And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Romans 9

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I started chapter thirteen God's Word Has Not Failed, which covers Romans 9:1-29.  My focus today is Romans 9:1-5, which my commentary refers to under the heading Setting the State for the Argument: The Tragedy of Israel. Just as Paul shares the great encouragements from Romans 8 (see post yesterday and previous posts), he pivots to sadness as he explores how many of his fellow Jews failed to see Jesus as the promised Messiah.  Paul has "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" (v2) and even goes as far to say that he wishes to be "cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers" (v3). All of the riches associated with Christ "belong" to them, including "adoption" by God, the covenants given to Abraham and David, the law, the "worship", and the "promises" (v4). From them came the great patriarchs, not only Abraham and David, but Moses, Joshua, and Christ who descended from Judah and His genealogy is carefully documented by Matthew (v5).

My commentary points to how Romans chapter 9-11 reflect a pause in Paul's letter as he moves from hope and the great news of the gospel to the "relationship between Jew and Gentile", God's sovereignty vs human responsibility, and we are encouraged to see these chapters are integral and challenging and should be read as a unit.  The commentary indicates that the big question posed in Romans 9-11 is "[h]as God's word failed?" Paul wrestles with this question as he explores how God's promises to Israel failed to be fully fulfilled in the faith of the Jews as the Gospel became known to them through Jesus. 

My study this morning reflects the start of a multi-day journey to unpack Paul's struggle as he writes Romans 9-11.  

With respect to Romans 9:1-5, the commentary wants to understand the depths of Paul's anguish as v4-5 describe incredible "privileges" available to Israel. V1-5 "set the stage" for the remainder of the chapter as well as chapters 10-11.  For today, we can share in Paul's anguish because while the entirety of humanity has not descended from Israel, we can grieve over unbelief and the resulting condemnation that results.  For ourselves we should find the encouragement we need with fellow believers and BE the encouragement for unbelievers. John Piper's post references Hebrews 3:12-14 and 10:19-25 as key scriptural bases for believers to surround themselves with other believers for encouragement.  Again we are to also "snatch" unbelievers from the fire as well (James 5:19, Jude 23). 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am grateful for the many believers You have placed in my life to spur me on in my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this blessing and for the many other blessings You pour out for me.  My sin of worry and anger, as well as other sins, continue. 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. 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter twelve God is for Us, which covers Romans 8:31-39.  My focus today is Romans 8:35-39, which my commentary refers to under the heading Who Can Separate Us.  In Romans 8, we see momentum building with regards to Paul's assurances for believers - we are not condemned, there are no charges that can be brought against us, we are assured salvation, we are adopted into God's family and are heirs to His inheritance, we are released from the law, we have the Holy Spirit, etc. - and now as we get to the end of chapter 8, Paul asks rhetorically whether we can be separated from God's love (v35).  He quotes Psalm 44:22, where the Psalmist seeks comfort from God during a period of exile (v36), and answers resoundingly "no" in v37-39. We should never doubt that God loves us - and during a period of trial this helps us see what God is doing in our lives - where the blessing is - as there is always a blessing.  We may not see it unfold in the trial but we can now it is there - and of course we know that our Heavenly bodies await us.  This is a great promise indeed!

My commentary sums it up nicely: "He does not promise us that life will be easy, but he promises to be with us. He promises that nothing will unfasten us from his love.  He promises to take us to glory." We are pointed to Psalms 23:6, which my commentary refers to as "[t]he Romans 8:31-39 of the Old Testament."

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Comment and discuss this post here.

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus - what an amazing promise and what an amazing God - Your promises are great and we can count on them all - as You are faithful!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a God or of how You bless me with Your promises.  My sin of worry, anger, etc. continues.  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.

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:34

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter twelve God is for Us, which covers Romans 8:31-39.  My focus today is Romans 8:34, which my commentary refers to under the heading Who Will Condemn Us. God wants to understand that we are not condemned and He is Judge - no one is able to bring a charge against us as believers have been cleared, justified, and seen as righteous in His eyes.  We have an Advocate like no other and He has interceded on our behalf.  My commentary wants us to see how this verse gives us great peace: "[t]his is a most comforting passage for the saints.  It is hard to imagine anything more peace giving than to know you are the subject of Christs intercessory prayers....When you stumble and fumble, remember that Christ is praying for you--unceasingly, fervently, and successfully."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing God You are intercede and pray for me - even when I don't pray at all or enough. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You intercede for me. My sin continues....worry, 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.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus.  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.

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

Romans 8

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:33

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter twelve God is for Us, which covers Romans 8:31-39.  My focus today is Romans 8:33, which my commentary refers to under the heading Who Can Bring a Charge Against Us. Even believers may falter in their faith with doubt - questioning what God has done for them.  Yet just as we see in Romans 8:1 where there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus", in v33 we see Paul explaining why this is the case.  If God is the Judge over all, and He is the ultimate arbiter of who is justified and condemned - and He has already deemed you justified - then case closed with no further proceedings.  No one can overturn this ruling - period!  This is great news!  My commentary describes how "[t]he accuser, Satan, will certainly try to accuse you, bringing up your sins and your past.  When this happens, you need to go back to the gospel and realize that the verdict has already been pronounced.  God has justified us through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). Therefore, we do not have to fear future condemnation." Amen!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and saved me!  Thank You Jesus for sealing me for Heaven!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time!  My sin is great and it continues - worry, 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.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter twelve God is for Us, which covers Romans 8:31-39.  My focus today is Romans 8:31-32, which my commentary refers to under the heading Who Can Be Against Us. Building on previous posts covering Romans 8, which highlight how we are released from the law, how we are alive in Christ, and how the Holy Spirit indwells us in us and give us power...power to endure through anything we may experience in our earthly bodies. Paul then challenges us to let it sink in...the power we have in Christ.  V31-32 encourages, in fact pushes us to fully recognize how God is not only for us, but how God gives us all things - this is not of course a shopping spree.  We should recognize how God equips us for the life we live - all the ups and downs. 

In terms of what Paul intends for "these things", my commentary discusses the various perspectives on how some scholars think Paul is referring to previously discussed topics in Romans 8, but others believe Paul is writing about all of the Romans letter.  Indeed, we cannot even begin to fathom even all of Romans 8 without first understanding the previous chapters. My commentary wants us to understand that "God is for us" and that we are not only equipped for trials but also to defend ourselves against Satan, and to get us to Heaven. God has not spared His Son Jesus, doing the hard thing, "then we can rest assured that he will also do the lesser or easier thing--'grant us everything'.  That is, he will give us everything necessary to get us to glory."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and it is awesome to know that You are for us!  Thank You Jesus!  What an incredible truth and promise!  I am not deserving of such a truth and promise.  My sin continues...daily.  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.  

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter eleven Future Glory, Present Help, which covers Romans 8:18-30.  My focus today is Romans 8:26-30, which my commentary refers to under the heading Help for Weak Saints. Here, Paul describes how the Holy Spirit, which indwells in believers, helps us "in our weakness" (v26). He knows both our pain and our thoughts and "intercedes" on our behalf even when we are unable to muster the words in prayer (v26-27). Paul also tells us that whatever suffering we do have (see post yesterday), "all things work together for good" (v28). We are also told that we are "predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son" (v29) and we can surmise that we are to suffer as Christ did.  Yet again we have this hope (again see post yesterday) because we are justified (v30) and as a result progressively glorified now (sanctification) until the day when we meet Jesus face-to-face (glorification complete) - v30.  The challenge for my reading today is v29b where Paul explains a result of being conformed to "the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."  John Piper writes that Paul includes this so that we recognize that "Christ died and rose from the dead as the firstborn of many siblings so that he would be seen and enjoyed by them and by others as preeminent, superior, gloriously great."

My commentary also refers to John Piper and wants us to see how Paul's words in v26-27 are there because Paul wants us to see how during suffering we groan because we don't know God's will and purpose of our suffering - but of course God IS working and for GOOD! My commentary also wants to not miss what is referred to as the "golden chain of salvation or redemption" in v29-30. We are also encouraged to see the "communal emphasis" of v29 in that we are not to "view [our] brothers and sisters [in Christ] from a human perspective but from [a] divine perspective."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are amazing God and I have seen You work in ALL things including my challenges, trials and difficulties - I know You are there, will never leave me and are always working for good. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me because my sin has been great and it continues to be great - worry, anger, etc. Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You and 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.

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Romans 8

And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter eleven Future Glory, Present Help, which covers Romans 8:18-30.  My focus today is Romans 8:18-25, which my commentary refers to under the heading Hope for Waiting Saints. Building on my post yesterday, where Paul refers to believers' inheritance "provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (8:17), Paul starts off writing how "sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."  Our future glorification, referenced by Paul, is something where believers should place their hope and we should recognize that all of creation will be made new, not just us - think about New Jerusalem as described in Revelation 21. 

My commentary writes that we should in the context of today's verses we should also consider 2 Corinthians 4:17-18:

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Seeing the "forest for the trees" in this way we are promised a fresh and hopeful perspective on our present day sufferings. We are encouraged to "[p]ush through the pain in order to experience the joy of glorious life to come." We must also see the "already, not yet" dimension of adoption (see post yesterday), where we have joy in union with Christ now in our present bodies, we will have much more so at glorification....so press on with hope!

Comment and discuss this post here. 

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I know You have saved a place for me in Heaven - thank You! I also know that Heaven will be a glorious place where I will find myself once again with other saints who have long past and gone Home to be with You. What a day it will be to see You face to face!  I am not deserving of such blessings and salvation.  I have sinned greatly and continue to - worry, 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 Your 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.