The book of James inverts the world's value system, contrasting the way of the Word with the way of the world, and urging us to choose the way of the Word.
The Corinthian church stood in need of discipline: the believers were not exhibiting harmony or purity in their relationships with one another. Although Paul loved them, they needed to be reminded of how to live in accordance with Christ.
We’re called not only to know Christ but also to grow in Him. We do this by investing our time, talent, and treasure in what will last—the Word of God and people.
No matter your cultural or ethnic background, the wisdom of the cross is always upside down when compared to the wisdom of the world. The world teaches us to rely on ourselves and on our own knowledge, but the way of the cross teaches us that we must rely on the Spirit.
Losing one’s life to find it, grace, receiving someone else’s righteousness—these things seem like foolishness to the world. But Paul makes the case in 1 Corinthians that the “foolishness of God” is more powerful than any human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Paul wrote the epistle to the Romans to a diverse audience. Consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, his audience had differing views on religious practices—they did not agree on the nonessentials. Romans 14 addresses the manner in which we ought to behave when faced with such a situation in our own lives.
How should Christians relate to the government? Paul's answer to this in Romans 13 has two parts: we are to obey governing authorities, but we are also to obey God above men.
How do we put our faith into practice? Paul addresses this topic in Romans 12, focusing on how personal consecration leads to corporate transformation.