He is Able to Establish You

Now to Him who is able to establish you

according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery...

according to the commandment of the everlasting God,

...to God, alone wise,

be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Romans 16:25-27, NKJV

 The God who loved us enough to send His own Son to die in our place, to take all of our punishment in His own body and put to death the law that required it of us, who forgave us our sins and did everything necessary to save us forever, is also able to do so much more than that. He is able to establish us in strength, in wisdom, and in the power of His Holy Spirit. He is able to ground our feet solidly on Himself, anchor our hearts safely in Himself, and hold us securely to Himself. After all, He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it, and also faithful to fulfill all of His promises and His word.

But how does God establish us? What method does He use to make sure we stay standing where He stands us, that we remain where he places us? In these closing verses of Romans, Paul says God does the establishing via three vital instruments. First is the preached gospel. Second is the revelation of mystery. Third is the everlasting commandment.

Paul, especially in Romans, is all about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of salvation by grace through faith, the gospel of power and righteousness to them that believe. He says messengers must be sent to preach the gospel so that unbelievers can hear, and then believe, and then call upon the Name of the One who saves, the only Name given under heaven by which we can be saved, Jesus Christ the righteous. The gospel message, the good news about Jesus Christ is the only thing capable of changing people's hearts and lives forever. And it is through this good news, this gospel message, that we are first established by God.

But after the preaching of the gospel, there must be revelation knowledge, the unveiling of mystery to those who receive the gospel. He's not talking about secret wisdom sought by mystics, nor anything hidden from our sight. The gospel is plain to see, simple to comprehend, but it must be received in faith. It must be taken to heart in faith. And once we have believed, the Holy Spirit comes into our life to dwell. The Holy Spirit opens up the Word to us, enlightening our hearts through the prophetic Scriptures. He brings it to our remembrance, tells us what to say, shows us how to use it, and tells us about the things that are to come. He leads us and guides us in all truth.

And once we receive the truth and the Holy Spirit begins to give us understanding, we also have the everlasting commandments of God in which we will be established when we follow them. Jesus said, If you love me, keep my commandments. But Jesus wasn't talking about a codified set or rules and regulations. Repeatedly when asked about the importance or the priority of the commandments, Jesus would reply with two statements: Love God. Love everybody else. That is the everlasting commandment of God. Everything else falls into place beneath this all-encompassing love.

So how does God establish us? God establishes us with His truth. God establishes us with His Spirit. And God establishes us with His love.

To Him be glory forever and ever, through Christ Jesus. Amen!