
FIRST CITY CHURCH OF CHRIST
"...a church of Christ meeting in Vincennes, Indiana..."
"Of God Through Paul's Pen"
Larry R. Ping II
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Guided by the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:10-12; II Pet. 1:20-21), Paul wrote thirteen New Testament epistles. Confined within those books are scores of uses of the phrase “of God.” Such makes for a good study. To that end this article is offered. Paul writes about…
1) Gospel of God (Rom. 1:1). The “good news” belongs to none other than God Himself. Later, Paul would warn about “another Gospel: which is not another” (Gal. 1:6-7). Any man who teaches another Gospel other than God’s is to be “accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).
2) Will of God (I Cor. 1:1). The “will of God” is that which is His plan and decision alone. Jesus taught men to pray in such a way when He commanded to say, “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Mature people of God decree the same as Paul himself, “The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).
3) Promises of God (Gal. 3:21). In speaking about the purpose of the Law of Moses, Paul made mention of the “promises of God” (Gal. 3:19-21). Let the Biblical record reflect, God is the greatest Promise-Keeper of all time. Peter confirmed this by penning “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise” (II Pet. 3:9). What God has promised will prove to be true, whether it be good or severe (Rom. 11:22).
4) Household of God (Eph. 2:19). Later in the same letter, Paul refers to the “household of God” to the “whole family in heaven and earth” (Eph. 3:15). What a great honor, privilege and help it is to be part of this blood-bought family (Acts 20:28). Through it, I have those who will “weep” and “rejoice” with me (Rom. 12:15) and those who will, if need be, “suffer” with me (I Cor. 12:26).
5) Glory of God (Php. 2:11). Paul cautioned the Philippian brethren that “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Php. 2:11). God should always be the recipient of glory and credit. Moses and Aaron were disallowed into the Promise Land because they failed to “sanctify” God “in the eyes of the children“ (Num. 20:12). Herod was “eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” because “he gave not God the glory” (Acts 12:23). May we be as Joseph (Gen. 41:16) and Daniel (Dan. 2:28) and return to God what He deserves, the glory and credit.
6) Peace of God (Col. 3:15). True “peace of God” comes to those who are “called in one body” (Col. 3:15). One makes entrance into this body by being “baptized” into it (I Cor. 12:13). This peace was made possible “through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:20). Have you found this peace yet? If not, why not?