Lesson 445

(Lesson 445)(11-03-12) Romans 15:18-22, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you."

Like so many other New Testament lessons, this one is greatly significant to today's Christianity. Paul very clearly assures the reader that he would never make demands upon those who seek the grace of God beyond those that are clearly established in the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

This simply means that we are to teach ONLY those things that are included in the gospel of Jesus Christ crucified, never using the power of that message in an attempt to enforce meaningless tradition.

In the latter portion of this lesson Paul states that, in his ministry, he was always careful to stay away from the areas where the law of the Jews had greatly influenced the local belief system. He did this to establish the law of faith in Jesus Christ on its own foundation. He clearly intended Christianity to be separate and apart from the traditions of the Jews, in all aspects.

Paul opposed the watering down of the pure gospel of Jesus Christ by demands for pompous, ritualistic tradition within the Church, such as has been allowed to become basic tenets within many "isms" today.~