Tag Archives: Advent

Romans 8- God Be For Us!

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What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Romans 8:31-33

As a Christian, you are in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6) There is an ongoing battle for your soul, Satan wants to destroy you (1 Peter 5:8) while Jesus Christ wants to save you (1 Timothy 1:15) The question is what side of the battle are you on? Are you in The Lord’s army? (Joshua 5:13-15) Or are you another casualty of Satan and his dark Kingdom? Make no mistake, you are in the battle whether you realize it or not, there is only One who can save your soul, thats Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:28)

There is good news, this is what the word gospel means, Christ has already defeated Satan, sin, death, and Hell, we have victory in Jesus! (1 Corinthians 15) As the Apostle Paul states to us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (v31) All the demonic forces in the world can’t touch your soul, because you have the Spirit of the Living God inside of You, you are washed and protected by the blood of Christ, you are sanctified by the Holy Spirit , there is no demon that can stand against you! We have Victory in Christ!

That’s what really happened at the cross, while Satan thought he killed the Son of God, the Son of God actually crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15) Satan was defeated at the cross, death was defeated at the cross, sin was paid for at the cross , if God is for us, there is nobody who can stand against us in Jesus name! That is the power of the cross, that is what Jesus accomplished when He said “It Is Finished” (John 19:30)

Then of course on the 3rd day, Sunday morning Christ rose from the dead, this is why the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of our faith! Because Christ Is Risen, we can rise again with him! If you want a sign that death is defeated, Christ Is Risen! If you want assurance of Gods promises, Christ Is Risen! If you want to know why nobody can stand against you, its because Christ Is Risen!

God did not spare His own son, Jesus Christ, God so loved the world, God so loved you, He gave His Only Begotton Son, to die for our sins, to defeat sin, death, and Hell, repent and believe the gospel, repent and give your life to Jesus Christ, because Christ has already given his life for you! 

We are justified by the Father, we are atoned for by the Son, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, All glory to God, Holy, Holy, Holy , Amen!

Romans 8- What Is Your Hope?

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For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance Romans 8:22-25

Many non-believers will ask the question “How can there be a God, when there is so much evil in the world”? What most of them don’t understand, by them acknowledging evil exists, they are acknowledging God exists. If God didn’t exist, then there would be no standard of good and evil, how do we define evil without God? If we are just random molecules that have evolved into humans with no purpose or future, what does it matter if there is evil in the world? But as the Apostle Paul reveals under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” (Romans 1:20)

So the whole creation groans and labors until the return of Christ! You hear it everyday, people complaining about the status of the world, the difference is us Christians have hope because of Christ, while the rest of the world has no hope, just misery in the suffering of the fallen world. The Apostle Paul describes our current state like a woman in labor pains, Jesus actually described it this way also “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.” (John 16:21)

The Apostle Paul goes on to describe it “we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body” What is the Apostle Paul referring to here? Paul is referencing the final resurrection, when we are raised and given our glorified bodies (2 Corinthians 5:2) There will be no more pain, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:4) For death has been defeated at the cross by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:54-57) Jesus has already overcome the world (John 16:33) So I will ask you, what gives you hope in this fallen world? 

“For we were saved in this hope” (v24) We have hope and victory in Jesus Christ, again I ask what is your hope? Without Christ there is no hope for you in this world, the world will continue to groan in its pain and suffering because of its sin, but Christ has given us victory. As the author of Hebrews states “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

And this should be the motto of the Church “we eagerly await for it with perseverance” (v25) I have good news for you brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming back! Wait for it with perseverance and patience, don’t fall away to the miseries of this world, stay on the narrow path of life! Amen!

Romans 7- Freed From The Law

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Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:1-4

Jesus said “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36) But what has Christ set us free from? Many don’t realize they are held in bondage under the law, there are only 2 options in this life, you are under the law or you are under grace. But the person will say “I don’t believe in God’ and “I don’t believe in the law” Regardless of what you believe, the reality is “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)  You are under the law, and will be judged by the law unless you are reconciled through Jesus Christ

Why do you think Jesus died on that cross? The sinless lamb of God didn’t die for himself, Christ became flesh to die for the sins of the world (John 1:29) Christ became sin, so we can be declared righteous before God the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus took your place on that cross, yet most people cure and blaspheme the name of The Lord on a daily basis. As the Apostle Paul states “Do you not know brethren, The Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives”

The Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then uses the example of the covenant of marriage with The Law. As long as a husband or wife is alive, they are legally bound under God to their spouse. Remember what Jesus said “Two become one flesh, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6) Its the same the unsaved person is bound to The Law. The sinner can deny God all they want, but they are bound to The Law, and when they die they will be judged by The Law, which The Law equals death (Romans 8:2)

So here is the good news (the gospel) as the Apostle Paul states “you have become dead to The Law through the body of Christ” When Jesus said on the cross “It Is Finished” (John 19:30) This is the Greek word “Tetelestai” which mean the debt is paid, paid in full, meaning Jesus paid the penalty of your sins on the cross, it is finished, its a done deal. 

Jesus Christ is the only One who can pay that penalty, this is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) Repent of your sins, put your faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, be filled with the Holy Spirit,  and you are free indeed! Amen!

Romans 6- Slave to Sin?

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What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. Romans 6:15-19

Since we are now saved by Grace, does that mean we can continue to live in sin? This is the hypothetical question the Apostle Paul poses, of course Paul answers “God forbid” or “Certainly Not”. If we have died with Christ, how can our old selves continue to live in sin? As the Apostle Paul states “you are that one’s slave to whom you obey” So who are you a slave to? Christ or Sin? We can’t be slaves to both, you are either living for Jesus or you are living for this world

This idea, that we can be a “Christian” and continue to live as our old self, is a lie and contradiction. Let me ask you, why are you a Christian? Do you want the golden ticket into Heaven? Or have you been called and sanctified by God? I fear there are many false converts in the world, many who claim to be “Christians” yet have never been Born Again, they never have repented of their sins, they never had a relationship with our Lord. As Jesus said “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23)

As the Apostle Paul states “Thanks be to God, though you used to be slaves to sin” This is past tense, as a Christian you are no longer a slave to sin but free in Christ. So what did Jesus save you from? You might say Hell , and that’s true, but Jesus delivered you from all forms of slavery including your sins. Did Jesus free you from drugs and alcohol? Did Jesus free you from sexual immorality? Or are you still slaves to the same sins when you became saved? As Jesus said “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36)

Paul continues , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Having been set free from sin, you become slaves of righteousness” You have been set free from sin in Christ, so why are you still dead in your sins? This should not be brothers and sisters, if the Son (Jesus) has truly set you free, you are free indeed! You are no longer a slave to any of these sins in Christ. Don’t be like Lots wife, who looked back and was destroyed (Genesis 19:26) You are a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) Sin no longer has dominion over you!

“Offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness which leads to holiness” This is the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, working in and through you, to conform you into the image of Christ, to overcome sin and be obedient to The Lord, Amen!

Romans 6- Who Is Your Master?

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Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14

Why do the Liberals hate the Apostle Paul so much? Well because they hate the One True Living God. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit states “Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body” This statement alone destroys Liberal Christianity, where there is no mention of sin, no mention of repentance, no mention of the cross, no mention of regeneration. As the Apostle Peter states “Abstain from the desires of the flesh” (1 Peter 2:11)

What does the world tell you? What does the fake liberal Christianity of today tell you? You are born this way, keep living the same lifestyle, God wants you this way. These are all lies from Satan himself. As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Do you understand as a Christian, you are crucified with Christ? (Galatians 2:20) If you are crucified with Christ, how can your old man continue to reign?

The Apostle Paul continues “Don’t present your members (body) as an instrument of unrighteousness of sin” If you are a Christian, you belong to The Lord, we were bought with a price! (1 Corinthians 6:20) But you believe you can still present your body for sin with the devil, you are deceived! You can’t partake at The Lords table and sit at the table with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:21) You are doubled minded and unstable in all your ways (James 1:8) Either you are Born Again in Christ, or you a spiritually dead (Ephesians 2)

The Carnal Church wants to feed the flesh, but as a Born Again Christian we must crucify the flesh daily (Galatians 5:24) As the Apostle Paul continues here “Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead” Are you Born Again? Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16) A bad tree cannot produce good fruit, a good tree cannot produce bad fruit (Matthew 7)

Sin shall no longer be your Master (v14) Who is your Master? Is Jesus Christ truly your Lord or is sin your Master? Do you identify in Christ or do you identify in your sin? You are not under the law but under grace! Amen!

Romans 6- Died With Christ?

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Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:8-11

What does it mean to be a Christian? Many people confess to be Christians, but do they live for Christ? Has their conversion to Christianity produced any noticeable change in their life? Does their neighbors , co-workers, or even family members, do they even know they are a Christian? This is why practices like infant baptism and “the sinners prayer” concern me, are we just producing false converts that have had no real transformation at all?

The Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, says “Now if we are dead in Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him”  Have you died with Christ? You might ask what does that mean? Have you truly repented of your sins? (Mark 1:15, Luke 13:3) Have you turned away from your ways and turned to Jesus? Has your old self been crucified with Christ on the cross? Do you carry your cross daily? (Luke 9:23) And since our old self died with Christ, our new self has been risen with Christ! (2 Timothy 2:11) Is Jesus really your Lord? Or are you still a slave to sin?

We have been set free from sin and death by Christ (John 8) As Paul states here “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dies no more, death has no more dominion over him” This is why In Christ we have victory! But we must have truly died and been raised by Him! Many people like the idea of eternal life, who wouldn’t, but most people don’t like the idea of dying to self, turning away from sin, serving The Lord. As Paul also states “Being Conformed To Him (Christ) In His Death (Philippians 3:10)

The Life He (Christ) Lives, He lives to God (v10) Do you live for God? Who is the Master of your life? As Jesus said “Nobody can serve Two Masters” (Matthew 6:24) The false convert says “Well I like Jesus and this and that” but The Lord said Nobody can have two masters, so who is your Master? Who do you serve? Where do you spend most of your time and money? You say “Well I go to Church on Sundays” that’s good, what about the other 6 days? Do you live for Christ?

The Apostle Paul states “Reckon yourself dead to sin, but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord” Your only life source is Jesus Christ, otherwise your already dead. Doesn’t this create any reverance in your heart? Doesn’t this reveal anything to you? So I’ll end with the same question, do you die with Christ? If so, are you living for Christ? Amen!

Romans 5- Children of God

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Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:9-11

There is a false teaching that everyone is a “Child of God” while this is a great thought, this is not Biblical. As the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tell us “we were enemies of God” , the Apostle Paul also says “He put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:16) Hostility to what? To God, before you became saved, you hated God, you hated his holy word, you hated his only begotten Son, you hated the Holy Spirit, because you were carnally minded, in love with the world and the flesh

These two natures don’t coincide, this is why as an “Enemy of God” you can’t be a Child of God. To tell the unsaved they are a Child of God, is an insult to our Heavenly Father, who blasphemes his name on a daily basis. So why do we care about the unsaved? Because we were all made in the “Image of God” (Genesis 1:27) and God wants everyone to become saved (1 Timothy 2:4) So how do we become a Child of God? As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3)

It’s only through Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross, that we can become Children of God. As the Apostle Paul teaches us here “being now justified by His (Christ) blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him (Christ)” Jesus paid the penalty for your sins and justified you before God the Father. The only reason we can be in the presence of God is because of Christ and His holy works on the cross.

So what else did the cross do for us? “We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son (Jesus)” We were reconciled back to God through Jesus Christ, we were not always Children of God but enemies, but Christs death on the cross reconciled us. This is why Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation (John 14:6) Without Christ you can never be reconciled back to God, you can never be justified for your sins, you can never be saved from the wrath that is to come for your sins.

Consider what the Apostle Paul says here “4But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [b]“Abba, Father!” 7Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir [c]of God [d]through Christ.” (Galatians 4:4-7) Through Christ, you have been reconciled, you have been redeemed, you have become Born Again, and adopted as Children of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Romans 4- Seed of Abraham

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For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:13-15

So what is the promise and how do we obtain it? The Apostle Paul spends alot of time speaking about Abraham and how this relates to our salvation. The Promise was initially spoken to Abrham as scripture says “The promises were spoken to Abraham and His seed” (Galatians 3:16) and “I (God) will make You (Abraham) a great nation and I will bless you (Abraham) (Genesis 12:1-3) 

The promise made to Abraham that through His seed (Christ), God will make a great nation, multiply it as numerous as the stars and the grains of sand (Genesis 22:17-18) The Promise that all the nations (the entire world) would be blessed through Abraham seed (Genesis 12:3) And as the Apostle Paul says here “the heir of the world” not just Israel. 

The Apostle Paul also makes clear this Promise was not fulfilled through The Law, but through the righteousness of faith. As the Apostle Paul says “The Letter (Law) Kills, but The Spirit brings Life” (2 Corinthians 3:6) Salvation never came through The Law, it actually brings death. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8) The Promise given to Abraham and his seed was by faith and not by any works, otherwise it would void the righteousness of faith

Who is the seed of Abraham? The Apostle Paul interprets this prophecy for us , “The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16) The seed is Christ , who came through Israel, God  incarnate through the virgin, to die for our sins and rise again on the 3rd day. Salvation comes through Christ alone, the promise seed of the entire world

This Promise is only obtained by faith in Christ. As Paul says “If those who are of The Law are heirs, faith has been made void, The Promise made no effect” If salvation was able to be obtained by works or “Keeping The Law”, then faith would be made void and the promise of salvation would be broken. It’s only by the works of Christ on the cross, that salvation made be possible, its only by faith in Christ that you can receive The Promise

Because The Law brings wrath, but as the Apostle Paul also says “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13) Amen!

Romans 4- Saved By Faith

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But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Romans 4:5-8

While faith without works is dead faith, we can’t do anything to save ourselves. The fact that any of us are saved at all is because of God’s grace and mercy. As the Apostle Paul said “He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we have done, but according to His mercy , through the washing of the new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5) Any works that we do produce is because of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. As Paul says here “But believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” Faith in Christ is what saves you, not by any of our own works, its all because of the grace of God

The Apostle Paul used Abraham alot as a great example as being saved by faith, and that obedience being accredited as righteousness. Now he quotes King David as an example also of being saved by faith. David says “Blessed are those whose iniquities/transgressions/lawless deeds are forgiven, who sins are covered” (v7, Psalm 32:1-2) What an amazing thought, that God is willing to forgive our sins, that Jesus Christ became flesh and took our place on the cross. The sacrifice of Christ covered our sins, that we are justified before the Father because of Christ, that Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside of us

King David also says “Blessed is the man who The Lord shall not impute sin or count sin against us or has cleared us of sin” (v8, Psalm 32:2) What have you done to have your sins forgiven, to have your sins erased? Nothing, you have no power to save yourself, its by the grace of God, through faith in Christ, that you are saved (Ephesians 2:8) As the Apostle Paul said “For He made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Christ) (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This reminds me of the parable Jesus told about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, The Pharisee prayed “Thank God I’m not a sinner like other people, including this tax collector” I do all these works to justify I’m righteous. The tax collector said “God have mercy on me , a sinner”  Who do you think was justified before God? Jesus said it was the tax collector because they were humbled with repentance. (Luke 18:9-14)

King David had committed great sins in his life, however God declared him righteous because of his faith and repentance. Salvation can never be earned, its only by faith in the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, trust in Him and not yourself, don’t be deceived like the Pharisee, have faith like Abraham, like David, like the Tax Collector, Amen!

Romans 3- Nullify The Law?

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Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Romans 3:27-31

Who can be saved? Well as the Apostle Paul says “Everyone who calls upon the name of The Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13) There is only One Way to Salvation, Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) And this salvation from God is offered to anyone who repents and puts their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (John 3:16) This is The New Covenant in Christ (Luke 22, Hebrews 8) that Jew and Gentile can be a Child of God through faith in Christ (Galatians 4:4-6)

But what about The Law? Does the grace of God eliminate the moral Law of God? No, as we discussed previously, The Law reveals the nature of God and man. How do you know you are a sinner in need of a Savior? Look to The Law of God as a mirror, and the Holy Spirit will reveal your sinful nature. So are we saved then by “Keeping The Law”? No , look what the Apostle Paul says here “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.” You are saved by grace through faith, not by keeping The Law. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Nobody can Keep the Law and The Law will never bring you salvation. However its through The Law you are convicted of sin and in need of repentance and salvation of Christ

As the Apostle Paul states “We conclude that man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” You can’t earn your salvation, you can’t work your way into Heaven, its only by genuine faith in Christ that you can be saved and be justified before God. Humans like to save themselves, humans like to deliver themselves, but you are completely unable to. As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) You need to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, you need a new heart and mind, you need The Law written on your heart, this will never happen by human works in trying the “Keep The Law”

I heard it once said “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the God of Matthew, Mark , Luke, and John. There is only One God, and He is God over the Jews and Gentiles. How are they saved? The Apostle Paul states “Shall justify the circumcision (Jew) by faith, and uncircumcision (Gentile) through faith” The Jew is saved by faith in Christ, the Gentile is saved by faith in Christ. There is only one means of salvation!

So the Apostle Paul then asks the question “Does this make The Law void through faith”? Certainly not, we establish The Law” Meaning you can’t understand your depravity without The Law, You can’t understand the nature of God without The Law, you can’t understand your desperate need for Jesus Christ without The Law, repent and put your faith in Christ for salvation, Jew and Gentile, Amen!