QT 28 Aug 14, Rom 1:18-20, Our rebellion brought about our unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

http://bible.us/1/rom1.18,19,20.esv

From <http://bible.us/1/rom1.18,19,20.esv>

NOTE: The first point about God's righteousness is man's unrighteousness. Assumed is that God created man to live up to a certain standard. And it is not just the existence of God that is clear, but what can be made known about God. Paul says that his invisible qualities are visible, that they have been shown to man. Specifically, his eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen in creation.

God created a perfect world which man corrupted by his rebellion. We weren't supposed to die. We weren't supposed to suffer and see evil. But we did not want to submit to God's rules (actually his one rule), and so we rebelled. There were consequences, but the biggest consequence is that we got what we wanted. The serpent said we could be like gods and we are like gods. The problem is that was never a very good alternative. We need God--we don't need to be like a god.

And so now, fallen, we are in the process of being restored. We are justified (those who put their faith in Jesus). We are being sanctified (those who know God and choose to respond to him). And for those he calls his own, we will be glorified when we receive our new bodies that are no longer corrupted by sin. Then we can be what God originally intended, godly and righteous creatures in service to Him.

QT 27 Aug 14, Rom 1:16-17, Theme of Romans: Righteousness is revealed from faith for faith

Rom 1:16-17 (ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

NOTE: This is the theme of Romans; God's righteousness is revealed from faith for faith, and that is the message of the gospel.

 From faith, we see the truth of it, that we miss God's standard, the righteousness of God, terribly. We are undeserving of salvation. But, by faith we acquire his righteousness, and that is the only way to acquire God's righteousness. It is a simple message that downplays the significance of man's works. They have value, but certainly not for salvation. They are meaningless for salvation.

Salvation comes by faith. It is for everyone. The promise is that all who believe shall live (eternally).

Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift.

QT 20 Aug 14, Rom 1:16-17, Faith has always been the requirement for salvation

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

http://bible.us/1/rom1.16,17.esv

From <http://bible.us/1/rom1.16,17.esv>

NOTE: One of the key truths of scripture is that salvation is by faith and has always been by faith. Ultimately it is a faith in God. For Abraham, it was God's words to him that he trusted. For David, it was also God's words. For Job, it was God's reality and his commands as expressed to Noah. For us, it is God's son, his death for our sins, his resurrection from death, and his promise to us of eternal life. The specifics of our faith may vary over time, but it has always been faith in God for our ultimate salvation. Today, the gospel is fully revealed. It offers salvation to every person who lives. It reveals God's righteousness, a standard so high, that only God himself could meet it. Jesus lived to that standard and offered his life for all of us. If Jesus was only a man, that would not be possible, but Jesus was God and so his death provides salvation for all people for all time. Thank you Lord, I am so undeserving of such kindness.

QT 18 Aug 14, Rom 1:1-7, Not being able to do something might allow us to do even more

Rom 1:1-7 (ESV) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Paul's greeting seems to hint at his purpose. He mentions the concept of an apostle and its purpose. He mentions God and his gospel, its Jewish roots. He mentions Jesus, his death and resurrection. He mentions the Holy Spirit and his role. He mentions the results of the gospel and the application to our lives. He mentions faith, the great commission (the nations), and the call to belong to Jesus (the church). Every one of these concepts will be addressed in his letter. They will be addressed fully, because as we find out later, he has never visited them. So instead of reminding them of truths that he previously taught, he must go through his complete development of the gospel doctrinally. So, sometimes God uses our absence to produce something that couldn't be done with our presence. And the result is that many more people are blessed by what we couldn't do, than by what we did do (travel to Rome and preach the gospel). Interestingly, is that after writing this letter, he will have opportunity (forced) to go to Rome.

QT 13 Aug 14, 2 Cor 5:1-5, Real life still awaits us

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

http://bible.us/1/2co5.1,2,3,4,5.esv

From <http://bible.us/1/2co5.1,2,3,4,5.esv>

NOTE: The mortal, our current life, is going to be swallowed up by life. The implication is that we are not really experiencing life in this mortal tent we call our current life. Somehow, our future life is so much more glorious that it swallows up our paltry existence of today. You see, death does not cause us to miss out on anything, other than an opportunity to glorify God on earth. If he has placed us here, we need to live for him here. But if he takes us home because our work is done, we lose nothing. We do lose though, if he takes us home because we are doing more harm than good. Or if we, through poor choices, cause our own death. We lose many opportunities to live God, to impact others for God and to do God's will. The one thing we don't lose is a better life--maybe we lose heavenly rewards--that is true-- but we don't miss out on life, real life.

QT 11 Aug 14, Prov 22:24,25, Be wary of angry persons

24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger,

nor go with a wrathful man,

25 lest you learn his ways

and entangle yourself in a snare.

http://bible.us/1/pro22.24,25.esv

From <http://bible.us/1/pro22.24,25.esv>

NOTE: There are at least three ways of viewing this verse. One, when we are young and susceptible to others defining us, we need to pick our friends very carefully lest we pick up some very bad behaviors, and uncontrolled anger certainly fits in that description. Secondly, we need to be careful our behavior does not influence others in a manner that is not for the best. Do we have an anger problem? We need to repent, not just to God but to the person, lest someone think the behavior is appropriate for a believer. Finally, when we reach a point in life where we are not susceptible to other's behavior, it may be possible to influence the angry person with a kind and gentle manner. In this way they can see that there are other ways of dealing with life. Our witness can change the angry person but only if our walk is strong enough not to be influenced by the angry person.

QT, 4 Aug 14, Prov 29:22, Anger hurts others and ourselves

22 A man of wrath stirs up strife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

http://bible.us/1/pro29.22.esv

From <http://bible.us/1/pro29.22.esv>

NOTE: Fortunately, I don't seem to be a person who struggles routinely with anger. I do struggle at times with anger and those times are just as dangerous as the person who is routinely angry. Anger results in strife, which is essentially more anger among more people. And anger can cause much sin. We do or plan bad things to/for others, we talk (gossip) about others, we malign others, and sometimes we are violent to others. All this comes from anger. The answer is to learn to let go of anger, to forgive others, to pray for others, and to seek the good of others (all people). Otherwise, not only do we hurt others, we risk destroying the very fabric of our being with out of control anger.