Day 45 - Chapter 16

Romans 16:19

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 

Apostle Paul roll called all his friends who have been with him in the ministry and commended them and he also wrote encouragements to the people of Rome.

The verse mentioned is not new to us (I even know a song about it specifically). In fact, this is the commonest and simplest principle in life that one can grasp whether a Christian or not. For us Christians, once we decided to follow Jesus, we promised Him that we would continuously work on our spiritual life so that our faith may increase. With faith comes good works, but I strongly believe that faith alone CAN NOT get a person to heaven. One has to acknowledge God's grace. 

Ephesians 2:8 says,

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

Romans 3:24 says, 

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

God's grace is Jesus Christ, once an individual accepts Him as his Lord and Saviour, he is guaranteed residence in heaven. Meanwhile, as we live here on earth, good works become the product of our faith, therefore we do good to ourselves and to others. We know very well the difference between good and bad therefore we cling to what is pleasing to God and hate what gives delight to the enemy (Romans 12:9).

Just be reminded that at all times, we do good not to satisfy our ego but to give glory to the One who is merciful and gracious. 

As Zechariah 4:6 says, 

So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 43 - Chapter 15

Romans 15:20

And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation. 

Apostle Paul and I share the same principle. When we know our purpose here on earth, we allow the Lord to take us to places where He can use us as fishers of men, salt and light, living witnesses of the faith, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone. 

Paul never chose where he wanted to go. He followed God's leading and God led him to where the gospel was much needed. Hence he quoted Isaiah 52:15 (verse 21):-

“To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Britain is a hard soil. The people have hearts and minds that are futile, hostile and hardened. Britain will never be my comfort zone but I believe that God has put me here for a reason, and I do not want to miss this opportunity to fulfill that purpose and be used as a vessel for service to Him. 

If one is not convinced about this, may be we should look at some of the words spoken by Jesus Christ Himself:- 

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (also Luke 5:31 or Matthew 9:11-13)

And in Luke 15:3-32 Jesus Christ narrates the parable of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son.

Also in Matthew 9:37 and Luke 10:2 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few"

I can not imagine how much joy it will bring the Father if one soul is saved but think of a whole nation being converted to faith in Jesus Christ. As Luke 15:10 says, Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” we have an idea how it can please our God and we should strive to make it happen. 

Allow Him to use you to reach out to the lost!

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 42 - Chapter 14

Romans 14:19

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Some Jew and Gentile Christians were still exposed to pagan beliefs during that time therefore apostle Paul regarded them as weak believers for they tend to judge their fellow brothers and sisters according to what they eat or drink. He said not to judge one another anymore, but rather resolve the matter and not put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way (verse 12).

In our daily lives today, it is so easy to judge our fellow believers in view of what we see as flaws. However, we know very well Luke 6:42 :-

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Jesus spoke in parables to convey the message to the people - not to judge and condemn but rather to forgive.

Have you ever experienced being strengthened by a brother or a sister in the faith? Do you remember how pleasant it felt? Well then, this is how edifying another is all about, as apostle Paul puts it. 

Be slow to judge others but quick to judge yourself!

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 41 - Chapter 13

Romans 13:1

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 

In the UK, people can not cheat with regard to paying taxes as the government directly debits a certain amount just before an employee receives his salary. I am not sure about the policies in the Philippines because I have never really worked there before but if I am not mistaken, an employee pays it at his own discretion. So then, there is a greater possibility to miss payments deliberately. If this is the case then paying taxes can be a good example to test if a person abides by the country's legislations. As Christians, we are called to submit to the authorities' regulations as verses 1-7 state.

I remember when I was in third grade, my teacher chose me to represent my class in an impromptu speaking contest. We were given random questions about current events and issues happening in the Philippines that time. Now, I have no idea how I managed to get a silver medal but my question was - "What is your stand on capital punishment - death penalty?" Guess what my answer was? 

I was pro death penalty. I agreed to it 100% and I reasoned out with the saying "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". Death for death. If a person is guilty of murder, his own life must be taken away to bring justice to the victim and the victim's loved ones as well. And I included in my speech that once a government passed an ordinance for capital punishment, all subordinates must adhere to it and then I referred to Romans 13:1 =)

We are not ignorant of the mess the world is in right now. There are emerging wars here and there and the leaders tend to become irresponsible, greedy and selfish causing the people to rebel against them. However, it still pays to comply with existing laws. Remember Romans 13:1 - all authorities are appointed by God. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 40 - Chapter 12

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We may all be familiar with this chapter. Chapter 12 highlights how a true Christian must live and every verse instructs us to live according to the will of God. Verses 1 and 2 summarise the whole chapter:- Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In the church, we see how apostle Paul pointed out (as per abovementioned verses) that each one has his own gift and an individual must use it accordingly for the furtherance of His glory. We can use an analogy to compare the church with a human body as in 1 Corinthians 12. Jesus Christ is the head as He is the Head of the Church and each one distributed as the eye or mouth or hand or foot working their own function, that is to say, one can preach, the other can teach or one can simply serve his fellow brothers and sisters. Whatever it is, the Lord does not favour one over the other.

As 1 Corinthians 12:22-25 says: 

On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

What a great encouragement is this for us! Have you ever felt unimportant or small in an assembly before? Have you ever wished that you could preach or teach or lead praise and worship? Worry not for God has given you a gift that is different from any one else that is vital for the church just as essential as a preacher or a teacher or a worship leader.

Always remember that with God, there is no partiality.    

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 39 - Chapter 11

Romans 11:33

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

Although most of the Jews rejected the faith, there were still some who believed and accepted thus pertaining to the so-called "remnant" in verse 5. Although, Israel has "stumbled" as per verse 11, God gave them leeways to reverse their disbelief and come back to Him in repentance. Then, speaking to the Gentiles, Paul explained why this was so - that the number of Gentile believers would reach its full number (verse 12, 25). 

Paul spoke in metaphors from verse 16 where:-

• the branches broken off signifies the fallen Israel. However, the "believing remnant" (J. McArthur) were preserved by God. 
• the wild olive tree are the Gentiles that were "grafted in" (verse 17) when the unproductive branches were cut off (again, Israel)
• the root and fatness symbolises God's blessings and thus made the Gentile Christians partakers of these favours as well. 
• the olive tree in its fullness refers to God's people - the sons of Abraham 

Nonetheless, Paul warned the Romans saying that they must be careful not to disobey for if God did not spare the natural branches he may not spare them either (verse 21) and if they fall away it may be difficult for them to be grafted back in as they were considered "wild" meaning, they were not part of the natural olive tree. 

Apostle Paul reiterated that out of Israel's disobedience came mercy for the Gentiles and the Jews themselves. The vastness of this principle is beyond man's own interpretation thus Romans 11:33. 

We may not understand the fullness of God's mysteries but because of His great love and mercy, we remain faithful. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 38 - Chapter 10

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

As the latter chapters discuss about Israel, I have to keep reminding myself that Paul was writing to the people of Rome and not the Jews. 

Apostle Paul emphasised how Israel constantly rejected the gospel no matter how they were in dire need of it. Scriptures and/or prophecies from the old testament were quoted to confirm that although they were the chosen nation, they resisted the Son of God.    

In verses 14-15, Paul asked rhetorical questions to give the Jews the benefit of the doubt. He stated that in order to respond to God's calling, it is necessary..

1. to have a God-sent preacher
2. for the preacher to proclaim His message
3. for the people to HEAR the message
4. for the people to BELIEVE the message

Verse 17 summarises these four points. We Christians have long experienced these when we heard and accepted the gospel through His messenger/s and with this, we all became proclaimers ourselves - proclaimers of our faith in Jesus Christ. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 37 - Chapter 9

Romans 9:19-20

One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”

Paul talks about Israel in chapter 9. As God's chosen nation, a part of Isreal received and a part rejected Jesus Christ. With this, God exercised His purpose and justice, His mercy and wrath demonstrated. 

The verses mentioned above pertain to those who received God half-heartedly. I believe that there are times when it becomes inevitable to question God, however it must not be to the point where we defy His power and character hence defaming His Name and blaspheming Him. It is but natural to sometimes ask Him about things that we do not understand or can not comprehend - like in times of suffering. Take for example Job, in Job 10, he had a series of questions that he wanted answers because he was going through so much for a human being to bear. He wanted enlightenment because his mind could not grasp the overwhelming events that happened to him all at the same time. 

As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”

However, our faith must remain intact. We only desire to understand but not to blame and doubt. He created us, therefore He has all the authority to reign over our mind, heart, body and spirit. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 36 - Chapter 8

Romans 8:18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

I have seen people or friends even who suffered more than anyone else, and they are Christians. How much faith does it take to fill a life with hope despite trials and tribulations? I can not help but refer to a friend who became critically unwell, was rejected by family and partly by friends and was financially deprived. All aspects of the person's life (material, family and physical) were crushed into pieces in a way that hope and faith became impossible to mend them. Yet her spiritual life was not quenched, she remained strong in her belief that the Lord would deliver her from all her burdens. God did. He took her home more than a year ago. 

This is the ultimate paradigm of Romans 8:18. She knew that the glory that was revealed to her when she went to paradise was incomparable to her sufferings here on earth. We are yet to see this glory and therefore we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (v25).

I suppose our present problems are but a tiny speck of what she has gone through. What a great encouragement is this for us who still lives and can live a more comfortable life! All the more reason for us to cling to God's everlasting love and promise, for we become more than conquerors through Him. For we are persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (v37-39). 

God is so much bigger than our biggest sufferings. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 35 - Chapter 7

Romans 7:6 

But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not inthe oldness of the letter. 

This chapter reasons how the knowledge of the law (pertaining to the law of Moses) makes a man guilty to sin. As when the commandments were given, men failed to observe them completely hence death became the punishment. However, grace abound through God's Son, therefore we were freed from the law and in turn, the bondage of sin.

Paul made it clear that the law is spiritual (v14) and thus "reflects God's holy character" (J. McArthur). Nevertheless, it was not given merely to condemn man but to help him see that he has the ability and the will to obey it but the flesh that is in him restrains him from doing so, and this is why we need Christ in our lives for in Him there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). 

I never used to understand what the law and His grace were all about until I actually had the desire to understand. Before, I thought that one has to possess a special theological knowledge to be able to discern the messages of the bible but obviously I was wrong, the only requirement was love - to love God that much to want so badly to learn His words. 

What I can just take away from this chapter is that, obedience of the law can not solely save us from the punishment of sin. As humans who inherited sin from our forefather, Adam, we are bound to wrong God and only Jesus Christ can make us right with His Father. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 34 - Chapter 6

Romans 6:1-2 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

We died to sin when Jesus Christ died on the cross. When He was buried we were buried with Him. When He was raised from the dead, so were we. This is the significance of baptism.  No to sin and yes to Jesus Christ. 

Apostle Paul elaborated how a Christian should live after repentance and baptism: 

• We should walk in the newness of life (v4)
• We should no longer be slaves of sin (v6)
• We must not let sin reign our mortal bodies (v12) 
• We must offer every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness to God (v13)

The law made us transgressors but grace made us righteous. As verse 14 puts it, sin shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under law but under grace. 

I guess these verses or better yet, the whole chapter, have got to be literally hammered into the heads of Christians as many become "comfortable" with their lives. They carry on sinning thinking that the Father would keep forgiving them, or that His mercy would abound over and over again. He knows our hearts and He knows if they are for real. It is high time we evaluate ourselves and think, are we for real? 

A TRUE Christian abounds in love and only hates one thing - SIN. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 33 - Chapter 5

Romans 5:18-19

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

The one man who first made an offense and was judged to be condemned to death was Adam. The propensity to sin was thus passed down from generation to generation until the present time, therefore we were made sinners. However, the One Man came to blot out our sins and cancel the punishment of sin by dying on the cross, hence making us righteous- Jesus Christ.  

Romans 5:8-9

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

What a great promise is this for us who inherited our father, Adam's sinful nature! Understanding Jesus' sacrifice on the cross helps us to understand God's love for us all the same. The beauty of His plan for us, the significance of it all can not be described in words.

No one, nothing and no good works can ever reconcile us to God but Jesus Christ, He is the only way to salvation. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 32 - Chapter 4

Romans 4:20-22

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Paul talked about David shortly and then Abraham pretty much the whole chapter. Faith was not only accounted to the apostles in the new testament but also to the great men of the old. Abraham's faith was tested a few times and God has proven him worthy of the calling - becoming the father of all nations. 

We knew about our calling fully well when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, repented, were immersed, committed to service, lived transformed lives, served our fellowmen and shared the Good News to those who needed it. We did all these because of the faith we possessed the moment we found Him. 

As Hebrews 11:1 says,

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

By faith, we remain hopeful that He will fulfill His promises in our lives and that someday He will take us and we will all be with Him in His dwelling place forever, just like Abraham. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 31 - Chapter 3

Romans 3:23-26 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Dictionaries define "propitiation" as conciliation. Jesus Christ became our Propitiator so that God might justify us by His grace through our faith in His Son. We know why we badly need the Propitiator right? Yes, the answer is Romans 3:23 - we are all sinners and sinners we will forever be if not because of -again- the Propitiator. As Christians,  we have acknowledged what Jesus Christ has done for us to be made right with God. 

John 3:16, this is probably the most renowned verse among all the verses in the bible. It had to be known because it is the bible's core message. This was the first ever verse that I have hidden in my heart and it was only until lately that I have fully understood the meaning of it. Reciting this verse to myself over and over again makes me stand in awe of His great love for me, for us. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Something to think about: 

Us - Jesus Christ - God --> justification and eternal life. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 30 - Chapter 2

Romans 2:11

For there is no partiality with God. 

This chapter illustrates the Jews who judged and condemned men according to their works and then failed to look at themselves and assess how they lived. Paul said that the Lord does not practice favouritism, it does not matter whether a person is a Jew or a Gentile for as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified (vv 12-13) 

Looking at ourselves as proclaimers of faith in Jesus Christ, do we actually practice what we preach and continue to be doers of the law? Or are we like the others who only mean to clean the outside of the cup - those who seem pure outside but remain vile in the heart?

We do not have the right and authority to judge others, only God possesses this right as His judgment is according to the truth against those who sin (v2) 

So whether a Jew or a Gentile, in other words, whether one found God at a very early age or accepted Jesus Christ at the prime of his life, it does not matter. It all comes down to the heart, does it seek to glorify Him or does it seek to satisfy the desire of the flesh? We are free to choose how to live but we are well-informed of the reward of a life of honesty and genuinity and the punishment of hypocrisy. 

Let us all show the Father that we are His TRUE children. LIVE IN THE TRUTH. 

*taken from my Facebook notes

Day 29 - Chapter 1

Romans 1:16-17 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed —a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 1 starts with Paul's greeting and introduction and the expression his desire to visit Rome. The core message of this book are the verses mentioned above. I always hear them being preached at church let alone being used in songs. Paul's words have that sense of bravado that compel Christians to be courageous enough to fulfill their purpose in this world. 

Verses 18 to 32 describe God's wrath over the unrighteousness of men specifically those of the Gentiles. They knew God but did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (v21) The verses list a number of sins that deserve only death by God's judgement.

However, we Christians have completely shunned these sins and are now living forgiven lives. Fully, changed and transformed lives. This is how we know God and give glory to Him as God.

*taken from my Facebook notes