leads to an obedience of faith which means genuine saving faith always results in a life of obedience to Jesus Christ. Its purpose is to glorify God. To glorify God we must proclaim the gospel in our lives, our actions, our words. We may be the only gospel some ever know. The message of Romans regarding the gospel is true – we can stake our lives and eternal destiny on it.

Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies. (21) Test all things; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil. (23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

The first letter to the Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul. Our verses today contain distinct exhortations for Christian behavior, written by Paul to new believers many of whom were suffering persecution because of their faith.

Paul commands us to rejoice always; not with that which the world gives, not that which nature inspires but that joy which comes from God that nothing can overcome or destroy. Rejoicing is intentional – a conscious attitude of contentment, hope and happiness. If God’s joy disappears or we cannot pray we can be sure something is wrong and we are out of fellowship from God.
We are told to pray without ceasing. Keep asking, seeking and knocking.
A grateful heart pleases God in sad days as well as glad. Gratitude and holiness go together. We develop a habit of rejoicing by a daily focus on the riches of God in Christ; walk in the spirit, not the flesh.
The unsaved may resist the Spirit but it’s only in the believer that the Spirit is quenched because it is only in the believer that the Spirit dwells. We quench the Spirit when we trust in our rituals and routines rather than the Holy Spirit. We hinder the working of the Spirit when we tolerate any known sin.
We are not to dismiss the prophets but to be ready to recognize messages based on the word of God.
We are to test or evaluate different teachings and accept that which agrees with Scripture – and to reject all else. And we are to abstain from all appearance of evil.

Justification is absolutely complete from the moment we believe. Christ is our sanctification and we are complete in Him. To sanctify means to set apart from worldly things and we should always be aware that we cannot do life on our own. Holy living will be our habit when trusting in God is our habit.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (10) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (14) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless

2nd Peter was written by the apostle Peter to the faithful to refute the claims of false teachers who denied that Christ is coming again to judge the world. They claimed that nothing had changed and there was no indication that the world would end. But all of time is equally present with God; past present and future, while man has a finite perspective. Fallen man’s will is not free because we are born corrupt in Adam’s sin – born spiritually dead in sin but as God’s elect we are regenerated in faith in Christ. There is no reincarnation, no purgatory; we have an appointment to die and after this judgment. But also is coming the Day of the Lord when Christ is returning. There will be no second chance – Christ’s return will be unexpected and disasterous for those who have not repented of their sin. This world and all its treasure are going to burn and for the faithful God will recreate new heavens and a new earth in which only righteousness will dwell.

Peter stresses the testimony of the prophets and apostles to counter the scoffers who claimed the second coming of Christ was ridiculous. But the old and New Testament tell us the end will come suddenly and without warning. Peter speaks of the Day of God in contrast with the trust of unbelievers in the stability of creation. They were scoffers at the delay of the prophesies. Peter put time in context and tells us that God delays as He is unwilling that any should perish. But the “any” addresses only the elect/faithful that God wills to save.

Our verses today are a powerful attack on apostasy which is both doctrinal and moral. Believers are urged to live in hope and holiness. From the standpoint of Scripture we know God is going to accomplish a catastrophic destruction of the universe as we know it. Christian hope is not apathy, despair, not hedonism but godliness. We are to be found without soot or stain, blameless in the Lord. The longsuffering (delay) of the Lord is the salvation of the faithful.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (4) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, (5) that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, (6) even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, (7) so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (8) who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The first letter to the Corinthians was written by the apostle Paul. The apostle founded the church in Corinth which was a metropolis of the ancient world; Corinth was not only the political capital of Greece but the seat of its commercial and intellectual life. Paul wrote to correct various disorders which had arisen there after his departure and to counter the false teachers who inevitably followed him. Paul begins his letter with the assurance of his divine commission, then the usual salutation followed by the general introduction of this epistle both commendatory and conciliatory in tone and intention. Paul gives precious assurance to those who are called according to God’s purpose. God is faithful and His eternal purpose will not be thwarted; His people shall be blameless in that coming day of Christ Jesus. That day is when Christ returns to call His own – the day we stand before the judgment seat. The faithful are kept by the power of God and stand in the atoning work of Christ Jesus.

All believers are set apart to God in Christ – justified by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and saved by unmerited grace. Paul is not talking saving Grace here as the sin question is already settled, but Grace to sustain us in the trials of the way; things that keep us anxious. Paul assures the Corinthians they have been given gifts of the Spirit equal with any other church. He cautions them to not become occupied with the gift and not the Giver; to never mix up natural talent with spiritual gifts. The fellowship of the Spirit is not a natural thing but is produced by the Spirit who does not dwell in unsaved people. The gifts of the Sporit are a foretaste and pledge of the fullness the faithful will receive at the Day of the Lord.

The faithful are called into holiness. They have been chosen by God which means dependence on God’s grace, not on man’s excellence. God alone sanctifies those who by nature were corrupt. Paul told the Corinthians what he thought of them and now is telling them what future hope he has of them. God has started a good work in them that will be completed. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ where the faithful in Christ will be found blameless. This is the end and purpose of our calling. This is the design of the gospel. The doctrine of election demands we trust God with our deepest fears and leave our sins – especially our darling sins – behind.