God perfectly provides the Body of Christ with a strategic edification-education process whereby saints are progressively established and matured; it is contained within Roman’s-Philemon. This process is different than many Bible processes, which are found in small sections of verses. The Edification Process spans all of Paul’s epistles, providing a structured coursework to grow spiritually, teaching us how to live Christ and become effective ambassadors for Christ.
There is a God-given design to our edification as doctrine, Romans through Philemon and is highly organized as a curriculum for optimal learning. This helps us to easily locate its beginning or foundational teaching, through to the more advanced doctrine. This enables us to assess where we and others are functioning in understanding and to apply or teach this grace doctrine in wisdom. It is helpful to ask yourself questions as you read, study, or teach Paul’s epistles. For example, in Romans: Is my/their speech and behavior consistent with knowing and living Romans foundational teaching? Am I/they confident in Chapters 1-5: eternal security or Chapters 6-8: Am I/they clear in my identity in Christ and how to live holy? It is important to listen closely to what is said, believed, and behavior, as this information can help us recognize what doctrine in Paul’s epistles needs clarity or teaching i.e. If I never feel like I measure up, continually work hard to do good, or feel condemned, it may be you live under a performance system. Romans 7 may need clarification.
Growth in the Word is NOT meant to be random or haphazard. Paul’s teaching is laid out in strategic units of advancing teaching, very similar to an educational curriculum. One verse, chapter, and book builds on the one before, progressing a believer to the next logical step of doctrine in order to grow from babes in Christ unto mature adult believers. Each epistle has a purpose, with chapters teaching key doctrines to attain that goal i.e. Romans is a foundational epistle: Chapters 1-5: How to be justified/saved, 6-8: A Holy (sanctified) Walk. 9-11: Where we Fit into God’s Overall Plan and Purpose. 12-16: Worship and Service. God’s systematic method builds an edifice of doctrine in us.
Romans-Philemon contains three main components of instruction:
A. Foundational: Romans (establishing doctrine), I & II Corinthians and Galatians (reproof and correction applying Romans Truths: Issues: Corinth: carnality, Galatia: legalism).
B. Advanced: Builds on the foundational doctrine: Ephesians (heavenly position), Philippians (standing fast), Colossians (walking worthy), and I & II Thessalonians (enduring service).
C. Leadership-Mentoring Epistles: Based on prior instruction, continues training to enable spiritual men (fathers & stewards of the doctrine) to teach, encourage, and train up saints to be faithful adult believers using grace doctrine: I & II Timothy, Titus, & Philemon.
Ponder This: Be strategic to mature in edification and to train others: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (II Tim. 2:2) Regularly reflect and ask yourself questions:
1) Do you/they rightly divide the Word of Truth and acknowledge that Paul’s epistles are written directly to the Body of Christ to encourage and edify? (II Tim. 2:15)
2) Do you/they take personal responsibility, deciding where/how to study regularly?
3) Do you/they expect the Church or a teacher to provide all your training or assume it will happen by watching random teaching messages, such as those available on YouTube?
4) Are you/they progressing in the edification process, or lulled to sleep by distractions?
Think on This brothers and sisters!
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
Leave a comment