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."
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