Tuesday, March 31, 2015
A Fresh Word in Season TV Program # 17
Gary Miller Ministries Brings you AFWIS TV.
You may share this but do not make any changes to the contents.
Revelation 19
Revelation 19 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 19
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon's Fall
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
"Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, both great and small!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small."
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Revelation 19
Threefold Hallelujah Over Babylon's Fall
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
"Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants."
3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah!
The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, both great and small!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God."
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
The Heavenly Warrior Defeats the Beast
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter."[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and the mighty, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, great and small."
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest were killed with the sword coming out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Mar 30: Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands | Operation World
Mar 30: Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands | Operation World
Click on the link to get more information.
Click on the link to get more information.
Chronological New Testament Study Day 72
Romans 14; Romans 15; Romans 16:1-27
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment
on disputable matters. 2 One man's faith allows him to eat
everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The
man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who
does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted
him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own
master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him
stand. 5 One man considers one day more sacred than another;
another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in
his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to
the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and
he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For
none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. 8 If
we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to 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 why do you look down on your brother? 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 confess to
God.' " 12 So then, each of us will give an account of
himself 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 your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord
Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone
regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If
your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in
love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do
not allow what you consider good to 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 approved by men.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 man 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 to fall. 22 So
whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed
is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But
the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from
faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
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
his neighbor for his good, to build him 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 endurance and the
encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the
God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among
yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one
heart and mouth 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, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9 so
that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your
name." 10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with
his people." 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you
Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples." 12 And
again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise
to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."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. 14 I
myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,
complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 I
have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them
again, because of the grace God gave me16 to be a minister of
Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with 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. 17Therefore 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 miracles, through the power of the Spirit. 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.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 see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to
Spain. I hope to visit 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 saints there. 26 For
Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the
saints 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 fruit, 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, 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 rescued from the unbelievers in
Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there, 32 so
that by God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be
refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the
church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in
a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for
she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3 Greet
Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow 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 Junias, my relatives who have been in
prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in
Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the
Lord.9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear
friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in
Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus 11 Greet
Herodion, my relative. 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 brothers with them. 15 Greet
Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with
them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of
Christ send greetings. 17 I urge you, brothers, 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 am full of joy over 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 fellow worker, sends his greetings
to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 22 I,
Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius,
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. 25 Now to him who is able to
establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to
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 nations might believe and obey him-- 27 to
the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Revelation 18
Revelation 18 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 18
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
"'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!'[a] She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."
Warning to Escape Babylon's Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"'Come out of her, my people,'[b] so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts, 'I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c] I will never mourn.'
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon's Fall
9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
"'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!'
11 "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.
14 "They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out: "'Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'
20 "Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you."
The Finality of Babylon's Doom
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:
"With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.
No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.
Your merchants were the world's important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God's holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth."
Revelation 18
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:
"'Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!'[a] She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries."
Warning to Escape Babylon's Judgment
4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"'Come out of her, my people,'[b] so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Pour her a double portion from her own cup.
7 Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.
In her heart she boasts, 'I sit enthroned as queen.
I am not a widow;[c] I will never mourn.'
8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine.
She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.
Threefold Woe Over Babylon's Fall
9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
"'Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon!
In one hour your doom has come!'
11 "The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— 12 cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13 cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.
14 "They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' 15 The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16 and cry out: "'Woe! Woe to you, great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19 They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: "'Woe! Woe to you, great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!'
20 "Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you."
The Finality of Babylon's Doom
21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:
"With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
22 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.
No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again.
The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.
The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again.
Your merchants were the world's important people. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray.
24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God's holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth."
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 71
Romans 11; Romans 12; Romans 13
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 the 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 is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. 7What
then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The
others were hardened, 8 as it is written: "God gave them
a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they 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." 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 fullness bring! 13 I
am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I
make much of 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 is the reconciliation of 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 boast over those 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 be afraid. 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! 25 I
do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, 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 so 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 on your account; 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 all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them
all. 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 him?" 36 For from him and through him
and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is
your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer 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. 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 measure of
faith God has given you. 4 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 who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace
given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him
teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is
contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling
to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly
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 God'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 everybody. 18 If
it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do
not take revenge, my 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.
1 Everyone must submit himself 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, he
who 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 he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you
good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent 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 because 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
everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then
revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 8 Let
no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for
he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The
commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
"Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment
there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor.
Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this,
understanding the present time. The hour has 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 orgies 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 sinful nature.
Revelation 17
Revelation 17 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 17
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 17
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 70
Romans 8; Romans 9; Romans 10
·
New International VersionToggle Dropdown
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For
what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,
God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin
offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order
that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not
live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5 Those
who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that
nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their
minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man
is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the
sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those
controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You,
however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the
Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,
he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your
body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And
if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have
an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For
if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For
you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba,"
Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit
that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we
are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his
sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I
consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager
expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the
creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will
of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation
itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the
glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the
whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the
present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption
as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we
were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he
already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we
wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us
in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he
predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he
justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in
response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He
who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not
also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who
will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who
justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who
died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and
is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness
or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake
we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For
I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither
the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.
1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience
confirms it in 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 brothers, those
of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption
as sons; 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 Christ, who is God over all,
forever praised! Amen. 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 natural children 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 had one and the same father, 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 man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. 17 For
the 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 resists
his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to
God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me
like this?' " 21 Does not the potter have the right to
make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for
common use? 22 What if God, 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,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are
not my people,' they will be called 'sons 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." 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 Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not
attained it. 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 men to stumble and
a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to
shame."
1 Brothers, 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 that
comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's
righteousness. 4 Christ is the end of the law so that there
may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5 Moses
describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man 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 word of faith we are
proclaiming: 9 That if you confess 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 confess and
are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts
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 they 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
of 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."
Revelation 16
Revelation 16 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 69
Romans 4; Romans 5; Romans 6; Romans 7
·
New International VersionToggle Dropdown
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather,
discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was
justified by works, he had something to boast about--but not before God. 3 What
does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him
as righteousness." 4 Now when a man works, his wages are
not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However,
to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith
is credited as righteousness. 6David says the same thing when he
speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart
from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are
forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose
sin the Lord will never count against him." 9 Is this
blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have
been saying that Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness. 10 Under
what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before?
It was not after, but before! 11 And he received the sign of
circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was
still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not
been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And
he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who
also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he
was circumcised. 13It was not through law that Abraham and his
offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through
the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who
live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because
law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore,
the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to
all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those
who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As
it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our
father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the
dead and calls things that are not as though they were. 18 Against
all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,
just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19 Without
weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as
dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also
dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the
promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being
fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This
is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23 The
words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24 but
also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him
who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered
over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And
we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And
hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6 You see, at
just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might
possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for
us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since
we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from
God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's
enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more,
having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not
only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation. 12 Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in
this way death came to all men, because all sinned--13 for before
the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when
there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time
of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a
command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15 But
the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the
one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of
the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!16 Again, the gift
of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one
sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought
justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man,
death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's
abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as
the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of
one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For
just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so
also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The
law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased,
grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned
in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that
grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we
live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who
were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just
as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may
live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this
in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For
we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might
be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because
anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died
with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we
know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no
longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to
sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.11 In the
same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore
do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do
not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but
rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to
life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14For
sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What
then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't
you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you
are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads
to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But
thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly
obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You
have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I
put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as
you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to
ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness
leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were
free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did
you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of ? Those things
result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from
sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and
the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but
the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who
know the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 2 For
example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive,
but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. 3 So
then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is
called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law
and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. 4So,
my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you
might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we
might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were controlled by the
sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies,
so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what
once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new
way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 7 What
shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have
known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what
coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." 8 But
sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every
kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9 Once
I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life
and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was
intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin,
seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through
the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy,
and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that
which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin
might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so
that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We
know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I
do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate
I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that
the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do
it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good
lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is
good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the
good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now
if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin
living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When
I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my
inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law
at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and
making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What
a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks
be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a
slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)