Apr 08: China, People’s Republic, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guizhou Province | Operation World
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Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Romans 4
Romans 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Romans 4
Abraham Justified by Faith
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, 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 Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."[b]
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 circumcision as a sign, 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 then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It was not through the 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 depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the 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 have 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."[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
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."[d] 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.
Romans 4
Abraham Justified by Faith
1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, 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 Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[a]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7 "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them."[b]
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 circumcision as a sign, 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 then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 It was not through the 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 depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the 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 have 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."[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
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."[d] 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.
Chronological New Testament Study Day 77
Ephesians 1; Ephesians
2; Ephesians 3; Ephesians 4; Ephesians 5; Ephesians 6
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To
the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For
he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in
his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his
sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to
the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he
loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that
he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he
made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which
he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times
will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth
together under one head, even Christ. 11 In him we were also
chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in
order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of
his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you
heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you
were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who
is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are
God's possession--to the praise of his glory. 15 For this
reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for
all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I
pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may
know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints,19 and his incomparably great power for
us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which
he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his
right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and
authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in
the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed
all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the
church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills
everything in every way.
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in
which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the
ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are
disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and
thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made
us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace
you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and
seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in
order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is
by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it
is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For
we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do. 11 Therefore, remember that
formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by
those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body
by the hands of men)-- 12 remember that at that time you were
separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the
covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through
the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has
made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by
abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His
purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and
in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which
he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace
to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For
through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people
and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In
him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in
the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to
become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for
the sake of you Gentiles-- 2 Surely you have heard about the
administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that
is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written
briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to
understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was
not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the
Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is
that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members
together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7 I
became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the
working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of
all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ,9 and to make plain to everyone the
administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who
created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the
church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and
authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal
purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In
him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I
ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you,
which are your glory. 14 For this reason I kneel before the
Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth
derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he
may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now
to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,
according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever
and ever! Amen.
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a
life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely
humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make
every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There
is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were
called-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one
God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But
to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This
is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men." 9 (What does "he
ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions
? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than
all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It
was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure
of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be
infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every
wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful
scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all
things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From
him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 17 So
I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as
the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They
are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because
of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having
lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to
indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You,
however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you
heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in
Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of
life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;24 and
to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and
speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In
your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still
angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He
who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something
useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in
need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be
kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you.
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and
live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there
must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of
greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor
should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of
place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure:
No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on
those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with
them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in
the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the
light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and
find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the
fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it
is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But
everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is
light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O
sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be
very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making
the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore
do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do
not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the
Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always
giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives,
submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is
the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he
is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also
wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands,
love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to
make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and
to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any
other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way,
husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body,
but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- 30 for
we are members of his body. 31"For this reason a man will
leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become
one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery--but I am
talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you
also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her
husband.
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"--which is
the first commandment with a promise-- 3 "that it may go
well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." 4 Fathers,
do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and
instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters
with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey
Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye
is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve
wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether
he is slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the
same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master
and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him. 10 Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the
full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For
our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be
able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand
firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet
fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In
addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the
helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And
pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray
also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I
will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I
am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 21Tychicus,
the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so
that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am
sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and
that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers, and love
with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace
to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
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