QT 12/3/2024 Rom 9:1-7, Grace means you didn't deserve it

Romans 9:1–7 (ESV) —

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

 

NOTE: We need to understand Israel in God's terms. In the Old Testament, God says that the reason he chose Israel is because they were the weakest and smallest of the nations. God did not choose Israel because of any inherent goodness, intelligence, or strength. Abraham is a picture of constant back and forth failures before his declaration of faith. No, Israel was not special, but what made them special is that they experienced God's grace. They are a picture of God's grace. We need to understand the word grace, it means unmerited favor. They did nothing to earn God's favor, but it was placed upon a group that did not in any way merit it. That is why Paul is so heartbroken for his people. They were given so much and they blew it. They chose not to believe. What does all this mean to us? We also are born again because of grace. We did not merit it. We are not Christians because we were better than others or deserve it. We are saved by grace and that thought should consume us, unlike Israel which ignored it.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly understand the grace bestowed upon me?
2. Do I take my salvation for granted?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't how to thank you for my salvation. Words are petty and incomplete. I am unworthy and yet you bestowed grace upon me. Thank you. Help me to live somewhat worthy of your kindness to me.

QT 12/2/2024 Rom 8:35-39, Remember we are loved in a pain-filled life

Romans 8:35–39 (ESV) —

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

NOTE: There are certainly times in this life when you don't feel very loved by God. Life hurts. It can hurt relationally, physically, and emotionally. Depression can set in during those times of pain. And it is then that you don't feel as if God cares or that you are loved by God. Pain, technically, is a reminder to the world that this is not what he created or intended for man. We rebelled against him and plunged this world into decay and groaning (as Paul has mentioned in the last chapter). He is going to restore life to how he intended, but that won't happen until Jesus returns. So what do we do now? We remember the promises. We memorize verses like the one above that says "… (nothing) in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

PONDER:

1. Have I given my life to Christ?
2. Have I ever experienced the promised love?
3. Do I truly believe or am I just religious?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have experienced your love many times, and I have also forgotten when life has become too painful. I know you love me and I will hang onto that process during days of sadness, praying that you would life my spirit?

QT 11/29/2024 Rom 8:31-34, Secure in Jesus

Romans 8:31–34 (ESV) —

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

 

NOTE: This group of verses is one of those incredibly powerful "why worry" passages. We hold all the cards (which is an English idiom for "everything is going our way"). The Lord has saved us. The Lord died for us. And the Lord is the judge. If he did all that for us, why do we fear? Unless, our profession of faith was fake, which is possible, but only God and the person himself knows that. If we have truly placed our faith in Jesus for salvation, then we have salvation for all eternity. We have a secure hope and promise.

 

Then why do good? That is actually a stupid question, because the Spirit in us, which we received when we put our faith in Jesus, compels us to do good works. We want to do good works. And there is a reward for good works. Also, good works is one of the few ways we can say thank you to God for our salvation. The question "why do good" can only come from someone who has not really believed. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize all that God has done for me?
2. What has been the effect on my life?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the security of my salvation. I am saved to the uttermost. Thank you for the opportunity to do good out of appreciation for my salvation.

QT 11/28/2024 Rom 8:24-30, God rarely stops evil from happening in this life, but he does work to bring good

Romans 8:24–30 (ESV) —

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 

NOTE: Verse 28 is the  best explanation of God's sovereignty for the believer in the bible (although Gen 50:20 is pretty good too). God is in control, but not in the way we use the phrase. Evil happens and it can happen to anyone. While God retains the ability to intervene, verse 28 suggests that rather than intervening in the beginning, in his omniscience he intervenes after the fact, using evil or an accident to bring good out of the situation (for the believer only). And his "good" is defined differently than how we define it. We define it in terms of this "seen" and "temporal" life, but God defines it in terms of an "unseen" eternity. Yes, God is sovereign, but not in the way we would like to think. He has a plan and he is orchestrating events to that end. That does not mean life will be easy or without suffering to the believer. God has a much larger view than we do. Our job is to, by faith, believe that God knows my situation and is working to bring His good out of it. He cares for me and he knows me. He is not unaware. I must trust him in the situation.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I mistakenly believe that God will protect me from any and every calamity?
2. Do I believe that whatever happens to me, God will work to bring good out of this situation (although his good may not be what I would like to see happen)?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have dealt with this many times over the years. I have seen strong Christians with terrible setbacks to children or family that seem to last a lifetime. We choose and make terrible choices. Still, you are working to bring good out of situation that is evil or intended for evil by someone. Thank you.

QT 11/27/2024 Rom 8:18-23, Groaning because of our rebellion

Romans 8:18–23 (ESV) —

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

 

NOTE: When I look at the world and the choices sane men make, I do groan, because we choose what defiles us. We choose whatever God is against. We rebel against his creation and also worship the creation instead of the creator. Sexually we have gone astray. Relationally we have gone astray. It is no wonder that we have a mental health crisis -- we are trying to rewire our brains in ways that God has not intended. Our food choices and our viewing choices contribute to this corruption. The result is a sort of bondage to what is not good for our bodies and this irrational belief that if we continue in our rebellion, things will improve. I groan for this world and my friends who are pursuing the wrong choices and destroying themselves because they refuse to consider the "God option." The days grow short. We must live in such a manner that draws attention to Jesus. We can't do it in our strength, it MUST start with daily feeding on the word of God. The problem with most Christians is that they are content to live religious lives that puts God to the side for the most part. We can't be good, we must transform to good.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I feed upon the word each day as my first action of the day?
2. Am I living a life that draws attention to Jesus?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray to grow more deeply into my relationship with you. Forgive me when the world tempts me. Help me to be bold to share truth with those you bring me into contact with.

QT 11/26/2024 Rom 8:12-17, Knowing Jesus will bring suffering

Romans 8:12–17 (ESV) —

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

 

NOTE: There is too much in this passage to possibly discuss in a paragraph or two. Verse 17 may seem out of place -- what does it mean "provided we suffer …." Mounce (1995) writes,

 

"What appears to be a condition on this promised inheritance (“if indeed”) is actually a simple statement of fact. Sharing the sufferings of Christ leads to sharing his glory. Obviously we do not share the redemptive suffering of Christ, but we do share the consequences in terms of opposition from the world he came to save (cf. Phil 3:10; 1 Pet 4:13). As members of the same family we share in the trials of life as well as the benefits."

 

We are God's children, and as God's children, we will suffer in this world. Because we carry God's name, we will suffer. The world hates God. Satan hates God. And consequently, everyone hates true Christians just as everyone hates the Jewish nation as well. The enemy will attack us at work, in our community, and even in our church (if it's a dead church). Jesus promised his followers, persecution because of his name. We should not hide from it, but we should expect it.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I ever suffered spiritually, physically, emotionally in an attempt to disrupt my faith?
2. If life has always been easy, that should make a person wonder if they really have died to the world and been born again in Christ …

 

PRAYER: Father, the enemy has attacked me at many points in my life. It has not always been suffering, but there has been suffering. The enemy has tried to make me give up on my faith. But I still believe, and I will continue to believe and hold onto the faith.

QT 11/25/2024 Rom 8:6-11, Making change the priority in our life

Romans 8:6–11 (ESV) —

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

 

NOTE: Paul writes that my body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is my opportunity for life. And I know that the Spirit is in me. I have placed my faith in Jesus and I have seen the Spirit work in my life. The promise of verse 11 is that the Spirit will give life to my mortal body because the Spirit dwells within me. So, I will in fact see change in this dead body. I will see "life" where I choose to do what is right. I can't change the flesh, it will always be hostile to God and not wanting to submit to God's law, but the Spirit will in fact help me to live a different life than I lived before. I am not perfect nor can I be perfect in this mortal body. I can be better and different as I submit to the Spirit and allow the Spirit to fill my body. How is that done? I think allowing the word of God to dwell in my richly is the key. The more I spend time in the word and in prayer, the more the Spirit controls my life. This daily devotional time, my daily reading program (where I read through the scriptures in whole), weekly scripture memory, bible study, small groups, and teaching a bible class are all ways to get the word of God more deeply into my life.

 

PONDER:

What am I doing to get more of God's word into my life? Once a week Sunday preaching is not sufficient nor will it change a person into a pleasing disciple. That thinking is a lie from the evil one.

 

PRAYER: Father, the enemy has fooled us into thinking that a little bit of God is all we need. We need as much of the Lord in our life as possible and it does not happening by just attending Sunday morning and Wednesday night programs. I pray that knowing you would be the supreme priority of our life.

QT 11/22/2024 Rom 8:1-5, No condemnation

Romans 8:1–5 (ESV) —

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 

NOTE: The key message is that there is NO condemnation for believers in Jesus Christ. It does not say there is no judgment, because all people will face judgment, but there is no condemnation. The righteous requirement of the law has been fulfilled in us. We need not worry.

 

Galatians 5:16–17 (ESV) — 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

 

We do have a battle we must fight each day. Will we listen to the Holy Spirit or will we listen to our flesh. We must set our minds on the things of the Spirit: his word, good works, and trust in God. At times we will fail, but we can confess and repent, and start again. It will be a battle, but the battle will test the sincerity of our faith.

 

PONDER:

Am I in a battle with my flesh and the Spirit, or have I checked out of the battle? A true Christian will not check out.

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for my salvation. I thank you for the Spirit who is slowing changing me from one degree of glory to another.

QT 11/21/2024 Rom 7:19-25, Getting worse and stronger at the same time

Romans 7:19–25 (ESV) —

19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

 

NOTE: Much has been written about this passage, and it is difficult to understand. I believe there is a process of sanctification which takes a believer, in degrees of change, from a slave to sin, to a free man that follows Christ. While I see my sin in greater degrees as I grow in Christ, I also see a man who is changing -- I see both -- more selfishness (in more areas) and yet also less selfishness in the previously identified areas. As God reveals sin, I see change over time. The problem is I just seem to see more sin in my motivations. But I am changing, I am becoming more like Christ, my mind is willfully choosing to do the right thing more often. And so, I can see hope even as I see setbacks.

 

Sanctification is a gradual process that repeatedly takes the believer through this recurring sequence of failure through dependency upon self to triumph through the indwelling Spirit. [Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 168). Broadman & Holman Publishers.]

 

PONDER:

1. Am I changing?
2. Can I see the Holy Spirit changing me even as I see more areas to grow?

 

PRAYER: Father, I have never put the two ideas together, seeing more wickedness in my heart, and seeing change in other areas of my life. But, it makes sense. That is how Paul can call himself the chief of sinners and also call on people to imitate him.

QT 11/20/2024 Rom 7:13-18, The battle doesn't seem to end

Romans 7:13–18 (ESV) —

13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

 

NOTE: This struggle is the life we now live. We are free from slavery to sin, but still at times, deceived and caught up in sin. We know what is right to do. We know that the law is good. But it seems that the flesh is stronger than our desire to do the right thing. The Holy Spirit should be stronger than our flesh, but there is a disconnect somewhere in the degree to which we allow the Spirit to control us. I know some things are easier but many things are not. Sin is embedded in my flesh, and the Spirit is seeking to fill me more and more. It is a battle, and it will remain that way until the day I die or I am raptured. I wonder why God allows this battle. Why did he not give us a new body upon belief? Why must we live in two worlds? And why does it seem that many (if not most) Christians don't care? Why are they content to live two-faced lives? Why do they not struggle more?

 

PONDER:

1. Do I even care that I have a struggle with sin?
2. Have I given up (my battle with the flesh)?

 

PRAYER: Lord, I have few answers for this battle between my flesh and the Spirit. But, I will not give up. Help me to continue to live for you and be a witness of your power to others.

QT 11/19/2024 Rom 7:7-12, The Bible is good, holy, and deadly

Romans 7:7–12 (ESV) —

7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

 

NOTE: Constable writes that "… the Law is not sinful simply because it makes us aware of what is sinful." The Law is actually for our good if we could keep it. It is the User Manual for human existence. But it is also what "drives" sin. As Mounce writes:

 

"The point is often made that only after a rule is put in place do people want to do whatever it forbids. What Paul was saying, however, goes beyond the psychological observation that stolen fruits are the sweetest. From a human perspective law is mistakenly viewed as a restriction that in turn causes resentment and gives rise to rebellion. Paul may have had the Genesis account of Adam’s first sin in mind. Apart from law sin is dead in the sense that undefined, it technically does not exist (cf. 4:15). No matter how swift and straight the arrow, without a target there can be no bull’s-eye."

[Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 164). Broadman & Holman Publishers.]

 

So, in what sense was Paul alive apart from the law. There are two possibilities, One, we thought we were alive, but we were always dead. Or two, prior to the fall in the garden, we were not tempted to sin. It was only after the fall, that sin took advantage of our weakened nature and gave us the desire to sin against both the written law and the law of our conscience.

 

So, we are left with a good and holy thing, the law, that only brought me death. That is the discussion for the next paragraph.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I see the bible as God's user manual for life?
2. Or do I see the bible as a restriction I want to avoid?

 

PRAYER: Father, the law made me aware of my utter sinfulness, but also of how to live in a manner that is good for my soul. I would be a mess without your word and the Holy Spirit living within me. Thank you for my salvation and the healing I have experienced through your word.

QT 11/18/2024 Rom 7:1-6, Dead to the law

Romans 7:1–6 (ESV) —

1 Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

 

NOTE: The analogy is not perfect, but the point is the death annuls a contract. In this case the believer has died to the law (and sin). The believer is now free from the law and the corresponding impact of the flesh which was aroused by the law. We do not have to obey the flesh. We died spiritually to the law and the flesh. We are free to serve God in a new way outside of the way of the written code.

 

The above paragraph is the truth. The difficulty is living it out. What does it mean to live free of the law if we still have the sinful flesh within us? I don't know the answer, but I do know that I have the ability to try now, which I never had before. And if that is all I can do, I will do at least that much.

 

PONDER:

Do I even try to live according to the Holy Spirit? Has anything changed within me?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to teach me what this means and how to live it out. I fail in many ways, but I want to succeed and I want to honor you with my life.

QT 11/15/2024 Rom 6:17-19, We must never give up in our struggle against sin

Romans 6:17–19 (ESV) —

17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.

 

NOTE: I like the caveat "I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations." That's the rub. We know what is right to do. We know we were slaves to sin. We know we must be obedient to the standard of teaching that we have now received from the Holy Spirit, but there is a human limitation, our flesh. Until we rid ourselves of this mortal body and receive our new body not corrupted by sin, we will struggle. And it is okay to struggle, but it is not okay to quit or give up or surrender to the flesh. Every time we fall down, we confess, we get back up, and we pursue righteousness in our members (our body). We are in a process of sanctification that does not end.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I given up in any area of sin in my life?
2. Do I still pursue righteousness like I did when Jesus first transformed my life?
3. Have I allowed the Christian life to become passé?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your truth that comforts me in my failures. I must never give up. It is a battle to live for you in the flesh and in this world. Let me do it in a way that brings others to you and does not cause others to turn away.

QT 11/14/2024 Rom 6:8-14, What really is the priority?

Romans 6:8–14 (ESV) —

8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

 

NOTE: We know we have a future resurrection and a new body. But for now, the truths that we died to sin and are alive to Christ still hold. The overriding message is that we can live the Christian life now. The practical advice is to present ourselves to God as instruments for righteousness. In my mind, this is what we used to call, a Lordship decision. Who is going to rule your life, God or you flesh? How do you make decisions, God's word or what you feel? The best measure of a person's priorities is the things that are never sacrificed, that always are accomplished, that we always find time to do. Our stated priorities, the ones we espouse, are not really priorities if we never get around to them. That calls for some real soul searching. Who commands my life? Who do I present myself for service?

 

PONDER:

1. What do I say are my top priorities in life?
2. How well do I accomplish my top priorities?

 

PRAYER: As I begin this new chapter of grandchildren care, it is also a time of reevaluation. This phase of life is not how I envisioned it, but it is a time of serving -- a time to put other's needs ahead of my own. I'm not missing out on anything, my true retirement home is in heaven. If I have to wait, I will.

QT 11/13/2024 Rom 6:1-7, A new sphere of life

Romans 6:1–7 (ESV) —

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

 

NOTE: It is foolish to suggest that since sin brought grace, that more sin would bring more grace. So what does it mean to be dead to sin in life today?

 

Origen, the most influential theologian of the ante-Nicene period, described death to sin in this way: “To obey the cravings of sin is to be alive to sin; but not to obey the cravings of sin or succumb to its will, this is to die to sin.”

 

A more interesting question is the new life that we are promised upon our resurrection. Mounce (1195) says 'The Greek expression translated “a new life” is better rendered “a new sphere which is life.” ' We really have no idea what this new resurrected sphere of life will be like. It could be like Eden before Adam sinned, a beautiful planet, purposeful work, and relationships. We have marred that original creation, including losing access to the tree of life, which ultimately brought death. I believe we will have a body with 'creature holiness,' meaning that sin will have no interest to us. Temptation will flow right by us without a second thought.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that I am dead to sin? It does not have to control me?
2. I also know I am prone to failure, but the promise is that all of my sins, past present and future were paid for on the cross. Do I believe that?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the most important aspect of salvation is that there is a future and a hope, and eternity with you.

QT 11/12/2024 Rom 5:17-21, God has provided the solution, what is your response?

Romans 5:17–21 (ESV) —

17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

NOTE: I know some will see this comparison of Adam's trespass and Jesus' work to indicate that there is universal salvation just as there was universal condemnation. The problem is that both required a response. Maybe that is why the author uses "many" even though it resulted in "all" as in the case of Adam's trespass. The response to Adam's trespass was that we chose to trespass too (in part because the flesh was weakened by Adam's trespass). The response to Jesus' work is also conditional:

• Vs 17 "….those who receive … the free gift …"
• Vs 19 "… many will be made righteous" -- not necessarily meaning "all," even though that was the case with Adam's trespass
• Vs 21 "… grace also might reign …" -- "might" not meaning "will" -- it depends on our response to the gift

You might want to blame God for your sin condition, but he has provided a way out. We chose sin, but we must also choose Jesus. If we don't we can only blame ourselves, not God. We chose.

 

PONDER:

Some people think they have the perfect argument to confound God (if he exists they would say) upon death. That scenario only exists in the mind of the fool. What is your excuse?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to truth before it is too late. You plan to recreate earth someday as you always intended. I pray that our lives would witness to others the power of change before the end.

QT 11/11/2024 Rom 5:12-16, The trespass and the gift have similarities

Romans 5:12–16 (ESV) —

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

 

NOTE: There are a few ways to view verses 12-14, I think the most consistent manner, is that Adam sinned; he passed on the sin nature to us; our flesh was too weak to resist and consequently every person sinned. Theoretically, it might be possible to not sin, but the bible makes it clear, everyone has sinned.

 

Verses 15-16 are similar and yet different. The second Adam, Jesus, resisted sin and lived sinless. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection offers justification to all men. But unlike the trespass, the second Adam's work is a gift that must be received. There is an action required, believe and receive. One could argue that the two actions are the same, since Adam's actions required us to follow in his steps by sinning, which wasn't hard. And it isn't hard to accept a gift too. But unfortunately, all received condemnation because of the trespass and then our trespass, but not all will receive forgiveness because not all will accept the gift.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I received the gift? Have I chosen to believe?
2. Do I believe what the bible says about me, that I am a sinner deserving condemnation?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for touching my heart with the gospel. I believed and received the Son into my life. My life is so much different today because of that decision when I was at college. Thank you.

QT 11/8/2024 Rom 5:6-11, Salvation, then -- now -- and soon

Romans 5:6–11 (ESV) —

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

NOTE: We have just discussed all the things that justification does for us, and that we were justified (saved) when we were his enemies. But Paul talks about a continuing salvation ("shall we be saved") in verse 9 and again in 10. Part of it may be eschatological, that is we will be saved from the wrath to come, but I think it refers to our continuing sanctification and our ultimate glorification. As Constable (2003) shares:

 

(Rom 5:10) We experience continuing salvation (progressive sanctification) and ultimate salvation (glorification) because of Jesus Christ’s ongoing life. These present and future aspects of our salvation were not the direct results of His death, but they are the consequences of His life after death and resurrection (cf. 6:8–13). We have salvation in the present and in the future because our Savior lives. He is still saving us. This verse shows that we are eternally secure.

 

(Rom 5:11) We were saved by His death in the past, we will be saved by His life in the future, and we are presently enjoying a current saving relationship with God—all because of His work of reconciliation

 

Jesus did all the work. The one-time justification, the continuing work now in our lives, and the future work of glorification. These are all part of our salvation.

 

PONDER:

Do I realize I am saved, being saved, and will be saved?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is much to know about salvation. I thank you for all that you did for us, especially when we were your enemies. I praise you for my salvation.

QT 11/7/2024 Rom 5:1-5, Salvation gives the peace the world longs for

Romans 5:1–5 (ESV) —

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

NOTE: Since justification is by faith and is completed in Jesus, we have peace with God for all time. We never have to worry about doing enough or losing our justification. We are part of the family and his love is permanent. We are truly his children, adopted into the family, unlike many who think being born in God's image makes them God's child -- it does not. It is by faith that we are restored into a right relationship with God that has been broken since the fall in Eden. We chose to be our own gods, and God warned us that we would not like the results. But now, finally, we have peace, true peace. We can rest completely, knowing our future hope is secure. There is still a process (I call it sanctification) which changes us more and more into his likeness here on earth. But salvation is secure.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I truly put my faith in Jesus' work on the cross?
2. Am I experiencing the promised peace with God? If not, why?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do have peace with you. I have felt it in my life throughout the decades since I believed and received Jesus. I can face the end of life with confidence, knowing my reward is in heaven (not here on earth). Thank you!

QT 11/6/2024 Rom 4:20-25, Real faith is not stoicism

Romans 4:20–25 (ESV) —

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

 

NOTE: I love these verses, especially 20-21, but I think most people mistakenly see stoicism as faith, and I don't see the placid "I trust in God" mantra as evidence of true faith -- it might be, but it also might be an inability to deal with pain. I know because I have been there. When I was younger in the Lord, I was a stoic to bad news and suffering. I could say all the right things because I was very good at suppressing my emotions, and I wanted to look the part of a strong Christian. Also, I wasn't willing to deal with pain. I wasn't willing to have an honest conversation with God. Now, almost 40 years later, I understand that real faith is far different from I thought it was. I've learned that I can be angry and hurt when pain strikes. Like Moses, I can question God, and he still loves me. I've learned that emotion and the mind are both the creation of God.

UPDATE: I'm using faith not as an indicator of salvation, but rather as a measure of spiritual maturity.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I determine if I have faith? Is it a response or is it something internal?
2. Do I put on the face of the stoic during suffering -- is that the real me?

 

PRAYER: Father, the church will always look up to the stoic -- I get it. I would not want people to have to go through the pain and suffering required to get beyond that. The real reason for hard times is to draw us closer to you emotionally, mentally, and willfully in spirit.

QT 11/5/2024 Rom 4:16-17, Saved by faith alone

Romans 4:16–17 (ESV) —

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

 

NOTE: To a man like Martin Luther, steeped in Catholicism of the time, this verse, in fact the whole book of Romans, must have hit like a sledgehammer. Everything depends upon faith, not upon works. I realize that Luther had his issues, but when one reads Romans, there is no other conclusion. There never should have been an argument among the nations. But, the nations were wrong because they saw religion as a key to power as opposed to truth that needed to be consumed. I wonder how many Kings really believed the gospel or just saw it as an expedient way to control the people. Even England's creation of Anglicanism was only because one King could not get his own way, and he coveted the riches of Catholicism. No one was interested in truth to the questions:

• How is one saved?
• Why did Jesus have to die if we need good works?
• What is God's holiness and how does it apply or not apply to me?
• How can anyone be good in God's eyes?
• What then is faith and what does it do?
• Why is there a law?
• Why does the bible say the law was nailed to the cross and the book of Hebrews tell us that the old Covenant is null and void?

There are so many more questions that scripture answers but no one ever wanted to research. It was a world blinded by a religion that carried a name "Christian" without any (or at least very few) actual Christians.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I still, deep down, believe in works -- that my good deeds must outweigh my bad deeds?
2. Or do I absolutely trust in the completed work of Christ on the cross where by faith I exchanged my sinful self for this righteous glory (at least in the eyes of God)?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for calling me out of religion and into a relationship with you. I am totally unworthy. It was mercy and grace poured out upon me. There is nothing I can do or say, … but I will say, sheepishly because of my unworthiness, thank you.

QT 11/4/2024 Rom 4:7-12, Are you blessed?

Romans 4:7–12 (ESV) —

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

 

NOTE: For those of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and his completed work on the cross and his resurrected life, we are blessed. But what does it mean? Certainly, we are blessed in that we have a future in heaven and have been given eternal life. We will not go to hell; we will not spend eternity outside of the presence of God; and we will not suffer pain. That is a blessing as much as anything is a blessing. But, we are also made a part of God's family and we share in a heavenly inheritance. We are promised new bodies that will not be susceptible to sin. We will enjoy a new creation and eternal homes. But even here on earth, in the midst of pain and struggles, in the midst of trying to share the gospel, we have a peace that passes understanding. Some, so-called believers, never experience that peace or rest, because they do not pursue a relationship with Jesus. So, are they blessed? Are they "saved?" Only God knows the true condition of their hearts. But I fear that some who have professed Jesus may have only said the words, because their lives do not show the change that comes upon a person when the Holy Spirit enters.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I going through the motions?
2. Do I truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Does my life show any difference? Is there any peace?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know in my heart that I have invited you to live in me and lead me. I have seen the changes you have made starting from the inside out. I have experienced peace and joy. You are very real and personal. I pray for others, who call themselves believers, that they might truly know you and the power of the resurrected life.

QT 11/1/2024 Rom 4:1-6, We only need faith, not works

Romans 4:1–6 (ESV) —

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

 

NOTE: Abraham was considered righteous long before circumcision, proving that circumcision isn't necessary for salvation. Early Christians, primarily Jews or Jewish converts, viewed Judaism and circumcision as initial steps toward Jesus due to their own spiritual journeys. Paul argues in Galatians and reiterates here that no act—whether circumcision or good deeds—can save a person. Salvation comes through faith alone. Our righteousness, a gift from God, far exceeds that of merely doing good works.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have the righteousness that comes from God, or am I mistakenly clinging to my good works outweigh my bad?
2. God does not weigh good and bad, God looks for perfect righteousness that can only come through faith. Do I think God can allow me into his presence with a little bad, but more good? God's kingdom is a holy kingdom.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I am a sinner and do not in any way measure up to your standard of perfection. I have a sinful flesh as all of humanity does. My only hope is my confession of Jesus and believing that in his death he takes my sin and replaces it with his perfect righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).