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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 344

Dec10

   Day 344—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 344 – Romans 11 – 13 (Israel: remnant & olive tree, a living sacrifice, gifts of Spirit, submission & honor to authorities)

Romans 11.

Still writing about his people, Paul tells the Corinthians that God has not forsaken or rejected Israel. He has kept a remnant (like Paul) for salvation, but the rest have hardened hearts, blind eyes, and deaf ears. They have stumbled on the rock, which is Jesus the Messiah.

Their hardheartedness opened the way for the Gentiles to receive God’s salvation. Paul hopes it will also make them jealous and cause them to return to their God.

Paul also cautions the Gentiles not to become proud, for as God removed some natural branches of the Olive tree, which is Israel, to “graft” them in, He can also remove the grafted branches.

“Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you (Gentiles), provided you continue in His kindness.”  Paul further cautions them, “Lest you be wise in your own eyes, I want you to understand this mystery: a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in.  And, in this way, all Israel will be saved.”

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!”

Romans 12.

Paul then appeals to the Corinthian believers to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewable of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Paul tells them that they are ONE body with MANY members who do not have the same function in the body of Christ. He then lists some of the gifts of the Spirit that have been given to them separately. They are to USE them.

  • prophecy, in proportion to their faith
  • service, in serving one another.
  • teaching
  • exhorting
  • contributing with generosity
  • leadership, with zeal
  • acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

(Compare these with the gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 & 14)

The marks of every TRUE CHRISTIAN are:

  • genuine love,
  • honoring each other,
  • fervency in Spirit,
  • service to the Lord,
  • rejoicing in hope,
  • patience in tribulation,
  • constancy in prayer,
  • generosity in giving,
  • showing hospitality,
  • living in harmony with each other,
  • associating with the lowly,
  • repaying no one evil for evil,
  • living peaceably with everyone.

All Christians should show these traits.  (Seriously, this list is so good for all of us to ponder!!)

Romans 13,

Paul charges them to “be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist WILL incur judgment.” 

(Whoa, this is absolutely appropriate for today!!)

Rulers are NOT a terror to good conduct, but to bad. If you do wrong…BE AFRAID.  He is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.  PAY YOUR TAXES, for the authorities are ministers of God.  “Pay to all what is owed to them;  TAXES to whom taxes are owed, REVENUE to whom revenue is owed, RESPECT to whom respect is owed, HONOR to whom honor is due.”

OWE NO ONE ANYTHING except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, it fulfills the law.

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and made no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 342-343

Dec9

   Days 342 & 343—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.  NOTE:  Sunday & Monday studies are posted together on MONDAYS.

Day 342 – Romans 4 – 7 (Paul continues on with the Gospel of faith, the law, sin, and justification)

Romans 4.

Paul ended chapter 3 by saying BOTH the circumcised (Jews) and uncircumcised (Gentiles) are justified (considered righteous by God) through faith.  Now, he takes a closer look at the Law. Is it considered useless?

Scripture clearly states that Abraham was “counted as righteous” by God because of his faith. However, he was later circumcised. So which is it? Both. Abraham’s later circumcision was a “sign” or “seal” of the righteousness he already had by faith.  The purpose of BOTH is so that Jews AND Gentiles alike can be counted in God’s promise of blessing to “all nations.”

Romans 5.

Justified believers have peace with God through Jesus. And the Holy Spirit pours His love into our hearts. “God shows His love for us in that, while we were still sinners (weak and ungodly), Christ died for us. And since we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.“

Paul now illustrates our innate sinfulness and imputed righteousness, using the two “men,” Adam and Christ. He says that all men received the curse of sin in their lives through ONE MAN, Adam, with his sin against God. And, with our sinful nature, death reigned. But in another ONE MAN, Christ, we died to that sin, were “buried with Him,” and raised to new, eternal life.  With the one man, Adam, we received death, but with the one man, Christ, we received an abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness.

Romans 6.

Then, should we continue in sin?  No way! The one who has “died to sin” has been set free from sin. So, we are to “consider ourselves dead to sinning” and not allow it to reign in our bodies.  “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.”

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

Romans 7.

Although believers are “dead to the Law” through the body of Christ, who was raised from the dead, the law is still good.  It points out our sins and makes us hate them. “For I do not understand my own actions. I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. If I do what I do NOT want, I agree with the law, which is good. It reveals the sin living in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me (in my flesh). I desire to do what is right but I do not have the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing! But it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

“I delight in the law of God – in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin.  WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?

Oh, thanks be to GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Day 343 – Romans 8 – 10 (Paul describes Christian life, God’s sovereignty, Salvation to all)

Romans 8.

“There is, therefore, now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” — (The mountain peak of Romans.)

God did what humanity could not do – save themselves from the wrath of God on sin. He sent His own Son in the likeness of human flesh for sin and condemned HIM so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in US.  

Any of us “in the flesh” cannot please God.

We are NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF, IN FACT, the Spirit of God dwells in us.  

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 

“And the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ….provided we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him”

Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit helps believers when they do not know how to pray.  He intercedes for the saints according to God’s will.  And “we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.“

Paul also tells the order of salvation:  foreknowledge – predestination – calling – justification – glorification.

God is FOR us. He didn’t spare His own Son for us.  So now, who can condemn us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ?   

Paul says, “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.”  WOW!

Romans 9.

Paul then confesses his great concern, increasing anguish, and love for his own Jewish people.  He claims he would be willing to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” for their sake.  He lists all these privileges they have had: 

  1. the adoption
  2. the glory
  3. the covenants
  4. the giving of the law
  5. the worship
  6. the promises
  7. the patriarchs
  8. and, from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah, the Christ! 

But it is not as if the Word of God failed. Not all the descendants of Abraham are Israel; only those through Isaac and then Jacob/Israel.) 

Then Paul explains God’s sovereignty through his purpose of ELECTION.  No, there is NO INJUSTICE on God’s part.  He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  

God has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens the hearts of whomever He wills. 

You might think this unfair.

You may ask, ‘Why does He still find fault? Who can resist his will?”

Paul answers sharply.

“But who are YOU, O man, to answer back to God?  Will what is molded say to the molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy?

Although the number of the sons of Israel is as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved.  Why?  Because they did not pursue righteousness BY FAITH but by their own works. 

Romans 10.

“Brothers! My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved!

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified; with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.

EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME! There is no distinction between JEW and GREEK, for the same Lord is over all people.  For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Beautiful are “the feet” of those sent to preach the Gospel, for “the faith to call on His name” comes from hearing the Word of Christ. 

And yet, “All day long, I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (God says to Isaiah in 65:1-2.)

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 341

Dec7

   Day 341—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 341 – Romans 1 – 3 (Paul writes, the doctrine of salvation by faith alone, all are guilty sinners, God’s righteous judgment, justification through Christ)

Paul writes this letter to the Roman church while still in Corinth, waiting to collect their offering for Jerusalem. He’s always wanted to visit Rome, but it’s been impossible so far, so he writes this meaty letter.

He wrote to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. His letter to the Romans also introduced him to them when God eventually allowed him to visit. 

Romans 1.

In the first (very long) sentence, Paul identifies himself and his ministry, capsulizes the gospel, and includes the church at Rome as those called to belong to Jesus Christ.

He thanks God for them because “all the world” has heard about their faith. They have been in his prayers, and Paul has been asking God to allow him to come to them. He wants to be mutually encouraged by them. He’s also eager to preach the Gospel to them.

His statement of faith is very familiar. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

He talks about the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth.  All are without excuse, for God’s invisible attributes have been clearly perceived in the world since creation.  Yes, all knew God, but they did not honor Him as God or give Him thanks. So God darkened their understanding and gave them up to impurity and dishonorable passions. The list of these passions is long, twenty-one in all. (Verses 29-31) They would be good for each of “us” to consider, too.

And not only did ungodly men DO these things, but they approved and applauded others doing them.

Romans 2.

Paul then knuckles down about God’s righteous judgment on men like these, who have hardened and unrepentant hearts. Each will receive according to their deeds. Those who seek to honor God He will give eternal life. Those who are self-seeking and disobedient will receive God’s wrath and fury.  And it doesn’t matter whether a person is Jew or Gentile. 

Don’t depend on being “instructed in The Law,” for some Gentiles obey God’s laws without even knowing them.  You Jews, be sure you practice what you teach. 

Romans 3.

Paul continues, “Yes, there are advantages of being a Jew. To begin with, God entrusted Jews with His Word and His directions on how to live righteously.  But are Jews better off than Gentiles?  Not at all!  Jews and Gentiles alike are ALL under sin and need to be saved by God’s grace.

“NONE is righteous, no, not ONE; no one understands; no one seeks for God. ALL have turned aside; TOGETHER they have become worthless; no one does good, not even ONE.” (Psalm 14:1-3 and 53:1-3)about 

So, whether under the law (Jews) or outside the law (Gentiles), none are justified in themselves. However, NOW, God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the law through faith in Jesus Christ.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His GRACE as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God put Him forward as a propitiation (an appeasement) by His blood, to be received by faith.”  

This clearly shows that God is JUST in punishing sin while JUSTIFYING the sinner who has faith in Jesus. And so, no one can boast about themselves.

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 338

Dec4

   Day 338—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 338 – 2 Corinthians 1 – 4 (Greetings, comfort, delayed coming, forgiving, preaching, Gospel ministers)

This letter follows quite a bit of going and writing to Corinth. Here’s a bit of history. 

  1. Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, living and working with Aquila and Priscilla, preaching and planting the church. 
  2. While in Ephesus, he heard of gross immorality and sent them a confrontational letter (which was lost). 
  3. He then hears about divisions splitting the church and receives a letter from them asking him to clarify some do’s and don’ts.
  4. Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address this, sending it with Timothy. 
  5. News from Timothy describes the arrival of a group of false apostles who “dis” Paul and divide the church. 
  6. Paul immediately goes to Corinth for what is known as “the painful visit.” It was not successful.
  7. After returning to Ephesus, Paul writes what is known as “the severe letter.”  He sends this one to Corinth with Titus (also lost).
  8. After the “silversmith riot” in Ephesus, Paul goes to Troas. Even though there is an open door for ministry there, Paul is too concerned about the Corinthian church to stay.  He leaves for Macedonia (Philippi), hoping to meet Titus there. Titus has good news. The church at Corinth has repented. 
  9. Paul then writes this letter (2 Corinthians) to express his relief, defend his apostleship, and confront any false prophets still there.
  10. Later, he goes to Corinth to pick up their offering for the destitute in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 1.

You can hear Paul’s joy in “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings we suffer.  Our hope for you is unshaken….”

2 Corinthians 2.

 After getting the good news about the Corinthian church from Titus, he exclaims, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”

And, in defense of his own ministry, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 3.

 Paul praises them for being “his” letter of recommendation to others, written not with ink but “with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.”

Paul wants them to go on, then to the higher things of the Lord. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

2 Corinthians 4.

Paul explains the difference between his ministry and that of the false Apostles.  “Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 337

Dec3

   Day 337—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 337 – 1 Corinthians 15 – 16 (Resurrection of Jesus and believers, Offerings for the needy, End talk)

1 Corinthians 15.

Paul now addresses another problem in Corinth. Some had stopped believing in the physical resurrection of the Lord and of those who died (or will die).

He reminds them that at their conversion, when he was first in Corinth, they had believed in the Gospel, which teaches how Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY, all according to the Scriptures.  Paul then mentions many who SAW the resurrected Jesus: the disciples, 500 followers, James, and at last, Paul himself.

Therefore, if “Christ raised from the dead” is part of the Gospel that saved them, how can they question it?  Indeed, their faith is in VAIN if Christ has not been raised.

He tells them again that Jesus is the FIRST FRUITS of the resurrection.  He first, then all who believe shall be made alive at His coming.

The Corinthians also asked what a resurrection body is like.  Paul reminded them of growing plants.  You plant a withered, brown seed in the ground, and in due time, a glorious, fruitful plant grows. And so, a dead body is sown in dishonor, weakness, and natural form. At the coming of the Lord Jesus, it will be raised in glory and power as a spiritual body. “Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the Man of heaven (Jesus).”

It’s a mystery, Paul agrees, but flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.  We will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet sound.  The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. When that happens, it will fulfill Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14.

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 16.

Now for the mundane.  Paul is heading to Jerusalem with an offering for destitute believers in the famine-stricken city. He has already collected from Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia, but now he asks them again. They were to put aside money on the first of every week, and when he arrived, he would collect it all.  It was to be a free-will offering of love.

He says a few words about their beloved teacher, Apollos, who will return to them again when he has the opportunity. Meanwhile, they are to be watchful, standing firm in the faith. He reminds them of what he said in chapter 13, that all they do should be done in LOVE.

He sends greetings from all the churches in Asia, and from Aquila and Priscilla (who were there when he first planted the church). He gives his final blessing: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 334

Nov30

   Day 334—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 334 – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8 (Paul teaches/corrects the Corinthians on immorality, lawsuits, marriage, and food)

1 Corinthians 5.

Paul calls them to task about reports he’s heard concerning flagrant immorality in the church.  “This is NOT Christian FREEDOM, but devilish sin.”

Paul then instructs them “not to associate with anyone who bears the name of “brother” if he is guilty of sexual immorality, greed, idolatry, drunkenness or swindling…. no, not even to eat with such a one.”  

1 Corinthians 6.

Another grievance Paul has is about them taking each other to court about minor wrongs done. He asks if there is not some WISE brother who could mediate between the parties.  After all, Paul reminds them, believers will one day judge ANGELS!!  It would be better to suffer wrong than go to the world’s court system with problems in the church. What kind of testimony is that?? He urges them not to be obstinate in such matters.

Paul then lists again the sins they were ALL involved in before they were saved. But now they are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God!  (So act like that!)

He reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are members of Christ. Should they take “Christ’s body” with them into gross sin?  Don’t they realize that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them??  Glorify God in your body! he urges them.

1 Corinthians 7.

Then Paul discusses marriage, singleness, divorce/widowhood, and unbelieving mates. His own opinion is that everyone should stay single as he is so they can be free to do ministry anywhere, anytime. But he knows God has ordained marriage, and there is nothing wrong with it. He urges widows to remain single. However, those with unbelieving mates should not separate for that reason alone.  After all, that spouse may become a believer from the other’s example and testimony.

In conclusion, “let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him/her.” He says the same about other situations. If uncircumcised or a slave, don’t seek circumcision or to be freed. In whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 

Returning to marriage, Paul says the same. “In view of the present distress (the appointed time has grown very short and the present form of the world is passing away),” it is good to marry if betrothed but otherwise remain single.  And if widowed, don’t remarry.  (This last part Paul admits is his opinion, but he “thinks he has the Spirit’s advice too.”

1 Corinthians 8.

Paul again turns to foods with more details, particularly those offered first to idols. (This was part of pagan false worship.) As mature believers, we know that all foods are okay to eat. The problem is, if an immature brother with a weak conscience sees you eating it, he may be conflicted, and it may cause him to sin in his heart if he too partakes along with you.

So, Paul’s advice is: if you are alone or with mature fellow believers, eat up and enjoy, for you are no part of pagan worship.  HOWEVER, if new believers recently out of that culture are eating with you, refrain for their conscience’s sake.  “If food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble,”

(More on this tomorrow.)

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 328 & 329

Nov25

    Day 328 & 329—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

NOTE: Sunday and Monday readings are posted together on Mondays.

Day 328 – Galatians 1 – 3 (Paul, Gospel v Law, Faith v works)

Galatians 1.

Paul writes to the churches he and Barnabas established on their first missionary journey. Paul establishes his authority by relating God’s choice, His revelation to Paul, and commission for his ministry at his conversion.

He is astonished that they have turned back to depending on the works of the law, from the faith in Jesus that he taught. Are they seeking man’s approval, or God’s?

Galatians 2.

Paul continues to give his testimony, how he spoke before the leaders in Jerusalem about Gentiles needing (or not needing!) to be circumcised to be saved. They agreed it was NOT necessary. Both Peter and John agreed and entrusted him with the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Nevertheless, some false brothers were still spreading this error.  Even Simon Peter got a bit carried away with it, and Paul had to admonish him.

Paul states that, although a Jew by birth, he knows a person is NOT justified by works of the law (circumcision in this case) but through faith in Christ Jesus.  Paul says that he “died” to the law so he might “live” to God.  “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  If righteousness were through the LAW, Christ died for no purpose.”

Galatians 3.

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”  Then Paul asks them a series of questions that have obvious answers.

1) Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

2) Are you so foolish?

3) Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

4) Did you suffer so many things in vain, if indeed it was in vain?

5) Does he who supplies the Spirit in you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or by hearing of faith (like with Abraham who believed God and was counted righteous)?

No one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 10:38)  Christ redeemed us from the ‘curse of the law’ by becoming a curse for us (He hung on a tree. (Deut. 21:23)).  So, in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles (all nations will be blessed through Abraham’s offspring – Jesus.).

Why then, the law? They might ask.  Because of transgressions!  “The law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all ONE in Christ Jesus. And if you are in Christ, then you (Gentiles) are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

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Day 329 – Galatians 4 – 6 (Sons v slaves, Hagar v Sarah, Freedom Works of flesh v Fruit of Spirit, Burdens)

Galatians 4.

Paul continues the illustration/allegory from Abraham’s life, using his two sons, Ishmael & Isaac, and their mothers, Hagar & Sarah, as examples of the “flesh” and the “spirit.”  The way the Galatians were trying to “earn” their salvation through circumcision and other works of the law was like Hagar and Ishmael. Paul urges them to be people of faith alone, as illustrated by Sarah and Isaac.  Be a true “son,” in which God has sent His Spirit to live.

Galatians 5.

Paul proclaims that through Christ, they have been “set free” from the burden of the law, which he calls the yoke of slavery. He urges them NOT to return to bearing that yoke.

As true children of God, they are free, but, they are not to use that freedom for the flesh. Let LOVE guide their every thought, word, and action.  “WALK by the Spirit,” he says, “and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.”  Then Paul lists fifteen appalling “works of the flesh,” including sexual immorality, idolatry, jealousy, drunkenness, etc. for them to avoid.

Alternately, the fruit of the Spirit is nine-fold; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  There is NO LAW against these, and those who are Christ’s exhibit them.

Galatians 6.

Paul teaches how the Galatians should act/react to those who continue in sin: restore them in a spirit of gentleness, testing their own motives and actions.

Those who are taught should share all good things with their teacher (supporting those who minister to them financially).   In fact, they are to do good to everyone, especially fellow believers.

In conclusion, Paul returns to the topic of circumcision, saying, “Neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.”  

“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.  From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear in my body the marks of Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 327

Nov23

    Day 327—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 327 – Acts 15 – 16 (Jerusalem Council, Letters, Paul/Barnabas argue, Silas & Timothy, Macedonia, Lydia, Prison)

Acts 15.

Some Pharisees believers caused trouble by going to Antioch and teaching the new Gentile converts that they needed to be circumcised according to Mosaic custom as a part of salvation. Paul and Barnabas object and head to Jerusalem to have a conference with the elders.

Both sides present their cases. Peter eventually stands up and recounts his experience with the Roman Centurion and his household. “God bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Why are we now putting God to the test by placing the yoke of the law on them? We are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”  Paul and Barnabas relate the signs and wonders done among the Gentiles in their ministry, too.

Then, James, the leader of the Council, quotes Zechariah 8:20-23 about salvation being a ‘light to the Gentiles.’  All agree that the Gentiles should have no greater burden required of them except that which would disrupt unity.  Letters would be sent to the churches that they should 1) abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, 2) abstain from sexual immorality, and 3) abstain from eating things strangled and from blood.  (These things all were a part of their former pagan worship.) 

All agreed. Judas Barsabbas and Silas were sent with a letter to the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.  The letter was well received. Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word. Judas and Silas also encouraged and strengthened the brethren with many words.

Then Paul decided to “return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word and see how they are.”  Barnabas thought it a great idea and wanted to take John Mark with them again. (They were cousins.)  Paul strongly objected, and there was a sharp disagreement between them.

God used this to organize TWO missionary teams. Barnabas took John Mark and left for Cyprus.  Paul chose Silas and went by land through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches.

Acts 16.

When Paul and Silas came to Lystra and Derbe, they met a young disciple named Timothy. The young man was half Jew (mother) and half Gentile (father). His believing mother and grandmother had taught him the scriptures thoroughly, and all had been saved during Paul’s first journey there.  The lad had not been circumcised, probably because of his Gentile father.  And Paul did an unusual thing, especially thinking of the recent Council in Jerusalem. After inviting Timothy to join his team and travel with him, he circumcised him.  Say what??  Why?

Everybody in the synagogue (where he and his mom and grandma attended) knew about his Greek father and that he hadn’t taken the step to join the Jewish community.  And since Paul’s permanent personal rule was to go to the town’s synagogue (the Jews) FIRST with the message of salvation, he saw that an uncircumcised Jewish lad might be a problem with unity.  It doesn’t seem that Timothy objected at all. 

So the 3-man team went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia. Paul attempted to lead them into Asia but was prevented by the Holy Spirit.  When they arrived at Troas (a port city) Paul had a vision of a man across the Sea in Macedonia calling to him for help.  He decided that it was in Macedonia that God was calling them to preach the gospel.  At this point, Dr. Luke (the book’s narrator) joined the team. (Nope, we don’t know the details.)

They set sail and docked at Samothrace and Neapolis before finally disembarking at Philippi, a leading city in the area AND a Roman colony.  On the Sabbath, they went outside the gate to the riverside where they’d heard there was a place of prayer.  They sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. One, named Lydia, a wealthy woman who sold valuable purple material was a worshiper of God. The Lord “opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul said.”  She became a believer and was baptized, as well as her household.  She invited the missionary team to come and stay at her house. 

One time, as they were going to that place of prayer, they were met by a demon-possessed girl slave. Her owners made much money by her fortune-telling.  She followed the mission team and kept crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.”  Now, those words were true (demons have to speak truth in the presence of the Holy Spirit). Paul did not want their witness.  Besides, the crowds probably thought she was talking about the Greek/Roman god Zeus. 

“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her! Paul demanded.

The demon had to come out, but the girl’s owners were VERY DISPLEASED.  There went their income.  They grabbed Paul and Silas, dragged them before the magistrates, and accused them of disturbing the peace. The crowd started attacking them, too (mob rule).  The magistrates ripped off their clothes and beat Paul and Silas, then threw them into prison with stocks on their feet.  Whoa!

But…. Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns while the other prisoners listened.  Suddenly an earthquake happened. Their stocks fell off, the prison doors opened, and all the prisoners’ bonds were unfastened.  When the jailer came in, he was terrified that they all had escaped and was about to take his own life.  But Paul stopped him, saying that they all were still there. He then went on to preach the Gospel. (The jailor had said, “What must I do to be saved?”)  Paul told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and he’d be saved.

The man and his whole house believed. The jailor took Paul and Silas, washed their wounds, and fed them. Paul then baptized them all. 

The next day, the magistrates sent police to let Paul and Silas go. BUT Paul refused to go secretly. He claimed his Roman citizenship which terrified the leaders.  To whip and imprison a Roman citizen without a trial was a deadly error.  So, they, at Paul’s request, came personally to them and apologized. They politely asked them to leave the city. 

When they left prison, Paul and Silas (and the others) visited Lydia, saw the other believers, and encouraged them. THEN they left Philippi. 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 324

Nov20

    Day 324—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 324 – Acts 11 – 12 (Peter reports to the church, Antioch church, James killed, Peter arrested, Herod)

Acts 11.

After Peter’s astonishing experience with the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, he heard of rumbling from the apostles in Jerusalem about Gentiles, so he went there and told the complete story. He told about the vision with “unclean” animals in a sheet descending from heaven and how God told him to kill and eat them. He told them about the men who Cornelius sent, and how, after going to the Centurion’s house, the Holy Spirit fell on the people there as it had on them at Pentecost.

“If then God gave the same gift to them, as He gave to us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”  When they heard this, they stopped complaining.  “Glory to God! To the Gentiles, then, has God also granted repentance that leads to life.

And so the hand of the Lord was upon the Gentiles and Hellenists of Phoenicia, Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. This report came to the apostles in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check it out.  When he saw the grace of God at work, he was glad and exhorted them to faithfulness. He also went to nearby Tarsus and brought back Saul to help teach the people. The two stayed there a whole year. And it was at Antioch that the disciples of Jesus were first called “Christians.”

Then, a prophet came from Jerusalem to Antioch and foretold of a great famine coming in the days of Claudius.  So these new “Christians” collected an offering and sent it to the brothers in Judea by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12.

About that time, King Herod Agrippa 1 laid violent hands on believers.  He killed the disciple James, the brother of John, with the sword (beheaded).  When he saw it pleased the Jewish leaders, he also arrested Peter during Passover, intending to do the same to him. He put Peter in prison with TWO chains between TWO guards. (Didn’t he know that Peter worked in THREES??)  Meanwhile, the church made EARNEST PRAYER to God for Peter.

The night before his execution, an angel of the Lord came to Peter in the jail cell. He punched him in the side to awaken him, saying, “Get up quickly!”  Immediately, the chains fell off Peter. “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.  Wrap your cloak around yourself and follow me.”  Peter obeyed, thinking it was all a dream.  But, after the prison doors opened before them, like grocery store doors, and Peter found himself outside in the street, he realized it was real.

Quickly, he went to John Mark’s mother’s house, where believers met and prayed. He knocked at the locked door, and a servant girl, Rhoda, came to answer.  When she learned it was Peter, she was so excited that she ran to tell the others, leaving Peter standing outside.  They quickly remedied that and brought Peter inside. In whispers, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers,” he said, then went to another place.

(NOTE: He wanted them to tell James, the brother of Jesus, who was becoming the leader of the Jerusalem church, and NOT the disciple of Jesus, John’s brother, who had just been martyred.)

The next day, Herod sent for Peter to execute him, but they found him gone, vanished, with no explanation from the guards.  THEY were killed instead for negligence in letting a prisoner escape. Herod searched for Peter everywhere, but he could not be found.

Disgruntled or embarrassed, Herod left Judea and stayed in Caesarea awhile.  Herod took out his anger on the people north of him in Tyre and Sidon. They came and begged for peace.  On the day they came before him, Herod – dressed in his finest royal robes – sat on his throne and delivered a fancy speech to them. Trying to ingratiate themselves with him, the people shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”  

The arrogant king did not deny the adulation or give GOD the glory.  Because of this, God struck him down and he was eaten by worms as he breathed his last.  Gulp!

But… the word of God increased and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them.

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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 323

Nov19

    Day 323—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 323 – Acts 9 – 10 (Saul persecutes, Saul saved & commissioned, Peter heals Aeneas & Dorcus, Peter & Cornelius/gentiles)

Acts 9.

Saul, an extreme Pharisee and keeper of every letter of the Law, is out to punish or kill anyone whom he believes is NOT keeping it. The new growing group of believers in Christ seems to be the biggest threat, so he wildly runs to and fro, jailing them and killing them, with the total agreement of the religious leaders.  Believers flee Jerusalem for safety and to fulfill Jesus’ command to take the Good News to the surrounding areas and the world.

With papers of authority to the synagogues to arrest any he found of “The Way,” Saul charges towards Damascus. But on the way, Jesus stops him with a blinding vision and a direct word. Jesus identifies with His followers when He asks Saul, “Why are you persecuting Me?” Saul, having been thrown to the ground and now blind, asks who the voice is. Jesus identifies Himself and tells Saul to go into the city and wait.

He obeys and spends three blind days praying (and perhaps receiving clarity about the Scriptures he sought to protect and how they related to Jesus as the Messiah, much like the two on the road to Emmaus).  Then, a believer named Ananias fearfully obeys God, comes to Saul, and touches his eyes. Saul’s blindness leaves and the Holy Spirit enters his soul.  He is immediately baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah.

Full of the Holy Spirit and the corrected teaching of the Law concerning Jesus, Saul immediately starts proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues in Damascus, saying, “Jesus is the Son of God.”  At first the people could not believe he was the same man whose threats they feared. But Saul increased in wisdom concerning the Scriptures, proving that Jesus was the Christ, and they embraced him.

Now, of course, it is Saul whose life is in danger from the Jews. And the believers smuggle him out of the city at night in a basket let down over the wall.

(NOTE:  This may be when Saul spent three years in Arabia, studying and receiving direct revelation from God about Jesus in the Scriptures, preparing him to go to the Gentiles with the Good News. See Galatians 1:11-17)

Next, Saul goes to Jerusalem and attempts to join the disciples, but they are still fear him. Barnabas – that “son of encouragement” – takes Saul under his wing and vouches for him. So Saul boldly preaches the Good News and disputes with the very Hellenists in the synagogue he’d belonged to. But they seek to kill him, as they had done to Stephen, so the brothers send him back to his hometown of Tarsus in Cilicia, where he ministers for years.   And the church multiplies.

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Meanwhile, Peter is ministering along the coast at Lydda. He preaches to the believers there and heals a man who’d been crippled for eight years, causing many more to turn to the Lord.

Next, he goes north to Joppa and learns that a saintly woman, Tabitha (Dorcas is her Greek name), who did many good works of charity, has died. He goes to there and sees all the sewing she’s done for the poor. He goes into the house, kneels down, and speaks to her body, “Tabitha, arise,” and she is raised to life.  Many more believe in the Lord.

Next, Peter goes to Simon, the tanner, and stays in Joppa with him.

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Acts 10.

In Caesarea, about 30 miles north of Joppa, there is a Roman Centurion named Cornelius.  He is a devout man who fears God, with all his household.  He continually prays to God and is generous with giving alms. One day, he receives a vision of an angel (who terrifies him). The angel says his prayers and alms have been noticed by God.  The angel directs Cornelius to Joppa to escort Simon Peter back to his house. The next day, he sends a couple servants and a soldier to Joppa.

Meanwhile, back in Joppa, it’s noon, and Peter is hungry. While he’s waiting for lunch, God shows him a vision, repeated three times. (Peter is good with threes, it seems!)  A colossal sheet is let down – from Heaven – containing all kinds of “unclean” animals, like reptiles, raptors, camels, hogs, and rabbits.  Peter is told to kill and eat them.

“NO WAY!” says the ex-fisherman. “I have NEVER eaten anything common or unclean.”

THREE TIMES this happens. (Sigh)

Peter is left perplexed as to what the vision might mean. But he doesn’t have to wait long, for the men (Gentiles and “unclean”) that Cornelius sent have arrived at his door.  While he might hesitate to let these men into the house, Peter gets another word from God.  “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Peter goes beyond listening to these men. He invites them in as his guests to eat and stay the night!

The next morning, Peter – and a few brothers as witnesses – goes with them on the journey back to Caesarea.

At Caesarea, after a little hesitation, Peter and the brothers go into this Gentile home, which is now crowded with people eager to hear what he says.  The story of the vision is told (and maybe Peter’s visions as well).  And so, Peter opens his mouth and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who is Lord over all, now going to  “people of every nation who believe.”

At the end of his sermon about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and the offer of forgiveness of sins through Jesus’ name to all who believe…. OH MY!  The Holy Spirit falls on this room full of Gentiles, and they speak with other tongues and praise God – just like Peter and the others at Pentecost!

“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” declares Peter, amazed.  He commands them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then he stays there some days (teaching them the scriptures concerning Jesus).

NOTE:  The door to “the uttermost part of the world” has been opened. Peter has used his “keys of the kingdom” to unlock it.  He must do a little explaining to the group in Jerusalem, but then God has His powerful ambassador, Saul/Paul, poised to step through that door with the message to the then-known world. Jesus Saves!

All praise and glory to Jesus and to God Supreme!