[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (BRW-M) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]
[5:24
pm, 01/01/2022]
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙:𝟝
"through
whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of
faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake."
This
evening, one guy asked me about faith vs work in salvation. This verse
elucidates that it is the Grace of God that saves anyone. This grace cannot be
earned, it can be only received. Behold, grace is given in Christ. We have to
believe (Faith in) Christ.
But
this grace is for the obedience of faith, meaning, we must obey (work out) the
righteous laws of Christ.
In
simple: We aren't saved by good work. But we are saved to do good work.
That's
the meaning of "to bring" talking about the purpose, the result of
salvation (receiving grace).
If
we profess to be Christians, let's be obedient to the righteous commands of
God.
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟚:𝟝
"But
because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for
yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of
God."
All
the sins of a believer (past, present, and future) are already punished in the
death of Christ. BUT
All
the sins of unbelieving ones are accumulating, storing up for the wrath of God
to unleash upon them!
While
we (believers) praise God for the deliverance, we will face discipline on earth
(not in hell) if we have unrepentant sin!
Let's
praise God and pursue godliness!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟛:𝟜
“.
. .Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, . . .”
I
see two strong impressions:
1. Paul has a very high view of God. God's honor is
greater than the honor of all mankind put together. [How despicable it is when
we find fault in God to honor a mere man!]
2. God will not be manipulated nor discouraged by any
wisdom or wickedness of man. He shall remain faithful and just! To a sinner,
this is terrible, because it means God will not spare anyone. That's why God
sent Jesus to save us!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟜:𝟙-𝟚
"What
then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not
before God."
Bible
is so simple to understand. I think we have decided to believe it to be
difficult because we are so lazy to study, examine, and think through it. We don't
even read often while we study many other things like crazy.
Furthermore,
sometimes, people want to mean it differently than what it plainly says.
Look
at how Apostle Paul read Genesis and thought through the life of Abraham and
applied it here.
Also,
look at how Apostle Paul was interacting with his Roman audience with a series
of hard questions.
This
chapter reminds me to not be lazy nor be stupid. Ignorance is not bliss, it's
sinful!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟝:𝟙
"Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ"
Many
times, I have seen my fellow Christian brothers and sisters trying to evangelize
non-Christians by saying that they have peace in their hearts which Jesus
gives.
Well,
they don't know what they are talking about. Actually, they worry about many
things. They have many arguments with a lot of people. What peace do they have
in their hearts???
Friends,
the peace we have when we become Christians is not primarily in our hearts. Actually,
it's between us and God.
Even
a genuine Christian like that Mr. Feeble-mind of The Pilgrim's Progress might
never experience peace in our hearts. Or like that theologian hymn-writer
William Cowper who thought he was a reprobate.
That's
why Romans 5:1 is wonderful because it doesn't matter whether we have peace in
our hearts or not, whether we feel it or not, if we are justified by faith (are
Christian), God has peace with us. We are pardoned of all our sins and from the
punishment of God! That's the kind of peace the Bible talks about, not the
wishful peace in our hearts!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟞:𝟜
"Therefore
we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was
raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life."
Christ
died that we may die to sin; He arose that we might live in Him.
Again,
Christ didn't die just to forgive our sins, He died so that we might die to
sin; He arose not just to give us resurrection on the last day, He arose so that
we might live in Him now.
Or,
else, your understanding of the Gospel is incomplete. It's not just about
forgiveness and resurrection. It's dying to sin and living in the newness of
life.
The
Gospel is not just the fact or else, everyone would have been saved. It's to be
believed.
If
one has never died to sin and lives in the newness of life, no matter what he
knows of the Gospel, he only knows the fact, he has never received/believed the
Gospel!
Gospel
affects/changes/transforms the believers!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟟:𝟜
"Therefore,
my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ,
so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in
order that we might bear fruit for God."
Dead
to sin, Alive in Christ.
A
fruitless person is not a Christian.
A
person who knows the fact of the Gospel but is not changed by the Gospel is not
a Christian. [Give such a person a book, "Once Saved Always Changed,"
written by Steve Fernandez. If you have never read it. I will send you a soft
copy. 🙂]
However,
a Christian will still be committing sins, which the rest of this chapter
tackles it.
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟠:𝟙
"Therefore
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
If
God condemns us no more, what are all those cursing? They are totally
powerless!
Don't
be intimidated by people's curses or generational curses! Are they more
powerful than God? Provided you are in Christ!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟡:𝟛
"For
I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of
my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh"
Will
I ever wish like this? Would I speak like this? Moses also did like this.
John
Knox's prayer for England is also fascinating!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟘:𝟙
"Brethren,
my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation."
Paul's
heart for the lost people. We need some men of God who would do the same for
the homeless, beggars, and slums of Delhi!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟙:𝟚𝟝
"For
I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will
not be wise in your own estimation--that a ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕒𝕝 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 has happened to Israel until the fullness of the
Gentiles has come in;"
It's
just a partial hardening. There will be converts if we go out and preach if we
pray for them.
Let's
pray for the lost souls, yes, even for the Israelites!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟚:𝟛
"For
through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more
highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound
judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."
As
I grow older, I have learned this truth "not to think more highly of
himself than he ought to" better. Well, even if wisdom and godliness do
not come soon (early) as we like, it comes as we age!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟛:𝟙𝟜
"But
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to
its lusts."
Oh!
That Jesus would be dearer, sweeter, and more satisfying than everything. Not
that He is not, but that would be true in me!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟜:𝟙𝟘
"But
you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your
brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of
God."
I
am increasingly realizing the gist of this verse. It's imperative to be sound
in doctrine, to be discerning, to separate from people who aren't like-minded,
but at the same time to not hold anyone in contempt!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟝:𝟚
"Each
of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification."
I
may please my neighbor with a good perfume, or a beautiful flower in my garden.
I
can invite him and serve him a great lunch.
But
I might displease him in my sleep, snoring loudly😂
Let's
admit, we have a lot to work on pleasing one another. Let's not be satisfied
because of one area we are good at!
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕤 𝟙𝟞:𝟜
"who
for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also
all the churches of the Gentiles"
Would
I risk my life for someone's safety?
Would
anyone risk his or her life for me because I hold fast to the Gospel of God?
Something
hard to find in our generation!