Nor
did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers
of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and
afterward I came back again to Damascus. Then three years
later, I did go up to Jerusalem to become [personally] acquainted with Cephas
(Peter), and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any of the other apostles (the special messengers
of Christ) except James the brother of our Lord. Now [note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth], I
write this as if I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie.
Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria
and Cilicia. And so far I was still unknown by
sight to the churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem).
They were only hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is
now proclaiming the very faith he once reviled and which he set out to
ruin and tried with all his might to destroy. And
they glorified God [as the Author and Source of what had taken place] in me.
Galatians 1:17-24
Though
for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man
considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and
his physical and outward advantages, I have still more! Circumcised when I
was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew
[and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party
of] the Pharisees, As to my zeal, I was a
persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed
justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless
and no fault was found with me. Philippians 3:4-6
Therefore,
[there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are
in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh,
but after the dictates of the Spirit. Romans 8:1
Not forsaking or
neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people,
but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the
more faithfully as you see the day
approaching. Hebrews 10:25
But as for you,
the anointing (the sacred appointment,
the unction) which you received from Him abides [permanently] in you; [so] then
you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning
everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in,
never depart from) Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. 1
John 2:27
For sin shall not
[any longer] exert dominion over you, since now you are not under Law [as slaves], but under grace [as subjects of God’s favor and
mercy]. Romans 6:14
If you seek to be
justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing
with God through the Law, you
are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have
fallen away from grace (from
God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing). Galatians 5:4
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