For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16-17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved on with a review of Romans 1:16-17. Here, Paul clearly states his view that the gospel is God and is the power of God.  It saves, provides the basis of faith for believers, and it reveals God's character and nature.  It also transforms lives and is the basis for sanctification so widely discussed in the book I just completed - John Piper's Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring God's Glory in Scripture.  My commentary refers to these two verses as the "nerve center" of Romans - as Paul goes on to declare regarding righteousness: 

• no one is righteous (1:18-3:20)
• by faith in Christ one is declared righteous (3:21-5:21)
• Christians are slaves to righteousness (6:1-8:39)
  
• and defend God's righteousness (9:1-11:36) 
  
• and provide practical advice on righteous living (12:1-15:13)  

Just as Paul writes that he is "not ashamed of the gospel", my commentary also urges us to be proud of our firm belief in the gospel and its core truths. We may be mocked and shamed, perhaps not physically as Paul and other early believers were (or perhaps not depending on where you are), regardless, we can stand firm.  We must not be ashamed and Jesus warned the disciples and us not be ashamed (see Mark 8:38).  We must see, as my commentary refers to Bird, that the gospel not only describes God's power but it IS God's power. Salvation is referred to as having "already" and "not yet" dimensions - we continue to be sanctified through the gospel through glorification when we are complete and see Jesus perfectly. We are saved "from" spiritual and physical death and "for" rebirth in Christ and eternity in Heaven.  

My commentary notes how Paul references Habakkuk 2:4 in v17, and how "Paul quotes from the Old Testament in Romans more than in all his other letters combined.  There are at least sixty-one direct quotations from fourteen different books...faith is the way in which one stands right before God.  The whole Bible teaches us this."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and how saves me from physical and spiritual death and for new and full life here on earth and for eternity in Heaven - thank You Jesus!  All incredible gifts and of course I am undeserving.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.....I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people[.]

 Pages: 15-33, Matthew 13, Ephesians 1

 This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.....I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people[.] Matthew 13:13, Ephesians 1:18

Today, inspired by the challenge and reward from the reading of John Piper's Providence, I started another of his books:  Reading the Bible Supernaturally: Seeing and Savoring the Glory of God in Scripture.  I began with the Preface and Introduction. 

The premise of the book is that if we believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, then it follows that "it has supernatural reading."  We are to not just read the Bible naturally (the very best of our natural reading Piper writes), using the error-prone human faculties that God gives us, but we are to read with an ability that is "beyond what is merely human."

Once again, as Piper does with Providence, he does with this book and he draws extensively on scripture. He writes that our natural seeing of God's glory is "not decisive in seeing the glory of God," and Piper uses both Matthew 13:13 and Ephesians 1:18 to demonstrate that God is at work in our understanding of His glory. For God to move in our hearts to more fully see His glory, "God [must] cut away the diamond-hard, idolatrous substitutes for the glory of God that are packed into...our heart." Here Piper points to:

• 2 Corinthians 4:6
• 2 Timothy 2:25
• Philippians 1:29
• Ephesians 2:5
• 1 Peter 1:23
• James 1:18
• Matthew 16:17
• Matthew 11:27
• Ephesians 1:18
• Luke 8:10        
  

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, Jesus - You are an awesome God and You have given me the gift of faith and Your Word, and You daily reveal Your Word and Your Glory to me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such gifts.  I sin...daily...anger, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?"

1 Kings 5-7 and 9:25; 2 Chronicles 2-8

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But  who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?" 2 Chronicles 2:5-6

Day 131 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with Solomon's efforts to build the temple in Jerusalem.

Having attended a church plant that met first in a movie theater then in a middle school building, I am familiar with the criticism and resistance that often accompanies attendance at a church that does not have a traditional or permanent church building.  Solomon is accurate in his statement that God is not contained in a church building as of course He is omnipresent. He is in our hearts and among His children when they meet together.  He exists in the Word and through the Holy Spirit.

See also

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

Proverbs 30

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. v5-6

In my view, is important to understand both what God is saying in an absolute sense (head) and what God is saying to you individually (heart).  The other factor is that understanding comes from God alone - we must all recognize this.  

In terms of head vs heart, you want to have both because you don't want to just understand the Bible as words on a page but as the divine word of God - see also John 1:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Of course You also want to understand what God is saying to you, into the circumstances of Your life so that You can understand and obey God's will for your life. See also Romans 12:2.

God's Word is indeed flawless:
- Psalm 12 
- Psalm 119 
- Luke 1:37 

We must take the time to study what God is saying and what God is saying to us.  We must also not twist God's words to our own benefit.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed God and You are flawless as is Your Word.  Your Word and Your Son are a tremendous blessing and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a gift and blessing.  I am broken and my sin continues - I am harsh and critical of others and not often full of grace.  Please forgive me and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me point Zach and Dustin to You and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me serve You, my family, the church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 56

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.  What can man do to me? v10-11

First of all, the Word of God, the Bible - is God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

The Word of God, which we know as God Himself is alive, active, and critical to our development as children of God...which should go without saying once you know that the Word of God IS God.
 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...2 Timothy 3:16

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and I love spending time with You through Your Word and in prayer.  You appear to me and provide a rest and peace that I am unable to find anywhere else.  Thank You Jesus.  Yet there are many times when I feel anxious and stressed.  Please forgive me for my worry and help me overcome and turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her from her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin....and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message today and every day.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.

Hebrews 4

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. v12-13

The Bible is more than a book - it is God and God is the Bible.  The Bible is all powerful - it can penetrate more than my mind - it can transform my heart and life.  It also reveals to me my sin and my need for Jesus Christ.   I must also understand that God knows all - specifically my sin - He knew everything about my sin even before I was born.  This last point is made in several other places in the Bible:

Psalm 19
Daniel 2
Matthew 10
Luke 8, 12

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and Your Word is Great - I know that You are the Word and the Word is You.  I am blessed to have Your Word so that I can come to You and read and reflect on Your message for me - I desperately need You in my life because I am sinful and broken.  I am quick to anger and slow to listen.  I am harsh with my thoughts and words.  I often do not work as if I am working for You.  I gossip.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin.  Help me love You with all of my heart soul mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith. Help me stay near to You and Your Word.  Help me not only read and know the Word but help me DO the Word - do what it says.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort and freedom from pain.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. v16-17

Paul is saying that Scripture is God and by implication from God.  Paul also writes that the Bible is from God here.  The author of Hebrews also says that the Word of God is alive and active.  And the Word of God is prepared for us so that we be equipped to glorify Him because that is why we exist.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and You exist and are alive as You have before time began and You will after time is over.  You created all things and You are in all things.  You control everything and You are gentle, compassionate, caring, patient, etc.  Thank You for such love and blessing but I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am selfish, in my thoughts but also in my actions.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome such sin and help me turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa comfort, strength, and freedom from pain.  Praise that she is home and feeling better.  Please heal and cure her of this cancer. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Praise that You were able to bring Will and Eunice here safely and praise for our church family, friends and neighbors.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.  I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. v11-12

God gave the Word and is the Word.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

...

And God is of course all powerful in our lives as it serves to "renew" our minds and make us more like Jesus Christ.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, all powerful, all knowing and boundless in love and mercy...regardless of the fact that the object of Your love is broken..speaking specifically of me.  That You could love, suffer, and die for me...broken and sinful.  I am not worth such a blessing.  I am too easily distracted and I am often not bold as I should be with my love of Christ.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me.  Help me turn from such and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Heal and cure her of this cancer.  Help me serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  Help me grow in my faith.