Romans 9-10

The overall theme in these two chapters is faith vs works. Do we live a life based on works to earn God's love, salvation and favor? Or do we rely on faith and trust in Him?

Let's establish the facts:

Jesus is God:

Romans 9:5 NIV Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

God is in control:

Romans 9:15 NIV For He says to Mose, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

We are not in control:

Romans 9:20-21 NIV But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, "Why did you make me like this?" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"

The Israelites and many other religions today boast about works for salvation:

Romans 9:30-33 NIV What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." (Emphasis mine)

We are saved by faith:

Romans 10:9-10 NIV That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Faith comes from the Word of God:

Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God is in control, we need not fear. You can belong to His family and rest in His protection by simply believing that Jesus died for our sins, was raised unto life. Hear the Word, let your faith grow, receive Him and live forever!

1 Corinthians 15

Besides the amazing basic facts that embody the Gospel, there is another point that impressed me. But first the facts:

1. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. The Perfect One took upon Himself all of our imperfections. We don't deserve this. But because of His Love and desire to re-establish a relationship with us, He unselfishly performed this most loving act.

2. He was buried and rose again on the third day. His Body never experienced decay as was foretold in the scriptures. (Acts 13:35)

3. He showed Himself to over 500 people. Witnesses - a powerful stamp of approval for the truth. Even Paul saw Him.

Jesus died for our sins, we are made righteous by His Blood. He has risen thus abolishing death once and for all. "Oh death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) We will see Him again and spend eternity with The One Whom I Love!

In this chapter Paul continues to show much humility. Here stands one of the greatest apostles of all time; enduring all types of persecutions and beatings, left to die, thrown out of towns, and yet he never quits. How many conversions can be credited to him? How many churches have received admonitions done in love? And yet he says about himself:

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and not even fit to be called an apostle because I persecuted God's church.

And then Paul explains who he really is:

1Corinthians 15:10 But by God's grace I am what I am, and his grace shown to me was not wasted. Instead, I worked harder than all the others-not I, of course, but God's grace that was with me.

I love how Paul truly gives credit where credit is due. I have noticed this theme throughout his letters. He does nothing, the Holy Spirit does it all. He is nothing, the Holy Spirit defines him. He gives glory where glory is due:

Peter says it perfectly:

1 Peter 4:11 Whoever speaks must speak God's words. Whoever serves must serve with the strength that God supplies, so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Glory and power belong to him forever and ever! Amen.

I love the fact that we can truly say, we are who we are by God's grace!

Galatians 5-6

Gal 5:19-21 ..Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft;
hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions and envy;
drunkenness, orgies, and the like;

So, how many did *you* tick off on the above list? If you're like me, the answer is too many (and even one is too many).

Gal 5:22-23 ..Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Well, I miss a few ticks on this list as well. I wish I had the full set, and I'm working towards it slowly...

Paul's message throughout Galatians, and stressed especially in chapters 5 and 6, is that we are saved by Grace. As an excellent Pastor once put it, "grace + NOTHING = salvation". God's grace is all we need, and there's nothing we can do to add to it. There are no levels of salvation; it's binary. Yes or No. On or Off. And once we've accepted it, there's nothing else we need to do. Paul's issue - and the reason he wrote to the churches in Galatia - is that there were Jews out there with a different (and incorrect) perspective. They were claiming that new Christians had to follow Jewish dietary laws, and be circumcised; thereby claiming that salvation was the result of grace plus works. Paul was a Jew - he knew all those rules - but he also understood the basis of his salvation, and he wasn't going to let anyone be led astray by wrong teachings.

By accepting the Holy Spirit into ourselves, we no longer want to do any of the list a the the top of this post, because we're hurting God. But if we do slip, we know that we're covered by Gods grace, and we will be forgiven. It truly is like a parents love for children; you love them for who they are, not for what they do, and no matter how much they hurt you, you never stop loving them.

It's such a simple message that it often gets lost in the theology of the Bible; You want salvation? Just ask! But no - people try to read all sorts of strange pet theories into the Bible; who can forget Eric Von Daniken's 1968 best seller 'Chariots of the Gods', claiming biblical proof that Jesus was a spaceman? There's someone who might be missing out on salvation..

We ourselves often forget to ask. It's like a couple driving to an unfamiliar restaurant. The husband wants to stop and ask for directions, whilst the wife insists that she knows where she is, and it's just around the corner*. They'll get there eventually - we hope - but they'll be hungry, and they'd have gotten there faster if only they'd asked for help. It's just like that with God's salvation.

* Identities changed to protect the innocent. But when we're in the car together, Kat rarely drives...

John 21

Chapter 21 is all about forgiveness and the commission of Peter.

Before Jesus died on the cross, Peter was shown to be weak. At the last supper, he had declared to Jesus 'I will lay down my life for you', yet while Jesus was on trial, Peter denied that he knew him - three times. When he realized that Jesus' prediction was true, he wept bitterly. But he didn't change inside; he isn't mentioned as being present at the crucifixion, perhaps because he was afraid of being recognized again.

Peter had seen Jesus several times subsequent to Jesus' resurrection, but he still hadn't taken steps to lead the disciples. He had gone back to fishing for fish, instead of fishing for men. Peter was probably feeling a bit worthless - in pain because he had lied, denied Jesus, and not even been there when He died. He had declared that he would lay down his life for Jesus, but when it came to it, he laid down tracks instead - fast ones, running away. Jesus was betrayed by Judas, but in Peter's eyes, Peter, also, had betrayed Jesus.

In John 21, Jesus appears again to his disciples, and after a fish breakfast, he asks Peter some questions;
1. Do you truly love me more than these?
2. Do you truly love me?
3. Do you love me?

Peter was getting a bit annoyed by the end of these questions; "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him, and Peter answered three times, Yes. This is in direct contrast to the three times that Peter denied Jesus on the night before he died. Each confirmation that Peter loved Jesus cancelled out one of the denials of Jesus, and Jesus forgave Peter, and asked him to "Follow me!"

Would Jesus also have forgiven Judas? I believe that he would. Judas was essential to the plans of God, and was acting under the influence of Satan. Judas took his own life in remorse for his actions; if he hadn't, and had eventually met the resurrected Christ, I believe that forgiveness would have been offered, and accepted.

John 13-15

The Book of John is one of my favorites of the Bible. I learn so much about Jesus and His love for us. It inspires me!

13:23 There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

That is such a beautiful picture. I can't tell you how many times I've imagined leaning against Jesus' bosom and just chatting with Him, knowing that He loves me and enjoys the intimacy of our relationship! Once, I leaned against Him crying my soul out, and I felt His arms (a total encompassing warmth) envelop me.

13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another even as I have loved you, that you also love on another.

Ponder that for a few moments. How did Jesus love His disciples? With an agape love! That is a forgiving, unconditional, all-encompassing love. He loved the sinners which means we are to love the sinners. Not the sin! He abhorred and corrected the sin, but it did not stop His love for them. Are we able to do that? Can we forgive and go on still loving the person who has hurt us? Didn't Peter hurt his Best Friend when he denied Him three times? But Jesus still loved Peter, and even gave him a special commission in Chapter 21 when he was told to feed His sheep and follow Him. For more on forgiving and continuing in a love relationship, go to And Now I Must Forgive.

Jesus also showed His love by serving. He did not come to be served, but to serve. Are you waiting to be served, or are you waiting to serve? :)

13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Another very strong scripture. When we truly love one another, then ALL men will know that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Do you fight back when someone hurts or humiliates you? Do you think about revenge? Do you show love to the homeless or are you above them? Your actions of love are the greatest testimony of Jesus Christ for the lost to see! Even when Jesus was dying on the cross, He asked forgiveness from the Father for those who had done all those horrors to Him. Ask God to develop in you an agape love in you for others, and see what God can do!

14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."

Only one way... through Jesus. Nothing more can be added to this, because this truth is simple. Only through Jesus Christ can we go the Father. There is no other way.

14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

True! I've experienced this! As we read, study and ponder the Bible, living Words are deposited into us. Countless times the Helper has reminded me of a scripture during a situation where His help was needed. Had I not studied, then what can He remind me of? He is faithful in teaching us ALL things.

14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

What peace do we find in the world? Financial security? Possessions? Spouse? Children? Fame? These are not His peace that He is talking about. His peace is that He is God; He knows all about you. Once you've given your life over to Him and given him Lordship over it, He leads you and guides your paths. You need not fear or be troubled. His promises are true: He will provide for you (Matthew 6:31-34). He will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). He will keep you in perfect peace if you trust Him, keeping your mind on Him (Isaiah 26:3). The one I like best?

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God...

That is powerful! You can be still, because you know He is God. Do you know it?

15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

He is the vine, the nourishment, the sustenance comes from Him to the us the branches. Without Him, we wither and die. When we abide in Him, that is live virtually united to Him, then we bear much fruit. Apart from Him we can do nothing. He feeds us through His Word, the more nourishment we take in, the more fruit we can bear for HIS Glory. Not ours! :) Those who partake of our fruit, will then be able to glorify God.

Consider this: Suppose you've been studying the love chapter exclusively for some time. Praying it, pondering it, asking God for His Wisdom in it, and you come across a situation where you show that patient love, the recipient receives it with wonder. It's not often that this person will see this type of love in the world. He may ask you where you came across it. You then share and He becomes a Believer. It's happened to me - it can happen to you!

Again He commands that we love one another just as He has loved us in 15:12.