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June 13 THE BEGINNING
Genesis 1:1-10
Key Verse: Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
This is the first verse of the entire Bible. Its precedence lays a foundation that God was in the beginning…He is not a created being, but he was before the beginning and thus he lives in eternity. And second he created the heavens and the earth. Thus he has a relationship to man as the Creator. Each person in their own way asks these questions, “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” and “Where did I come from?” Profoundly enough the first verse answers all of these. 1) I am a creature of God. 2) Put here for God’s glory and 3) God is my Creator. Verse 1 lays a foundation in our lives.
Verse 1a, “In the beginning God…”
In the beginning and God. Not man, not man’s cause, not the amoeba, not stories, and not chance…but in the beginning God. He is there.
Verse 1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” He is the Creator. Not man, not nature, not myths, not chemicals of any type but God. He created the heavens and the earth. He is the Creator God. The Hebrew people got out of Egypt after 390 years in slavery. They were in bondage to the Egyptians especially to pharaoh. But God had a plan. And the Jews needed to know that God is the Creator not man. God rules and over rules. He is God. So God had Moses write Genesis through the inspiration of God. The Hebrew people needed to hear that God is the Creator and that he is in charge. They needed to hear that again and again. Modern persons need to hear that too know where they came from and where they are going. Verse 1 is a very important event in man’s history. The foundation of how we got here. And the following verses of this chapter are going to show it step by step. What awesome faith it will plant into ones heart to know Genesis 1. It will plant great faith.
When one looks at the world around them what do they see? What can they see? But God is there. He was in the beginning and he is doing his work today also. He is God. Lord, help me to see you. In Jesus’ name I pray.
One Word: In the beginning God.
Verse 2, “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Now this verse is very much the contrary to the first verse. The earth was formless and empty. It was altogether ugly. It was a giant mess. This is how it was before the entire earth came to be as we know it. God may have went somewhere after he created or he may have just stayed there but for a time we know his Spirit was hovering over the waters. Formless—no form, such as water or petroleum or a liquid. Persons are formless like that on the inside before they meet Jesus. They just exist because they exist. Empty—where there should be something there is nothing. Like an empty cup or an empty plate. Augustine said, “In the heart, there is a throne made for King Jesus” (paraphrased). People try to put idols on the throne, but in that room only Jesus can sit otherwise it is a heart not yet filled. (I remember my empty heart before I met Jesus.) verse 2b, “And darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” It was a dark earth and it was deep. Was it water? Was it another liquid that he used for creation? It does not say.
Darkness- The absence of light so no illumination. There was no photons that hit the eye for illumination. Persons live in the darkness before they meet the light of the world…Jesus. The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. God was there he saw the formless and emptiness of the earth. But His Spirit was there. He is Immanuel—God with us. He sees the sin in our lives. The directionlessness of our souls. But he stays there. He is God. And He is good. He is Immanuel –God with us. Matthew 28:20b, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God is there, and he proved that by sending his very own Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins. The Holy Spirit was there in the midst of the chaos. Existentialists say that he is not there. Because they believe in accidents, and in tragedies. But not here. Life is not a tragedy. God is there. What was he there for? He was there waiting to work. He wanted to work. He wanted to build and he was waiting for the exact time to work. God works and God is good. God should have been in heaven where the streets are made of gold. But he was not he was/is with us.
Today’s lesson, Genesis 1:3, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.’” God’s first words of creation are, “Let there be light.” Why did he create the light fist? The light helps man to see. And since man would be learning mostly through the visual it only seemed right to make light first. Light illumines our eyes and lets us see. Light beams go into our eyes and the mechanisms in our eyes produce the image onto our brains. (It might be the Cornea). I believe the light was coming from his throne as it says in the book of Revelations. Revelations 21:23“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” Not the Sun or the Moon because they were made on the fourth day. Man had to see.
2nd Light feeds the plants. Light photons hit the plant and the plant cells take them in through the leaves and produce chlorophyl which helps the plants to grow and then we eat the plants. Light is the engine that keeps everything going. Light shines on the plants and plants make the chlorophyl and then we eat the plants, and animals can eat the plants and we can eat both the plants and the animals and be happy.
4God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. The light is very, good. And God separated the light from the darkness. Now, if one saw, light… dark, light… dark, that would not be good. One would be confused, the sun comes up then it goes down every hour, we would be crazy beings. The light is separated from the darkness. At night it is darkness and in the day it is light. The habit of sleeping is in the night. The habit of working is in the day. God loves the light.
5 God called the light day, and the darkness He called night And there was evening and there was morning, one day. God is very organized. He separates the light from the darkness. Light in the day and darkness in the night. That is what he does. Can one imagine, darkness light, darkness light all day. Where does the day come from? Where does the night come from? They came from God. God is good. He separates and organizes. And he has his purposes.
July 30, 2008
Notes (Jesus Christ is the word in John 1:1-3. He does not use the word yatsar which means to frame or to form but he uses the term bara which signifies to create. This signifies that the world as we know was made from nothing. (John 1:3) God’s first words of creation are, “Let there be light…” Light is the engine that keeps everything going. Light shines on the plants and plants make the chloraphil and then we eat the plants, and animals can eat the plants and we can eat both the plants and the animals and be happy. Also, Jesus says in John 3:19a and 21, “This is the verdict, ‘Light has come into the world,.. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” Light reflects the truth. John 1:4a, “In him was life and that life was the light of men…” God wants man to see. He wants man to use his sight to gather the truth on and make many good decisions by. Sight is not bad. It is good, we are visual. Is light the medium through which we see the truth by? )
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July 31, 2008 Genesis 1:6-8
6 “And God said, ‘Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water. 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening and there was morning the second day.” This part is in a poetic form. The Hebrew people wrote in poetic form from time to time. And for our purposes we remember poetic form and what happened. Poetic form verses six through eight in chapter one.. These verses may be the most difficult in chapter one to figure out. Lets see. 1st, “Let there be an expanse.” Well what does that mean? What is an expanse? Well lets go on a little further. “…between the waters to separate water from water.” Okay, what comes to mind is separating seas. But wait? Verse 7, “So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.” Expanse and then separated. Okay. One can deal with that. But separated from the water above it. Hmmmm? What does that mean? Water above it? “And it was so.” My mind is asking the question…”What is the water above it? ??” Okay. One looks up…but one reads the next sentence. (Maybe because we are thoroughly confused. hehehe). Verse 8, “God called the expanse “sky.” Okay. Now one is almost there. Let one put sky in for expanse. “Let there be (a sky) between the waters to separate water from water. One must understand that “sky” begins right above ones head or even on the ground and goes straight up in the atmosphere. And it is in between the seas below and the water in the sky which is the clouds. That is the sky or expanse which is a vast area or emptiness of space in between the seas and the clouds. Aha, one has gotten it! And the end of verse 8 , “And there was evening and there was morning the second day.” The conclusion is reached the second creation is the sky. (Walla….cool.)
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9Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so. That makes sense. In order for the oceans to come to exist. There would have to be made land. Otherwise he planet would be a water world.
10God called the dry land earth, and the (R)gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.
In this passage we not only see God’s good creation, we feel his heart. He took the time to do such great detail. He took the time to sincerely love us. That is why it says , “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God is there. He is the Creator. This drives security in his presence and reassurance that things are going places. Those who believe that there eyesight holds a truth are right, but our brains are not the originators of truth. God is. And we seek him. He is good, and to believe him is to have his light shining in us. We can see. For God wrote Genesis for us to see
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, God is orderly, and he likes separating things so that we do not get confused as human beings. For instance, when he separated the darkness and the light on the first day of creation. The darkness he called night and the light he called day. And he separated the day form the night. God is thinking of us. Light one hour and darkness the next hour just would not work we would be very strange because of our lack of sleep in our attitudes. God did make the light the first day. The darkness was before the first day. And then he separated them. He did not make the lights yet to govern the day and the night. But he was going to. And we know those two great lights and what they are but never heard it put like that. The Great lights…hmm? They would serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years. When the Sun is directly above us then what? It is at a 90 degree angle from where we are and we know that to be Summer. When it is at a 60 degree angle it is either Autumn or Spring. And a 45 degree angle it is winter. Someone had to think of this. And it was God who thought of that and did it. To a lesser degree when the Sun rises and then goes down and when the moon comes out then goes down it is a 24 hour period of time and we call it one day. When this happens 365 times one calls it one year. The earth rotates 365 times and that is one rotation around the Sun. 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. All people need light. Light is good. Persons in Florida have a lot of light. And to give light on the earth, is an essential part of life. For example, the plants take the light in and make Chloryphil, which is food for the plants and makes them grow. And we eat the plants and live. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. What is the greater light? The Sun. What is the lesser light? The moon. They are important and a point of governing. So? Where did the light come from that was on the first day? Many assume that it came from the Sun. But in the Bible it does not say that. It does not say. But in the book of Revelations the light comes from God himself. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. This definitely is a double reinforcement. The major light is the Sun. The lesser light is the moon.
The Birds and the Fish
20 And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." God could only do this because he made the environment for these animals and creatures to live in. The water could teem with living creatures how, because the made the seas, he made the air. If the water was not H2O the fish would not be able to survive. Their lungs would collapse and die. If the air was not the perfect make up of Carbon and oxygen, and other gasses the birds would not be able to fly so well. In fact they would not be able to fly. God had it in the back of his mind to take care of things like this. He is the benevolent God who takes care of things like that. He takes care of everything like that. He always works for the good of humanity, he makes an environment for success in chapter one of Genesis. An environment where man can grow physically, spiritually, emotionally, and in all the ways a human grows…this is truly paradise. The second day is when God made the sky where the birds fly in. And the 3rd day God made the seas where the fish swim. This is just how it is. He makes the environment then the actual creature. 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. A double reinforcement that God did indeed do this. He did do it. And He saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day. Many take it for granted but God did do this. He did. And he was smart about it—so the animals reproduced and made more animals.
5 August 2008 The Sixth Day
I) The land animals. (v.24-25)
24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. The creation of the livestock has direct correlation with the third day. The third day is when God made the land appear. And he made the seas because the land separated the water from the water. And on that dry ground what did the Lord produce. He created plants that bore fruit with seeds in them. He was making an environment for the animals to live on and to strive on. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. This is a very wonderful time, the land was already made and now the animals wee there. In the back of his mind God is thinking of man. He wants man to be happy and to love God and to have many things to be with and to watch over. God would watch over man, and man would be happy, later on we would find out that man would watch over the animals.
II) Introduction to man (v.26a)
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground." Now one has come to the main point of God’s creation. The light was made, the night and the day, the sky to separate the clouds and the seas, the land with seed bearing plants and fruits, the Sun, Moon, stars; birds, fish, and animals. An entire orchestra, and if all creation is the orchestra of God’s wonderful grace, then what is man; man seems to be the soloist, but he is not; God will make him the main point of creation. Why was everything else made? For man. It is hard to fathom because one wants to love the animals too. But let’s see. “Let us make man in our image…” Who was God talking too at that time? He was talking to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit. Let us…make man in our image. What is the image of God…God is Spirit…a spirit is not like smoke or an inanimate object. Spirit is life, and the word Jesus spoke to us was spirit and life. The image of God in us is Spirit and his Spirit in us is life. Not death. For we will live forever. Our Spirit has a small s though. Tomorrow we study God’s mission for man
Lord, you made everything for man. Thank you. Thank you for the 6th day of creation. In Jesus’ Name I pray.
One Word: The sixth day of Creation.
Man’s greatness
Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
This verse is a double affirmative. From verse 26. As we are going to find out in chapter two God made man first from the earth. But in this chapter we see, that they are both made in God’s image. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Now this verse takes the time to explain that man and woman are made in God’s image. Now, when one goes back and looks at the entire Genesis 1, we see that Genesis one take on a new meaning. That God creating everything has a place. Has a very, very good place. For example, “Why did God create the light?” For man to see. Why did God create the sky? For birds to fly and for man to breath a healthy dose of oxygen. God created the night and day so we can sleep at night, and work in the day. God had purpose in creating the land and the seed bearing plants and the animals. He created them for man. All would worship God but the one who is created in the image of God is man. Everything was created for man. And man is made in the image of God. What is the image of God? The image of God is Spirit and God is the Shepherd who takes care of things and man. Man has a soul. Man has emotions and feelings.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." This is man’s mission statement, and blessing. Be fruitful and increase in number. This means to pro-create. And to spread God’s blessings throughout the earth. All over the earth. How does one spread God’s blessings today? Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” There are so many negatives things that we here about everyday. It can really depress us. But God sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for our sins, and be raised from the dead on the third day. Can make us happy and joyful and plant faith into our hearts. And we can live for God’s glory. Now verse 28 may be a little bit vaguer and abstract then Mark 16:15. But it is just as broad, and far reaching in its meaning. Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground. To take care of those things.
Lord, thank you for Jesus. Thank you that you made us in your image.
One Word: God made man in his image.
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.’” This verse is comparable to Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and al these things will be given to you as well.” God in the beginning, had a holy trust to man. He gave man his Words in Genesis 1:28,”God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’” God is good, He knows what it takes to fulfill such a command. He knows that it takes a lot of food and a lot of effort. We remember in Genesis 1:3 that God created the light for man to see, and for photosynthesis to take place. But for man photosynthesis does not take place, he cannot just wake up and go outside when the sun rises and feel fed. Hot quite. He has to eat food. Lots and lots of delicious food. So God gave him the seed bearing plants. Now these plants, I do not believe were like today’s plants, because they filled they filled every sort of nutrient that the man needs. It was like that. Wonderful plants. Was there a steak plant, and a pork chop plant? Probably not, but they filled all the needs that a man has. Man would work and burn off those calories. I think calorie means heat. So the stored calories in man would burn off and turn into heat, and man could have strength to work. It was like a engine in a care, with gasoline. The same concept.
Lord, thank you for the food you give me. Help me never take it for granted. In Jesus’ name.
One Word: God is Good.
30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. It does not seem like God is giving the animals for man to eat. He did give them to the man—to love and take care of but he did not give to eat instead he gave us the things of the forest to eat.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
This is a very special verse. God looked around and saw that everything was good. But it is only after he created man and woman did he say that everything is very good. Not just good but very good. Man and woman were king and queen in the garden. Pragmatic consideration now a days says that man/woman is only as good as how much he or she makes. But in no way are we like that. In no way are we like that. We were very good. God saw man and woman and said very good. Man is never just as good as he can produce outwardly. He is as good as God sees him. And God is good and he makes very good things. God made us like that.
A lot persons have so much to say about God from what they were taught by others. Which can be good or bad. But the Bible is the authority. And if one wants to know the truth they go to the Bible themselves and study it. It is very important to study the Bible especially in this life where life is so complicated, and sometimes meaningless. But there is God and there is the Bible. Today we take a look through God’s eyes and see what he saw about his creation.
Remember God spent six days of creating. And lastly he made man in his own image. His image is Spirit and He is wonderful and praiseworthy. Now let us see how he looked at creation.
Genesis 1:31, “God saw all that he had made and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day.” Now God’s eyes are perfect…He is the perfect God and He sees things perfectly. He sees things as they are. And what he saw of his creation was great beauty. He saw all that he had made and it was very good. He made man in the beginning very good. Man was perfect. Not a blemish on him. Not one. No sin. Man was very good. The fiber of man was very good. Now that means that he had a choice. He had a choice, what to believe. And he believed in God and saw God and loved God. In no way was man a robot. He loved God because he wanted to.
May 24
Romans 1:1-4 5/18/09
Verse 1, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Paul was not always an apostle. Before he met Jesus, Paul was Saul of Tarsus an enemy of the gospel. But after he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, Jesus changed him into St. Paul; a servant of Christ Jesus. Verse 2, “The gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.” God had a plan for mankind. Paul found out that this gospel did not just come about suddenly when Jesus appeared but that the promise of the gospel began in Genesis 3 and flowed throughout the Old Testament. God’s plan was to send Jesus Christ to die for the believers’ sins. Romans 1:3, “…regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David.” Why did the Messiah have to be a descendent of David? God says to David in 2 Samuel 7:11-13, “The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you. When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name and I will establish the throne of His Kingdom forever.” Forever is not referring to David’s immediate son, Solomon, but to David’s offspring who is Jesus. Jesus’ mother Mary is a descendent of King David as is said in Matthew chapter 1. Jesus Christ was prophesied about in the Old Testament, Isaiah 9:6 and 7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of the government there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” That is why in Romans 1:3 Paul mentions that Jesus is a descendent of David . Romans 1:4 mentions Jesus’ resurrection. Romans 1:4, “…and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” Isaiah 26:19 prepares us for the resurrection 700 years before it happened. It reads, ”But your dead will live;
their bodies will rise.
You who dwell in the dust,
wake up and shout for joy.
Your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead. Jesus as the Messiah was the first one to rise from the dead.
Isaiah 25:8 speaks directly of Jesus Christ, “he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove the disgrace of his people
from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken.” These verses were written 700 years before Jesus’ time on the earth. Paul is thinking of them and many other verses like them, because in his mind Jesus is the fulfillment of them. And the apostle concludes in 1 Corinthians 15:54, “When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.”
Romans 1:5, “Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Now Paul is talking about Jesus. “Through him and for his namesake, (Rom.1:5a) (and Philippians 2:10), “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.” This name had a very specific meaning to Paul. In fact it was personal. Through him Paul did things. Before I met Jesus I was bound to this world. I lived in the world, breathed in the world and grew in the world. But after reading the Bible for 2 years I found out that the name of Jesus was above all names. For he is God Almighty. In history Acts 9 describes Paul’s conversion. He was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians but the Risen Jesus came to him. Jesus was very gracious to St. Paul. He could have killed him for persecuting the Church of God but he did not. He saved him from his own treachery and murderous sin and gave him new life. Now Paul was in Jesus. But if Jesus did not come he said his philosophy would be Jesus, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor 15:32). And if Christ has not been raised from the dead Paul says in I Corinthians 15:19, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more then all men.” But in 1 Corinthians15:20 Paul shouts to all generations, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…”
Romans 1:5, “Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.” Paul preached the gospel all over the Roman world because he was convinced that Jesus Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and that no man comes to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). Personally knowing Jesus is the greatest pleasure he or anyone can have. Jesus Christ forgave Paul’s sins. He restored Paul to grow into his image.
Paul got the point. When he was loved and understood that Jesus died for him and rose from the grave for him, then he knew the grace (unmerited favor) of God, he could freely be sent out to preach the gospel. To call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1). Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Faith in God, faith that God is God, to spread the good tidings to the ends of the earth.
6 ”And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” Once the Romans were not a people of God but now they were a people of God as stated in 1 Peter. Once they were dead in their sins and now they are alive in Christ. They once belonged to this world and now they belonged to Christ.
7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. The first part of Romans one was about Christ. And now the second part of Romans 1 is about their relationship to Christ, as well as to St. Paul. Physically speaking they looked like a bunch of losers in the world, they were dispersed Hebrew people who may have not even had a Roman citizenship but to God they were the saints of God, chosen and set apart for God. At the time the Roman Christians did not see themselves as such, but Paul knew their faith and God really wanted to encourage them. God wanted them to know that from now on he would be looking out for them. How often I was discouraged and thought that no-one was looking at my faith. But my friend Dr. Lee would say to me, “Gideon, you are a general in God’s sight-you think that I do not recognize you but I do. Verse 8 and 9, “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you.” The Romans were not Paul’s flock but Paul loved them and God’s work in them. Later, God would conquer the world through Roman roads. Later God used England, Europe, America and now it looks like China. God’s Spirit is moving. Verse 10, “…in my prayers at all times; and I pray now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.” Paul loved the Romans—he wanted to see them and impart a spiritual gift to them. Verse 11, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong.” Verse 12, “that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.” I love going to the Powell household because we mutually encourage each other. Paul was not a verbose man. He was humble. And even though he was an apostle. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. Paul, who was once a devout Jew, a Pharisee of Pharisees, now felt obligated to the Greeks and to the non-Greeks. He saw the Spirit of God moving into their hearts and lives. For example, Acts 11:20, “Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” At this time in history God is working mightily among the Chinese people. This is the great work of God. Paul was also obligated to the wise and to the foolish. Smart people into society, and also those not so smart people. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. And that is why he was called to Rome too.
16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The gospel is the power of God for everyone who believes. Man and woman are so sinful. By themselves we wonder how God can save them and us, religion does not address and deal with man’s sin problem, morality only burdens and makes people depressed. But salvation comes only in and through having a relationship to Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power of God. The gospel is Jesus coming, being born as a baby and dying for the sins of the world, to be raised again from the dead on the third day because he did not sin. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." This is the punch line in this entire chapter. Martin Luther even became a monk in order to find God’s calling to him. He strived to find it through a religious life style. And he did not find it. He even got his PhD before his words were completely realized. “The righteous will live by faith.” "Der Gerechte wird seines Glaubens leben." (in Geramn) This is no joke. People even die not knowing how to approach the gospel. This is how to approach the gospel. “The righteous will live by faith.” Hebrews 11:1-3, “ 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” As Christians we should be skeptical of rationalism and reasoning by our own human thinking. When God gives his Word, it is relationship he counts on. Those who want to be close to him read his word and pray, even struggling with his word. Remember in the garden Satan takes God’s word to and twists it to make it into what he wants that is why we God’s children must know God’s word, eat God’s word, see, feel and eat God’s word., Satan simply wants us to worship him. That is why to reason out God’s word to suit ones fancy and lifestyle is unreasonable to God. Verse 17a, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…” To live according to the Bible is through revelation of God to us. It is revealed to us. At one university men devote their entire lives to studying the Bible, but they don’t believe it. Strange. No revelation though. No Jesus. But Jesus is in the Bible. God reveals it to us through his written word by faith we believe and understand it. I sit in the Gideon chair all my life. I know what Gideon Sherwin is going to do every day. But faith is getting up from Gideon’s chair and sitting on the Jesus chair. AMEN. Only Jesus and only by faith.
April 19 On my way to Chicago.
James professed Christ as his Savior
on 4/08/09.
God bless America!
God bless the Hoffins Family March 31 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then
the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he "has put everything under his feet." [c]
Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear
that this does not include God himself, who put everything under
Christ. 28When
he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who
put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. 29Now
if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for
the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized
for them? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die."[d] 33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.
March 24 1 Corinthians 15: 5and that he appeared to Peter,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. Jesus had died and had been raised according to the Scriptures. It is the best documented death and resurrection in all of the world. The Romans documented it, the Jews tell of Jesus in their synagogues which was a very convincing to me, meaning that they absolutely believe that Jesus died and I believe was raised from the dead. Years ago I would say that I did not need this part of the gospel, and it is by faith anyways. So why did they come to know that Jesus rose from the dead. Because in the natural course of things, simple people want to know if Jesus really did rise from the dead. The human mind does need confirmation to trust in that. And God know s that so he puts it into the gospel. And this chapter is all about the gospel. And in the court of law, 2 or more witnesses confessing about a person who is found to be a criminal is done for. I was a witness to a man beating a woman and there was 2 of us so that man pleaded guilty before I ever got to go to court. That guy was framed. Mohamed did things behind the closed door, in a cave even. The founder of Mormonism said that an angel Manie took the type up to heaven that printed the book of Mormon, only him and his friend saw it. The Jehovah Witnesses did not like the pure gospel faith so they made their own faith secretly. But Jesus, Jesus rose from the dead the third day. It is a fact and Paul is the witness. Not that he saw it firsthand. But indeed the Risen Christ visited him. He said that Jesus appeared to him who was abnormally born.
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