Letter to the Romans - More Thoughts

I read Grace is Not God's Backup Plan, A Paraphase of the Book of Romans though once.  I am now reading it again.  His paraphrase sometimes is very different than what the verses says.  But, I do like it better.  Most of the time the essence of what Paul is saying, if I read it carefully, is exactly what Miller is getting at.  KJV Romans is so wordy that I miss the meaning of the long drawn out thought that Paul is trying to get across.  It looks like Miller has synthesized the long ideas into a more concise format.  He then upgrades the ancient issues into modern issues. 

One take away I get from Paul and his letter is that he left for 14 years after being reprimanded by the Lord on the road to Damascus.  Paul took a lot of time to think things through.  How does Christ's grace change everything?  He then went to Paul and then to James the brother of Jesus.  Paul understood how grace affects the Law.  He understood all the pitfalls of living the law in combination with the new Gospel Law.  He also could see errors that would be made by those that come into the gospel without the law.

I am trying to apply these new found ideas into how we do things in the Church.  It is a little different today.  We are not under the law of Moses.  But, we do have statutory church laws and many fence laws (rules that we make to keep us from breaking a commandment).  Of course, one obvious take away from reading Romans is to be careful that my obedience to fence laws and statutory law doesn't cause me to miss the mark of grace.  Obedience to rules doesn't, in themselves make me righteous.  In fact, obeying all the rules without a foundation of faith in Christ and his grace makes me either frustrated or proud.

The other take away that has come to me is that there are higher laws (gospel laws).  These are embedded in the covenants we make.  Obeying these higher laws is always good.  These laws always point to becoming {something different}.  They are stated and taught over and over again in the Book of Mormon.  When we look to Christ and His sacrifice, we are always instructed to repent.  Repent of what?  Whatever we are doing that isn't patient, longsuffering, and kind,  We are to be watchful unto prayer, giving thanksgiving daily for His many mercies.  We are humble and meek.  We bear all manner of afflictions and never revile against our enemies.  Whatever we are doing that isn't this, we repent of.  This is the Gospel Law.

Lower laws seem to be easily measurable while higher laws are not as measurable.  It is hard to be prideful when striving to live the higher law.  When you do, you quit living it.  It is easy to become prideful living the lower laws.  Living the higher law is the antithesis of pride.