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