[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
ROMANS
1:11
"For
I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may
be strengthened" [LSB Version 2021, a new translation]
Paul
wrote this letter of Romans to the people of Rome whom he had not visited yet.
Even before his physical arrival, he wanted to strengthen and establish them in
their faith in Jesus Christ.
That's
why, when I started blogging, I chose this verse to be the theme verse of my blog.
I wanted all my online activities (social media) to be conducted in the light
of this verse: "Imparting Spiritual Gift"
Yes,
even to those whom I don't know. And as expected, I am glad whenever a stranger
sends me an email!
ROMANS
2:11
"For
there is no partiality with God."
Many
people think God is not fair in saving some and passing over some. Oh! They
love to talk about Amazon jungles though they have never been there, never
prayed for them, and have never given a rupee for their cause. What hypocrites!
Acting, like they are more compassionate, fair, and loving than God.
It's
enough for me to know that God is not partial, no matter what. It is not the
fairness of God that saves me, it is His grace. I agree with Charles Spurgeon,
"While others are congratulating themselves, I have to sit humbly at the
foot of the cross and marvel that I’m saved at all."
ROMANS
3:3-4
"What
then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief abolish the faithfulness of
God? May it never be! Rather, let God be true and every man a liar . . ."
Leaders
are highly motivated people, aren't they? But when nobody is following them,
they too, because they are human, lost motivation, and give up. That's why we
have many statements, "he was once a . . .," "I once had . .
." All in the past tense.
And
we become like all. The greatest force in this universe is to conform to
uniformity.
Well,
God is not a man. He won't give up. He won't compromise. He won't stop being
who He is. He would remain faithful even if the whole world be found a liar.
His faithfulness is both to justify and to damn.
He
had drowned the world except for Noah's family. He will do it again, just more
severe, by fire. If God chooses to kill everyone on Earth today, yes all in
cities, villages, jungles, everywhere, and save a few Christians, still that
will be the faithfulness of God. And He will when the Terrifying Day of
Tribulations comes.
And
His faithfulness to save, sanctify, and glorify is the same. As Steven Lawson
says, "The perseverance of the saints is [actually] the perseverance of
the Saviour in the saints!" PTL!
I
love that song, "He will hold me fast"
Romans
4:20-22
"Yet,
with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew
strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had
promised, He was able also to do. Therefore IT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS
RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Pertaining
to Salvation, it's easier to believe what God has promised to do, that God will
save me from the wrath to come, and will glorify me someday. But in day-to-day
life, in sanctification, in living life, in Christian walk, waiting for the promise
of God to come true is a constant battle, it tends to waver here and there,
rather than to stand firm.
Justified
by Faith. Live by Faith. Work by Faith. Walk by Faith. Confess by Faith. Come
by Faith. Every bit of a Christian Life is a life of Faith!
ROMANS
5
Years
ago, I was disturbed by a question from this chapter. Here's it—
Q.
Since the act of disobedience by Adam made all human being sinners, but the act
of obedience by Christ made only believers acceptable to God, therefore, is
Adam not more powerful than Jesus in his influence?
One
of the most effective ways to study God's word is to ask good questions!
ROMANS
6:8
"Now
if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him"
Past- died
Present- believe
Future- shall live
If- does not mean doubting or probability. It is used for
asserting a statement [(technically called apodosis), (grammatically 1st class
conditional construction)]
So
the main point (clause) of this verse is "we shall live"
And
the way how we shall live is with Christ.
## And the reason is because we already died
in Christ, so we will also live with Christ. In other words, if we do not
associate with Him in His death, we will not possess life, without Him.
GLEANING:
Are we dead in Christ? Are we living His life?
In
other words: Are we denying ourselves? Are we exalting Christ in every activity
of our life?
Am
I living as if I own my life? Am I living as if I am the master of my own
destiny and life? Is my life full of Christ?