Verse 20, "Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." Thank the Lord God Jesus for your grace to me, a gentile and a wild olive shoot. You remind me not to be arrogant but have a thankful heart.
Verses 14-15, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believe in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
Thank God for sending us to share and preach the good news of Jesus to the people we meet. Working for the Kingdom of God is beautiful!
In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
Romans 9:8 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.9.8.NIV
Thank you Father God for your kindness and love! You adopt us as your children not because of our birth, or our natural inheritance but by simply putting our hip and trust in you!
This chapter has so many amazing and powerful promised and statements it is hard to not comment on all of it! So here are just a few 😃
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:11
An amazing promise that God's Spirit in us will give life even to our mortal bodies! Healing hope and life ate in Jesus!
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Romans 8:14-15
I love this! Experiencing God not just as the creator of the world who loves us, but as our daddy God who loves us! Amazing how close and personal God can be and wants to be to us!
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18
A great message of hope! God has a great future in store for us!
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
Romans 8:24-25
We have great hope but there is a longing and a waiting that comes with that. We want it now but God says 'not yet!'
If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:31
Amen! What more need to be said! If is ha to have the creator of the universe having our back!
Romans 8:11, 14-15, 18, 24-25, 31 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.8.11-31.NIV
I've read. For me there is so much hope if we are in Christ Jesus. Thank you Lord.
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Romans 6:6-7
That is the power of baptism and the gift of God that we can be free from the power of sin! Thank you Jesus!
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.6.6-23.NIV
Thank you Jesus die giving us the free gift of eternal life!
Verse 19, "Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness." (NIV)
Thank the Lord Jesus that I am not the slave of sins and wickedness leading to death and misery, but the slave of righteousness leading to holiness and true joy.
The words in verses 3- 4 stand out to me, "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
sufferings, perseverance, character, and hope (NIV)
tribulation, patience, experience, and hope (KJV)
Maurice shared with me that if you experience some difficult situations and have the character and hope in Christ Jesus, you could help others with similar situations, and lead them to Christ. And we can choose to be joyful because God loves us and is with us. Amen!
However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 4:5 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.4.5.NIV
Thank you Jesus for justifying me!
Verse 20, "Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
No matter the situation is, may the Lord Jesus help me keep the faith, hope, trust, and patience in him. Remind me to give thanks and glory to him. I believe he loves us and has the power and grace to help those who are in need and put trust in him.
Romans 2: 1, "for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things." This verse stands out to me, because I experienced the situations that when I judged other persons, I myself did the same behaviors or had the same attitudes. I pray the Lord helps me be humble, pray for others when they do wrong, and do what the Lord wants me to do and say what He wants me to say.
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
Romans 3:28 NIV
The great news of Jesus is that we are declared righteous not by our works or effort, but by trusting in Jesus!
Sometimes this causes people to think that it doesn't matter how you live then and that the law doesn't apply.
But Paul makes clear that no, we still uphold the law. But this is not by our power nor our righteousness. It is by the grace of God that works in us.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3:31 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.3.28-31.NIV
Thank you Jesus!
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:1
After reading about the sins of Romans 1 it is easy for us to have a judgemental attitude toward others. Paul warns and reminds us if the folly of such an attitude because the truth is that we ate sinners too! We need humble and grateful hearts and always be reaching out to others in the love of Jesus.
No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 2:29 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.2.1-29.NIV
Getting to a place where we seek praise only from God and not man is a great thing, though it takes the work and mercy of God in our hearts and lives.
Lord Jesus, let me seek only your praise!
Reading Romans is quite different from Paul's other letters we've read so far. They were written more like a letter and often were answering questions from them etc. This letter is written with long sentences and with very profound and complex topics. It takes quite a bit more concentration for me to follow what he is saying.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 1:16-17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.1.16-17.NIV
God's good news is amazing! We will live by faith in God and by his faithfulness! That is some great news!
I've read. In Chapter 8 ....they gave according to their means, as I can testify and beyond their means, of their own accord." "...they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us." I guess what speaks to me is their example to us. I want to be a giver. And in verse 7 he's telling us to excel in this act of grace also, but later he tells us it's according to what we have and not according what we don't have. That takes a lot of guilt off of us. Also, if we promise a gift to be ready to give it.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.9.11.NIV
God provides extra finances and provision to his people so that they in turn can be generous on every occasion.
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.8.12-13.NIV
Some principles of giving:
1) God wants us to give IF we are willing, not under compulsion
2) giving is to create equality and not to make the giver hard-pressed
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
2 Corinthians 7:6-7 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.7.6-7.NIV
A good example how God uses people to bring his help and comfort to those in the world.
For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
2 Corinthians 6:2, 18 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.6.2-18.NIV
Some very great and precious promises
Verse 10, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." The words comfort and encourage me to continue to follow our Lord God Jesus. He has the true blessings for me and us.
Verse 18: So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Verse 17, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." When we are led by the Holy Spirit, we will not be bonded by sins; and when we are filled by the Holy Spirit, we will be filled with peace and thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord God Jesus, for this true freedom.
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:7-8 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.2.7-8.NIV
The corollary to church discipline is the forgiveness and restoration after a person repents.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
http://bible.com/111/2co.1.21-22.NIV
Thank you Jesus that by your power and love you make us stand! It is your great work that chose us, sealed us and guarantees our blessed future in you.
Thank you for your great love that I don't deserve!
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1co.15.42-43.NIV
It is a great and wonderful thing to know God's plans for the future! Our current bodies are amazing and wonderfully made. Our future bodies are even more incredible and are imperishable, glorious and filled with God's power.
Verse 20, "Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults." I pray the Lord help me grow in thinking, and be watchful about evil.
Verses 32-33, "The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." This would help us distinguish whether the meeting or gathering is led by the spirit that comes from God or not.
Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1co.14.26.NIV
The goal of this passage is to take the focus off individuals and instead to build up the church.
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1co.14.34-35.NIV
This passage is often misunderstood. Paul is not forbidding all speaking by women but an interrupting talk that distracts from what else is happening. In those days, the women and men would sit on opposite sides of the church so a husband and wife weren't sitting together. Paul says that questions should be saved for when they are at home. So what is being described is a woman shouting a question across the church to her husband who is sitting on the other side. Obviously this would be quite disruptive. So not all speech is being prohibited, but only disruptive speaking.
I like the description about "Love", the characteristics of our Lord God Jesus.
Especially "patient", "not envy", "trust", and "hope" give me deep impression.
Lord Jesus, help me love the people in my life as you love me.
