Romans 6:1-14 My Study Bible just opened my eyes a bit. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 form a unit. Chapter 6 is about the believer’s freedom from sin; chapter 7 is freedom from the Law’s condemnation, and chapter 8 is life in the power of the Holy Spirit. So today the focus is sin and …
Author Archives: Fred
June 18 / Romans 5:12-20
Romans 5:12-20 …for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (v. 13) This is an intriguing statement. The Law is not given in Scripture until Exodus 20, yet there is plenty of “sin” in Genesis, for example, Sodom and Gomorrah; Judah …
June 17 / Romans 5:1-11
Romans 5:1-11 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (vv. 1-2, NASB) It’s easy to miss two key words …
June 16 / Romans 4:13-25
Romans 4:13-25 It is hard to follow Paul’s argument, but I will try to highlight some items: Abraham believed (had faith) and he was reckoned by God as righteous. Abraham did not have the Law. That came hundreds of years later with Moses. Abraham was circumcised, but 13 or more years after he was reckoned …
June 15 / Romans 4:1-12
Romans 4:1-12 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (v.3) Paul makes a strong case that Abraham was found righteous by faith (Genesis 15:6, quoted above) while he was still uncircumcised. In the next chapter, Genesis 16:16 puts Abraham at age 86 when Ishmael was …
June 14 / Romans 3:21-31
Romans 3:21-31 An aside: …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (v. 23). I currently use this verse citation as a password for one of my computer apps. The application requires passwords to contain an upper-case letter, a lower-case letter, a number and a special character. Using Bible verses supports …
June 13 / Romans 3:9-20
Romans 3:9-20 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all… (v. 9a, NASB) This verse strikes me in a number of ways. Debbie commented on yesterday’s reading as to our “levels of sin”, comparing our sins to others’ sins. I’m not a murderer, I’m not a rapist…, etc.! But what we are, every …
June 12 / Romans 3:1-8
Romans 3:1-8 Verse 7 is somewhat confusing: But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? First, let’s take it out of the first-person tense. That is, I don’t think Paul is singling himself out. I think he could just as well have said, …
June 11 / Romans 2:17-29
Romans 2:17-29 A fairly easy read today… If it’s not an easy read, maybe you need another translation! Paul is talking to Jews in today’s reading, even though most of the people in Rome who will receive this letter are Gentiles. He is comparing Jews and Gentiles, by focusing on what he knows as an …
June 10 / Romans 2:1-16
Romans 2:1-16 Archbishop Beach has a daily devotional, “A Word from the Lord” (https://awftl.podbean.com/). In today’s devotional he quotes from our reading today! It’s worth reading, but I’m not going to repeat it here. I’d rather you read it yourself! However, one point that he does make… “You can become cocky and arrogant in your …