2005 04 April

The book of Romans is a great affirmation of the gospel message. It is a message of faith and the righteousness that comes to us by faith. The question of this section is how we receive practical righteousness in our day-to-day lives. A common illustration we find in the Bible of Spiritual life is that of physical life. If our bodies have the spirit of life in them, we walk and talk. Practical righteousness involves evidence of love for God and love for others in our lives. This is manifest in our words and choices. As surely as we have been born of the Spirit of God, there will be evidence of God's love in our lives.

This spiritual principle is illustrated in water baptism. Water baptism pictures for us death, burial, and resurrection. All those in Adam are born physically dead in sin. All who are born again by the Spirit of Christ are recreated pure in Christ with a new nature. Therefore, practical righteousness is much more than just teaching and disciplined living. All religion involves teaching and disciplined living, but these cannot bring forth genuine love. Therefore, as righteousness comes from trusting in Christ, righteous living flows from yielding ourselves to the Spirit of God. We can no more gain practical righteousness for ourselves any more than we bring forth our own justification.

The Galatian believers were seduced by Jewish legalism. Some would have us believe that the old Jewish legalism is dead. It is not. Just as the Jews believed that they were morally superior to Gentiles, some Christians today see themselves as morally superior because of the standards that they choose to follow, or the things that they believe. In so doing, they see holiness as a matter of the flesh rather than that which flows from the Spirit of God. In Galatians 3:2,3 2 we read, … Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? When it comes to the new birth, all we can do is believe. When it comes to practical righteousness all we can do is yield to God's Spirit. In both cases God is the one who is active. We have nothing in which to glory in believing or yielding. In the act of yielding we get ourselves out of the way so God can work. In believing we give up any claim we have of righteousness, or any ability to change our state. DW

The book of Romans is a great affirmation of the gospel message. It is a message of faith and the righteousness that comes from God's grace to us through faith. As the gospel spread from the predominantly Jewish areas of Jerusalem, Judea and Galilee to predominantly Gentile areas there were problems. The Gentiles were lacking in their ability to conform to the law as understood by most Jews. In time, apostate Jewish believers began teaching that circumcision was essential to salvation. They adopted a fleshly solution to a spiritual problem. This was a dangerous corruption of the gospel message.

The purpose of the law was not to produce a culture that outwardly conformed to the principles of the law. Rather, the purpose of the law was to bring a consciousness of sin and damnation that would lead us to a humble dependence on God. By that I don't mean that God expected us to ignore the law. Today we see some who, rather than heeding the message that Paul gives here continue to look to the law and standards to accomplish what only the Spirit of God can do.

Faith in Christ transforms the heart and all who have a transformed heart have the power to live as Christ lived. We can never accomplish what God wants to do by a focus on the law or standards derived from God's Word. We must look to nothing less than the power of the indwelling Spirit of God if we would find true holiness. As surely, as we are united with Christ, our flesh has been crucified and we are freed from the power of sin. The law or standards could never accomplish that. Folk who have not been born of the Spirit can do nothing but sin. We need to understand that regardless of how good our understanding of the law, and our appearance of conformity to law, it is possible for lost folk to do these. We must have the substance of righteousness not just the appearance. We need to learn to discern the work of the Spirit of God in the life. We worship in Spirit and truth. Just as sin is a force that works on our hearts to produce all manner of sin, the Spirit of God is a force that works on our hearts to produce true holiness. In the words of one great Bible teacher it is only those who look to Christ, for holiness, that are successful in subduing sin… the legalist remains a slave. DW

The book of Romans is a great affirmation of the Gospel message. Because early Gentile believers were lacking in their ability to conform to Jewish expectations relating to the law and Jewish culture, some apostate Jewish believers began teaching that circumcision was an essential step on the road to salvation.

This was a dangerous corruption of the Gospel message. God's purpose in giving the law was not to produce a culture that outwardly conformed to the principles of the law. Rather, the purpose of the law was to bring a consciousness of sin and damnation that would lead us to a humble dependence on God. Under the New Covenant, the law opens the door for faith in Christ. God's path to holiness is not standards or the outward adherence to the law. It is yielding to the Spirit of God.

In verse 12 of today's text, believers are commanded to stop letting sin reign in their bodies. They needed to stop being enslaved to sin. Sin is a defeated, but not destroyed, enemy in the heart of the believer. They needed to yield to God and not sin. The emphasis is not on externals of the law, but choosing God over sin. Victory over sin does not come through an understanding of the law and a commitment to follow it. Victory over sin comes through an understanding of the power of God's Spirit and a choice to yield ourselves to His direction. There is a difference between these two. The first is a matter of the flesh and works while the second is a matter of the power of God and faith.

A focus on the flesh and works is a focus on things we don't do. A focus on the Spirit of God and faith is a focus on things we should do. As one old preacher put it, we need to do so fast that we don't have time to don't. Fear of judgment, loss of salvation or fellowship with God are not proper motives for holiness. Nothing short of love for God will work holiness in the life. A slave is under an influence that secures his obedience. If we cannot hear, know and follow the leading of God's Spirit in our lives, we are in trouble at the very core of our Christian experience. The power of grace is not a license to sin; it is our only hope of real holiness. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice, and they follow me. Are we following Christ or the power of indwelling sin? DW

Paul is confident that all who have been born of the Spirit of God know the destructive, fruitless, and shameful character is sin in their lives. They are not blind as the lost. They are not brazen in sin. They know its shame. The flesh is unprofitable and fruitless spiritually. It is worthy to note that the Bible assumes all who believe have experienced a life in spiritual darkness. No one has always been a Christian.

The one who has been born of the Spirit knows what it is to follow and serve Christ. Sanctification is progressive. God does not deal with every need in the life of the one who comes to Christ all at once. However, as surely as one is born of the Spirit of God there will be growth in grace. Spiritually, there are only two kinds of people and two ways to live. We are either under sin and following the path of sin to damnation or we are in Christ serving Him to eternal life. All who believe, serve God. For some the service will not bring eternal reward, but all serve.

Those in Christ have forgiveness of sin, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, the assurance of salvation, and the power for true holiness. All who believe in Christ are justified. All those justified will be sanctified and glorified. Sanctification is not optional for believers. Some believers are more sanctified than others are, but all are being sanctified. Sanctification is a matter of depending on God for power and direction in life. Sanctification is much more than mere self-discipline and good standards. Lost people can appear to follow Biblical standards and demonstrate self-discipline. What is not possible for a lost person is faith in Christ and the service which flows from the power of the Spirit. Believers need to be looking to Jesus for direction and power in service for Christ. If the heart is right, the external conformity to the law will become acceptable in time, but a focus on any culturally accepted outward appearance to the law is a poor substitute for the power of the Spirit in the life. DW

Tuesday, April 5
A Christian's Relationship to the Law and Standards
Romans 7:1-6

The foundation of the marriage relationship is faithfulness between the husband and wife. This is why the sin of adultery is so serious. The heart of the Christian's relationship with God is not our faithfulness to the law, but our faithfulness to Jesus Christ. If we are faithful to Jesus Christ, we will be faithful to the law. However, we need to keep in mind that the Jews judged Jesus Christ to be a lawbreaker. In truth, Jesus has yet to ever break the law. Indeed, He never will and He will not lead us to break the law, but not all interpret the law correctly. When it comes to Jesus, He had the proper interpretation of what it meant to keep the Sabbath.

God will lead us as believers by the Holy Spirit. Now the leading of the Spirit often involves the word, but the primary purpose of the word is not to lead us in a specific path. Rather it is to reveal the nature of the path that we are on. As the Psalmist said, thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.

Today, there are those who would have us look to God's Word for spiritual direction. The same people are often very quick to define that direction for us. We had better not try to follow Christ through any man. This world has ever had spiritual leaders and popes that would bring us into bondage. They would tell us as they did Jesus, we have to do things a certain way or we are breaking the commandments. We read in 1 John 2:26,27. 26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. 27… the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you … the same anointing teacheth you of all things…. We need to beware of those who would try to come between us and Christ. As surely as we have been born of the Spirit, the Spirit will lead us into all truth. Who are you following today? If you have been born of the Spirit, be sure that you are following the leading of the Spirit in your life, and not just someone's understanding of truth. DW

Wednesday, April 6
The Law Prepares the Soul for Christ's Emancipation
Romans 7:7-8

There are always those critics who raise questions and as we begin this devotion there are two questions propounded. 1) Whether Paul is writing from personal experience, or is Paul writing to give a personal experience in order to give a vivid reality for all Christians, 2) Whether Paul is describing a mental experience of an unregenerate or of a regenerate person. It is the contention of your writer that it is Paul's personal experience, and is applicable to each and every Christian. In verse 7 Paul asks a question and answers with a simple NO! The law is not sinful, but as is explained in Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. An interesting side-light, the Ten Commandments are all negative and every command from Christ or grace is positive.

Paul says in verse 8 that sin controlled him until grace did away with the Law. Paul uses a word "concupiscence" which is not a common English word, but it means LUST and all manner of uncontrolled sexual desires. It is not the writer's desire to talk about sex, but in our day of unbridled sex we need to speak out as to the results of sex outside of marriage. It is being taught in our schools, not just sex education, but unnatural sex between partners of the same sex. When you remove God from the equation, you open the door to "everything goes"; no limitations. However, God has set limitations and when we over step His commands there is "hell" to pay. The Wages of sin is death, and many of the venereal diseases of our day are taking away the normal life span of the practicing participants and bringing suffering not only on the guilty, but many innocent are also paying a heavy price. Forty-four million little innocent babies are in heaven because of the abortion mills and many would-be mothers are suffering internally and mentally because of their murdering a little one. RJS

It is difficult to determine just how Paul was speaking of life and death, but some think he was referring to it as young child who did not know what sin was, or was in the state of innocence. When Paul came to the age of accountability, he realized that he was a sinner and the sting of death was upon him. Looking back to Genesis, Eve took of the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband and immediately they realized something had happened and their fellowship with God was broken, which is why they hid themselves from God. Satan tempted her and she succumbed to the words that led to death. Satan never tells us the results; he only paints a picture of enjoyment and pleasure for the present. He never reveals the results of our momentary foolishness. The promises of sin are sweet and pleasant, but it soon turns to gall and wormwood. Sin pretends to fasten wings to the soul, but it soon turns to fetters and chains the soul. During the great depression, a saying was, "Chicken today and feathers tomorrow." Sin is sweet today, but bitter tomorrow. The college of hard knocks is the best teacher; we can tell them and tell them, but only experience and consequences are the best teacher. Satan has been successful with using three forms of temptation from Eve to this day and it is so successful why should he try something new? Satan is the god of this world so he uses the following: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, 1 John 2:16.

The Law manifests the existence of sin, especially in the tenth commandment; lust or desire for things that we don't have. I've often heard a person say, "I wish I had that car, or that house, or any one of a multitude of things!" Rather, we should say I wish I had one like it, and they had a better one. I think it would be great if Christians would "lust after godliness and deeper spirituality" instead of worldly things. What a different church we would have. What a witness we would be to those of our unsaved loved ones and friends. Let us hunger for a deeper knowledge of God; that's what Paul did after his conversion, and he never changed or turned back to the world. He was dead to it because he was alive in Christ and had a mission and a goal to reach both Jews and Gentiles with the precious blessed hope of everlasting life and freedom from the shackles of sin. RJS

The Law is not sinful in demanding me to live right. The Law only makes known to me what sin really is. John also has something to say about the law and sin in 1 John 3:1-4 1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Returning to the text, 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. And Colossians 3:5 tells us to mortify, Greek, "nekroo," which means to "put to death." Sin is pictured as a self-acting spirit that at one time controlled Paul and worked all manner of concupiscence or sinful lusts. It asserted control over his life and he did not keep the law. Remember Paul was persecuting the Christians in Jerusalem and was on the way to Damascus to arrest and even kill the Christians there. When he was arrested on the Damascus turnpike he made an "about face" and became Preaching Paul. After three and a half years in Arabia, in the presence of the living Christ He saw his magnificent future in being a Missionary to both Jew and Gentile. Paul often uses the word reckon, which means to count your self dead and he does so here. When the body is in the coffin and waiting for burial, you could tempt it with all manner of sin and delicious pleasers to the appetite, and it does not bother the dead, because he is dead. In like manner when the Christian counts himself dead to sin on a daily basis he is no longer bothered by "the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh or the pride of life," I John 2:16. Here are several other verses to meditate on: 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Today, dear friend fall on your knees and confess your sins and count them as under the Blood of Christ and leave them there never to resurrect them again. RJS

Sunday, April 10
Paul's Personal Experience with the Two Natures
Romans 7: 18-23

In these verses Paul speaks of his personal experience with the two natures, the old sin nature and the new nature. I heard this story over forty years ago and since then have heard it in different versions. A young Indian warrior came to the old chief and asked a question about good and evil. The old chief said that inside of him were two dogs, one was a white dog and the other was black. These two dogs were fighting all the time. The youth asked "how do you keep them under control?" The old man answered, "It all depends on which one I say sick'em to." This is what Paul is talking about in these verses: 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Paul did not believe in sinless perfection. This is a doctrine in one of the borderline holiness churches. They teach that you reach a state of sinless perfection (sanctification). The only way they can justify this is by teaching that there is a difference between sin and a mistake, so all those who are sanctified no longer sin, just make mistakes. Paul did not believe this nor did he teach it! The older we grow in the Lord the more we realize that we are not perfect. A college professor said some years ago, "When I was a young preacher, I thought I knew it all, and had the Bible under my mental belt, but now that I am older I realize that I don't know any thing about the Bible." Paul was stating that the more he knew of Christ the less he thought of self. This is a humbling experience, but every true Christian comes to this place and knows he is but a sinner saved by God's grace and mercy. Paul said, "The moment I want to do good, evil rears its ugly head and seeks to defeat my good intentions." If we are honest with ourselves this is true in the life of every believer. I've never met the preacher or missionary that could walk on water. Oh, there are godly men and women, but none have completely eradicated the old nature. The only time when that nature no longer bothers us is when they lay these old bodies to rest for the last time. We've often said that only the dead no longer sin or make mistakes, Amen! RJS

Monday, April 11
I was a Wretched Slave until I found my New Master #1
Romans 7:24-25

Paul is telling us that in the flesh I was bound by Satan, vs. 24 and then in verse 25 as a born again victorious saint he was filled with the Holy Spirit and now with the new mind he served God through Christ's victory on the cross. Let's move to Ephesians 5:18 to see how this is possible. This teaching from Paul is so valuable that I have copied from The Bible Knowledge Commentary the following: "Paul explained how wisdom, as an intellectual and spiritual capacity, works out in one's conduct. Verse 18 includes a negative command and a positive one. The negative is to abstain from getting drunk on wine with which there is incorrigibility. The Greek word "asoµtia" is translated debauchery (NIV, RSV), "excess" (KJV), "riot" (ASV), and "dissipation" (NASB). All these give the idea of profligate or licentious living that is wasteful. In this verse the literal sense of incorrigibility seems best, for a drunken man acts abnormally. Rather than controlling himself, the wine controls him. Conversely, the positive command is, Be filled with the Spirit. Thus a believer, rather than controlling himself, is controlled by the Holy Spirit. It may be more accurate to say that the Holy Spirit is the "Agent" of the filling (cf. Gal. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.) and Christ is the Content of the filling (Col. 3:15-16, And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord). Thus in this relationship, as a believer is yielded to the Lord and controlled by Him, he increasingly manifests the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.). The Spirit's indwelling (John 7:37-39; In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) RJS
Continued tomorrow!

Tuesday, April 12
I was a Wretched Slave until I found my New Master #2
Romans 7:24-25

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is the most neglected truth to be found in the New Testament, therefore, we are taking advantage of this and spending two days with the Scriptures relating to the indwelling Holy Spirit as taught by Paul and other N. T. writers: "John 14:17; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (Rom. 5:5), And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us). (Rom. 8:9; But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his). (1 Cor. 2:12), Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (Cor. 6:19-20), What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 John 3:24; 4:13).Sealing (2 Cor. 1:22; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (Eph. 1:13; 4:30), Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. And Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. and baptism occur at the time of regeneration and thus are not commanded, (1 Cor. 12:13; For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. Gal. 3:27-29) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
However, believers are commanded to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. Each Christian has all the Spirit, but the command here is that the Spirit have all of him." We have not completely covered this great teaching but we have given you a bird's eye view of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. RJS
The quotations in italics are from yesterday's source, and italics in bold are Scripture references.

God's Provision for the Christian: 1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We are no longer condemned, Christ took our condemnation to the cross and the power of death was defeated. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15:5-57.

God's Pleasure in the Christian:
5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Setting your affection on the things of the flesh leads to carnality and we will give you a personal illustration: About 30 years age while driving on a business street in San Bernardino, CA I noticed one of the men from my church leaving a building with a small brown bag. I honked the horn and waved at him and then realized that he was leaving a porno shop. Later that day he came to me in tears and was under such conviction that he could hardly control his voice. He was really broken and in total repentance. He asked me to help him and pray for him. We had a prayer meeting right then and there and he confessed his sin to me and the Lord. It was a crying good time to see him repent and leave his purchase that we immediately destroyed. In verse 5 we read that to be in Christ walking in the flesh is not Spiritual, but carnal. Each and every Christian should ask himself or herself. "Am I living in the flesh, are there secret things in a little closet of my life that I never allow others to know about." If so, today is the day to put them under the blood and never take them up again. (Continued tomorrow) RJS

9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. "Easy Believeism," came along in the sixties and seventies. This was a new formula to Christianity; all you had to do was to say I believe in Christ and you were saved. James has something to say about that in 2:19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils (demons) also believe, and tremble. This "easy believeism" is straight out of the pit of hell and many who call themselves Christians are deluded and lost today, because they were never convicted of their sins and never repented, or turned from the life they were living before they said they believed. When real conviction and repentance comes into our lives, the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirits that we are the children of God and have eternal life.

12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Paul brings this out again in Colossians 3:5-10 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time (past), when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. God does not mince words; He calls a spade a spade and if we have not removed the above from our lives, we are still lost in our sins. RJS

15th

Friday, April 15
Can you Call God, Abba?
Romans 8:14-15

14 What does it mean to be able to call Abba, Father? In John 1 :12-13 As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It means that as God's children we have a most endearing name we can use when we speak to God. Abba means in the best English translation "Papa" or "Daddy" These are words of love and respect to the One who has adopted us into his family. Some little girls were talking at playtime in kindergarten and one said, "I am adopted." The others wanted to know what it means to be adopted. Another child said, "That means that your mother carried you in her heart instead of her tummy."

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The world is filled with the children of Satan, and to live like they do is not for the born-again Christian. The real Christian is a son or daughter of God and this makes us different. The power referred to above is the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, compare, John 3:34b. God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him (Christ). This means that Christ was so completely filled with the Spirit that is was measureless and that same Holy Spirit is also given to the Christian who also can be and is filled with Him.
15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Redemption of the body, "The complete recovery of the body from death and corruption. The particular and striking act of the adoption in the day-of-judgment will be the raising up of the body from the grave, and rendering it immortal and eternally blessed. The completion of it on the last day will be seen particularly in the body; and thus the entire man shall be admitted into the favor of God, and restored from all his sins and all the evil consequences of the fall. The Christian has joys which the world does not know; but he has also sorrows; he sighs over his corruption; he is in the midst of calamity; he is going to the grave; and he looks forward to that complete deliverance, and to that elevated state, when, in the presence of an assembled universe, he shall be acknowledged as a child of God. This elevated privilege gives to Christianity its highest value; and the hope of being acknowledged in the presence of the universe as the child of God - the hope of the poorest and the humblest believer is of infinitely more value than the prospect of the most princely inheritance, or of the brightest crown that a monarch ever wore." Last paragraph quoted from Barnes Commentary Notes RJS

16th

Saturday, April 16
The Witness of the Spirit, The Wealth of the Sons,
The Waiting of the Suffers
Romans 8:16-18

The Spirit itself (Himself) bears witness with our spirit (minds or hearts), that we are the children of God. The witness of the Spirit is distinctly different from the testimony of own consciences; however, when we respond to the Spirit's witness our conscience is no longer bringing condemnation on our words or deeds. At Jesus' baptism there was a threefold witness; the voice from heaven opened to us that He was the living revelation from the Father. The dove signified that He was filled with the Holy Spirit and the audible voice gave us the assurance of His Sonship. Our relationship is likened to that; we are now considered the sons of God and have the witness of the Spirit. The only difference; we are not yet in the eternal, but someday it will all be complete and we will live with Him forever.

17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. The prayerful children come to the realization that as we read the Bible and hear God speak to us through it, we also are heirs and joint heirs with Christ. The Father says to the Son, "All that I have is Thine." Eight is the number of new beginning, and in the eight following passages we are recorded as heirs with Christ or heirs of all that is in heaven. 1) Romans 8:17; 2) Galatians 3:29; 3) Titus 3:7; 4) Hebrews 1:14, 5) 6:17, 6) 11:9; 7) James 2:5; and 8) 1 Peter 3:7.

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Job is an illustration of a man of faith that even Satan could not destroy. With all his suffering, Job did not once complain to God, rather he glorified God to his three fault finding friends and looking at Job's latter end. He was doubly blessed with children, health and wealth. If Job could be so blessed in his day with the limited revelation he had, how much more will we be blessed as we take advantage of the Personal ministry of the Holy Spirit. Though our days are filled with anguish and pain, forge my shield with endurance and free from stain. Though I doubt, give me faith. I may be filled with sorrow, but give me a song. And even in my strife I look for eternal life. RJS

17th

Sunday, April 17
In Suffering we are in Fellowship with all Creation
Romans 8:22-27

19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. KJV (We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now. NASV) Every living creature that gives birth suffers, but the suffering is but for a little while, and the joy of bringing forth a new offspring far out weighs the pain which is soon forgotten. Every time there is a life shattering and destroying earthquake, an ocean killing tsunami, a mighty hurricane, or tornado, or typhoon there are those who question why a good God would allow such suffering to happen. The complainers do not understand that all creation is suffering in violence and terror because of the curse on Adam, his posterity and all the earth.

20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, KJV For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God, NASV. We added the NAS because it gives a better translation of the word creature. All the plans of mankind are futile. Many plan as though we were going to live here forever. A close friend once told me of being at the deathbed of his father-in-law and watching him suffer the last agonies of life. The dying one was saying, "I have worked all my life to gain land and wealth and now its all for nothing." He also was crying out, because he could see the devil sitting at the foot of his bed, laughing and waiting for the last breath. When my friend told me of this experience, he was shaken and brought to tears. This gave me the joyous opportunity to show my friend the way of salvation and he accepted Christ right then and there.
22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. Every time there is an earthquake, the earth groans and is torn part, or shifts itself to equalize its weight. After all it is spinning on its axis at approximately 1000 miles an hour. Every 24 hours it makes another rotation. The whole creation is looking for the return of its Redeemer. RJS

18th

Monday, April 18
THE GOLDEN CHAIN
Romans 8:28-30

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. There have been hundred yea thousands of sermons of the 28th verse. Therefore we will leave the first verse and spend today on verses 29 and 30.

29For whom he did FORKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also CALLED: and whom he called, them he also JUSTIFIED: and whom he justified, them he also GLORIFIED. These five words make up the golden chain of salvation. The purposes of God and the destiny of man dates back to before the world was formed. Remember, God sees everything in the eternal now. We are limited to past, present and future because we are creatures of time, but God is above time and time as we know it, means nothing to God.

Since the first man, Adam, betrayed his trust, God had to send another man, the Second Adam, (Christ) to fulfill the Father's purposes for the human race. The only answer was to send a sinless man into the world who, Himself, would bear the sins of the world. In the mind of God he already had the names of all who would follow this sinless man and find the joy of their salvation from the presence and power of sin. (Eph.1) Therefore God foreknew or we were foreknown and predestinated to become the children of God. Some Christians hate these words, but they are in the Bible and every word of the Bible is God breathed. In other words, the human writers were only quoting what God had dictated to them. Note from Galatians 1:15, but when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace. Paul is here speaking of his calling even before he was born, even so God knew us before we were conceived. These poor sinful humans could only be saved by God "in the form of a man" taking our place at the cross and dying for our sins. And because of Him we are justified, that is, cleansed from all sin and the penalty of it. The best is for last, there is a time when we are ushered into heaven and the Lord himself presents us to the Father, that we will be fully glorified. For we shall be like Him, 1 John 3:2. RJS

19th

Tuesday, April 19
THE GRAND COMMISSION
Romans 8:31-39

We are Protected against Opposition 8:31-32; Perfected against Accusation; Pre-empted against Condemnation, 8:34 and Preserved against Separation 8:35-38. What a glorious thought to mull over in our minds, all the imps of hell and the forces of Satan cannot touch us. Yes, our old sinful nature is still with us, but with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can defeat the old nature too. Satan brought accusation against Job, but could not defeat Job, because God had put a hedge around him and all the forces of hell were inhibited from touching Job, except that God gave Satan some limited leeway. With us, there is no leeway because we are in Christ and Christ is in heaven. This brings to mind that our state is on the earth, but our standing is already in heaven with Christ. People can condemn us, but that does not mean that God condemns because we are already standing in his presence un-condemned. God's grace and mercy is un-explainable in human words, mainly because we don't fully understand it and never will short of when our salvation is complete in heaven before our Saviour.

Verse 35-39 are most precious, because they give us some of the things that could separate us, but can't because we are more than conquerors in Christ. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Absolutely nothing in all of God's creation is able to separate us from the love of Christ. This overwhelms my heart and mind and we are at a loss for words, because of the great grace and mercy of God that is beyond my understanding. Having been in mine fields, shot at and bombed in WW II and wondered if I would make it home, yet in God's providence He protected me because he had a job for this preacher to do and souls to be saved. This humbles a person to tears of joy. RJS

20th

Wednesday, April 20
The Compelling and Overwhelming Passion of Paul
Romans 9:1-3

Romans 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh. This great Apostle has a burning desire to see his people saved. He is well aware of his calling as an Apostle to the Gentiles, but he cannot forget his own people in a blood relationship. In the first eight chapters of Romans, Paul extends grace to both the Jew and the Gentile believers and desires that all should be saved. Beginning in Chapter 9, Paul moves into a dispensational dissertation of the relationship God has with Israel under the New Covenant.

Note Paul's heaviness of heart for his people in verses 2 and 3. If our Christianity is true and pure, we will also desire with great heaviness the salvation of our families and friends. We often pray for their salvation, but sad to say, don't live before them so as to be a witness; or take every opportunity to show them the way into a new life in Christ. True Christianity is to be like Christ and have the compassion He had for the lost in every conversation and relationship with our family and friends. To do less than this is to deny Christ before men, and the Lord had something to say about that too, Matt. 10:32-33, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Paul knew that he was saved and would never be accursed as stated in verse 3, but his heart was so heavy for their salvation that he wishes that by being accursed they could or would be saved. Again our Lord brings this out in the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Luke 16:19-31. Quoting verses 30, 31, and he said, nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. The rich man in his suffering wanted one to return from the dead and witness to his five brothers. One did return from the dead, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and both Jews and Gentiles rejected Him then and still do today. Let them see Christ in us! RJS

21st

Thursday, April 21
The Jews were a Chosen and are a Chosen People
Romans 9:4-5

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations, Deut. 7:6-9. And Deut 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. There are those (the amillennial teachers use chapters 9-11 of Romans to back up their teaching that God no longer has any future blessing for the Jews) who believe that God has cut the Jews off, but note above "unto a thousand generations." According to today's figuring of a generation it is 33 years or 3 to a century, the length of time that God counts it would be 33,000 years. It's only 4,000 years since Abraham, the father of the nation was chosen so according to our calculations, Christ will return long before 29,000 years are past.

Let's not forget that along with the Jews a new name was given to a group of people called Christians who are also called and recorded in Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. And 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9 … chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Most commentators agree that in Ephesians it is the Gentiles and in 1 Peter it is both Gentiles and Jews who are called. All Christians are called and chosen; are you a Christian? RJS

22nd

Friday, April 22
A Real Jew Defined or the Distinction between a
Natural and a Spiritual Jew
Romans 9:6-13

Israel's rejection of Christ is not a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant? Verse six definitely answers that question in the negative. We must define the difference between the natural Jew and a Spiritual Jew. The natural Jew is one that is born into a Jewish family and does not have the faith of Abraham. The Spiritual Jew is one that, by faith believes God and lives a life of faith as Abraham did. Remember Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith. The promises to Abraham were in Isaac and not to Ishmael; it was not a promise made to Abraham's children, if that were so, the Islamic people would be able to claim that they received the blessing and not Isaac. It was made to one of Abraham's children and only one, Isaac. Today the PLO is claiming that they have the blessings of Abraham, and therefore have the birth right to the land of Israel and Jerusalem. Isaac was the miraculous promise of God to Abraham and Sarah, not Abraham and Hagar. Sarah was Abraham's wife. Hagar was a concubine and an Egyptian servant, and the mother of a son, Ishmael. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away and later Isaac, the son of promise, was born of Sarah at the good old age of 90 or 91.

Abraham's true children are those who exhibit Abraham's faith. Gentiles who exhibit Abraham's faith are the true children of Abraham. Cf. Galatians 3:6-9 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen (Gentiles who by faith become Christians) through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Romans 9:8-13 gives us the continuing promise to Isaac's life through Rebecca's son Jacob. Time and time again in the Old Testament we see the words, "Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" as the fathers of Israel and through them Israel is blessed. We have chosen 9 references to these three men 6 from the O. T. Deut. 1:8; 9:10, 27; 29:13; 34:4 and 2 Kings 13:23; and 4 from the N. T. Matt. 8:11, Mark 12:26; Acts 3:13 and 7:32 to illustrate the faith of these men for both Jews and Gentiles. RJS

23rd

Saturday, April 23
God's Mercy under His Sovereign Will Illustrated
Romans 9: 14-24

We are coming into one of the greatest misunderstood relationships we have with God, His choosing and His mercy. Many people want God to make choices according to human feelings and emotions. God is above such mundane actions. His sovereign will is not according to human rationalism or stimulations. One author explained it this way (this author is unknown to me) "God's choice is not on the grounds of deserving, but on the ground of mercy. It is not of works, but of grace." God said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy, Verses 15-16. "Another objection to God's sovereignty and election is that, if these be true, man is not responsible. Vs. 19 Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will? But here comes the great truth of the freedom of the will. Human responsibility is there, whether we admit it or not. We are free agents to choose between good and evil. Our conscience tells us when it accuses us of guilt. The very condemnation of conscience is in itself a testimony of the freedom of the will and human responsibility. There would be no accusing voice within if we did not feel that we were free agents. Daniel Webster, the great American statesman, was once dining with a few friends and in the course of the evening was asked by the gentleman who sat next to him, 'Mr. Webster, what is the greatest thought that has ever occupied your mind?' Pausing for a moment, Mr. Webster replied, 'The most solemn thought that ever occupied my mind is the thought of man's responsibility to God.'" Let's now look at the other side of the coin! "God's choice and power is not arbitrary power, but with mercy. What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known - that is, God must vindicate his own character, He will by no means clear the guilty, but must punish sin. What if God, … endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? Vs. 22-24 Truly some difficult questions! We'll never understand the mind of God as long as we live in this world. RJS

24th

Sunday, April 24
Israel's Failure because of Unbelief
Romans 9:25-29

25As he saith also in Osee, (Hosea) I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. 26And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God. 27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. Hosea said in verse 25 that there would come a time when the Lord would call another people and give them a blessing. This is what Paul was talking about in that God was now working with the Gentiles. However, to keep it in its context we must also consider verse 27 where Isaiah speaks of a remnant of the Jewish nation that would be saved. Our a-millennial friends fully believe that all Israel is already cut off, but Paul says here that a remnant will be saved. Remember they are of the blood line of Abraham even though they are not living by faith as Abraham did. God's mercy is still open to all Jews who will recognize Christ as their Messiah, just as He is willing to save all Gentiles who trust Christ as their Saviour. In verse 28, God will finish the work that he has started. God is not like many men, who start a project and soon set it aside for another project. God always finishes a job and when it is done, it is well done He says, "It is good."

29And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth (Lord of Hosts) had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha. If we were to be transported to the area at the south end of the Dead Sea the guide would point to an area of the sea that now covers what was Sodom and Gomorrah. They are buried under many feet of the saltiest water on earth. God has passed final judgment on many wicked cities and countries, but as of this day has not passed total judgment on Israel. Since He is a God that cannot lie He never will bring total judgment upon them. However, in the days of the antichrist many will succumb to false doctrines and will pay the supreme price, but there will still be a remnant. RJS

25th

Monday, April 25
The Great Stumbling Stone, the Lord Jesus Christ
Romans 9: 30-33

30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. Turning to Galatians 3:6-9 we see that Abraham was justified by faith long years before the giving of the Law. Abraham was born circa 2000 B.C. and was justified by faith between 75 and 100 years of age (exact date unknown). The Law was not given to Moses until after the 430 years of exile in Egypt and that would mean that the Law was given about 1540-60 B.C. Faith was operative in Abraham's life about 500 years before the Law and the Jewish Nation has followed the Law without faith for about 3500 years. They overlooked faith, and all their religious activities depended on works. 31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. Remember Abraham was promised that his seed should be as the sand of the sea and as the stars of heaven. We often hear references to the sand as the Jewish nation, and the stars as the Christians. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone (Jesus Christ); 33As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Paul is quoting from Isaiah 8:14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin (trap) and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. It seems the Jews of Christ's time were strangers to the Old Testament they were only following the teachings of the rabbis instead of the Scriptures. The same is still true, especially among the religious Jews today. The Messianic Jews recognize Christ as the Messiah, but they are so few in number that they hardly count among the 13 to 15 million Jews in the world. Christ is still a rock of offence with both Jew and Gentile today. Here in America even as we are writing this there is a hearing in the Supreme Court of the land about the Ten Commandments and the Judeo-Christian faith. The atheists are determined to make our nation a humanistic nation with no God and no morals. Christians and Jews should be on their knees for today's America and future generations. RJS

26th

Tuesday, April 26
The Passion of Paul for his People

Romans 10:1-3 (Please Read the Text)

If we had the passion of Paul to win the lost, whether they are Jew or Gentile, we would be out witnessing to everyone that the Lord leads us to speak to. Paul was like Moses in that he wanted to see his people saved and walking by faith rather than works. It is amazing that the cults are working so hard in proclaiming their false doctrines and the Christians are so lethargic and indifferent to being a witness for the Lord. The cults are zealous to win converts to their misdirected teachings and the Christians who have the truth of the Scriptures are sleeping at the switch. We will be giving an account before our Lord at the Bema Seat where our works will be tried so as by fire, I Corinthians 3:11-15.

There is another problem in the true church today, "Standards instead of Biblical teachings." Standards are really nothing more than works, and all Christians should know that works do not lead to salvation. Biblical teachings lead to faith and repentance, which are both necessary to be saved. In many cases the standards are misdirected because of ignorance and failure of the pastors to study their Bibles and preach the whole counsel of God. Paul speaks of the ignorance of the Jews in his day; we occasionally refer to the largest denomination in the church as that of the Ignorant Brethren. Paul was determined that there be no ignorant brethren in his day, that's why he used that term nine times in his writings.

The Law was given in order to reveal both the righteousness of God and sinfulness of sinners. Thus, it prepared the way for the coming of Messiah whose obedience fulfilled the Law and whose redemption secured the pardon and liberty for those whom the Law was powerless to save. This higher righteousness is secured in Christ. This passage tells us of the lack of knowledge, submission and the results of unbelief. The ignorant are without the means of obtaining justification; the un-submissive are rebellious, and the unbelieving reject. Faith and faith alone are counted to us for righteousness. This is the principle as old as Abraham, he believed in God according to the knowledge he had. We are to believe in Christ according to the knowledge we have today by the indwelling Holy Spirit who leads all to Christ. It is the Spirit's work to bring us to the Saviour. RJS

27th

Wednesday, April 27
The Present Standing of Israel
Romans 10:5-12

The Gospel was offered to both Jews and Gentiles with no partiality. Abraham's descendents had a religious, national and territorial advantage, but they turned against the message of the Messiah and the Apostle Paul. It is a terrible thing to reject God's plan of the ages for all people. Rejection can be both on an individual or a national level, and today is seems that America is rejecting it on a national level. Who pays for the rejection? The whole nation! There are two Jewish idioms in verses 6 and 7 that need to be explained: 1.Say not in thine heart. The expression to say in the heart is the same as to think. Do not think or suppose that the doctrine is so difficult to be understood that one must ascend to heaven in order to understand it. 6But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 2. Who shall ascend into heaven? This expression was used among the Jews to denote any difficult undertaking. To say that it was high as heaven or that it was necessary to ascend to heaven to understand it, was to express the highest difficulty.
7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) another translation of verse 7 is Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shoudst say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it and do it. Paul answers these questions in verses 8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We often use these verses to lead a seeking sinner to salvation today, but these words were to both the Jews and Gentiles in that day as Paul used them to tell his readers that believing faith was expressed by the mouth and that faith comes from the inner man, the heart. Remember, the evil spirits believed that Christ was the Saviour of mankind and confessed Him before the people on several occasions, but their belief was not to their salvation, rather it was to their condemnation. If we confess Christ from our hearts and share Him with others we are fulfilling the great commission. Let us be ready to give an answer … (1 Peter 3:15-16) RJS

28th

Thursday, April 28
Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord
Romans 10:11-14

Vs. 11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. It becomes every Christian to be prepared for circumstances unforeseen, and be ready to testify or confess Christ with no fear, shame or disrespect.
Vs. 12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him, vs. 12. Regardless of background, heritage, genealogy or any other factor, we are all equal in our relationship with Christ that is established by faith.
Vs. 13 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I am always thrilled with this verse, because "whosoever" is all inclusive and that means me! This is a quotation from Joel 2:32, And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD (Jehovah) shall be delivered (saved): for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, (salvation) as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. Also in Acts 2:16-18 we see the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy and Peter enlarged on what Paul says about it in our text. This Old Testament text is definitely Messianic!
Vs. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? It is important to remember that very few were educated to be able to read in Paul's day, therefore, Paul uses the Greek word for hearing, actually (heralding) "karussontos that which is shouted forth by a public crier, or heralded publicly. In the N. T. the message or proclamation by the heralds of God or Christ." [Thayer's, Greek English Lexicon], in other words, we call that preaching today. It was through the ear gate that people learned about the contents of the Scriptures in Paul's day and that's true today if we are listening to the Pastor as he preaches the unadulterated Word of God. Our children learn to speak the English language and copy the parent's idioms and colloquialisms at an early age through the ear gate. The story is told that would be adoptive parents adopted a French baby so they could learn French when the child started talking, surprise, it does not work that way they tell me. Continued in tomorrow's devotion. RJS

29th

Friday, April 29
Whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord #2
Romans 10:15

Vs. 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! God employs preachers and teachers to bring the message of salvation to mankind. God, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, calls men of good report into the ministry of the Gospel. God also calls missionaries to go to foreign lands, as well as, in the homeland where they also cry forth the good news of God's grace and salvation to the local people. Paul enlarges on this in Ephesians 4:11-16; please take time to read this passage and take it to heart. Paul also told a young would-be preacher by the name of Timothy in 1st Timothy the necessary requirements for a preacher, This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. In 2nd Timothy, Paul again gives instruction to Timothy as to preaching: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. If the preacher of God is faithful; first God and then the church family, he will preach the whole council of God and not just a few pious platitudes and tickle their ears with short stories. Many of the modernist or liberal preachers have nothing to give to their congregations and, therefore, these people are going to church, but never finding the answers to their spiritual needs. It is as the parable of the Lord, "The blind leading the blind and they both fall into the ditch." The only problem is that the ditch is the depths of Hell from which there is no return. Church members, yes! But LOST! RJS

30th

Saturday, April 30
PRESENT SALVATION FOR ALL
ROMANS 10:16-21

16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, (Isaiah said) Lord, who hath believed our report? Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? To this day, the Jews reject the words of Isaiah 52:12-53:12. They interpret them as addressed to Israel as the son of leader, which of course is interpreting the text so that the text becomes a pretext. The Jews did not obey the words of the Lord when he was with them and to this day reject the NT as not part of the Bible even though all but one (Luke) of the writers was a Jew.
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. As was stated in an earlier devotion; the ear gate is the gate where almost all knowledge is gained, not only the language, and every idiom used in speaking the language. Some years ago, we had a missionary in our home that was ministering in Japan. This man was rejected by every Mission Board in America that had missionaries in Japan because he was too old to learn the language. He applied to a Canadian Mission Society and was accepted. When he arrived in Japan he went out into the small communities and lived with an ancient grandmother. For two years he did not speak a word in English and learned the Japanese language better than most missionaries do in five or six years. How did he learn? By hearing the language and applying it to every thing and events.
18But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. The entire universe cries out the reality of a Creator and Sustainer, but the Jewish nation hardened their hearts and heard the words of their Messiah. Read Col. 1:16,17.
19But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. God provided both Moses and Isaiah to teach them, but their hearts were shut and the ears were stopped.
20But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people. The Jews did not seek after God. They sought the traditions of the fathers rather than the Word of God. The same is true in many churches today; tradition, relics and sacraments are more important than the Scriptures. RJS

Additional information

Outline of the Book of Romans, Chapters 5-16

V. The Interlude (5:12-21)

A. The Commencement of Sin (5:12)

B. The Curse of Sin (5:12)

C. The Consequence of Sin (5:12-14)

D. The Contrast Between Adam and Christ (5:12-21)

PART FOUR – SANCTIFICATION (6:1-8:15)

I. Our Standing in Christ (6:1-7:6)

A. The Fact for Information (6:1,2)

B. The Figure for Illustration (6:3-5)

C. The Formula for Application (6:6-13)

D. The Function of Sanctification (6:14-23)

1. The Sovereign-Subject Relationship (6:14,15)

2. The Master-Slave Relationship (6:16-23)

3. The Husband-Wife Relationship (7:1-6)

II. The State of the Flesh (7:7-25)

A. The Heinous Sin in the Natural Man (7:7-13)

1. Paul’s Defense of the Law (7:7,12)

2. Paul’s Description of Sin (7:8,11)

B. The Horrible Self in the Carnal Man (7:14-25)

1. The Condition Within (7:14,18)

2. The Conflict Within (7:15-20)

3. The Conclusion (7:21-24)

4. The Conquest (7:25)

III. Our Strength in the Spirit (8:1-15)

A. The Holy Spirit in the Spiritual Man (8:1-15)

1. God’s Provision for the Christian (8:1-4)

2. God’s Pleasure in the Christian (8:5-8)

3. God’s Presence in the Christian (8:9-11)

4. God’s Program for the Christian (8:12-15)

PART FIVE – GLORIFICATION (8:16-39)

I. The Glorified Christian (8:16-18)

A. The Witness of the Spirit (8:16)

B. The Wealth of the Sons (8:17)

C. The Waiting of the Sufferers (8:18)

II. The Groaning Creation (8:19-27)

A. The Groans of the Creature (8:19-22)

B. The Groans of the Christian (8:23-25)

C. The Groans of the Comforter (8:26,27)

III. The Golden Chain (8:28-30)

A. Foreknown

B. Predestinated

C. Called

D. Justified

E. Glorified

IV. The Grand Commission (8:31-39)

A. Protected Against Opposition (8:31,32)

B. Perfected Against Accusation (8:33)

C. Pre-empted Against Condemnation (8:34)

D. Preserved Against Separation (8:35-39)

PART SIX – DISPENSATION (9 - 11)

I. God’s Past Selection of Israel (Chapter 9)

A. The Passion of Paul (9:1-3)

B. The Privileges of Israel (9:4,5)

C. The Promise of God (9:6-13)

D. The Purpose of God (9:14-24)

E. The Place of the Gentiles (9:25-33)

II. God’s Present Suspension of Israel (Chapter 10)

A. The Present State of Israel (10:1-4)

B. The Present Standing of Israel (10:5-12)

C. The Present Salvation for All (10:13-21)

III. God’s Prospective Salvation of Israel (Chapter 11)

A. The Remnant if Blessed (11:1-6)

B. The Remainder if Blinded (11:7-12)

C. The Reason for the Break (11:13-24)

D. The Restoration to Blessing (11:25-32

E. The Riches of God’s Wisdom (11:33-36)

PART SEVEN - DEPORTMENT (CHAPTERS 12-16)

I. The Relationships of the Believer (Chapter 12)

A. Consecration to God is Encouraged (12:1)

B. Conformity to the World is Expelled (12:2)

C. Consideration of Believers Expected (12:3-16)

D. Charity to all is Entreated (12:17-21)

II. The Responsibilities of the Believer (Chapters 13-15:13)

A. To the Powers over Him (13:1-7)

B. To the Persons around Him (13:8-14)

C. To the People like Him (13:15-15:13)

III. The References to the Believers (Chapters 15:14-16:27)

A. Paul’s Comments about Himself (15:14-33)

B. Paul’s Commendations of Others (16:1-23)

C. Paul’s Conclusion (16:24-27)

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