Paul Taught Us to Live as Saints Should Live

We can earn a lot about how we should behave as members of "the body of Christ" through the teachings of Paul. 

When we come to Christ, awaking out of sleep, our salvation is nearer than it was before. (Romans 13:11) In order to work out our salvation with the Lord we must continue in the right way. This means continue turning away from sin and doing what is right, for if a righteous man sins his righteousness will not be remembered, but he will die in iniquity, and receive punishment and death. However, if he endures to the end and keeps the commandments he shall have eternal life, which is the greatest gift of all. 

            Paul taught that the following things would lead to salvation:

·         Romans 12: 1- present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God 

·         Romans 12:2- be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

·         Romans 12:9- love without dissimulation (hypocrisy), abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good

·         Romans 12:13- distributing to the necessity of the Saints, given to hospitality

·         Romans 12:16- be of the same mind one towards another, mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate

·         Romans 12:21- be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good

·         Romans 13:1- be subject to higher powers, for the powers that be are ordained of God

·         Romans 13:3- do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same

·         Romans 13:8- owe no man any thing, but to love one another

·         Romans 13:9- thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself

Paul taught us also not to judge others, for we may all be different, but those differences aren’t necessarily bad. He also reminded us that every one of us will confess that Christ is the son of God and every one of us will stand before god to be judged of our maker. God is fully in control and fully capable of passing appropriate judgment. We ought to stop trying to do it for Him, and let others fight their own battles without interference from us.  God is no respecter of persons. This means that he will not give favor to one of his children while heaping condemnation on the head of another. He will treat and judge us all fairly according to our works and our repentance. 

Paul frequently referred to the church members of his day as saints. I believe that this was partially to unify them and to demonstrate their need to be fused together in the gospel, not judging one another, but helping and edifying one another. My hope is that I can become a better member of the body of Christ, that I can defer judgment to He who judges in righteousness, and that I can become a better saint through the advice of Paul and through the healing and strengthening power of the atonement.