Romans 6

As Paul compares baptism as a similitude of the death, burial, and resurrection, he also suggests that righteousness is a condition for the grace of Christ writing -

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"  (Romans 6:14–16)

Again, "the law" is the law of Moses.  If it all comes down to grace with no conditions of living the gospel of Jesus Christ, why is there so much written about obedience to the commandments.

Romans 5

Paul taught of the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ -

"...God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."  (Romans 5:8–9)

Jacob  taught much like Paul -

"...if they will not repent and believe in his name, and be baptized in his name, and endure to the end, they must be damned; for the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has spoken it.
25 Wherefore, he has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him."  (2 Nephi 9:24–25)

We are saved from wrath or punishment through His grace conditional upon faith, repentance, and obedience to the ordinances of the gospel.

Romans 4

As Paul writes the Romans concerning the need of faith in Jesus Christ and grace, he says -

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham..."  (Romans 4:16)

Joseph Smith adds in his translation -

"Therefore ye are justified [saved by] of  faith and works, through grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed [to all people]; not to them only who are of the law [not only to the Jews], but to them also who are of the faith of Abraham."  (Ridges, David J.. The New Testament Made Easier, Part 2

Joseph Smith taught that faith was a word of action.  The JST seems to be in accordance with all other scripture.

Romans 3

Speaking to the Jewish converts concerning the law of Moses, Paul asks -

"Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law..."  (Romans 3:27–28)

In other words, we are justified or become godlike only through trued faith and the power of Jesus Christ for -

"To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."  (Romans 3:26)

True faith requires and effort of righteousness and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, not the law of Moses.

Romans 2

Paul writes of those that do not hear the gospel of Jesus Christ still experience the Light of Christ -

"...For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)"  (Romans 2:14–15)

It reminds me of the words of Mormon -

“…the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil…”  (Moroni 7:16)

Romans 1

Like Alma's question to Zeezrom, Paul teaches -

"...I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..."  (Romans 1:16)

Of this power, Paul teaches that -

"...The just shall live by faith."  (Romans 1:17)

But then states -

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness..."  (Romans 1:18)

Which obviously suggests that righteousness and obedience goes hand in hand with faith.

Paul then condemns murder, homosexual practices, immorality, fornication, etc.

Acts 28

It was to the Roman Jewish leaders that Paul quoted Isaiah -

"...Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."  (Acts 28:26–27)

These Jewish leaders were well aware of words of Isaiah.  Now Paul, tells them that these words were about them.

Acts 27

As a prisoner, it is amazing the influence Paul had with all the Romans and voyager as they headed to Rome.  At the point when the sailors feared for their lives they lowered the lifeboats.  It is then that -

"Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off."  (Acts 27:31–32)

Obviously they had great faith in Paul to be willing to cut the lifeboat ropes and follow his instructions.

Acts 26

When Paul again relates his vision on the road to Damascus, King Festus suggests that he is mad.  But Paul turning to king Agrippa, a Jew, responds -

"I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.
26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest."  (Acts 26:25–27)

The Jews knew this was true but would refused to lose their power authority.

Acts 23

Two thoughts the morning.

I blogged yesterday of a second vision Paul mentions of seeing the Savior.  There appears to be a third one night as Paul is held in prison when -

"...the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."  (Acts 23:11)

The other thought was again a testimony of Paul to Felix that all men will be resurrected fpr -

"...there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."  (Acts 24:15)

Acts 22

Paul describes a second encounter with the Savior when he testifies -

And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;
18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me...
21 ...And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
(Acts 22:17–21)

I believe "trance" suggests a vision.

Acts 20

Luke records what I consider a significant verse that -

"...upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."  (Acts 20:7)

I note that the "Christians" now considered the first day of the week or Sunday to be the Sabbath.  I also interpret then that as the disciple gathered on the Sabbath, that break bread suggested they were participating in the ordinance of the sacrament.

Acts 19

Evidence of priesthood authority becomes apparent when -

"...certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."  Acts 19:13)

To which -

"...the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"  (Acts 19:15)

I believe "they know" who possesses authorized priesthood authority.

Acts 18

Sometimes we never know whom we may have a spiritual affect on.  After Paul is totally opposed in a synagogue in Corinth, probably to his surprise -

"...Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."  (Acts 18:8)

You never know...

Acts 17

Paul makes clear the nature of God saying on Mars' Hill -

"Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device."  (Acts 17:29)

It becomes clear as offspring that we are in the image of God and that He is a person, though God, a body of flesh and bones.

Acts 16

I find it interesting how Paul was led by the Spirit where Luke records that they -

"...were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not."  (Acts 16:6–7)

This would suggest to me that in our ministering efforts, the Spirit may direct that now is not the time.

Acts 15

As the leaders of the ancient Church discuss the demands of circumcision and the law of Moses on the gentile converts, James explains -

"Simeon [Peter] hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things."  (Acts 15:14–17)

It becomes clear that circumcision and the law of Moses was an effort to keep Israel, whom came out of gentiles, looking forward and prepared for the Messiah.  These laws were not given to the gentiles.  All this was fulfilled with Christ.  Now all were held to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 13

To the people of Antioch, Paul preached of the Savior -

"...that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses."  (Acts 13:38–39)

Years before ,Lehi taught the same thing -

"...by the law no flesh is justified..."  (2 Nephi 2:5)

Obviously, we cannot be justified by the law of Moses.  It is through the power of the atonement of Jesus Chris can we be justified.

Acts 12

In this chapter we learn immediately that Herod -

"...killed James the brother of John with the sword."  (Acts 12:2)

But then later as Peter is freed from prison, Peter -

"...said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place."  (Acts 12:17)

Obviously and probably, this is in reference to James the brother of Jesus whom I understand wrote the book of James.

Acts 10

In his great vision of unclean beasts descended from heaven, Peter is told by the Lord -

"...What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."  (Acts 10:15)

Though this was in reference to nationality between Romans and Jews, it has great application in our day.  Any person that keeps the commandments and is cleansed by the Lord, whether it is race, gender, or sexual orientation, should be treated as such and is qualified for the Lord's blessings.