May 23

ROMANS 9

¹⁹ You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” ²⁰ But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” ²¹ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? ²² What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, ²³ in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— ²⁴ even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? ²⁵ As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’”²⁶ “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”²⁷ And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, ²⁸ for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay.” ²⁹ And as Isaiah predicted, “If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom
and become like Gomorrah.”– Romans 9:19-29

ROMANS 9 ONLY A REMNANT WILL BE SAVED

In this letter, Paul continues to expound on the sovereignty of God. He quotes the prophet Hosea on verse 2:23 which promises those who were not part of the Israelites will also have a chance to be called sons of the living God. He also quotes the prophet Isaiah that even though the Israelites were as much as the sand, only a remnant of them will be saved. He also mentioned Isaiah’s prediction that if God didn’t keep his promise, they would be annihilated just like Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.

This is a warning not just for those first century Christians but also to all believers in our current time. In Matthew 22, we hear Jesus tell the parable of the great feast. It was about a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son and those who were invited didn’t come but killed the messengers who were sent to invite them.  So, in his anger, the king ordered everyone in the street corners to come instead. When someone came and isn’t properly dressed for the feast, he was bound and thrown into the pit of darkness. The parable ends with “many are called but few are chosen.”

REFLECTION

• What does it take for a believer to receive the promise of eternal life?

May 22

ROMANS 9

⁸ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. ⁹ For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” ¹⁰ And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, ¹¹ though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— ¹² she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” ¹³ As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”¹⁴ What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! ¹⁵ For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” ¹⁶ So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. ¹⁷ For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” ¹⁸ So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. – Romans 9:8-18

ROMANS 9 GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY

In this letter, Paul explains to the church in Rome that God has absolute sovereignty over all things he created. We humans have a tendency to question things we don’t understand. Paul wants to focus on God’s total preference on whomever he wants to bless. Only God alone knows what is best for us. Paul explains the promise of God to those whom he elects. He cites the example of Jacob and Esau. Even though Esau was the firstborn, he wasn’t God’s choice to bring forth the promised offspring. It was in Jacob that he fulfilled his promise to Abraham. Often, we do not understand why God chooses someone and not another person. He is God after all and he created all things, sees all things and has control over everything.  Verse 15 has been considered a hard saying to fathom especially for those who do not know God’s sovereignty. Many unbelievers try to understand it from a human standpoint and may interpret it as God having favorites. Another example like this is Cain and Abel. He accepted Abel’s offering but not Cain’s because Abel did worship God the right way, while Cain didn’t offer the best. God doesn’t need to explain his choices to us. He is sovereign and he will deliver all his plans and promises according to his will.

REFLECTION

• What could be hard to understand for unbelievers regarding God’s election?

May 21

ROMANS 9

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— ² that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵ To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, ⁷ and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ⁸ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

                                                                                 – Romans 9:1-8

ROMANS 9 GOD’S WORD NEVER FAILS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As believers in Christ Jesus, we are given God’s word

It is through his word that we overcome the world

God’s word never fails; it keeps us protected from wickedness

Cling to it always so you can stay in the path of righteousness.

In this letter, we hear Paul have anguish over some of his brothers and sisters in Christ. It sounds like he is suffering sorrowfully for those who have become lax with faithfully following the path of righteousness. He is urging the believers in Rome to press in God’s truth which says that the children of God are those that he has counted as his elect.

Just because they are Israelites, it doesn’t mean that they are automatically saved. He uses the term “children of the flesh” which could be those who think they are saved just because they are Israelites, but do not keep their end in following the covenant stipulation of God.

Paul reminds the believers in this letter that those who keep the covenant promise between Abraham and his offspring will be the ones who will be counted children of God.

REFLECTION

• Why is it important for us to hunger for God’s word regularly?

May 17

ROMANS 8

⁹ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. – Romans 8:9-17

ROMANS 8 ADOPTED AS CHILDREN OF GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are adopted by God himself

You are dead to your flesh and is led by the Spirit in righteousness

You are no longer slaves to sin but alive in Christ Jesus

God claimed you as his child and sin no longer controls you.

Do you know of someone who has been adopted? They are brought into the family of those who took them in. They become like their own. The adopted parents give their name to them. They get all the same benefits as the biological children get. This is how God adopted all those who believe in Jesus Christ into his kingdom. They become heirs to his kingdom. If God is a King, then all believers are princes and princesses. Like Jesus, they also have a place in his kingdom. So, all believers ought to act like they are God’s actual children. Paul explains here the spirit of adoption which is given to all those who believe in Christ. Even though Christians still live in a sinful body, they are given God’s Spirit so they can have the ability to do what is right and pleasing to God. There is no reason anymore to be slaves to sin since righteousness dwells in us through the Spirit of the Lord.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think some Christians behave like they weren’t adopted by God?

May 13

ROMANS 7

⁷ What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. ⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. ¹⁰ The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. ¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. ¹² So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. – Romans 7:7-12

ROMANS 7 THE LAW EXPOSES SIN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you didn’t know the law, you kept on sinning

But Jesus died for you to keep you from wrongdoing

When the law was presented to God’s people

The automated sinful nature of humans was exposed

Therefore, the law is good because it shows sinfulness

Before the law came about, people lived in covetousness.

In this letter, Paul explains to the church in Rome that the purpose of the law is to expose man’s sinful nature. Before they were aware of the law, they didn’t know that what they were doing was wrong. In verse 7, he expounds that until the law says for them not to be greedy, they thought that they were just doing what is right for them. But, once the law was laid down, they are now aware that it is wicked and it is evil to continue doing it. Paul emphasizes that the law is good and holy because it makes us see when we are sinning and when we are going against God.

Isn’t this also true in criminal laws in our country? A good example would be the law about bigamy. In Ontario, bigamy is a criminal offence. If one is found guilty of bigamy, they can be locked up for at least 5 years. The law prohibits marrying someone when you are already married to someone else. If you marry someone knowing they are already married, you also commit bigamy.

REFLECTION How does the law expose sin as Paul cited in verse 7? Cite other examples

May 11

ROMANS 6

¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:19-23

ROMANS 6 THE WAGES OF SIN VS. GOD’S GRACE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When a man continues to go through life in sinfulness

He will struggle and be defeated by evil and wicked ways

But if that man decides to trust and serve the Lord Jesus Christ

He will be blessed with much grace and his life will be sanctified

He now will have the power to overcome his sinful ways

Since the Holy Spirit will transform his life to righteousness.

In this letter, Paul presents to the believers in the Roman church the wages of sin which is death and the reward for believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal life is the free gift that comes with believing in Christ. He explains what happens to their lives once they accept the invitation of God to believe in his own Son. When Jesus died on the cross, he did it in such a way that all can be saved by his one sacrificial offering of his own body and blood on the cross. He opened the gateway towards reconciliation with God and a clean slate to start a relationship with our heavenly Father.

In verse 20, he explains the process that a man undergoes from sinfulness to righteousness. Before Jesus died for us, we could not enter into a relationship with God, but he paved the way for us to be forgiven of our sins and be purified. Since God is a holy God, he requires for our sanctification so we can have a right relationship with him.

REFLECTION

• Can a person just decide to believe in Christ on his own? Why or why not?

May 10

ROMANS 6

¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.¹⁵ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. – Romans 6:12-18

ROMANS 6 SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Because Jesus died for us all, should we continue to sin?

We have been brought from death to life in order for us to win

Sin has no hold on us anymore since we are no longer under the law

The free gift of grace has made us now slaves of righteousness.

What is a slave? According to an AI resource, In the Bible, “slave” often translates to the Greek word “doulos”, which can mean a servant, a bondservant, or even one who willingly submits to the will of another. In Colossians 3, we are given a clear idea what is expected of slaves. They are to obey their earthly masters in everything and they are to do it not only when they are being watched but even when they aren’t. They are to do it sincerely as if they are doing it for God himself. They are to do everything for them as if they are working for God himself and not for human masters. There will be a reward for all those who obey this: an inheritance awaits them.

In verse 16, Paul cautions the Romans that if they become obedient to anyone or anything, they become slaves of that person or thing. It sounds to me like idolatry, doesn’t it? If we idolize something or someone, we become slaves of them. We are cautioned against these things since we are now slaves of righteousness when Christ died for us.

REFLECTION

• What would a slave of righteousness look like in our world today?