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  • 1 Chronicles 1 + Introduction

    1 Chronicles 1 + Introduction

    Editor’s Note

    Today marks the beginning of our plan that will carry us through the summer. We’re going to read 1 Chronicles, then go back and read the prophets mentioned throughout 1 Chronicles. Then we’ll move onto 2 Chronicles and do the same! 

    We believe that the Holy Spirit has preserved these books for a reason and we can’t wait see what we learn from God’s Word as we study these ancient books.

    1 Chronicles Overview

    In order to understand the book of 1 Chronicles and the context in which it was written, we have to go back to the beginning of God’s story. We see that all of Scripture points to God and His rescue plan through Jesus. God designed the world for people to be in perfect relationship with Him and with each other. However, man sinned, rebelled, and chose to break a relationship with a good and holy God. Immediately after sin enters the world, God promises that in spite of the brokenness He will one day send a Victor to overcome sin and death—and bring restoration. From there, we see a pattern in Scripture of man rebelling against God, doing what is right in their own eyes, and God delivering them. 

    Fast forward to 1400 B.C. The new generation of Israelites enter into the Promised Land, but they don’t want to be set apart as a nation like God commands them. They desire to look just like the rest of the people in the land. The Israelites get into these cycles of sin and God raises up military leaders called Judges to point them back to righteousness. But the people want a king. God raises up kings, even though He is the King that they really need. A majority of these kings are unrighteous, and eventually this kingdom is split into two. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. God allowed them to return to Israel from captivity, but it is not the same. The temple and walls are broken, and the people don’t remember the Law. 

    The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were written after the exile in order to teach the Israelites returning from exile how to faithfully serve and worship God. It is not only a rebuilding of what they were physically, but a spiritual rebuilding for the people of God. The words of this book acted as a reminder of their history, the consequences of their sin, and the promises of God to restore all things one day. God had always been their help throughout the ages. The people needed to recall God’s faithfulness and ancient covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. The time frame in which this book was written mirrors 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, but broadly covers Adam all the way to the Babylonian captivity. Scholars suggest that 1 Chronicles is likely written between 450 and 425 BC. The author is unknown, but Jewish tradition credits it to the priest and scribe Ezra. As a result, the storyline reflects more of a priestly perspective compared to Samuel and Kings.   

    There are extensive genealogies written in the book of 1 Chronicles. We are about to read 10 chapters of them! Genealogies at the time this book was written were a big deal. They reveal God’s character and His promises. They tell us the full story. Circle the names you have seen before. Write down what you know about them. Ask how they fit into God’s providential plan. Some of these names and stories might sound familiar, but it’s not just a repeat! In these next 29 chapters look for examples to follow, sins to avoid, commands to keep, and promises of God to trust in. We might be tempted to skip past these chapters and get to the action, but we know that God’s Word does not return void.

    Read 1 Chronicles 1

    Historical Records From Adam to Abraham

    To Noah’s Sons

    1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah,Lamech, Noah.

    4 The sons of Noah:

    Shem, Ham and Japheth.

    The Japhethites

    5 The sons of Japheth:

    Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.

    6 The sons of Gomer:

    Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.

    7 The sons of Javan:

    Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.

    The Hamites

    8 The sons of Ham:

    Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.

    9 The sons of Cush:

    Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka.

    The sons of Raamah:

    Sheba and Dedan.

    10 Cush was the father of

    Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.

    11 Egypt was the father of

    the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.

    13 Canaan was the father of

    Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.

    The Semites

    17 The sons of Shem:

    Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.

    The sons of Aram:

    Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.

    18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,

    and Shelah the father of Eber.

    19 Two sons were born to Eber:

    One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.

    20 Joktan was the father of

    Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,22 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.

    24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

    25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

    26 Serug, Nahor, Terah

    27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).

    The Family of Abraham

    28 The sons of Abraham:

    Isaac and Ishmael.

    Descendants of Hagar

    29 These were their descendants:

    Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

    Descendants of Keturah

    32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine:

    Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

    The sons of Jokshan:

    Sheba and Dedan.

    33 The sons of Midian:

    Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah.

    All these were descendants of Keturah.

    Descendants of Sarah

    34 Abraham was the father of Isaac.

    The sons of Isaac:

    Esau and Israel.

    Esau’s Sons

    35 The sons of Esau:

    Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.

    36 The sons of Eliphaz:

    Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz;

    by Timna: Amalek.

    37 The sons of Reuel:

    Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.

    The People of Seir in Edom

    38 The sons of Seir:

    Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan.

    39 The sons of Lotan:

    Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.

    40 The sons of Shobal:

    Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.

    The sons of Zibeon:

    Aiah and Anah.

    41 The son of Anah:

    Dishon.

    The sons of Dishon:

    Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.

    42 The sons of Ezer:

    Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.

    The sons of Dishan:

    Uz and Aran.

    The Rulers of Edom

    43 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:

    Bela son of Beor, whose city was named Dinhabah.

    44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.

    45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.

    46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.

    47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.

    48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.

    49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.

    50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. 51 Hadad also died.

    The chiefs of Edom were:

    Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

    Go Deeper

    Let’s acknowledge what you’re probably thinking: that’s a lot of names (and you may have never seen most of them before)! The book of 1 Chronicles begins with a series of continued genealogies. These lists of lineages take us from Adam and Eve to Abraham and David and beyond. To us, genealogies may seem like a bunch of names on paper, but God specifically places genealogies in the Bible to communicate His greater plan to us. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All (emphasis added) Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Lord purposefully created, deeply loved, and thoughtfully used the people in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles to establish the Earth. Each name served a purpose in God’s plan, and these genealogies were intended to serve as a reminder of God’s faithful work in the lives of His people. 

    Genealogies reflect on the past to point towards the future. In 1 Chronicles, the storylines of the royal line (through David’s lineage), and the priestly line (through Aaron’s lineage) are emphasized. This is in order to orient the people of God towards the approaching reality of Jesus’ first coming. In His perfect life, sacrificial death, and miraculous resurrection He revealed Himself as the Messianic King and High Priest! Furthermore, Matthew 1 (the first book of the New Testament) follows a genealogy that includes many of the same names found in 1 Chronicles. The New Testament draws on the genealogies of the Old Testament as a way of making the theological claim for Christ as Savior, Lord, and King. Ultimately, Jesus is the centerpiece of the entire Gospel story (from Genesis to Revelation), and his family lineage plays a role in revealing His authority! 

    While the people living in the time of 1 Chronicles 1 were looking towards Jesus’ first coming, we are now a people living in the time of awaiting Jesus’ second coming. Hebrews 9:8 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” As we learn more deeply about the importance of reflecting on the past of Jesus’ lineage, how marvelous is it that God freely offers to include us into His eternal family? More so, let us pray to be a people that desires for our distant relatives of Adam to be brought into the eternal family that Christ freely offers through His love, power, and grace.

    Questions

    1. What is your initial reaction towards reading genealogies in the Bible? Why do you think the Lord intentionally places them throughout His Holy Word?
    2. Jesus came from a royal and priestly lineage, yet through His life, death, and resurrection has made a way for all of us to become part of His family. How significant is that to your understanding of God’s identity and your own identity?
    3. For those who are believers and have been brought into Christ’s family, how can this lead you towards eagerness to share this Good News with the lost around you?

    Watch This

    Check out this helpful overview of 1 Chronicles from The Bible Project!

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  • Romans 16

    Romans 16

    Read Romans 16

    Personal Greetings

    1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

    3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

    5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.

    Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.

    6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

    7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

    8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.

    9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

    10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.

    Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

    11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

    Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

    12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

    Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

    13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

    14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them.

    15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them.

    16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

    All the churches of Christ send greetings.

    17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

    20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

    The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

    21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews.

    22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.

    23 Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.

    Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings. [24] 

    25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

    Go Deeper

    It would be tempting to focus our attention today on the diverse and interesting lives of the men and women Paul greets in the final pages of his letter. From co-workers, new converts, fellow prisoners, and his many brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul found them all deserving of a holy kiss to show his deep, abiding affection for each of them. His ability to recall with great detail so many people and the depth of his appreciation for each of them is amazing. Who might we greet with such intimate expressions of Christian love? Think of the people who have discipled you throughout the years. Perhaps your parents, college roommates, siblings, small group friends, pastors, mentors, and more. These relationships are important for a reason. They are transformative. 

     As Paul wraps up his kind greetings, he turns to what seems to be his final warning and strong exhortation in the book of Romans; “…watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them” (v. 17). Many scholars have written on this twin command to be vigilant in keeping an eye out for those who “by smooth talk and flattery…deceive the minds of naive people” (v. 18), and to be willing to walk away or avoid them. Paul understood the fragility of unity in the church and that the foundation for it was sound teaching and doctrinal integrity, which was being threatened then and now. It’s why he longed for the people of God to “be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (v.19). This is a desire we ought to have today as we seek to grow in the wisdom of the Word of God and flee the evil found in the wisdom of this present age. 

    Paul concludes his letter to the church in Rome with an expression of praise to God in verses 25-27, known as a doxology. It provides closure to his comprehensive teaching on Christianity by reaffirming the same gospel themes he opened his letter with in chapter 1 verses 1-7. From the mystery of the gospel, the revelations of the prophetic writings, our call to obedience of faith, and the ultimate aim of God’s glory being made known through Jesus Christ. May we delight in the body of Christ that surrounds us, the Word of God that unites us, and God’s glory being made known to the nations!

    Questions

    1. Who has impacted your life with the love of God and gospel of Jesus Christ? Take a few minutes to write out your “greeting list” and pray for each of them today. 
    2. Why is sound teaching so important for the local church? What teaching or doctrine do you need to learn more about it so you can better defend and proclaim the Word of God?
    3. What does it mean to be “wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil?” And what are specific ways you can pursue wisdom and innocence in your life?

    Do This

    Write out verses 25-27 and circle every mention of God or Jesus, underline all the statements that affirm what God has done for us, and identify what is the hope of the Gentiles and the ultimate aim of Christianity found in the final verse. Finally, share with someone today how the book of Romans has impacted your life. 

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  • Romans 15

    Romans 15

    Read Romans 15

    1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

    5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:

    “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
        I will sing the praises of your name.”

    10 Again, it says,

    “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

    11 And again,

    “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
        let all the peoples extol him.”

    12 And again, Isaiah says,

    “The Root of Jesse will spring up,
        one who will arise to rule over the nations;
        in him the Gentiles will hope.”

    13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

    Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

    14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

    17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

    “Those who were not told about him will see,
        and those who have not heard will understand.”

    22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

    Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

    23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

    30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

    Go Deeper

    In Romans 15, Paul urges Christians to use their God-given strengths. He describes the tasks, the goal, and the motivations we should have as we serve others. In verse 1, Paul describes our task: to use our God-given gifts to build up those around us. It is easy to deploy our skills to benefit an organization, a friend, or other “strong” people. However, we have a duty to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace…” (1 Peter 4:9), and we must use our gifts to help the weak. Just as God actively seeks after the weak and lost, we ought to seek ways to use our gifts to build up and love the weak in our community, city, and world.  

    Secondly, this chapter describes the end goal of service: “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” The end goal is to benefit the people we serve. Too often we jump into service opportunities, thinking little about how our actions or our role may harm or benefit people. The method we use to serve people can either uplift them, or it can deeply discourage them. When approaching service, we should intentionally and pragmatically consider how to fulfill the goal of building up the vulnerable. 

    Finally, Paul writes that our motivations should “not please ourselves…for Christ did not please himself…” This passage relates passages like Philippians 2:3-4 and Colossians 3:23. Rather than serving to make us feel good about ourselves or improve our status, we serve with our strengths in true humility. C.S. Lewis describes this saying, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” It is our natural tendency to think about ourselves, our needs, and our desires, but to serve effectively we must shift our attention. As we consider the weak and focus on others more than we focus on ourselves, we will begin to see true transformations in our lives. 

    Our endeavor to use our gifts and strengths in order to serve those around us—for their good and without a thought to ourselves—can seem daunting. But Paul’s prayer in verses 5-6 should encourage us to move forward. When we surrender our worries to God and move  to further God’s Kingdom around us, God will be glorified. 

    Questions

    1. What are your spiritual gifts?
    2. How are you using your strengths to serve? If you aren’t, what are some ways you can?
    3. How can you get in the habit of surrendering your service to God?

    Watch This

    Here’s a video of JP explaining how people with different spiritual gifts use them in different ways to build up the body of believers.

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  • Romans 14

    Romans 14

    Read Romans 14

    The Weak and the Strong

    1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

    5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

    10 You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11 It is written:

    “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
    ‘every knee will bow before me;
        every tongue will acknowledge God.’

    12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

    13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

    19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

    22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

    Go Deeper

    After 13 chapters of strong exhortation for the Roman church, Paul takes time to shepherd believers in this chapter. When Jesus came, died, and rose from the dead, He fulfilled the requirements of the old law and founded a new covenant with believers. Now, believers are not restricted in ways they previously were. Arguments began within the early church because of this, and here Paul clears things up. 

    Every question of sin or righteous behavior is not based on feeling for believers. To practice these things apart from conviction would be submitting to a strange form of legalism, and would be confusing with what is required of believers. Where there is room for ambiguity, the believer is to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in accordance with God’s Word, and pray about how to make the next faithful step. We are no longer bound by certain rules (like restricting us from eating certain forms of meat), but we could still sin if God clearly convicts us of something and we don’t listen. 

    Our freedom as believers must not cause others to stumble. As an illustration, if you are friends with someone who is deathly allergic to dogs, you would not bring a dog around for his or her health and safety. In the same way, sin leads to death, and if something we do might cause someone to choose something that leads them away from Jesus, then the best way to love that person is to abstain from that thing. This may look practically like not choosing to drink alcohol when breaking bread with a believer with a history of alcoholism, or abstaining from sweets with someone in your small group while they fast from them. It is our joy as believers to deny ourselves when it may prevent another believer from stumbling.

    Further, Paul encourages believers to not use newfound wisdom and maturity as a license to seat themselves on the judgement seat of Christ. We are not supposed to judge others or view ourselves as “better” believers. Further, spiritual maturity is not a requirement for fellowship. Ephesians 4 tells us that the body of Christ is designed to build itself up into the head that is Christ, and a body that is making disciples will always have new believers around. 

    Questions

    1. Have you recently done anything in your life that may have caused another believer to stumble? Have you sought their forgiveness?
    2. In what ways can you avoid being a stumbling block for those around you?
    3. Ask the Spirit if there is anything that you can abstain from that may not be universally required but may be life-giving. Consider fasting from something that is distracting you from Jesus. 

    Pray This

    Father, thank you that it is not my responsibility to sit on the judgement seat of Christ. Thank you that I am no longer bound by the law of sin and death to determine my righteousness through performance and behavior. I confess that I could not be faithful enough to you to do this if I tried. I thank you that I am instead viewed with the righteousness of Christ in your sight, and that I am now free in the law of the Spirit of Life. I thank you that Jesus came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, and show us a better way in Himself by taking on flesh. Help me to love my neighbor and avoid being a stumbling block to the believers around me, and bless me with eyes to see where others are struggling so that I might aid them in following the Way. Amen.

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  • Romans 13

    Romans 13

    Read Romans 13

    Submission to Governing Authorities
    1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

    6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

    Love Fulfills the Law
    8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

    The Day Is Near
    11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

    Go Deeper

    In chapter 12 of Romans we learn about what Christians’ conduct in the church should look like and chapter 13 addresses Christians’ conduct with the state and with governing authorities. Paul emphasises that we are to be under the authority of the government and obey the laws of the land. In doing so, we honor God who has placed those rulers in their roles. God was purposeful in His creation of government. It serves 3 distinct purposes: establishing order, punishing evil, and promoting justice. Paul is writing this while under the reign of Nero, who was perhaps one of the most evil Roman emperors. And still, he reminds us that submission to authority, whether deserving or not, is honoring to God. 

    The first 11 chapters of Romans show us how God deals with us, while the last 5 chapters are a call to action because of who we are in Christ. It’s important that the doctrine of chapters 1-11 comes before the exhortation of chapters 12-16, because reflecting on who God is motivates and empowers us to do as He says. Our action flows naturally from our identity in Him. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). In this example, and many other places in Scripture, we see that God goes before us. He takes the first step – He loves us first! He calls us His children and shows us how to live in light of our identity. 

    Verse 14 tells us to put on the Lord, Christ and to make no provision for the flesh. Paul is saying that in light of who we are, we are to act in a way that honors God. He makes a similar exhortation in his letter to the church at Ephesus. “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light” (Ephesians 5:8). John Owen, a seventeenth century author, pastor, and theologian, wrote a book called The Mortification of Sin. Mortification is just a fancy word for putting to death. The subtitle and main point of this book is “Kill Sin or Sin Will Kill You.” He is serious about sin and so is Paul. Sin has dire consequences and we need to steer clear of it at all costs! Make no provision for the flesh. Christ has set us free from sin, let’s choose to walk in that freedom, not returning to the slavery of sin. 

    Questions

    1. What is your attitude/disposition toward those in authority over you? Say a prayer that God would use their leadership for His glory. 
    2. Does your identity in Christ determine your actions towards others? How can you love and care for others today out of the overflow of God’s love and care for you?
    3. What sin of the flesh do you need to mortify? What verses can you call to mind to help you kill that particular sin in your life? 

    A Quote

    “Mortification prunes all the graces of God, and makes room for them in our hearts to grow. The life and vigour of our spiritual lives consists in the vigour and flourishing of the plants of grace in our hearts.” 

    ― John Owen



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  • Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:37-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

    Memorization Tip

    Use community as a tool to help you in your scripture memorization journey! Pick a few friends, or your Life Group, with whom to memorize scripture. Practice together, hold each other accountable, and encourage one another as you work together. Remember that the best way to stick with a challenge is not to go at it alone!

    Worship with us

    Join us in person or online at 9a, 11a, or 7p at harriscreek.org/live. We’d love to worship with you! We also desire to connect everyone with a local church body where they can thrive in community and use their gifts to serve. If you’re following our Bible Reading Plan from outside of Waco and are eager to get connected with a great local church, email us at [email protected].

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  • Romans 12

    Romans 12

    Read Romans 12

    A Living Sacrifice
    1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

    Humble Service in the Body of Christ
    3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

    Love in Action
    9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

    14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

    17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

    “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
    In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

    21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

    Go Deeper

    This chapter marks the turning point in Romans from a focus on doctrine (chapters 1-11) to a focus on applying our faith to our day-to-day lives (chapters 12-16). We have asked ourselves, “What does this mean?” countless times over the last eleven chapters, and now we can ask ourselves, “Am I doing what the text says?”

    In fact, Romans 12 is full of practical ways we can live out our faith as Christians. We are given tools and guidelines for how to live. We need to be humble, think with sober judgment, love genuinely, hold fast to what is good, show honor to one another, and much more. Are we really living out these instructions that Paul gave us? Ask yourself:

    • Am I using the gifts God has given me to build up the body?
    • Am I sincerely loving the people around me and putting others first?
    • Am I constantly praying and patiently going through tribulation?
    • Am I blessing those who persecute me?
    • Am I associating with the lowly and living in harmony with others?

    Rather than just focusing on the outward actions of a Christian life, Romans 12 also equips us with how to handle mental battles we face. Sometimes we get frustrated that thoughts of shame plague our thought patterns. Our past addictions lie to us, saying temporary pleasure is “greater” than what God has in store for us. Our minds are not meant to stay in these areas. These battles come, and we can’t negotiate our way to inner peace. But, we can be encouraged by verse 2 that there is hope. It is God who changes us for the better, and through His power (not ours), we can be restored. Spending time with Him and filling our minds with His Word are ways we can fight back against the enemy (Ephesians 6:14-18) and overcome.

    Questions

    1. How can you take steps to living out your faith today?
    2. What is an area of your life that needs God’s restoration?
    3. What does it mean for you to not conform to the present age? 

    Keep Digging

    One way to study the Bible deeper is to compare our modern-day translation to the original Greek text. The richness of the original word choice can help us understand Paul’s writing in a new way. Let’s explore the original meaning for the words “conformed, world, transformed, and renewal” in the first half of verse 2. In Greek, these words convey the following meanings:  

    • Conformed – To conform one’s mind and character to another’s pattern
    • World – The present age; men controlled by the thoughts and pursuits of this present time
    • Transformed – Transformed after being with; transfigured; the change of moral character for the better
    • Renewal – Change of heart and life achieved by God’s power.

    Now, let’s put these meanings in context of Romans 12:2. We read the following:

    Do not conform your mind and character to the patterns and pursuits of the present time; but be changed for the better (after being with God) and through His power, your heart, life, and mind will be changed, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

     Check out this video to learn how to do a Greek study on your own using BibleHub.com.

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  • Romans 11

    Romans 11

    Editor’s Note

    We had a technical error that resulted in Romans 10 being emailed out later than the normal publishing time. If you missed yesterday’s reading, click here to catch up before reading Romans 11. 

    Read Romans 11

    The Remnant of Israel
    1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

    7 What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written:

    “God gave them a spirit of stupor,
    eyes that could not see
    and ears that could not hear,
    to this very day.”

    9 And David says:

    “May their table become a snare and a trap,
    a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
    10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
    and their backs be bent forever.”

    Ingrafted Branches
    11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!

    13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry 14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

    17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

    22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

    All Israel Will Be Saved
    25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:

    “The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
    27 And this is my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”

    28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

    Doxology
    33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
    34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”
    35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”
    36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.

    Go Deeper

    In today’s chapter, we see a common lie some people believed that God rejected His people (v. 1). There’s a sense of doubt as to whether the gospel story of redemption applies to everyone. Even as Christ followers, we’ve all felt the same doubt at some point. We can relate to the sentiment of the people in Romans 11 or, more personally, in Mark: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). That can be easy to do when others’ hearts are hardened (v. 7) or given to a “spirit of stupor” (i.e., lacking sensibility; v. 8). Rather than believing “the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (v. 33), we “trade God’s truth for a lie” (Romans 1:25) and doubt God’s plan.

    What do we believe instead at times? That we have been rejected. We tell ourselves: “God needs me to try harder because of all the times I’ve sinned.” “God is good, but I know how this story ends. I’ll be back to the bottle, pantry, videos, and memories that haunt me.” Our sins can feel irreversible and irredeemable.

    We think that about others, too. “It would take a miracle for that person to come to Christ. That city is too far gone. Our country is too far gone. That kid’s mistake will haunt him the rest of his life.” Others’ sins can seem irreversible and irredeemable.

    When we see sin, especially repeatedly, our focus can shift from God’s perspective to our own. And what perspective can serve ourselves best? What can feed our sinful nature most in those doubtful moments? Punishing ourselves to gain a sense that we’ve paid the price. Shaming ourselves in an attempt to motivate ourselves to pull it together. Punishing and shaming others to make ourselves feel better or more virtuous.

    Instead of taking that path, Paul teaches us in today’s chapter to embrace the gospel. We are to remember God’s answer to Elijah (v. 4), God’s grace (v. 6), kindness (v. 22), mercy (v. 30, 32) and his glory (v. 36). We need to read Romans 11 and know God’s plan is at work around us. Even when it is hard to see, God is at work.

    Questions

    1. What do you believe about yourself? Do you believe in the saving grace of the Gospel?
    2. What do you believe about others? Do you believe God has a plan for others, even when they are sinful?
    3. How can you remind yourself to see the world through God’s eyes?

    Prayer

    God, help me trust in your plan for myself and others. Help me know and believe you are in control. Thank you for redeeming me and your people. Amen. 

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  • Romans 10

    Romans 10

    Read Romans 10

    1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

    5 Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

    14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

    16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

    “Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”

    19 Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,

    “I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
    I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.”

    20 And Isaiah boldly says,

    “I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

    21 But concerning Israel he says,

    “All day long I have held out my hands
    to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

    Go Deeper

    Paul begins Romans 10 by proclaiming his heart’s desire: That Israel might be saved. Paul doesn’t just care about his fellow Jews, he is pleading to God on their behalf that they might come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Jewish people “have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (v. 2) Paul goes on to say in the next verse that they are seeking to establish their own righteousness being ignorant of the righteousness of God.

    Paul can adequately speak to this because it is a perfect description of his own life prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus. He goes on to lay out the message of salvation for all people (both Jews and Gentiles alike) as he continues to draw the distinction between God’s righteousness (based on faith) and our own attempts at righteousness.

    Righteousness is a big word that can be defined as the quality or state of being free from guilt or sin. The Jewish people were falling back to their old ways of striving to gain this righteousness through keeping the law and commandments. But Paul is imploring them to understand that belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior ends the need for these futile quests for righteousness. 

    Paul clearly states in verse 9 “because, 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.” In Greek, confession translates “to say the same thing” or “agree with someone.” So Paul is telling us that when we confess that Jesus is Lord, we are agreeing with the Father’s declaration: that Jesus is God, that He is Messiah, and that His work on the cross is the only way for salvation. Believing that in our hearts is the only requirement for salvation and receiving God’s righteousness.

    After hundreds and hundreds of years of following rules and regulations to be declared righteous, it’s hard to ignore how simple this is: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What is required of us is to recognize Christ as our Savior and call upon Him. What we receive in response is God’s grace as we depend on our Creator and Redeemer. 

    It was a hard concept for the Jews to learn and it’s a hard concept for us to remember. But we can be confident as the Message version of verse 10 reminds us “That’s it. You’re not ‘doing’ anything; you’re simply calling out to God trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation.”

    Questions

    1. Are there any rules or regulations that you feel like you have to follow in order to receive the gift of salvation from the Lord?
    2. “Calling on the name of the Lord” indicates having personal interaction and a relationship with the Lord. Do you feel like you have this type of relationship?
    3. Spend some time journaling and recording about the time in your life when you confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

    Keep Digging

    Read this entry from GotQuestions.org to understand what it means to call upon the name of the Lord.

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  • Romans 9

    Romans 9

    Read Romans 9

    Paul’s Anguish Over Israel
    1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!Amen.

    God’s Sovereign Choice
    6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9 For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

    10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

    14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses,

    “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

    16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

    19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

    22 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:

    “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people;
    and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,”

    26 and,

    “In the very place where it was said to them,
    ‘You are not my people,’
    there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

    27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel:

    “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,
    only the remnant will be saved.
    28 For the Lord will carry out
    his sentence on earth with speed and finality.”

    29 It is just as Isaiah said previously:

    “Unless the Lord Almighty
    had left us descendants,
    we would have become like Sodom,
    we would have been like Gomorrah.”

    Israel’s Unbelief
    30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written:

    “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall,
    and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

    Go Deeper

    How can I be saved? It’s one of the most important questions you can ever ask in this life. Once you understand that you’re a sinner in need of saving, you need to find out how you can actually receive salvation. For many people today, the thought is that you must be good enough for God. In order to make it into Heaven, you have to do enough good works, or give a certain amount of money, or have a specific title to be considered worthy. This idea was also a belief that was prevalent during the time that Paul wrote Romans. 

    For years and years, people thought they were “in” simply based off of the family they were born into. He uses this chapter to specifically address whether these Jewish people would be saved. These were the ultimate insiders! But Paul writes that just because these people had the right title and the right actions, it didn’t mean they were “in”. Salvation comes through faith alone, not by merit or family of origin or correct behavior. 

    This can be somewhat unsettling for those of us who like to live with a sense of control. We want to be the ones in charge of how “good” or “bad” we are. We want to be able to prove that we have what it takes to be saved. But salvation is not about our independence, but rather our dependence. Paul writes in verse 16, “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.” While it may not be comfortable to give up control, it’s the exact thing we must do to find a relationship with God. Because if nothing else, Romans 9 is one of the best examples of salvation being God’s job, not our own. We can’t work our way in. Instead God allows us to rest in His finished work in order to be saved. 

    So today we can grow in our relationship with God by submitting to Him in everything we do. We can submit our salvation to Him, our schedules to Him, our kids to Him. And the good news is that we can trust Him! Scripture says that He desires to work all things together for our good as we trust in Him (Romans 8:28). As you give your life over to God, you can have confidence that it’s in loving hands. 

    Questions

    1. What did you notice about how Paul speaks about who is “out” versus who is “in”?
    2. Paul presents a few “what if’s” in 22-23. How do you feel about things you might not understand about God?
    3. What are some areas of your life that you are still controlling and not yet fully dependent on God?

    By The Way

    Paul uses this chapter to explain that Jesus is a continuation of the God of the Old Testament. This isn’t a totally different God, but the same one who has been at work all along. Paul does this by referencing multiple Old Testament books like Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, and Hosea. Salvation has always been through faith in God.

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