READ THE BIBLE

Wednesday, August 16, 2023   INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 12 Romans 11 ended with a hymn of worship acknowledging God for his unquestionable vast wisdom and knowledge. Romans 12 begins by telling us that our responsibility to God is to live a life of sacrifice and worship. We are responsible to spend our time serving the Lord and other believers, refusing revenge while overcoming evil with good.  1) A Living Sacrifice & Humble Service in the Body of Christ (Verses 1-8) , MAMA Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  2  Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will. 3  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly t...

  Thursday, August 10, 2023   INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 11 In this chapter, Paul completes his explanation of God’s plan for the Israelites. Even though they have rejected God as a nation, there is a remnant and will always be a remnant of Jewish Christians who exist because of God’s grace. Many Jewish natives have been left to their hardened hearts. This is all a part of God’s plan as well. When enough Gentile believers have joined the fold, God will restore his covenant with Israel, and many of them will at this time also come to faith in Christ. 1) the Remnant of Israel (Verses 1-10), CHARLES  1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.   2  God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel:   3  “Lord, they have killed your prophets and tor...

  Wednesday, August 2, 2023   INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 10 Towards the end of Romans 9, Paul indicated that Israel had stumbled over the STUMBLING STONE of Christ. Do you remember why he referred to Christ as a stumbling stone? In the current chapter, chapter 10 he prays for Israel’s salvation. You will remember that Israel figured they could save themselves. Do you recall how Israel thought it could save itself? Paul taught them all they needed to know about the Lord of Salvation and the necessity to believe in the resurrection of Christ. They intentionally decided they would disobey this message. What do you think God’s position will be upon Israel’s rejection of this plan for their salvation?  1) (Verses 1-7), DESTINY 1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.   2  For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.   3  Since...

Wednesday, July 26, 2023   INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 9 In Romans 9. we can sense that Paul is very disappointed in the fact that the Jews have rejected Christ. He reiterates that God will keep his promises to the nation of Israel, but not to all physically born into the nation. He had already proven in his teachings that justification and salvation can only be gained through Christ and not by the works of the Law of Moses. God will make himself known to all, whomever he desires, whether Jew or Gentile. 1)Paul's Anguish Over Israel (Verses 1-5), DESTINY I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit—   2  I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.   3  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race,   4  the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs is the divine glory,...

  Wednesday, June 19, 2023   INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 8   1)Life Through the Spirit, Part 1 (Verses 1-17), DESTINY Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,   2  because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you [ a ]  free from the law of sin and death.   3  For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, [ b ]  God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. [ c ]  And so he condemned sin in the flesh,   4  in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5  Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  6  The...