<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rom 1:18-23<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.\u00a0For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.\u00a0For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.\u00a0For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.\u00a0Claiming to be wise, they became fools, \u00a0and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 1:28-32<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.\u00a0They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,\u00a0slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,\u00a0foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. \u00a0Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 2:1-8<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.\u00a0We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.\u00a0Do you suppose, O man\u2014you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself\u2014that you will escape the judgment of God?\u00a0Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?\u00a0But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.\u00a0He will render to each one according to his works:\u00a0to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;\u00a0but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 2:11-12<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0For God shows no partiality.\u00a0For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 2:14-16<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.\u00a0They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them\u00a0on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 3:9-18<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,\u00a0as it is written: \u201cNone is righteous, no, not one;\u00a0no one understands; no one seeks for God.\u00a0All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.\u201d\u00a0\u201cTheir throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.\u201d \u201cThe venom of asps is under their lips.\u201d\u00a0\u201cTheir mouth is full of curses and bitterness.\u201d<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cTheir feet are swift to shed blood;\u00a0in their paths are ruin and misery,<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the way of peace they have not known.\u201d<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cThere is no fear of God before their eyes.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Rom 3:21-27<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it\u2014<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:\u00a0for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,\u00a0and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.\u00a0It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>\u00a0Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Job 4:17<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u2018Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Job 9:2<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cTruly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Job 25:4<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/a><\/span>\u00a0How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n While reading a devotion by Steven Cole<\/b> –\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Is everything right between you and God?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I read this question this morning. How is a person to answer this? How do people answer it? What does the bible say in relationship to being right with God? Paul shows here that if salvation depends on our works, we face two impossible barriers: the righteousness and glory of God. How can we who have sinned be reconciled to the righteous God of all glory? How can we who have dishonored Him enter His holy presence?<\/p>\n We all need to be right with God because we all have sinned and fall short of His glory. It is all nice and good to hear of God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love, but apart from the basic understanding of God\u2019s righteousness and our sinfulness, it is meaningless. God\u2019s righteousness refers to His absolute holiness or separateness from all sin and all that is wrong. How can a person, you, me, get right with the righteous God in view of a person\u2019s, yours and mine, sin? You don\u2019t have to examine your heart and mind very deep to see that sin is rooted there. Treasures and pleasures of this world consume us and for the most part, we prefer them over knowing and understanding the holiness and glory of God. It is pointless to talk about God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love apart from His glory and holiness and our sinfulness and our need for redemption.<\/p>\n All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And yet, sinners can be right with God! Faith in the redemption from sin and its consequences through Jesus Christ\u2019s sacrifice for our sin results in our sins being covered over and removed as far as the East is from the West. For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life<\/i><\/b><\/span>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People who do not see the need for redemption, salvation, and forgiveness have not heard of their need or have rejected it. You do not have to look very hard at our culture to see the lack of or desire for God and things of God. Mankind is without excuse. Someone wrote; \u201cif you don\u2019t think you\u2019re sick, you won\u2019t go to the doctor and though you may be sick you are void of any diagnosis\u201d. You happily go about your day without giving it any thought. However, \u201cWe have to accept the diagnosis that we are sinners before we welcome the cure of God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love in and through Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n TO BE JUSTIFIED MEANS THAT GOD DECLARES US TO BE RIGHTEOUS.<\/p>\n To justify does\u00a0not<\/i>\u00a0mean to\u00a0make<\/i>\u00a0someone righteous, but to\u00a0declare<\/i>\u00a0him to be righteous. It is a forensic or legal term that means to obtain the verdict of acquittal. Charles Hodge defined it (Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans<\/i>\u00a0[Eerdmans], p. 102), \u201cJustification is pronouncing one to be just, and treating him accordingly, on the ground that the demands of the law have been satisfied concerning him.\u201d\u00a0It is something that God does to us, not something that we do for ourselves. It is not a process, but a judicial action. The process of becoming righteous in character and behavior\u00a0follows<\/i>\u00a0the judicial act of God declaring us to be righteous.<\/p>\n \u201cBy His grace you have been justified<\/i><\/b><\/span>!\u201d \u00a0If an earthly judge declares a guilty murderer \u201cnot guilty\u201d and in addition awards him a healthy judgment and then says, \u201cI wanted to give him what he did not deserve,\u201d we would say, \u201cThat\u2019s unjust!\u201d So how can God be just when He declares guilty sinners to be justified when they don\u2019t deserve it? With grace, you get undeserved favor. That\u2019s grace. God justifies sinners who deserve His wrath freely by His grace.<\/p>\n \u201cRedemption\u201d means to buy something back by the payment of a price, or to release someone by the payment of a ransom. \u201cFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many<\/i><\/b><\/span>.\u201d Through His death, Jesus paid the price\/penalty that God righteously imposed for our sins. Thus God\u2019s justice was satisfied. Jesus was our substitute, paying what we should have paid so that we go free at His great expense. Thus, justification is completely free for us, but it was costly to Jesus who redeemed us with His own blood.<\/p>\n Faith, trust, belief, and reliance on Jesus Christ for redemption, salvation, and forgiveness justifies us (makes us right with God). You must specifically put your trust in Jesus Christ for what He did on the cross. There is no past action in a person\u2019s life that the Blood of Jesus will not cover. No person needs to despair that they are too far gone. All fall short, all have sinned, none have been righteous, no one seeks God, all have turned away, no one does good, and all are worthless in the light of God\u2019s glory and holiness<\/i><\/b><\/span>.\u00a0 (Cole)<\/span><\/p>\n When the gospel is presented in a way that is void of the holiness and glory of God, and our sinfulness, His judgment (eternal separation – Hell) how is a person made right? How are they to believe the need for redemption, salvation, and forgiveness if this is missing? Have you heard the invitation to come to God said like this;<\/p>\n Are you having financial problems?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Are you lonely?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Are you angry?<\/p>\n Are you anxious about the world around you?<\/p>\n Do you want rest from worry?<\/p>\n Do you want peace of mind?<\/p>\n Do you want joy?<\/p>\n Do you want purpose and meaning in your life?<\/p>\n Does something seem to be missing in your life?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do you want God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love?<\/p>\n Do you want hope for today\u2019s and tomorrow\u2019s problems?<\/p>\n Do you want clarity in the confusion?<\/p>\n With all heads bowed and eyes closed, if you want XXXX then raise your hand, I will not call you out or embarrass you, I just want to pray for you. Raise your hand if you want it. Is this being saved, born again, being made new? Is this salvation? Is this the Gospel of Jesus Christ?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All of what is stated above is offered and freely given by God through Jesus Christ in various ways that only God knows. However, do you notice that God\u2019s glory, holiness, righteousness, and judgment, and our sinfulness and the need of redemption, salvation, and forgiveness are missing? When an invitation is given in such a way that God is presented like an ATM machine and the magic card for you is to raise your hand and claim the withdrawal, then I fear for their souls. Being made right with God must address His glory, holiness, and righteousness in light of our sinfulness before any of these other blessings have any bearing in our lives. Our sin must be addressed first. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I think it is good to talk about the blessings God bestows on believers. It opens the doors to many conversations that can lead to being able to clearly proclaim the Gospel. A shallow approach to our need results in a very limited understanding of God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love, not to mention the fullness and purpose of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To tell someone that they deserve God\u2019s judgment, death, and eternal separation and torment does not seem to be preached much anymore, if at all. How can the fullness of grace, mercy, love, and blessings of God be fully understood without knowing His wrath, anger, and judgment and what separates us from Him? It can\u2019t.<\/p>\n People who are weak in their understanding of God\u2019s grace, mercy, and love and the things of God are far too common. Time in God\u2019s Word is little to non-existent. There is little difference in the way they are living compared to those who have no knowledge of the Gospel. It is very easy to fall into the trap of pretending to be right or trying to perform in the right ways to be made right with God. This is the logical conclusion of a shallow approach to the true need for Jesus Christ\u2019s salvation, redemption, and forgiveness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>If, while on my wondering around life, lost, I met someone who said there is a great big canyon just ahead and if you can get to the other side you will find safety, but if you don\u2019t get to the other side soon you will die a terrible death, wouldn\u2019t I go to the canyon to find an escape from my current state? Once there I would find the canyon far too wide to jump, far too treacherous to climb, and absolutely impossible to achieve.\u00a0 <\/span>If while standing on the edge of the canyon a person offered to take me to the other side I would jump at the offer. If I asked what\u2019s the cost or why are you doing this? They would say the cost is free and because I love you. Facing an impossible task and certain death wouldn\u2019t I be thankful and forever grateful for the rescuer who found me and led me to safety? Such it is with those who come face to face with their sinfulness in light of the glory and holiness of God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Why is God\u2019s Word so neglected in the lives of many Christians? Why are so many complacent in their walk with Him? How can the Holy Spirit lead, guide, convict, encourage, etc\u2026 if God\u2019s Word is neglected? Continually growing in our understanding of the grace, mercy, and love of God should never end this side of eternity. This will never be accomplished when the Word of God is neglected. Oh, we try to fill the void and make ourselves feel good by listening to Christian music and attending church, but the Word of God takes second or third place to things of this world and what it has to offer. Do you see a famine of God\u2019s Word around you or in you? How foolish would it be to stand in the most ripe and lush fruit and vegetable garden and then starve to death because you did not eat of it? How foolish would it be to stand at the water well and die from dehydration because you did not drink from it? And yet, this is what happens when the Word of God is neglected and not cherished, read, or studied.\u00a0 <\/span>How are we to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions if the Word of God is not cherished, read, and studied?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We do well to examine our lives in light of how we are honoring, glorifying, and worshipping Jesus Christ in all of our thoughts, words, and actions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Rom 1:18-23\u00a0\u00a0For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.\u00a0For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.\u00a0For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been … Continue reading “54.t. Romans 1:18 – 3:18”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194690","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-prayers"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=194690"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194690\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":194694,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194690\/revisions\/194694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.prayingpint.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}