Paul's understanding of the Christian life was dominated by the importance of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, by means of which he saw God as having acted decisively to redeem the world. Paul emphasised that Jews and Gentiles alike are justified by faith, and share together in the glorious new era of the Holy Spirit, which is to be consummated at Christ's return.
The redeeming work of Jesus Christ
God's work of redemption in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection
Romans 3:25 See also Romans 8:3–4; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19; Colossians 1:21–22
God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
Jesus Christ as substitute, exchanges places with the sinner
2 Corinthians 5:21 See also Galatians 3:13–14, Galatians 4:4–5
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Jesus Christ reverses the effects of Adam's sin
1 Corinthians 15:21–22 See also Romans 5:12–19
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of God's new order
New life comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Galatians 2:20 See also 2 Corinthians 5:16–17; Ephesians 2:4–7; Colossians 2:13
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Jesus Christ's death and resurrection are the basis for a new moral life
Romans 6:11–13 See also Romans 6:1–7; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Colossians 2:20–3:11
So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires. Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
Those who participate in God's new order are ``in Christ''
1 Corinthians 1:30 See also Romans 8:1–2; Ephesians 1:3–14 Paul extends the scope of the phrase “in Christ” to include believers, their activity, and the salvation they have received.
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
Both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith
Paul stresses that salvation is by grace through faith alone
Ephesians 2:8–9 See also Romans 3:21–26, Romans 4:16, Romans 5:1–2
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
Jewish works of the law have no role in salvation
Galatians 2:15–16 See also Romans 4:13–15, Romans 9:30–10:4; Galatians 3:6–14; Philippians 3:8–9
We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Both Jews and Gentiles are united in the one body of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:13 See also Galatians 3:26–28; Ephesians 2:14–18, Ephesians 3:6
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
The Holy Spirit
His indwelling is an integral part of Christian experience
Romans 8:9 See also Acts 19:1–7; Galatians 3:2–5 Paul's questions suggest that he identifies receiving the Spirit with becoming a Christian.
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
He equips the church with gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1–11 See also 1 Corinthians 14:1–33
He enables believers to relate to God as Father
Galatians 4:6–7 See also Romans 8:14–17; Ephesians 2:18
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, you are also an heir through God.
He guides believers into a right understanding of the law
Romans 7:6 See also Romans 2:29, Romans 8:3–4; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 3:6
But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
He overcomes believers' sinful human nature
Romans 8:13 See also Romans 8:5–8; Galatians 5:16–25, Galatians 6:8
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
He is the guarantee of eternal life
Romans 8:11 See also Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 5:4–5; Ephesians 1:13–14
And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
The return of Jesus Christ
Paul lived in the hope of the forthcoming personal return of the risen Christ
Philippians 3:20–21 See also 1 Corinthians 15:22–28; 1 Thessalonians 4:14–17; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–10
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Believers are to be raised with Christ upon his return
1 Thessalonians 4:14 See also 1 Corinthians 15:12–23
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
The whole created order will be renewed at the return of Jesus Christ
Romans 8:19–21 See also Ephesians 1:9–10
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.