Archive for the ‘Romans’ Category

Spiritual Training 07 December 2012

Posted: December 7, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.  Therefor no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 

 The last time someone accused you of wrongdoing, what was your reaction? Denial, argument, and defensiveness? The Bible tells us the world stands silent and accountable before Almighty God.  No excuses or arguments are left.

Lets Bring It Home: Have you reached the point with God where you are ready to hang up your defenses and await his decision?  If you haven’t, stop now and admit your sin to him.  If you have, the following verses are truly good news for you!

Spiritual Training 06 December 2012

Posted: December 6, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

(No one is Righteous) 

Romans 3:10-18 What shall we conclude then?  Are we any better?  Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.  As it is written; “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Paul is referring to Psalm 14:1-3.  “There is no one righteous” means “no one is innocent.” Every person is valuable in God’s eyes because God created us in his image and he loves us.  But no one is righteous (that is, no one can earn right standing with God).  Though valuable, we have fallen into sin.  But God through Jesus his Son has redeemed us and others to forgive us if we return to him in faith.

Paul uses these OLD Testament references to show that humanity in general, in its present sinful condition, is unacceptable before God.  Have you ever thought to yourself, “Well, I’m not too bad.  I’m a pretty good person”?  Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.

 Lets Bring It Home: Look at these verses and see if any of them apply to you.  Have you ever lied? Have you ever hurt someone’s feelings by your words or tone of voice?  Are you bitter toward anyone?  Do you become angry with those who strongly disagree with you?  In thought, word and deed, you, like everyone else in the world, stand guilty before God.  We must remember who we are in his sight-alienated sinners.  Don’t deny that your are a sinner, instead, allow your desperate need to point you toward Christ.

 

Spiritual Training 05 December 2012

Posted: December 5, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say?  That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us?  (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world?  Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?  Why not say as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say, “Let us do evil that good may result” Their condemnation is deserved. 

Some may think they don’t have to worry about sin because

  1. It’s God’s job to forgive
  2. God is so loving that he won’t judge us
  3. Sin isn’t so bad-it teaches us valuable lessons, or
  4. We need to stay in touch with the culture around us.

Lets Bring it Home: It is for too easy to take God’s grace for granted.  But God cannot overlook sin.  Sinners, no matter how many excuses they make, will have to answer to God for their sin.

  

 

ROMANS 2:21-27 WHEN YOU TEACH OTHERS, DO YOU NOT TEACH YOURSELF?

Posted: November 30, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Practice what you preach, Romans, Spiritual Training, Teachers, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 2:21-27 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written. “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentles because of you. 

Those of us who have grown up in Christian families are the religiously privileged of today.  Paul’s condemnation applies to us if we do not live up to what we know.  Paul explained to the Jews that they need to teach themselves, not others, by their law.  They know the law so well that they had learned how to excuse their own actions while criticizing others.

Lets Bring it Home: We face this today in our daily walk.  We need to remember that we cannot please God without a proper relationship with him.  As Jesus pointed out, even withholding what rightfully belongs to someone else is stealing, and looking on another persons with lustful, adulterous intent is adultery. Before we accused others, we must look at ourselves and see if that sin, in any form, exists within us. If we claim to be one of God’s people, our life should reflect what God is like.  When you disobey God, you dishonor his name.  People may even blaspheme or profane God’s name because of you.  What do people think about God from watching your life?

Spiritual Training 20 November 2012

Posted: November 29, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Part 4

Homosexuality was a widespread in Paul’s day as it is in ours.  Many pagan practices encouraged it.  God is willing to receive anyone who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept who comes to him in faith, and Christians should love and accept others no matter what their background.  Yet, homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Scripture (Leviticus 18:22).  Homosexuality is considered an acceptable practice by many in our world today-even by some churches.  But society does not set the standard for God’s law.  Many homosexuals believe that their desires are normal and that they have a right to express them.  But God does not obligate nor encourage us to fulfill all our desires (even normal ones).  Those desires that violate his laws must be controlled.

Lets Bring it Home: If you have these desires, you can and must resist acting upon them.  Consciously avoid places or activities you know will kindle temptations of this kind.  Don’t underestimate the power of Satan to tempt you, nor the potential for serious harm if you yield to these temptations.  Remember, God can and will forgive sexual sins just as he forgives other sins.  Surrender yourself to the grace and mercy of God, asking him to show you the way out of sin and into the light of his freedom and his love.  Prayer, Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you to gain strength to resist these powerful temptations.  If you are already deeply involved in homosexual behavior, seek help from a trustworthy, professional, pastoral counselor.

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

Romans 1:26-27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.  In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.  Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 

 

Spiritual Training 16 November 2012

Posted: November 16, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

 Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans: 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised.  Amen.   

When Paul says that men exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of birds, animals, and reptiles, he seems to deliberately state man’s wickedness in the terms used in the Genesis narrative of Adam’s fall (Genesis 1:20-26).

People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal beliefs.  Today, more than ever, we need to be carful about the input we allow to form our beliefs.  With TV, music, movies, and the rest of the media often presenting sinful lifestyles and unwholesome values, we find ourselves constantly bombarded by attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Bible.

Lets Bring it Home: When we worship the creature instead of the Creator, we lose sight of our own identity as those who are higher than the animals-made in the image of God.  Be carful about what you allow to form your opinions.  The Bible is the only standard of truth.  Evaluate all other opinions in light of its teachings.

Spiritual Training 15 November 2012

Posted: November 15, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Proverbs, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:21-23 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 

How could intelligent people turn to idolatry?  Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God.  Instead of looking to him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe.  They soon invent “gods “that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees, these gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort.  They may even be misrepresentations of God himself-making God in our image, instead of the reverse.  The common denominator is this-idolaters worship the things God made rather than God himself.

Lets Bring it Home: Is there anything you feel you can’t live without? Is there any priority greater than God? Do you have a dream you would sacrifice everything to realize? Does God take first place?  Do you worship God or idols of your own making?

Spiritual Training 25 October 2012

Posted: October 24, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:18-19 The wreath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be know about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 

Does anyone have an excuse for not believing in God? The Bible answers an forceful no.  God has revealed what he is like in and through his creation.  Every person, therefore, either accepts or rejects God.

Lets Bring it Home: Don’t be fooled.  When the day comes for God to judge your response to him, no excuses will be accepted.  Begin today to give your devotion and worship to him.

Spiritual Training 24 October 2012

Posted: October 24, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:18-20 The wreath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be know about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

In these verses, Paul answers a common objection to belief in God: How could a loving God send anyone to hell, especially someone who has never heard about Christ?  In fact, says Paul, God has revealed himself plainly in the creation to all people.  And yet people reject even this basis knowledge of God.  Also, everyone has an inner sense of what God requires, but hey choose not to live up to it.  Put another way, people’s moral Standards are always better than their behavior. If people suppress God’s truth in order to live their own way, they have no excuse.  They know the truth, and they will have to endure the consequences of ignoring it.

Lets Bring it Home: If people suppress God’s truth in order to live their own way, they have no excuse.  They know the truth, and they will have to endure the consequences of ignoring it.

Some people wonder why we need ministers if people can know about God through nature (the creation).  The answer:

1.     Although people know that God exists, they suppress that truth by their wickedness and thus refuse a relationship with him.  Ministers sensitively expose their error and point them to a new beginning.

2.     Although people may believe there is a God, they refuse to commit themselves to him.  Minister help persuade them, both through loving words and caring actions.

3.     Ministers convince people who reject God of the dangerous consequences of their actions.

4.     Ministers help the church obey the Great Commission of our Lord (Matthew 28:19,20).

5.     Most important, though nature reveals God, people need to be told about Jesus and how, through him, they can have a personal relationship with God.

Lets Bring It Home: Knowing that God exists is not enough.  People must learn that God is loving.  They must understand what he did to demonstrate his love for us.  They must be shown how to accept God’s forgiveness of their sins.

Spiritual Training 23 October 2012

Posted: October 23, 2012 in Acceptance, Bible Study, Encourgement, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Romans, Spiritual Training, trust in the Lord with all your heart, Uncategorized, Under Gods Command
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Under Gods Command

Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Why is God angry at sinful people? Because they have substituted the truth about him with a lie (1:25).  They have stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered lifestyles.  God cannot tolerate sin because his nature is morally perfect.  He cannot ignore or condone such willful rebellion.  God wants to remove the sin and restore the sinner-and he is able to, as long as the sinner does not stubbornly distort or reject the truth.  But his anger erups against those who persist in sinning.

Lets Bring it Home: Make sure you are not pursuing a lie rather than the true God.  Don’t suppress the truth about him merely to protect your own lifestyle.

 

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