Romans 2

[Behold]

What if you can see it like this:

those by patient continuance in well doing seeking immortality, will find Jesus, and be therefore no longer an unforgiven sinner?

How is a sinner forgiven?

A.) "Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners".

So....Do good works forgive a sinner?
Can we do anything to pay for our sin.........to forgive it?
What can a sinner do, to forgive their own sin?
If they could do so, then why did Jesus have to die on The Cross for our SIN?

So, to be forgiven........is something that God has to do for us as a "GIFT"... "The GIFT of Salvation".......... and He has offered Jesus's blood and death... as the only WAY He can forgive our sin. = John 14:6

Notice these 2 verses..

"God hath made JESUS........to be (our) SIN for us".........as "The one time eternal Sacrifice of Jesus on The Cross".

What is Jesus doing on The Cross?

He is offering Himself, to GOD for all our sin......so that God will accept His sacrifice, so that WE can be forgiven, all our sin.".

= John 3:16

 

[amigo de christo]

How is a sinner forgiven?

A.) "Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners".

So....Do good works forgive a sinner?
Can we do anything to pay for our sin.........to forgive it?
What can a sinner do, to forgive their own sin?
If they could do so, then why did Jesus have to die on The Cross for our SIN?

So, to be forgiven........is something that God has to do for us as a "GIFT"... "The GIFT of Salvation".......... and He has offered Jesus's blood and death... as the only WAY He can forgive our sin. = John 14:6

Notice these 2 verses..

"God hath made JESUS........to be (our) SIN for us".........as "The one time eternal Sacrifice of Jesus on The Cross".

What is Jesus doing on The Cross?

He is offering Himself, to GOD for all our sin......so that God will accept His sacrifice, so that WE can be forgiven, all our sin.".

= John 3:16

Behold if you examine the problem its most are trying to tone down the dire need of even the preaching of JESUS .
they rather are coming in to plant doubt . some in total ignorance due to they sat under the wrong love
and the wrong men .
But that is what i notice all over the place . I dont see hardly anyone
reminding the church to be preaching the dire reminder of the dire necessity to BELIEVE ON JESUS
rather i see most coming in to either plant subitle ideas about universalism
tatics and ideas to try and give the idea of focusing on the fact they will be saved even IF they beleived NOT
and try and plant the idea of doing good works in the stead of HAVING TO BELIEVE ON JESUS .
They wont focus on THAT . rather on the idea that somehow if someone did good or was loving
they okay too . ITS ALL A LIE of course .
I mean ITS DIRE NECESSARY to HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST , and IF ONE DOES
WELL then we have by the SPIRIT become HIS , HIS WORKMANSHIP , created unto GOOD works
NOT trying to use works as a means to be saved but rather HE is working THROUGH US .
OH its necessary and okay to REMIND the church to DO GOOD and to flee evil .
BUT that is not what i am seeing at all . I AM SEEING this idea that if somehow someone was loving and did good
THAT well , that was enough no matter what they beleived . ITS ALL A LIE .

 

[GracePeace]

Notice your 2 verses, as they complete the understanding in context.

So, if we read....(KJV).

>>""He (God) will GIVE= eternal life to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:""""""

See that verse Reader ????........ That verse if left to itself, is saying.....>"work hard for God, and you'll go to heaven......you'll receive eternal life"..

But we know that this is not true.......as no one can work their way to heaven........as that would be a sinner, unforgiven...

So, we have to read the next verse to get the context...........to understand How Eternal life, = is given by God

8.) """But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth"

Notice carefully........."and do not OBEY THE Truth"...

Now, THAT is explaining how to receive eternal life......and that is......to "" OBEY THE TRUTH"....

So, if we dont OBEY the Truth, then we dont receive eternal life from God........whereas ALL who OBEY the Truth......receive from God, Eternal life. = "Shall be saved".

Now, how do we OBEY....the Truth. ?..... Well, the TRUTH, is that JESUS has died for your sin, and "ALL who believe in Jesus have eternal life".

So, to OBEY the TRUTH.........is to BELIEVE In Jesus......its to put your FAITH in Christ......as that is how you = "" OBEY... the truth.""

If you dont "OBEY the Truth" then you have rejected it.......you do not BELIEVE IT......and you are a Christ Rejector vs a BELIEVER.

Obeying unrighteousness, doing evil, is the opposite of obeying the truth, and that was already defined as persisting in doing good.

My speculation is that it describes the eternal life "repaid' with the language "give", because we have the "gift" of righteousness, whereby the eternal life is "earned", turning what is "earned" into a "gift" (Ro 6:22).

That said, God already established the precedent that His giving of a gift is wholly separate from its being possessed :

"See, I have given that land over to you. Go now and possess the land" (Deut 1:8)

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold [Take possession] of the eternal life to which you were called... ." (1 Ti 6:12).

Thus it is that Paul, just as Jesus (Mt 19:11), describes the lifestyle of the man who cannot achieve (the best lifestyle of) celibacy as "his own gift from God" (1 Co 7:7) : each man's manner of walking is his "gift", his "grace", so our manner of living is "grace", thus the outcome of the gift, grace, we walk in by faith is counted as a gift--but if we don't walk in our gift by faith, "footsteps of faith" (Ro 4:12,20), "fully convinced in [our] own mind" (Ro 14:5), we are not justified but condemned (Ro 14:23), because it is necessary that we have righteousness to be justified, but the righteousness wherewith we are justified before God is God's righteousness (Ro 3:21), but God's righteousness is "from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17).
Walking in faith--eg, the Galatians failed to do so, thus were cut off from Christ, just as the Roman Gentiles are warned (Ro 11:17-23).

Taking this together, we have the gift of righteousness, thus the righteous way we live, by walking in faith, is a "gift", and the result is that the "payment" for this "gift" is turned into a "gift" (Ro 6:22)--Christ's Name is "God Is Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:6), thus if it is "God's righteousness from faith to faith" (but if we don’t walk in faith, we are not justified by God's righteousness, but condemned for not having His righteousness, which is why Paul said he wanted to be "found in Him", and why the children are told "remain in Him so you won't shrink back in shame" and "My righteous one will live by faith, but if he shrinks back , My soul has no pleasure in him... unto destruction...") (Ro 1:17), not our own righteousness from the Law/knowing good and evil, it is not "works" saving us ("works", esp in Romans, is "a righteousness of my own from the Law", but we're talking about the gift, grace, of "God's righteousness from faith to faith") but grace saving us.

On this point, again, Paul said, "I was abundant in labors above them all, yet, not I, but the grace with me" and "[Christ] came and preached to you" (it was the minister, but it was accounted as "Christ", because the man abode in Christ, and worked God's works, or had God's righteousness by being found in Him).

So, we are justified and at peace through faith, and we are to remain at peace by remaining in faith in our walk (remaining in God's justifying righteousness)--sin, doing things we don't believe are correct, "disturbs" that peace we have with God--or else Peter's command, "Be diligent to be found of Him in peace" is incoherent (if we are at peace through Christ's past-tense work, what in the world would our "diligence" have to do with our remaining at and being found of Him in peace)?

Doing what you believe is correct "as unto the Lord" (Ro 14:5), in light of the truth of God's love for us, is called "freedom", going against what God's love makes you believe is correct is being "forced" to do something, or "slavery"--as Paul said, "Sin made me violate the Law of my mind"--so all I'm saying is "walk in freedom, live a life of freedom".
"Slavery" comes in different forms : if you go to the Law, you are not doing what you believe, not working according to God working in you to will and do (so you're not in God's righteousness, but your own), but are eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; if you love pleasure instead of God, you are not doing what you believe, either, but you are being forced, enslaved, by pleasure, to go against your own self (convictions), being forced into having both a "yes" and a "no" (Mt 5:37; 2 Co 1:17-20).
In either of these cases, you are not walking in freedom, not doing what God's love is at work in you to will and do for His pleasure.
"It was for freedom Christ set you free, so do not submit yourselves again to a yoke of slavery", "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me", "the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." : the plan is that, having been set free, we now walk in freedom, in agreement with, not contrary to, God's Law He writes in our minds and hearts by His Spirit.
Why would we not continue to strive to perfect holiness by walking in agreement with our own selves, according to this perfect Law of Liberty, the Word ingraft, the love God loves us with? This was why Paul said, "I beat my body and make it my slave", because it is the center of everything that disobeys God's Law (eg, even legal pleasures, like marriage, cause a man to be divided between the world and the Lord (1 Co 7)), as Peter says, "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." "All things are lawful but not all are profitable."

 

[Lambano]

6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
11 For God does not show favoritism.

I just came across this passage last night and wanted to pass it on.

So, how do you see this fitting into Paul's overall argument in chapters 1-3, culminating in chapter 3 verse 28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of Torah?

 

[Boasting in the Lord]

So, how do you see this fitting into Paul's overall argument in chapters 1-3, culminating in chapter 3 verse 28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of Torah?

Like I implied earlier in a reply to a similar question, I believe that those that persistently do good shall find the faith.

 

[GracePeace]

So, how do you see this fitting into Paul's overall argument in chapters 1-3, culminating in chapter 3 verse 28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of Torah?

Paul is not against righteousness, he is against being "under Law", or having "a righteousness of my own"--he insists believers must walk righteously, and says the Lord even strikes believers who do not do so with illness and death (1 Co 5, 11), but he also insists that believers walk righteously by being "under grace", having "God's righteousness from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17, 14:5,23).

One righteousness is looking to self, so it leads to one's own glory, and boasting of self, leading others to praise yourself; the other righteousness is looking away unto Christ, so it leads to God's glory, and boasting in God, and leads to the praise of His glorious grace, and winning souls to Christ.

 

[Lambano]

Like I implied earlier in a reply to a similar question, I believe that those that persistently do good shall find the faith.

I am friends with a Jewish family and a couple Moslems who persistently do good. They feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned. They may have faith, but it's not in Jesus.

Though perhaps Jesus Himself might consider these works as having been done to the least of His brothers and sisters.

 

[Boasting in the Lord]

I am friends with a Jewish family and a couple Moslems who persistently do good. They feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned. They may have faith, but it's not in Jesus.

Perhaps that's your view, but you're not all-knowing. God might have a different opinion about what persistent entails.

 

[Lambano]

Paul is not against righteousness, he is against being "under Law", or having "a righteousness of my own"--he insists believers must walk righteously, and says the Lord even strikes believers who do not do so with illness and death (1 Co 5, 11), but he also insists that believers walk righteously by being "under grace", having "God's righteousness from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17, 14:5,23).

One righteousness is looking to self, so it leads to one's own glory, and boasting of self; the other righteousness is looking away unto Christ, so it leads to God's glory, and boasting in God.

I don't see it that way. I see the overall argument that being part of God's chosen people (as evidenced by possessing Torah and even performing Torah) is not enough to justify a man.

 

[GracePeace]

I don't see it that way. I see the overall argument that being part of God's chosen people (as evidenced by possessing Torah and even performing Torah) is not enough to justify a man.

Yeah, again, it boils down to whose righteousness--"a righteousness of my own from the Law" or "God's righteousness from faith to faith". Why "from faith to faith"? Because we both "begin" and "seek perfection" (Gal 3), and both are by faith.

 

[GracePeace]

I don't see it that way. I see the overall argument that being part of God's chosen people (as evidenced by possessing Torah and even performing Torah) is not enough to justify a man.

What is the issue Paul has with Torah? It's that it is a form of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. That was the first act of idolatry--and, lo and behold, what does the righteousness from the Law result in? Flesh boasting. Self-idolatry. Self-centeredness. That is why Paul has an issue with the Torah and obtaining a righteousness of one's own from It. It's not God's righteousness, and it doesn't lead to God's glory.

 

[GracePeace]

I don't see it that way. I see the overall argument that being part of God's chosen people (as evidenced by possessing Torah and even performing Torah) is not enough to justify a man.

Yeah, I know the typical N.T. Wright gobbledygook--the issue with Wright is he ignores the fact that "works of the Law" includes "do not covet" (Ro 7:7), it's not just "Jewish-people-specific-commands". He doesn't get to the heart of the issue. The heart of the issue is who is performing the deed based on who you are beholding and loving, and trusting and boasting in, who you are pointing people to and revealing.

"God did what the Law, weakened by the flesh, could not do"
"Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
"Finding fault with them [their flesh], He brought in a New Covenant"
Knowledge of Good and Evil/The Law and the sinful flesh are buddy-buddy.

The issue is who is performing the righteousness.

 

[Lambano]

Yeah, again, it boils down to whose righteousness--"a righteousness of my own from the Law" or "God's righteousness from faith to faith". Why "from faith to faith"? Because we both "begin" and "seek perfection" (Gal 3), and both are by faith.

And here I must disagree with the Reformed view of "righteousness" as a commodity that can be transferred from one entity to another.

 

[GracePeace]

And here I must disagree with the Reformed view of "righteousness" as a commodity that can be transferred from one entity to another.

Unfortunately for you, I'm not Reformed, and, again, unfortunately for you, since you seem to parrot all of Wright, I am not seeing it as a "mysterious gas that can be transmitted across the court room"--if that's what you got from what I said, you missed what I said. What I am describing is "abiding in Christ and Christ in me".

 

[GracePeace]

And here I must disagree with the Reformed view of "righteousness" as a commodity that can be transferred from one entity to another.

Unfortunately for you, I'm not Reformed, and, again, unfortunately for you, since you seem to parrot all of Wright, I am not seeing it as a "mysterious gas that can be transmitted across the court room"--if that's what you got from what I said, you missed what I said. What I am describing is "abiding in Christ and Christ in me".

I emailed Dr. Wright about this. He answers anyone's emails.

He seemed genuinely shocked when I reminded him that Jesus's Name is "God Is Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:6), and that that is what passages like Romans 3 are talking about. Like, "My whole career... ", since his whole career has been so focused on fighting against the Protestant Church's idea of "God's righteousness", bc of how it always abuses, by emptily mouthing, the phrase--thus he tries to define it away from the typical Protestant/Evangelical/Reformed understanding of it--but the fact is that Christ is "God Is Our Righteousness", thus remaining in Him is having God’s righteousness as one's own, which is the theme of Romans (not "Reformed" thought, not "New Perspective" thought--though both have glints of the truth that can be helpful in their own way).

 

[amigo de christo]

I am friends with a Jewish family and a couple Moslems who persistently do good. They feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned. They may have faith, but it's not in Jesus.

Though perhaps Jesus Himself might consider these works as having been done to the least of His brothers and sisters.

While it is not evil to feed the hungry , take in the stranger , clothe the naked , visit the imprisoned ,
ITS all out total rebellion to GOD when one rejects JESUS the CHRIST .
THAT is why they will die in their sin . Not because they may have done a few good works
BUT because , IF ye believe NOT ON ME , said JESUS , THEN ye shall DIE in your sins .

 

[Dash RipRock]

So, to OBEY the TRUTH.........is to BELIEVE In Jesus......its to put your FAITH in Christ......as that is how you = "" OBEY... the truth.""

So you think all one needs to do is believe in Jesus and they are saved even as they continue living in sin?

That's what satan has tricked many in to doing due to the false teachers never teaching repentance and like you they claim turning away from their sin is working hard to earn their salvation.

Is that what you are teaching here? No need to quit walking after the flesh as in it's a non issue if one continues in sin?

If not you might clarify because one can certainly disqualify themselves from salvation if they quit walking in agreement with the Lord and go back to walking in darkness.

So....Do good works forgive a sinner?

When one gets born again their past sins only are forgiven
Romans 3:25 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God

Once saved, we are ordained by God to walk in good works
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 10:27,28 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Keyword is “follow” - those not following the Lord shall be lost

1 John 1:6 - If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 12:46 - I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 8:51 - Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my Word, he shall never see death.

Romans 8:14 - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

1 Corinthians 10:12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold (take possession) on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I am friends with a Jewish family and a couple Moslems who persistently do good. They feed the hungry, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned. They may have faith, but it's not in Jesus.

That's not the good works that bring salvation.

Believing on Jesus as one's Savior and LORD, as in doing what Jesus tells us and living in agreement with Him is the starting point for salvation. Doing good works in meaningless without getting born again and turning away from one's sins.

being part of God's chosen people (as evidenced by possessing Torah and even performing Torah) is not enough to justify a man.

It was under the old covenant, but now we are under the New Covenant and Jesus has raised the standard.

Now, one must be born again and abide in Christ doing the good works God has called us to.

The primary good work God has ordained for us to walk in is to be led by the Holy Spirit based on God's Word.

Those living after the flesh claiming to be saved will be shocked when they die to find themselves in hell.

And here I must disagree with the Reformed view of "righteousness" as a commodity that can be transferred from one entity to another.

You are correct in rejecting reformed theology which is garbage and not biblical.

What I am describing is "abiding in Christ and Christ in me".

Eggshactly.

We are to abide in the Lord and at the same time allow the Lord to abide in us
Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:14 - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Romans 6:4-6 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Colossians 3:5,6 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

I emailed Dr. Wright

That's a red flag, anyone to wants people to call them "doctor" or "pastor" or "apostle" or any of those titles as their way to letting everyone know they are much more important than everyone else and have more authority that everyone else.

Jesus talk about not using titles, ever see that?

 

[Behold]

So you think all one needs to do is believe in Jesus and they are saved even as they continue living in sin?

Becoming a Christian, is to be forgiven all sin and then they are born again by God's Spirit.
This happens when the SINNER's "faith is counted by God, as Righteousness".

When this happens...... God will give them the New Birth "in Christ" and that begins their "eternal life".

That's what satan has tricked many in to doing due to the false teachers never teaching repentance and like you they claim turning away from their sin is working hard to earn their salvation.

You dont yet understand that what you do is your discipleship, and What God has provided as Salvaiton, is a Gift. "The Gift of Salvaiton".

Those are not the same.
You dont understand this, yet.

Is that what you are teaching here? No need to quit walking after the flesh as in it's a non issue if one continues in sin?

Actually, ive not talked about walking in the flesh., or not.

You're just confused.

If not you might clarify because one can certainly disqualify themselves from salvation if they quit walking in agreement with the Lord and go back to walking in darkness.

Salvation has nothing to do with "walking in agreement with the Lord".

Salvation is an Eternal Gift that God gives to a sinner who has repented of their UNBELIEF....= when the sinner gives God their Faith in Christ.

You dont understand this yet.

When one gets born again their past sins only are forgiven

'"only some sins are forgiben"....... = That a false teaching that a lot of self righteous heretics pretend is true, because they dont Trust in Christ, they trust in themselves to try to be saved and stay saved.
Most who are like this, are religious but lost.

Once saved, we are ordained by God to walk in good works

Just do this..

Romans 12:1

Believing on Jesus as one's Savior and LORD, as in doing what Jesus tells us and living in agreement with Him is the starting point for salvation.

Salvartion is Jesus on The Cross.

This is not a contract you agree to.. as Jesus's Blood and Death is the New Covenant (Contract) between Himself and God.....and that is your silly and self righteous idea of trying to earn your way to heaven.

Jesus talk about not using titles, ever see that?

After Jesus was ascended back into Heaven, He called Paul to be an "Apostle"

This is a Title.

Later, Paul defines the Ministries of the Body of Christ as : Titles.

Prophet
Apostle
Pastor
Evangelist
Teacher

 

[GracePeace]

Eggshactly.


We are to abide in the Lord and at the same time allow the Lord to abide in us
Ephesians 4:24 - And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 13:14 - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Romans 6:4-6 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Colossians 3:5,6 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Idk how it is controversial.

That's a red flag, anyone to wants people to call them "doctor" or "pastor" or "apostle" or any of those titles as their way to letting everyone know they are much more important than everyone else and have more authority that everyone else.

Jesus talk about not using titles, ever see that?

He's a professor lol

 

[Dash RipRock]

God will give them the New Birth "in Christ" and that begins their "eternal life".

So it's all good if they continue living in sin?
Seeing to never mentioned repentance, you must be good with people living in sin claiming to be saved.

You dont understand this, yet.

You don't accept all of God's Word.

You're just confused.

You are deceived

Salvation has nothing to do with "walking in agreement with the Lord".

Apparently you believe one can live in opposition to the Lord as an enemy of the Lord in agreement with satan and still be saved.
This is what happens when people refuse to believe all of what God teaches in His Word.

'"only some sins are forgiben"....... = That a false teaching

Of course you believe Romans 3:25 is a lie.
Romans 3:25 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God

Just do this..

Romans 12:1

Now you are teaching works based salvation and that we are supposed to earn our salvation?

Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

This is not a contract you agree to..

OK, so nobody has to accept Jesus or believe on the Lord, got it.

After Jesus was ascended back into Heaven, He called Paul to be an "Apostle"

This is a Title.

Later, Paul defines the Ministries of the Body of Christ as : Titles.

Prophet
Apostle
Pastor
Evangelist
Teacher

Matthew 23:7-12 - And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Job 32:21 - Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person,
neither let me give "Flattering Titles" unto man.
For I know NOT to give "Flattering Titles;"
in so doing my maker would soon take me away.