Lesson 3713

 (Lesson 3713)(03-19-22) Romans 3:21-26

    “ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

    In today’s quote, Paul established that, through faith in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, obedience to the old laws of the Jews, so far as spriritual rebirth and salvation of one’s eternal soul is concerned, is no longer required of anyone. “But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which IS BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST UNTO ALL AND UPON ALL THEM THAT BELIEVE”.

    God WILL NOT accept an unrighteous person into heaven. Conceding that, one might ask, how can I be righteous without obeying the laws and the Ten Commandments? The answer is that, those of us who believe in Jesus Christ have the righteousness of Jesus Himself (The righteousness of God) imputed into us because of our faith in Jesus Christ. 

    Speaking of Abraham’s righteousness, Paul said, “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; BUT FOR US ALSO, to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our JUSTIFICATION." (Romans 4:23-25)~

Lesson 3712

 (Lesson 3712)(03-18-22) Romans 3:19-20

    “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

    In today’s quote, Paul made it very clear that the Law of Moses applied to the Jews ONLY. Again, the laws of the Jews applied ONLY to the Jews. This should put to rest the erroneous contention that one can “work out” one’s own salvation.

    In the quote, Paul went further saying that “ by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight”. That means that the “good works” we do here on earth, have NOTHING to do with the rebirth and eternal salvation of our own eternal souls.

    Do good works even matter to God? YES! They matter to Jesus! We can know they matter because there will be a judgment of the reborn just as there is a judgment of the condemned. That judgment will be at the “judgment seat of Christ” whereat your good works will be rated by Jesus Himself, and those eligible will receive rewards for their good works. (2 Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”~

 Lesson 3711 (Romans 3:1-18)

    What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

In today’s quote, Paul continued to explain the Jews relationship with the Law of Moses. He further condemned them for their disobedience. ~

Lesson 3710

 (Lesson 3710)(03-16-22) Romans 2:17-29

    “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

    In today’s quote, Paul further berated the Jews for their blatant hypocrisy as he explained how the Gentiles would also receive the soul saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.~

Lesson 3709

 (Lesson 3709)(03-15-22) Romans 2:2-16

    “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

    Today’s lesson assures us that we will ALL be judged and punished for the things we do here on earth, just as the lost, who have rejected the saving grace of Jesus Christ, will be judged and cast into eternal damnation.~

Lesson 2708

 (Lesson 3708)(03-14-22) Romans 2:1

    “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

    Today’s quote makes it very clear that we are NEVER worthy, nor authorized, to judge the sins of those around us.

     Far too many “Christians” today spend most of their time condemning others instead of cleaning up their own sins. ~

Lesson 3707

 (Lesson 3707)(03-13-22) Romans 1:20-32

    “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

    Today’s quote relates Paul’s description of the sinful behavior of the Jews. It also tells us how God, in turn, revoked the “chosen” status of the Jewish people.

    While taking away the “chosen” status from the Jews, God added the Gentiles to His amazing saving grace so that we ALL now have the power “to become the sons of God”.

    We are ALL inherent sinners in the flesh; However, as to those of us who believe in the virgin born life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are to do all that we possibly can to rise above the inherent sin that consumes our mortal bodies. Because we have the righteousness of Jesus imputed into our eternal spirits, the “inner man” we are to demonstrate the love of God in our daily lives so that those who are lost may see the benefits of being a child of God.

    “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved". ~