Truthseekers - "Thus Saith Paul - Romans 1"

Source: http://www.truthseekers.co.za/content/view/154/

Thus Saith Paul - Romans 1

Paul, Paul, "Apostle" Paul: 
Have You Deceived Us All?
OR
Are You A Genuine Apostle of the Lamb?   

    For the purpose of this study on the
writings of Paul, I'm using the
King James Version,
since it is the most commonly used
version of the bible, in circulation today.

by Nikki


    Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul introduces himself to the Romans as:

- A Servant of Jesus Christ
- Called to be an Apostle
- Separated unto the Gospel of God  (Separated from whom?)

Whew- Already, a long, confusing, rambly, run-on sentence, that I really have to think about (and hard), in order to understand.  In essence, Paul is saying that he is called, to serve Yahshua as an apostle.  He adds that he and they with him, (whoever they may be) have received apostleship for obedience to the faith among the nations for His Name. What faith is Paul referring to?  The faith of Yahshua, who only spoke the Word of His Father and who was obedient to His Father only? Paul claims that he and they with him, are called to be apostles for obedience to the faith, among all nations.  What does this mean? Paul is saying that he is the apostle of obedience- the one to teach and preach obedience to the faith. In other words, he is called to found 'the church' and teach all nations how to be obedient followers of it. Furthermore, he tells his Roman audience that they are called by Yahshua to be saints.

Before continuing on with this chapter, a few things have already got me feeling a knot in my stomach.  The first red flag arose with Paul's declaration that he is an apostle.  Please read: Was Paul An Apostle?
Was he or wasn't he an apostle of the Lamb? According to himself, he was an apostle of obedience to the faith.  That was the second red-flag.  What does he mean by saying he is an apostle of obedience to the faith, among the nations? If he were an apostle of obedience, should he not be obedient to the Word of Yahweh, rather than to such an elusive thing as the faith?

Romans 1:8-10 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, (meaning he had no other witnesses) whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

Paul informs the Romans, that their faith, is spoken of throughout the whole world and he thanks his God (who he serves with his spirit) through Jesus Christ for that.  It sounds like Paul is very proud of the Roman saints because they must have been highly regarded, making Paul look wonderful.  Because he is so touched by reports of their faith, Paul is praying that he will be able to have a prosperous journey to see them in person. 

This is raising another red flag.  Yahshua said that the whole world will hate His followers because of the Word, because the world hated Him. Yahshua said the world will never love His followers, because it never loved Him.  He said that the world would despise His Word, because it despises Yahweh, who sent Him.  But Paul is praising the Romans because the whole world is speaking of their faith. Were they speaking of the Faith Of Yahshua, or the faith of Paul? 

Romans 1:11-12 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Paul wants to reward the Romans for their fond report among the whole world, by imparting to them, some spiritual gift. The reason he wants to give them some spiritual gift, is so that he can be comforted with them, (in knowing they are solidly in there) because of the mutual faith between they and himself.  What does Paul mean exactly by wanting to impart some spiritual gift to the Romans?  First of all, in order to impart something to somebody else, you need to possess it. What spiritual gift does Paul possess that he wants to give to the Romans as a reward?  Could it be some kind of special knowledge or wisdom?  Could it be some kind of power or ability, which he says comes by the spirit? And what does Paul mean by saying he serves his God with his spirit in the gospel of His Son?  Does this mean He serves Yahweh, in the manner which Yahshua did?  If so, does Paul preach the same Word Yahshua spoke?  Did Paul share the same testimony Yahshua shared- eg. Worship Yahweh- He IS true?

Romans 1:13-15 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

It's nice of Paul to let the Romans know he doesn't want them to be ignorant of how badly he wishes and purposes to see them.  He says he wants to have some fruit among them like the Greeks and the Barbarians seem to have manifested. He says he is in debt to these other Gentiles- the smart ones and the not so smart ones alike.  Why?  What did they give him?  What did they do for him to cause him to be indebted to them?  Did they believe him?  Is that it?  And in believing him, did they further his cause? Did his 'church' grow because of them and did he thereby, receive some sort of credibility?  Paul explains that he is eager to preach the gospel in Rome like he did to the Greeks and Barbarians.  My question, automatically, is how can these Romans he is writing to, be of mutual faith, if he hasn't been there yet to preach the faith to them?  OR, was he there before and did he lay some groundwork there?  If so, when did he go to Rome and what exactly did he preach?  If not, then who has gone before Paul to pave the way for him?

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Here's a very interesting passage.  Paul says he is not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah because it's the power of Yahweh to save whoever believes- to the Jew it came first, then to the Greek, which I assume means the Gentiles, but he did say Greek. Whatever the case may be, Paul is right to say we must believe the gospel of Yahshua.  Wonderful, good and true.  However, what gospel is Paul really talking about?  Yahshua came to teach us and show us the kingdom of heaven.  He spoke to us in parables; symbolic stories, and He told His disciples that the world couldn't understand the parables because they were not His.  Did Paul teach the parables of the kingdom of heaven?  Did He teach us to walk in obedience to Yahweh, as Yahshua exemplified for us all?  Or, did Paul say, "It is written, The just shall live by faith?"

I have got to check this out.  Where is it written, that the just shall live by faith?  Well, it is written, in one of Paul's other epistles: Galatians 3:11 and in Hebrews 10:38.  But that's not enough for me.  Did Yahweh or Yahshua ever declare that the just shall live by faith? On the contrary.  Yahweh always, always, always said, "Keep MY commandments, so you may LIVE."  Yahshua said, "He who says I know Him but keepeth not His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him."

Want to see something fascinating?

Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Awake yet? Please Read this Prophecy of Habukkuk and ask yourself if this could possibly be about a man like Paul, and the harlot, Gentile 'church' he would found . . . that would catch men in its net.

Romans 1:18-23 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

If you have not yet read that prophecy of Habukkuk, please read it now, then come back and reread the above passage.  You will see something absolutely unbelievable. What IS Paul saying?  He is declaring his purpose loud and clear to they who have known Yahweh, (Israel) yet when they knew Him, honored Him not.  Paul was indeed chosen by Yahweh, to execute judgement on the house of Israel and all the world who had not and still do not believe the truth.  Why did He choose Paul?  Because his soul was not upright in him, but the just would follow him. They who saw Yahshua in the flesh but didn't believe Him, or honor Him as Yah in the flesh, thus do as Yahweh commanded, were later destroyed by Titus and the Roman army.  Jerusalem was completely annihilated and stolen from Israel by the Romans, in 70 AD.  The Gentiles took over . . . Israel now officially lost herself in the Gentile net.  All nations became subject to Roman rule and we all know, the Holy Roman Empire was/is Christian.

You may ask, SO WHAT?  What does Paul have to do with any of this?  Let Job, Yahshua and Paul answer that:

Job 24:14 The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as the thief.

Paul was born as Saul, within two years of the birth of Yahshua- the LIGHT. When did Saul become "Apostle" Paul?  After Yahshua arose from death.  But before Saul became "Paul" he was the murderer of the saints. When he couldn't beat' em, by golly he infiltrated the fold like a thief . . . to steal the truth, by deception.  What truth?  Keep the commandments of Yahweh and the testimony of Yahshua which always was, the very same Word of His Father.  (Please read the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13)

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Awake yet? 

Saith Paul:

Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you . . .

He is blatantly telling them, "You asked for me!  Voila!  Here I am- your murderer."

The name Saul, means "Asked for."  Yahshua gave us so many clues about His arch-enemy, it's mind-boggling.  Here is a BIG ONE:

John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Before continuing on, dissecting Paul's first chapter of his letter to the Romans, it's imperitive to understand he is the enemy and he is a liar through and through. The way the enemy works is to twist, distort and double-talk so much, that he confuses us totally.  What he has to say, sounds so much like the truth, (and a lot of it is)  that's why Yahshua said that if it were possible, he would deceive even the very elect. Whew!  Even the very elect means the true Apostles themselves.  That's how deep and complete the deception of Satan really is. YET, Yahshua told us that if we believe HIM and keep HIS testimony of the Father, we will be saved.  What was His testimony?  Worship Yahweh- He is TRUE and His law is good, holy, righteous and the way to eternal life, so keep it.

Romans 1:24-32 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

I feel like crying right about now.  Part of me cannot believe Paul could really be the enemy of Yahweh, after such a profound passage like the above.  He is glorifying Yahweh- saying how terrible mankind has been for turning the truth of Yahweh into a lie; for worshipping the creation more than worshipping Him- The Creator.  Paul's description of just how evil man can be, is mind-boggling, especially in the day we live- a day when homosexuality, deceit, murder, untrustworthiness and complete debauchery assault our senses every time we turn on the tv or even open our front doors.   

    What makes the above passage even more striking, is the realization that Yahweh really IS about judge this world.  I knew it as I read it- like there is hardly any time left to even get this task done . . . but His will be done. I don't want to believe Paul is the antichrist, or at least 'an' antichrist.  I don't want to believe this but I do.  As I pick apart his letters, I see just how true it may be, and just how hard it is to grasp such a thing.  We all need to humble ourselves before Yahweh.  We need to truly, sincerely repent. We need to return to Yahweh, seek His face, walk in His ways and realize His Word is spirit and it is life. No other Word has the power and authority that the Word of Yahweh does, over evil and over death.