Romans 7 - 11.20.23
Scripture
Romans 7:21-25a NIV
“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!“
Observation-What does it say?
Here is a breakdown of this chapter based on Matthew Henry’s commentary on Christianity.com
Believers are united to Christ in order to produce fruit for God (vss.1-6).
The use and excellence of the law (vss. 7-13).
The spiritual conflicts between corruption and grace on a believer (vss. 14-25).
Basically, we cannot deliver ourselves from our sin nature! Only Jesus Christ can redeem and deliver us from sin. We are completely dependent on Christ for deliverance from sin.
Application-How can this apply to my life?
Admit our need and complete dependency on Christ for salvation and deliverance from sin. Point others to Christ not with our good works (which are filthy rags-Isaiah 64:6), but rather the work He did on the Cross for me and you.
Also, I want to point out that this chapter shows that it is possible to leave a life of sin behind, not to continue in it. We cannot use Paul’s words as an excuse to sin. Paul mentioned back in Romans 3:31, “Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.” Although we still get tempted and will never reach perfection until we get our glorified bodies in heaven, sin no longer has mastery over us if we are in Christ. When we admit defeat (in our flesh) and wholly surrender to Him and His will, we find deliverance.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for delivering me from my bondage to sin. Thank you that I no longer have to be a slave to it! You are worth more than the momentary pleasures that sin has to offer and I definitely don’t desire its consequences. I confess that I am powerless to defeat it without You. When tempted, help me Holy Spirit to put up boundaries, flee and take refuge in You alone. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
Romans 6 - 11.17.23
Scripture: Romans 6:22-23
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap is holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Observation:
I have read, quoted and heard sermons on verse 23 most of my life. However, this morning a couple new things stood out in the contrast between being a slave to sin and a slave to God.
Being a slave to God sets you free - Huh? We are free from the sin that entangles us and keeps us from all God has created us to be. Also, the employee benefit terms caught my eye. “The benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” God’s benefits are the best and what a retirement plan!
Lastly, the contrast of the wages of sin to the gift of God. Sin has us working hard trying to do, do, do. God has an incredible gift for us and the price was already paid by Jesus on the cross.
Application:
I want to live my life knowing God is my master. He has such a wonderful plan. I have a hope and future and can become more holy as I serve Him and can look forward to eternal life.
Praying:
Lord, as I go through this day and every day. May I be cognizant that I am working for you. You will provide what I need. May I also look to see who needs to be set free from sin and receive God’s gift. Amen
- Cindy Howard
Romans 5 - 11.16.23
SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:1-2a NIV
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
OBSERVATION:
In full disclosure, Romans happens to be the book of the Bible that I struggle with the most. There is so much “Meat” and “weight” throughout. It’s a Book that I could easily spend days researching and digging through commentaries on just one verse.
But—God kept leading me back to this—GRACE…
“….we have gained access by faith into this grace”
And it started me on a journey to ponder the many ways I have been blessed since God granted me access by Faith into this grace.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
APPLICATION:
Spending Time Today being Thankful for the Blessings of HIS Grace
So many times, I Will remember to Thank God for my Salvation, but rarely have I stopped to consider just how many ways HIS Grace impacts my daily life. How has “this Grace” changed my Life?
1. Access to God THROUGH Jesus 24/7 every single day! Jesus Tore the Curtain!
Prior to Jesus-Jews were kept from God’s Presence by a Veil in the Temple. Gentiles were kept out of the Temple all together by a Wall with a warning sign that threatened death to anyone who dared to trespass beyond the wall. I have access THROUGH Jesus-anytime for prayers, praise, and communing with God!
2. Jesus speaks to me as a His believer and I hear His Voice and Follow Him. Wow! I have intimate conversations with God.
3. Forgiveness of ALL my Sins! Jesus Paid my debt! When I received Him as my Savior HE cleansed me of ALL my unrighteousness and Now God sees me through the lens of Christ’s righteousness!
4. God gave me His Holy Spirit! When I received Jesus as my Savior God gave me the Same Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead! His Holy Spirit guides me, helps me understand scripture, equips me to be His Witness! AND is His seal as a Guarantee of my future in Heaven with Him! I’m going to SEE God face-to-face!
5. God’s LOVE is poured into my heart. This is personal. This plays out in many ways in my life. But Today I am thankful for how I experience God’s Love when I go through trials. Jesus says, “You WILL have tribulations in this world-but Take Courage!” Jesus is WITH us. His LOVE transforms every circumstance in my life to work for my Good! Trials work For believers not against them. Trials bring me closer to God and make me more like Him-building Christian Character.
Tribulation comes from the Latin word tribulum. A Tribulum was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it used for threshing grain—it separated the wheat from the chaff.
As we go through tribulations—and depend on God’s Grace—the trials purify us and help to get rid of the chaff.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus,
There are so many blessings of your presence that comes from Your Grace THROUGH Faith. I could keep going… I can lay my head down and sleep because You Lord make me dwell in safety. You are a Father to the Fatherless. You are Jehovah Jireh. You never leave me or forsake me.
I never need fear no matter what is going on in this troubled world-for your word says that even before we were born All of our days were laid out before YOU. Nothing ever happens out or your sight or apart from YOUR Perfect Will. May I simply have the faith and trust of a child. May I always have Thankfulness in my heart for your unending Love and Grace.
In Jesus Name, amen.
Tina L Kudelka