Saturday, November 21, 2015
Romans 6
Romans 6 (New International Version, ©2010)
Romans 6
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have 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 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For 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 any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one 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 have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves 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 of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6
Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have 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 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For 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 any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one 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 have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves 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 of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 8
Revelation 8 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Friday, November 20, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 49
Acts 7; Acts 8
1 Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges
true?" 2 To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers,
listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was
still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. 3 'Leave your
country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.' 4 "So
he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his
father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. 5 He
gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him
that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at
that time Abraham had no child. 6 God spoke to him in this
way: 'Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they
will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 7But I will
punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, 'and afterward they will
come out of that country and worship me in this place.' 8 Then
he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of
Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the
father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 9 "Because
the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But
God was with him 10 and rescued him from all his troubles. He
gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of
Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. 11 "Then
a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers
could not find food. 12 When Jacob heard that there was grain
in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. 13 On
their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned
about Joseph's family. 14 After this, Joseph sent for his father
Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. 15 Then Jacob
went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. 16 Their
bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had
bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money. 17 "As
the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our
people in Egypt greatly increased. 18 Then another king, who
knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt. 19 He dealt
treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to
throw out their newborn babies so that they would die. 20 "At
that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was
cared for in his father's house. 21 When he was placed
outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. 22 Moses
was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and
action. 23 "When Moses was forty years old, he decided to
visit his fellow Israelites. 24 He saw one of them being
mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing
the Egyptian. 25 Moses thought that his own people would
realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. 26 The
next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to
reconcile them by saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each
other?' 27 "But the man who was mistreating the other
pushed Moses aside and said, 'Who made you ruler and judge over us? 28 Do
you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' 29 When
Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had
two sons. 30 "After forty years had passed, an angel
appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount
Sinai. 31 When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he
went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice: 32 'I
am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses
trembled with fear and did not dare to look. 33 "Then the
Lord said to him, 'Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is
holy ground. 34 I have indeed seen the oppression of my people
in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now
come, I will send you back to Egypt.' 35 "This is the
same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, 'Who made you ruler and
judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the
angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 He led them out of
Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for
forty years in the desert. 37 "This is that Moses who
told the Israelites, 'God will send you a prophet like me from your own
people.' 38 He was in the assembly in the desert, with the
angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received
living words to pass on to us. 39 "But our fathers
refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back
to Egypt. 40 They told Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go before
us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt--we don't know what has
happened to him!' 41 That was the time they made an idol in
the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in
honor of what their hands had made. 42 But God turned away and
gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is
written in the book of the prophets: " 'Did you bring me sacrifices and
offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 43 You
have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols
you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond
Babylon. 44 "Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the
Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses,
according to the pattern he had seen. 45 Having received the
tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the
land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until
the time of David, 46 who enjoyed God's favor and asked that
he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But
it was Solomon who built the house for him. 48 "However,
the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: 49 "
'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will
you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has
not my hand made all these things?' 51 "You stiff-necked
people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You
always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet
your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming
of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- 53 you
who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not
obeyed it." 54 When they heard this, they were furious
and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the
Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing
at the right hand of God. 56 "Look," he said,
"I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of
God." 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at
the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged
him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their
clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they
were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out,
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he
fell asleep.
1 And Saul was there, giving approval to his death. On that
day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all
except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2Godly
men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul
began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and
women and put them in prison. 4 Those who had been scattered
preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a
city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the
crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention
to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of
many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there
was great joy in that city. 9 Now for some time a man named
Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria.
He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people,
both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "This man is
the divine power known as the Great Power." 11 They
followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But
when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God
and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon
himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere,
astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the
apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they
sent Peter and John to them. 15 When they arrived, they prayed
for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because
the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been
baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and
John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When
Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he
offered them money 19 and said, "Give me also this
ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy
Spirit." 20 Peter answered: "May your money perish
with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You
have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before
God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord.
Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.23 For
I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." 24 Then
Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may
happen to me." 25 When they had testified and proclaimed
the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the
gospel in many Samaritan villages. 26 Now an angel of the Lord
said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down
from Jerusalem to Gaza." 27 So he started out, and on his
way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the
treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to
worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot
reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told
Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." 30 Then
Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.
"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. 31 "How
can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" So he
invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was
reading this passage of Scripture: "He was led like a sheep to the
slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his
mouth.33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can
speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." 34 The
eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about,
himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that
very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As
they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said,
"Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" 38 And
he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down
into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up
out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the
eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip,
however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the
towns until he reached Caesarea.
Romans 5
Romans 5 (New International Version, ©2010)
Romans 5
Peace and Hope
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] 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[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to 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 person, though for a good person 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, while 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 boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where 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 is 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 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of 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 one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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 brought in 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.
Romans 5
Peace and Hope
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] 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[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to 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 person, though for a good person 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, while 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 boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where 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 is 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 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of 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 one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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 brought in 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.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Revelation 6
Revelation 6 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 6
The Seals
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day's wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day's wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"
Revelation 6
The Seals
1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.
5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "Two pounds[a] of wheat for a day's wages,[b] and six pounds[c] of barley for a day's wages,[d] and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters,[e] were killed just as they had been.
12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us[f] from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their[g] wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"
Chronological New Testament Study Day 48
Acts 4; Acts 5; Acts 6
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the
Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the
people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles
were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the
dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was
evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many
who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five
thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of
the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there,
and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's
family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and
began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do
this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them:
"Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being
called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked
how he was healed,10 then know this, you and all the people of
Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but
whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He
is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.
' 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 13 When
they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled,
ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been
with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been
healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So
they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred
together. 16 "What are we going to do with these
men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done
an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop
this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men
to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18 Then they
called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the
name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for
yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than
God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen
and heard." 21 After further threats they let them go.
They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising
God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously
healed was over forty years old. 23 On their release, Peter
and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they
raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they
said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in
them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of
your servant, our father David: " 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples
plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and
the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.
' 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the
Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy
servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power
and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord,
consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great
boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous
signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After
they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 32 All
the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his
possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With
great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no
needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses
sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at
the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of
Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money
and put it at the apostles' feet.
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira,
also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full
knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and
put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said,
"Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied
to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received
for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And
after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of
doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 When
Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard
what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped
up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three
hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter
asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the
land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." 9 Peter
said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look!
The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will
carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at
his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried
her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great fear seized the
whole church and all who heard about these events. 12 The
apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all
the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No
one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the
people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed
in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result,
people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that
at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds
gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those
tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. 17 Then
the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the
Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the
apostles and put them in the public jail.19 But during the night an
angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20"Go,
stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full
message of this new life." 21 At daybreak they entered
the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When
the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin--the
full assembly of the elders of Israel--and sent to the jail for the
apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not
find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 "We
found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when
we opened them, we found no one inside." 24 On hearing
this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were
puzzled, wondering what would come of this. 25 Then someone
came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple
courts teaching the people." 26 At that, the captain went
with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because
they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having
brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be
questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict
orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled
Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's
blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We
must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers
raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God
exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give
repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are
witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to
those who obey him." 33 When they heard this, they were
furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee
named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood
up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little
while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel,
consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some
time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men
rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all
came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in
the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed,
and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the
present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their
purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But
if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find
yourselves fighting against God." 40 His speech persuaded
them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them
not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The
apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the Name.42 Day after day, in the temple
courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the
good news that Jesus is the Christ.
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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 47
Acts 1; Acts 2; Acts 3
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that
Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up
to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he
had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these
men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over
a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one
occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do
not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have
heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a
few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So
when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going
to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them:
"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his
own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy
Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After
he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from
their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as
he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men
of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky?
This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the
same way you have seen him go into heaven." 12 Then they
returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's
walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the
room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew;
Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the
Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together
constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and
with his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the
believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and
said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit
spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide
for those who arrested Jesus-- 17 he was one of our number and
shared in this ministry." 18 (With the reward he got for
his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst
open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in
Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language
Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For," said
Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, " 'May his place be
deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, " 'May another take
his place of leadership.' 21 Therefore it is necessary to
choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went
in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the
time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness
with us of his resurrection." 23 So they proposed two
men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then
they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two
you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which
Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast
lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in
one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent
wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They
saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each
of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5Now
there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under
heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in
bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly
amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?8 Then
how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians,
Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and
Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya
near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to
Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our
own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
"What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of
them and said, "They have had too much wine. " 14 Then
Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:
"Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to
you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not
drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No,
this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 " 'In the
last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will
dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I
will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I
will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and
fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day
of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.' 22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus
of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,
which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This
man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you,
with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the
cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the
agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on
him. 25 David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always
before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore
my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because
you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see
decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you
will fill me with joy in your presence.' 29 "Brothers, I
can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his
tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew
that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on
his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the
resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his
body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we
are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of
God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured
out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to
heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my
right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet." ' 36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of
this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ." 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to
the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall
we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The
promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom
the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he
warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were
baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They
devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with
awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All
the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling
their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in
their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising
God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their
number daily those who were being saved.
Romans 3
Romans 3 (New International Version, ©2010)
Romans 3
God's Faithfulness
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."[a]
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is just!
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one."[b]
13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."[c]
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."[d]
14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."[e]
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know."[f]
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."[g]
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Romans 3
God's Faithfulness
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."[a]
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—"Let us do evil that good may result"? Their condemnation is just!
No One Is Righteous
9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. 10 As it is written:
"There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good, not even one."[b]
13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."[c]
"The poison of vipers is on their lips."[d]
14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."[e]
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know."[f]
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."[g]
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Righteousness Through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
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