June 3

ROMANS 12

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. – Romans 12:9-15

ROMANS 12 MARKS OF A TRUE BELIEVER

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As a true believer, you are to have genuine love

Hate what is wicked and cling to what is good

Love one another as Christ has loved you

Surpass each other in showing respect and honor

When trials come, rejoice for you are not alone

God is always there for you, you are not abandoned

When someone does you wrong, forgive that person

Continue to show kindness to him and to everyone

Show compassion to those who are in pain and grieving

Do not fail to acknowledge someone who is suffering.

In this letter, Paul enumerates some of the manifestations of the Spirit’s work in a believer’s life. On our own, we will not be able to do this because of our sinful nature. It is amazing how Paul gives us a clear illustration how a true believer would look like if they walk in the Spirit of the Lord. In verse 9, he defines what a genuine love is. He gives us a picture of Psalm 1:1-2 which says that blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but he delights in the law of the Lord and on his law, he meditates day and night. Genuine love is walking in righteousness and have nothing to do with wickedness.

Verse 2 is one of my favorite verses because if we outdo one another in love and showing honor, there will be no conflicts in this world. It is totally the opposite of the world system where people focus on gathering pleasures and cravings for self-satisfaction.

REFLECTION

·       Which of these marks of a true believer mentioned do you still struggle with?

June 2

ROMANS 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. – Romans 12:1-8

ROMANS 12 A LIVING SACRIFICE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As people of God, we need to offer our bodies as living sacrifice

This means that we are not to follow the world’s selfish ways

Since God has given us his Son Jesus so that we can be cleansed

Let us all continue to live holy lives and stay clear of sins.

Unlike the first century Christians who know what it means to sacrifice to atone for their sins, we don’t. In those times, they have to go to a priest who becomes the mediator to offer such sacrifices. But when Jesus came, he became the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins. He is our high priest who mediates between God and man. This is why we no longer do those animal offerings because Jesus died for us all already. So, how do we come close to worshiping God in truth and in spirit? We go to Jesus. We do not rely on our own understanding and work because he has already finished that work on the cross. In Colossians 2:8, Paul warns the believer that no one should take you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

REFLECTION

• What does it look like to be a living sacrifice for God in our world today?

May 31

ROMANS 11

²⁵ Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; ²⁷ “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”²⁸ As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.

²⁹ For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. – Romans 11:25-28

ROMANS 11 GOD’S GIFTS & CALLING ARE PERMANENT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God has chosen you to be part of his people

He is faithful he won’t turn his back on his promise

His gifts and calling are irreversible and endless

Obey his laws and you will reap his promises.

One of the questions that is raised about being a Christian is this: “Can a Christian lose his salvation?” In this letter, Paul sheds light on this question. Verse 29 tells us that God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable. Believers are assured of their salvation and God equips every believer with an ability to say “yes” to God’s call. Verse 26 shows us that we believe in a God who is unchanging. He follows through his promise to the Israelites.

Some people think that salvation can be lost, but salvation is a very long process that takes a lifetime. No one can truly see or know if one has already reached the peak of his or her salvation. Since only God sees our hearts and knows our thoughts, no one will ever know if we have reached the maturity of our faith but God himself. We may exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, but until one person is alive, we can never tell what they are going through and how they will respond to their life’s crisis when it hits them. They may fall away, but that doesn’t mean they lose the promise of God. The Lord will ensure that they stay faithful because they are God’s prized possession. We are vulnerable to the tactics of the devil if we don’t follow the path that he wants us to follow. The only way one loses his salvation is if he wasn’t a true believer after all.

REFLECTION

• What are the signs that people may think that a believer has lost his salvation?

May 30

ROMANS 11

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing rootof the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. ¹⁹ Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. ²² Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off. ²³ And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. – Romans 11:17-24

ROMANS 11 STAY IN THE TRUE VINE

Paul cautions believers about the danger of pride. In verse 17 he was referring to an ancient way of grafting. Sources on web says “the allegory of the olive tree describes how God grafts branches from a wild olive tree (Gentiles) onto a cultivated olive tree (Israel) to preserve and invigorate the cultivated tree. This process of grafting is described as botanically accurate, as the ancients relied on propagation by slips, where they would bury stem pieces or cuttings in the ground to encourage rooting.” In the book of John in chapter 15:1-8, the Father calls himself as the vinedresser and Jesus the true vine. Each branch that doesn’t bear fruit is taken away and each branch that bears fruit is pruned so it will bear more fruit. The way to bear fruit is through abiding in Jesus so that he can abide in us. It explains the importance of being close to the true vine (Jesus) so that one can bear much fruit. The consequence of not abiding in Jesus is that the branch is thrown away and withers, and later on gathered together to be thrown into the fire.

Paul reiterates John’s explanation on why we need to stay in the true vine so that we will bear fruit. It keeps us humble so that we don’t ever think that we contribute to our salvation. We must focus on Jesus and abide in him so we will bear much fruit and grow our faith instead of risking being thrown and burned as John said in those verses.

REFLECTION

• What are some consequences when people separate from the true vine?

May 25

ROMANS 10

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. ⁴ For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”– Romans 10:1-13

ROMANS 10 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MAN’S

In this letter, Paul addresses the Jewish zeal for following the law. In verse 2, he calls out their enthusiasm which is not based on knowledge. In verse 3, he points out their ignorance to God’s righteousness and their pursuit of following the law to seek their own righteousness. How easy it is for the Jews and also for all believers in our current day to deceive ourselves with rule-keeping and performance-based religion. That is what Paul is addressing in this letter. He exposes the difference between God’s righteousness and our attempts to be righteous. Our righteousness is never right if it is based on our own understanding and efforts.

In verse 9 Paul gives us the formula for true faith. He directs us to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. In verse 10, he points out the result of confessing with the mouth and having faith from the heart: we are saved and justified in Christ.

REFLECTION

• Share how big the difference is between God’s righteousness and humans?