Today’s Reading: Jer 52:1–34, Rom 14:13–15:7, Prov 29:1–27

Today’s Theme: The Example of Christ

We are called to imitate Christ and live lives of grace, showing love, patience and understanding with each other, so that our harmony can bring glory to God. We are called to live in the freedom that God provides, by the righteousness He gives, the peace He has won and the joy to be found in Him. The bondage of religion and the mind of man has no hold on us anymore.

Jeremiah 52:1–34

The great hope

And in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, graciously freed Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison.(Jeremiah 52:31, ESV)

As we come to the end of the book of Jeremiah there is a small tinge of hope in the release of king Jehoiachin. This points to the true hope offered by the book, found in its revelation of God as the Lord of history, guiding world events to execute His judgement, show His mercy and most importantly, God’s intention to create a new covenant (Remember 31:31–34) through the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:13–15:7

Judge yourself

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.(Romans 14:13, ESV)

Like Jesus said, we should judge ourselves, we need to do this in order to avoid being a stumbling block.

What you think is important

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.(Romans 14:14, ESV)

The mind and conscience are very powerful. If in your mind it is a sin to eat ice cream then it will truly be sinful for you, but not for anyone else. This is why we must embrace the freedom we have in Christ or we can end up putting ourselves in unnecessary bondage.

At the same time, God will influence your mind by His Spirit so that some things which seem ok to other Christians, will not be ok for you. In those cases, as we said yesterday, never push against your own conscience.

Righteousness, peace and joy

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.(Romans 14:17, ESV)

Paul encourages us that God’s kingdom is not about what we eat, drink, wear or observe, but is about the righteousness that God so abundantly supplies and that we live in light of. It’s about the peace that Jesus has given us so that we are no longer hung up by man centred religion. It is about the Joy centred relationship we have with God, in Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

So we should not let the trivial, non essential things of religion steal our peace. We should trust in the righteousness that God has given us and live in the joy of the Lord, which will strengthen us to live for God every day.

Pursue peace

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.(Romans 14:19, ESV)

We should not pursue the external cultural differences that divide us, but pursue peace and building each other up.

Eat in faith

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.(Romans 14:23, ESV)

We must be true and follow our God given convictions. If you eat pork or halal meat you need to eat it in faith, if you eat it thinking of it as a sin, then it will be a sin to you.

Our faith is in God who is over all, so we can bless our food in Jesus’ name and eat it, in faith and peace.

Don’t be a bully

Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, to build him up.(Romans 15:2, ESV)

We must not be bullies with the truth, we need to maintain a humble serving attitude, no matter how much we know or how strong or mature our faith. We should seek to see our brothers grow and walk consistently before the Lord.

The book of hope

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.(Romans 15:4, ESV)

The purpose of all that is recoded in the scriptures is that we might have hope in God, as we follow the instructions and examples recorded. The most important biblical record for us today is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, the greatest example to us all.

God of endurance and encouragement

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,(Romans 15:5, ESV)

God causes us to endure and encourages us in the way, so that we can live in harmony with each other in Christ, to the glory of His name.

Live in grace

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.(Romans 15:7, ESV)

Christ welcomed us in grace and we should emulate the same attitude of grace to others, so that we can live in harmony as the body of Christ, to the glory of God and the joy of all peoples.

Proverbs 29:1–27

The danger of pride

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.(Proverbs 29:1, ESV)

This is a frightening prospect, to be broken beyond repair because of our own pride.

Free to praise

An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.(Proverbs 29:6, ESV)

When we are walking in righteousness, we have the freedom to praise God.

Remember the poor

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.(Proverbs 29:7, ESV)

God upholds the most righteous political position on the human rights of the poor.

Don’t give full vent

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.(Proverbs 29:11, ESV)

Lord, help us to hold back from venting and to quietly hold back.

The people need leadership

Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.(Proverbs 29:18, ESV)

The people need a goal and strong spiritual leadership or they will cast off restraint.

Trapped by fear

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.(Proverbs 29:25, ESV)

Our own fears create a trap for our feet, so live in freedom by trusting the Lord.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 14

 

Today’s Reading: Jer 51:1–64, Rom 13:8–14:12, Prov 28:1–28

Today’s Theme: Fulfilling Love

Today we learn about the essence of the law, which is love, and that by loving others we actually fulfil the law by default. So the call is for us to live lives governed by the love of and for God.

Jeremiah 51:1–64

God plans and then does what He wills

“Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes; for the Lord has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.(Jeremiah 51:12, ESV)

The Lord brings His Sovereign will to pass, He both speaks it and does it.

Romans 13:8–14:12

Fulfil the law through love

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.(Romans 13:8, ESV)

One thing we owe each other is to love each other. The word ‘owe’ means we have a debt, obligation and duty, but it should be a delightful duty and a light burden.

We fulfil the law by truly loving others because the spirit of the law is all about love, for both God and our fellow man. This is why Jesus said the summary of the law was to love God with everything and to love others in the same way we love ourselves.

Paul and others elaborate on this later in the NT, by stating that no one in their right mind hates his own body but nourishes and cherishes it. So husbands should love their wives like their own body and the principle follows for all human relationships.

Consider the laws like ‘don’t steal’, it is not loving to take by force that which does not belong to us and would not like to suffer that injustice ourselves. ‘Don’t commit adultery’, it flies in the face of the commitment and devotion demanded by love and we would hate if someone was unfaithful to us. We can look at each of God’s good laws in this way and see that love is at the root.

So fulfil the law today by following the example of Jesus, by loving others.

Love does no intentional wrong to others.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.(Romans 13:10, ESV)

A great explanation of why love is the fulfilment of the moral law. Love will not do what is wrong to a fellow human being and so by default it fulfils the law.

Wake up

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.(Romans 13:11, ESV)

This is pointing to the second coming and Paul wrote this 2000 years ago, so how much closer are we now, 2000 years later? We cannot afford to be asleep, we need to be alert, aware and awake.

Also for each individual Christian, even if Christ does not return in our lifetime, every day we come closer to our death and it is through death and resurrection that our salvation is fully realised, because it is those who enter in that are saved.

Put on the Lord Jesus

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.(Romans 13:14, ESV)

We should not make opportunities for the flesh because when we do, the flesh will seek to gratify its lust. Instead, in a deliberate and conscious way, we need to put on Jesus, adopting His way of living and behaving. This is our call to sanctification.

I want to emphasise the point that this is like putting on clothes, which means it is not natural, it takes a conscious effort and decision for each believer as an individual to deliberately put on Jesus, like a jacket, to protect us from the cold harsh winds of sin.

Don’t quarrel over opinions

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.(Romans 14:1, ESV)

We must not waste our time quarrelling about opinions. Man’s opinions have caused all kinds of division and confusion, so when someone is weak, we should not entertain the desire of their flesh or ours, to prove point over point. Instead we should show love.

There are many things that we can have different opinions about and still be one in Christ, we do not need to force each other to think or behave in our way, because many of our preferences are dictated by our background, culture and presuppositions.

However there are areas we can never compromise on and another opinion just will not do, these are core to the Christian faith, like the deity of Christ etc.

You are not God

Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.(Romans 14:4, ESV)

The reason we judge each other in the body, on non essentials (like style of worship etc), is that we have a god complex where we feel the need to control everything. We need to trust that God is in control and if a fellow believer does things in a different way to us, we need to realise that God is their Master and will uphold them and make them stand.

If you are frustrated that others don’t do things in the way you do, just let it go, you are not a god, you are a member of a diverse body with people from various times, nations, tribes and languages, all with their own style, preferences, cultures and nuances.

We trust God as the Master over us all, who will uphold each of us and make us stand so that we can stand before Him on that day.

Be fully convinced

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.(Romans 14:5, ESV)

We must not sin against our own conscience, we must be fully convinced and live lives of conviction, by following those convictions. The convictions we follow must be our own, not those imposed by someone else, or we will just end up in the bondage of religion again.

A day of reckoning

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.(Romans 14:12, ESV)

A day of reckoning is coming for Christians, so live with this in mind.

Proverbs 28:1–28

Pray for our leaders

When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.(Proverbs 28:2, ESV)

We pray our leaders will be men of understanding and experience.

Be generous

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.(Proverbs 28:8, ESV)

Our lives should be driven by generosity, not selfish gain and profit.

Work with what you have

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.(Proverbs 28:19, ESV)

Lord, help us to work hard with what we have.

Don’t be stingy

A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.(Proverbs 28:22, ESV)

Don’t be stingy, it is to your profit to be generous.

Trust the Lord

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.(Proverbs 28:26, ESV)

Our minds are so fragile and finite, we cannot rely on them. We must trust in the Lord by His Holy Spirit.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 13

Today’s Reading: Jer 50:1–46, Rom 12:9–13:7, Prov 27:1–27

Today’s Theme: Marks of a Christian

Today we have a very practical lesson form Paul where he lists the marks of the true Christian and calls us to live out our faith by living in the way God intends. This is almost the practical outworking of all the theological and spiritual truth established concerning the Gospel and our salvation earlier in the letter.

So read Paul’s bullet point list of virtues and seek to live out the miracle of regeneration today. You are a new creation now live like one, work out (for all to see) what God has “worked in” by His Holy Spirit and the power of the Gospel of God.

Today is Boxing Day in the UK, a day in our household at least where the children practically play with the gifts they received on Christmas day, so it seems quite significant to today’s lesson. We received the gift of salvation, now we need to use it for everyday life.

Jeremiah 50:1–46

God’s pardon

In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant. (Jeremiah 50:20, ESV)

Although The Lord appointed these nations to judge His, they themselves still qualify for judgement. God knows how this all balances in His wisdom and purposes.

God has mercy and so pardons the elect remnant… or none would be saved, this will also be true in the final days.

God is great

“Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? (Jeremiah 50:44, ESV)

This is a repeated self revelation of God (we saw it yesterday). God states that no one can summon Him. Some teach that we can call and command God but this is simply not true. God is the sovereign king, He appoints whom He will and is not summoned as though He were any man’s servant.

God is the king, not a genie in a bottle.

Romans 12:9–13:7

Love genuinely

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (Romans 12:9, ESV)

Our love must not be a saccharin veneer, it should be genuine love poured out from our hearts in truth.

It is significant that Paul mentions the need for truth and discernment alongside the call to be genuine in love. This is because we cannot love apart from the truth and the abhoring of evil.

Love like family

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10, ESV)

As Christians we are called to love each other with the same affection we show for our families. For this to retain its context we must love our families in the way God intended in the first place.

Loving like family will include making sacrifices for each other, bearing with each other and being kind to each other.

We can’t get away with detached love as a duty, either it is family like love or it is not the kind of love God intends between His children.

Paul’s language is great we should outdo each other in showing honour to each other, this way everyone is honoured, and loved.

Be passionate

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:11, ESV)

A timely word after a long Christmas Day. We are called as Christians to be zealous and fervent, full of passion and fire and hunger and desire and delight as we serve our glorious King… Hallelujah!

Be steady

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12, ESV)

This is a call to steadiness in the Christian life. We are made steady by our hope found in the Gospel which causes us to rejoice even in difficult and trying times. Patience steadies and matures the soul to remain faithful under trial while the constant faithful position and power of prayer sustains the spiritual vitality and life of the believer.

So be steady, be constant, hopeful and patient to the glory of God.

Be Empathetic

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15, ESV)

Empathy should be part of our make up as saints. We should not be cold, indifferent or aloof from the pain, suffering, hurt or even the jubilation of others. We are called to live our lives on mission just like Jesus, living alongside the people being touched by their infirmities as it were.

We are God’s royal priests in the earth, so do the work of a priest by empathising with those around you. You are their connection to God so show them that God cares.

Be teachable

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:16, ESV)

Have a teachable spirit, this is how we live in harmony with each other. We should associate with those who are humble as the proud will only make us prideful as well.

Retaliation forbidden

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (Romans 12:17, ESV)

Retaliation is forbidden for us as Christian individuals if we seek to live out the example God has shown us in Christ.

Do your part

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Romans 12:18, ESV)

You can not live in peace for other people you can only do your part… but you must do your part.

Love your enemy

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20, ESV)

Quoting Old Testament wisdom and the teaching of Jesus, Paul reminds us that we should love those who have made themselves our enemy.

Be good

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21, ESV)

The secret weapon against evil is good not counter evil. Our mandate is to be good, to be so good that our goodness overcomes evil. This is not man made goodness but is dependent on the righteousness God credits to our account and the work and fruit of the Holy Spirit (one of which is goodness).

The Christian and the Government

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (Romans 13:1, ESV)

This is because God is the sovereign Lord of the universe, so all authority is under His authority. This gives us context for how we should conduct ourselves with governing authorities and dispels the notion that Jesus was a rebel leader for the rebels.

We submit to the authorities as good citizens as long as they do not demand that we deny our faith. In those cases they have perverted their delegated authority and we are to obey God. This is true in much of the suffering church where the authorities are corrupt.

God’s purpose in punishment

for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:4, ESV)

Capital, punitive and remedial judgement is here defended. God uses institutions like the police to exact His judgement on those who break the law. If God had not set up and empowered society with officers in this way we would have anarchy.

One of God’s great purposes in the world is human flourishing but where there is anarchy there can be no flourishing.

Pay your taxes

For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. (Romans 13:6, ESV)

This is why we pay tax. In Old Testament Israel this was even tied up in the tithes for the Levites etc. We should pay our taxes in honesty.

Pay the bills

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. (Romans 13:7, ESV)

Taxes and all the other dues mentioned are the building blocks for any good civil society. If no one pays the electric bills there will be no electricity so let’s all pay what we owe to the glory of God.

Proverbs 27:1–27

Don’t be presumptuous

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1, ESV)

Jesus picks up on this in the New Testament.

Be hungry

One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7, ESV)

This is true, I’ve had some of the best eating experiences when I’ve been really hungry. This is also true in the spiritual world, this is why Jesus said we must hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Are you hungry today?

Avoid unnecessary danger

The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Proverbs 27:12, ESV)

Avoiding danger is a good principle, courage not withstanding.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 12

Today’s Reading: Jer 49:1–39, Rom 11:25–12:8, Prov 26:12–28

Today’s Theme: A Living Sacrifice

Today is Christmas day when we rejoice and celebrate the coming of our King Jesus to save His people. It is timely that today’s reading looks at the ultimate salvation that will come to Israel because of God’s irrevocable call and promises.

One of the key themes we see in Chapter 12 of Romans is the call to transformation and to live our lives as a living sacrifice before God in light of His grace and by His Spirit. Let’s remember that this Christmas day.

Jeremiah 49:1–39

Disposes the enemy

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 49:2, ESV)

We need to disposes the enemy, he dispossessed us, now we need to take back what is ours.

It is Christmas day, today we celebrate the coming of our King who has won the victory for us, now in His name we can boldly plunder the enemies camp and get back all that rightly belongs to us in Christ including the salvation of our loved ones. Enter Christmas day with that confidence today, Emmanuel, God is with us.

Mercy in judgement

Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” (Jeremiah 49:11, ESV)

God remains merciful and faithful even in the midst of judgement. As we will read later, He never totally cast off his people, but in mercy, grace and love remains faithful to them even when they have been unfaithful.

There is none greater

For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.” (Jeremiah 49:13, ESV)

God swears by Himself because there is no greater power to swear by. When God swears by Himself we can be confident that He will fulfil His word because He is God! He is all powerful and never lies or fails.

The only Sovereign

Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? (Jeremiah 49:19, ESV)

God declares His sovereignty which no mere creation can challenge. No one can stand before God, He will cause the Lion to flee for there is none like Him. We worship Him this Christmas morning. He is the Sovereign king who has won our salvation and brought us everlasting peace and joy. Hallelujah!

Romans 11:25–12:8

Temporary hardening

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. (Romans 11:25, ESV)

Paul has been discussing a historical salvation pattern with us, of hardening or rejection of the children of Israel, leading to salvation for the nations which leads to their jealousy and salvation and so makes his point really clear here that the hardening of Israel is temporary.

It will only last in it’s current context until a designated, preordained, elect number of Gentiles have come into the kingdom. This points to the fact that one of the great signs of the end of days will be a major and general turning of ethnic Jews to Christ.

The Holy Spirit will by His power soften their hearts and open their eyes as God displays His everlasting love for the elect among his people Israel.

This should lead us to pray that God would use us in the gathering of a people from all nations and in the re-gathering of the children of Israel under the rule of King Jesus.

As a side note it is important to understand from a theological perspective that we do not believe in double predestination where God just predestined to block some from salvation condemning them to hell, the hardening of hearts and blinding of eyes always has its roots in man’s unbelief and sin as Paul has already explained.

All Israel will be saved

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”; (Romans 11:26, ESV)

When Paul says all Israel he is using a corporate term, not speaking of spiritual Israelites but ethnic Jews and he does not mean every last one will involuntarily be saved or be saved in any other way than each individual having to put their faith and trust in Jesus as King, Lord and Saviour. Jesus is the only way to salvation as Paul has clearly demonstrated.

All Israel was used approximately 60 times in the Old Testament and means a number so large and significant that it represents the whole nation and will be in sharp contrast to today’s situation where only a remnant are saved.

We eagerly look forward to and pray for this day. This is the greatest sign of the end and will possibly happen at or just before the second coming of Christ.

Irrevocable

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29, ESV)

God’s calling to salvation and specific gifts to Israel as a people are irrevocable. This is why we hold that the land some call Palestine belongs to the ethnic Jews.

However the context here is far more important than the land, it is talking about God’s promises for salvation and peace which came at the first Christmas and is now available to all who would come.

We can have confidence that God will fulfill His word to Israel and this should give us assurance and joy concerning our own calling or election and the promise and gifts of grace God has made to us.

We have confidence and assurance that God will save and keep His people (Jew and Gentile) because He is faithful. This is one of the reasons we called the production we did as part of the Ezra Foundation in 2013 Chosen, because God made a sovereign choice that cannot be revoked with Israel which should fill all God’s Chosen with hope and joy.

All without distinction

For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (Romans 11:32, ESV)

We are reminded about the universality of sin and our need for mercy. “All” means without distinction God will have mercy not without exception as that would mean all are saved apart from Christ.

Break out in praise

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33, ESV)

God’s wisdom and knowledge is indeed deep and Paul breaks out in praise here when he considers the way the Lord set about to save the whole world using His people Israel as a catalyst and using the unimaginable death and resurrection of His Son.

This Christmas let’s breakout in praise too as we consider God’s commitment and mission to save all His elect people.

To him be the glory

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36, ESV)

When we consider God as we look at His acts recorded in His word and experienced in our lives we see that He is the source, sustainer and goal of all life. Truly He alone is glorious and worthy of our adoration and praise.

As the Angels sang on the first Christmas let’s give Him glory today.

A living sacrifice

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. (Romans 12:1, ESV)

We are not Gnostics believing we can do what we want with our flesh but be holy in our spirit. Presenting our physical bodies is a very spiritual act of worship. Christianity is real and practical, it is not esoteric or ethereal but is firm and solid.

Paul’s teaching, theology and arguments are all aimed at instructing his readers in the practical living of the Christian life.

This was written for us and particularly today, it is Christmas day and the temptation will be to indulge the flesh, let’s remember today and everyday that God is with us, actually dwelling in our bodies as a temple by the Holy Spirit, so let’s live our lives in the flesh in holiness and self control to the glory of God. It is the least we can do in light of this glorious Gospel of God.

Be transformed

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. (Romans 12:2, ESV)

We should be transformed and the means by which this has to be done is by our minds being renewed which is done through the work of the Holy Spirit as we feed on the truth of God’s word.

This is a key theme for Paul and one of the goals of this letter, to see practical, real transformation. This is the power of the gospel at work in the believer.

We must make a conscious decision to not conform to the ways of the world. We should instead allow our nature to be transformed by the Holy Spirit so that our natural response will be to do God’s will and we will know God’s truth in such a natural way that we will indeed know what God’s will is in any given situation.

The measure we are transformed against is the truth revealed in the Gospel of God and recorded in the pages of the Bible where we find God’s will clearly displayed and defined.

Show your family that you are transformed this Christmas day and every day to the glory of God.

Sober judgement

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. (Romans 12:3, ESV)

Our culture is so egocentric that sober judgement seems alien. We must not think of ourselves as more than we are but should be humble before God and man living according to the faith God has lovingly and individually provided for each of His elect children.

Live in light of God’s grace, you were chosen and now stand and will finish the race all by God’s grace extended to you so don’t be foolish and prideful. Live in gratitude to God’s amazing and undeserved grace.

Proverbs 26:12–28

The sluggard

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. (Proverbs 26:16, ESV)

The sluggard is not only lazy, selfish and cowardly but is also very prideful. These are all traits we need to guard against… especially after a big Christmas dinner 🙂

Be content

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. (Proverbs 26:20, ESV)

When we learn to be content there will be no room for quarrelling. Whatever presents you get or do not get, be content.

Don’t harbor hate

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; (Proverbs 26:24, ESV)

This becomes a rotten stinking pool and ends up poisoning the one harbouring the evil and those around them.

Have a blessed Christmas day.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 12

Today’s Reading: Jer 47:1–48:47, Rom 11:11–24, Prov 26:1–11

Today’s Theme: Grafted In

Today we read about the olive tree who is Christ and how we as Gentiles have been grafted in alongside the natural branches Israel but that natural or grafted in branches which exhibit unbelief are cut off and pruned away so we need to continue in the kindness of God and persevere in the faith.

Paul offers a rebuke to any in the gentile church that would seek to be prideful against Israel and the Old Testament, reminding them that they stand by grace and are rooted in the Old Testament and so in a way rooted in Israel.

Jeremiah 47:1–48:47

Security is in Jesus

“Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge. (Jeremiah 48:28, ESV)

Leave man made security and find security in the Rock, Christ Jesus.

Judgement for rebellion

Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people, because he magnified himself against the Lord. (Jeremiah 48:42, ESV)

Here is the reason for all this destruction, it is pride, arrogance, wickedness and rebellion directly against the Lord. The nations of the earth should take note because God has not changed.

We need to apply this to our personal lives as well. If we openly rebel against God we will go through suffering and discipline.

Romans 11:11–24

Full inclusion

Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! (Romans 11:12, ESV)

When the Jews come to realisation and salvation it will mark the consummation of the ages, the new heaven and earth and the resurrection of the just.

Their full inclusion is in regards to Christ. Their failure led to the riches of grace in the Gospel of God being made open to all nations, so their salvation can only be an even greater blessing.

Save some

in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. (Romans 11:14, ESV)

Jews need to be saved like everyone else (Despite a recent claim that they do not need Christ for salvation) . Paul hoped that even as he ministered to the Gentiles it would make Jewish people jealous and so prod them awake to the riches of Christ.

The tree, the roots and the branches

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 root of the olive tree, (Romans 11:17, ESV)

The olive tree itself is Christ, the roots are God’s word, covenants, promises and prophecies in the Old Testament, the branches are either natural branches of ethnic Israelites which are now saved, the broken off natural branches are those ethnic Jews who do not believe while the wild olive shoot that was grafted in are believing gentiles.

The key is the tree, the root and offspring of David, Jesus the Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the promised Messiah and the source of life and freedom, any discounted from Him are dead. It is only if we as branches are connected to Him as our source that we will be fruitful.

Don’t be arrogant

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. (Romans 11:18, ESV)

That is if you are arrogant against the Jews as a gentile in the church not the whole church, just those with the bad attitude.

The root is not Israel but the Old Testament scriptures which pertain to Israel. It is foolish as Gentiles to be arrogant against Israel when we rely on their scriptures to even have a faith and Jesus Himself is Jewish.

The reason, unbelief

That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. (Romans 11:20, ESV)

The breaking off was not unjust it was for unbelief. So we must walk in the fear of God and remain in the faith and in Jesus because as Paul is about to say, if God did not spare the natural branches what makes us think He will spare those grafted in to the commonwealth of Israel.

God will cut and prune

For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (Romans 11:21, ESV)

God will cut and prune the church and those harbouring evil thoughts of pride and arrogance do not belong in God’s vine but are parasites and will be cut off like Judas.

Continue in God’s kindness

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. (Romans 11:22, ESV)

We are called to perverse, this is the perseverance of the saints, without this we will be cut off.

God has been kind to us not so we can take liberties but so we would walk in light of His kindness by the Spirit and not by the flesh.

Do away with ideas of the Christian life in a rocking chair, we are called to grow and be fruitful and walk in the Spirit.

So up, to your task, you must press on and persevere as a sure evidence of your security and salvation.

Grafted back in

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. (Romans 11:23, ESV)

Messianic Jews are those of ethnic Israel who through the centuries have been grafted back in to Christ.

Proverbs 26:1–11

Answer fools in the Spirit

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5, ESV)

Sounds like a contradiction but it is not. It is saying that we should not answer a fool in such a way that we become foolish by losing our temper for example but at the same time we must not just ignore him, we need to correct him in the Spirit so the he does not get away with thinking his foolishness is ok.

Don’t eat vomit

Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. (Proverbs 26:11, ESV)

When we return to old sins we are like dogs and fools eating our own vomit…yuk.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 11

Statement from Vatican mentioned above

Messianic Jews respond to the Vatican

Today’s Reading: Jer 44:1–46:28, Rom 11:1–10, Prov 25:1–28

Today’s Theme: The Remnant of Israel

Today we have a short passage in Romans but it deals with a very important point which is the fact that God has not rejected His people Israel but has always until this day preserved a remnant. Just like in Old Testament days God has kept a remnant faithful to Himself and so keeps the spirit of the covenants, promises and prophecies yet to be fulfilled alive.

This serves well to challenge the ideas of replacement theology which say the church has replaced Israel in every way which is simply not consistent with the Bible.

Jeremiah 44:1–46:28

Don’t provoke God

Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to live, so that you may be cut off and become a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth? (Jeremiah 44:8, ESV)

The people were unrepentant even after judgement. We need to ask ourselves today, are we provoking the Lord to anger though some sort of idolatry.

As we will read later, those who are persistent in unbelief are cut off (as individuals) but a remnant is always saved.

Don’t forget

Have you forgotten the evil of your fathers, the evil of the kings of Judah, the evil of their wives, your own evil, and the evil of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in thestreets of Jerusalem? They have not humbled themselves even to this day, nor have they feared, nor walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your fathers. (Jeremiah 44:9–10, ESV)

We should not forget the pit and penalty of sin we have been saved from. We should live in the light of God’s mercy and grace, never forgetting what we were and our dark heritage as sons of Adam. We should live lives which are pleasing to God in joy.

The feminine perversion

Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. (Jeremiah 44:24, ESV)

Women seem to be prominent in the worship of the queen of heaven, identifying with the feminine.

The queen of heaven was a false god worshipped in the Ancient Near East.

In today’s world we see this demonic stronghold in two prominent places. The first is in false religion whether it is the feminine god of the occult and new age or the worship of Mary in Roman Catholicism. The second is in philosophy and politics where the feminist agenda has gained a dangerous foothold in our society and in doing so tears at the fabric of the family and the wider community.

Women are created in the image of God for a good function and purpose, not to be worshiped or to worship themselves.

Whose word stands?

And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who came to the land of Egypt to live, shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs. (Jeremiah 44:28, ESV)

The word of faith and new age movements are stupid to say our words stand and have so much power, God’s word stands not ours. So we stand on the word of God which is eternal and sure.

No full end to Israel

Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:28, ESV)

This shows the special place Israel has before God as His covenant people. This prophecy was fulfilled as spoken because other nations of the time are no more but Israel and the Jews are preserved.

Romans 11:1–10

Not Rejected

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. (Romans 11:1, ESV)

God has not rejected the Jews, this flows perfectly from the last verse we read in the Old Testament, which states that God will not make a full end to His people but will discipline them.

All those who hold that the Jews have been completely rejected need to contend with this verse.

Paul identities himself as a Jew, pointing to the fact that from the start of the church there have always been an elect and remnant group of God’s people Israel who have also been believers in Jesus.

The Remnant

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (Romans 11:5, ESV)

God has saved a remnant of Jews by grace to His honour and glory as He upholds His eternal covenants.

The Elect

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, (Romans 11:7, ESV)

The doctrine of election applies to the Jews in the same way it does to the Gentiles. The majority were judicially hardened through unbelief but this is not the end of the story. God still has purposes that will come to pass which include a time when the majority of Jews will each profess faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah (we read more about this tomorrow).

Proverbs 25:1–28

Don’t gossip

Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret, (Proverbs 25:9, ESV)

When someone tells you something don’t go and tell others, that is called gossip and it is sinful.

Empty clouds

Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give. (Proverbs 25:14, ESV)

This is picked up in the New Testament in Jude so beware of false teaches who have head knowledge with no power and even those who seem to be powerful but are in fact in the flesh and so hold empty promises like useless clouds with no rain in them.

Like Pastor once said, as a sponge we should soak in God and so should those who minister so what comes out of us is living water from God which will bring life and refreshment to those who drink from our lives.

Another thing about dry clouds with no water is that they unnecessarily block the warmth and life of the sun, we should not block the Son (Jesus).

Love as a weapon

for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:22, ESV)

Love is a great weapon to use, people do not know how to answer it, and the Lord rewards us. This is also picked up by Jesus in the New Testament.

Don’t give way

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. (Proverbs 25:26, ESV)

Lord may the water of our life be clean and wholesome through standing without compromise before the wicked.

Live to glorify God

It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. (Proverbs 25:27, ESV)

The only one that should actively seek His own glory is God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 11

 

Today’s Reading: Jer 42:1–43:13, Rom 9:30–10:21, Prov 24:23–34

Today’s Theme: Jesus is Lord

Today we have so many good lessons in our reading. One of the most important is that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and we must confess Him as Lord and live in line with that confession to be saved.

Jeremiah 42:1–43:13

The Lord our God

that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” (Jeremiah 42:3, ESV)

Notice they do not say the Lord our God but the Lord your God. This was evidence of a lack of relationship with the Lord. We should all know the Lord personally and so be able to say the Lord our God or the Lord my God.

The Lord your God

Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” (Jeremiah 42:4, ESV)

Jeremiah reminds them that the Lord is their God too. Maybe they were discouraged or distracted and so did not feel worthy to call God their God so it is good that Jeremiah reminds them who they are.

Be encouraged that God is your God today, you don’t need a witch doctor, Shaman, priest or Man of God to go to God on your behalf. Because of Jesus you can boldly approach God’s throne of grace.

The Land

If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. (Jeremiah 42:10, ESV)

There is something peculiar about the land of Israel, God chose it specifically.

See the article in God of Covenants called “A place to dwell“.

Disobedience leads to your fears

then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. (Jeremiah 42:16, ESV)

If we disobey the Lord and make our own provisions then that which we feared driving us to the ill advised decision may come upon us.

Clear instruction

The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day (Jeremiah 42:19, ESV)

The Lord makes His direction clear. Lord help us to simply listen to your clear instructions.

Obelisks

He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.’ ” (Jeremiah 43:13, ESV)

Now we see these obelisks in our city centres, I have seen them in at least London, Washington and Paris. We should pray that the stronghold of the occult in our cities be broken.

Romans 9:30–10:21

Pursue by faith

Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (Romans 9:32, ESV)

We should only pursue holiness as a result of our faith in God, we should not attempt to pursue God by works or we too will stumble. The lesson is that no matter who we are or what we do we all must have faith.

Salvation

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1, ESV)

This should be our primary concern for Israel. The most important need for any person or people group is eternal salvation for the soul.

This is in our reading today so let’s remember to pray for salvation for the Jewish people.

Jesus, The end of the law

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4, ESV)

Christ made a new better way as we read about in Hebrews, so the law has no hold over us to just reveal sin and then condemn us. The law’s demands have been fulfilled in Christ and now we are free to live in righteousness before God without fear.

In this new, better way we believe in the Gospel of God and receive the righteousness of Christ by faith… Hallelujah!!

Jesus is Lord

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. (Romans 10:9, ESV)

This is how we get saved, there must be belief and confession. No one can just kind of be saved, it is essential that we confess that Jesus is Lord.

Some say that Jesus is just saviour but is only Lord for a mature Christian and there is a distinction between believers and disciples but this is utter nonsense.

They (simply believe advocates) call people like us who worship Jesus as Lord “Lordship Salvationists” as though it were a derogatory term but we gladly embrace it. Yes Jesus Christ is Lord.

If we are saved then He is the Lord of our lives, we are not our own, we live in Him and for Him. Say it today, sing it today and live it today Jesus Christ is Lord.

One Lord, One People

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. (Romans 10:12, ESV)

The western church and the messianic church need to note this, we are one new man in Christ with one Lord over us all as we call upon Him.

Open to all peoples

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13, ESV)

The Gospel is open to all people, from every nation, tribe and tongue. It is open to those in every station of life to every age and gender.

Some religions like Hinduism have classes within their religion (The Caste System) but this is foreign to Christian thought, theology and practise because as Paul quotes from the Old Testament everyone can receive the benefit of the Gospel of God no matter who they are, where they are from or what they look like.

How, share it

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14, ESV)

The how of the Gospel, this is the tool God uses to save men and the point that Paul is making is that the gospel by its very nature must be shared or it is no Gospel at all.

The word

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17, ESV)

It all begins with the word, so get it in and share it out. We are privileged as Pastor preached so powerfully in 2014 that we have the Bible translated for us so we can understand it. Now may we through our words and actions translate it for those around us.

Note that hearing is so important so the Gospel of God must be shared verbally.

God shows Himself

Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Romans 10:20, ESV)

God is the initiator of salvation for both Gentile and Jew because we were not looking for God, He has revealed Himself to us.

Proverbs 24:23–34

Rebuke the wicked

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. (Proverbs 24:25, ESV)

Lord help us to be bold to rebuke the wicked. May we stand as a voice for justice and righteousness.

Personal retaliation

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.” (Proverbs 24:29, ESV)

Personal retaliation is forbidden, Jesus picks this up by reminding us to turn the other check.

The lure of the sluggard

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (Proverbs 24:33, ESV)

Lord please keep us from the lure of the sluggard, help us to take care of what you have given us and to not rest and sleep more than we should or at the wrong time.

Laziness

and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Proverbs 24:34, ESV)

Laziness leads to poverty.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 10

Today’s Reading: Jer 39:1–41:18, Rom 9:13–29, Prov 24:1–22

Today’s Theme: God who has mercy

Today we look at the way God shows us great mercy when He really doesn’t have to and how we are saved by His mercy shown in love and not by obligation. Thank God today that He has made you a vessel of mercy.

Jeremiah 39:1–41:18

Taken care of by God

“Take him, look after him well, and do him no harm, but deal with him as he tells you.” (Jeremiah 39:12, ESV)

This is amazing, God’s servant has been taken care of again which reminds us that God will take care of us in His mercy and grace

More than a name

sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people. (Jeremiah 39:14, ESV)

Gedaliah’s name means Yahweh is great, however he does not live up to the name as we read later about his lack of faith and gullible nature. Let’s not be Christians in name only but in Spirit and Truth.

Romans 9:13–29

God is just and merciful

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! (Romans 9:14, ESV)

People always accuse God of being unfair, but the fact is God does not have to have mercy on any and we are blessed that He chooses to show mercy to some.

God is under no obligation to save any of us or to sort out our problems. All that He does is motivated by His love, not some binding obligation, He even establishes covenants in love.

God saves, not man

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:16, ESV)

Monogesim which is the belief that conversion is totally accomplished by God is here defined.

No man can boast in his own works or common sense leading to his salvation it is all dependent on God showing personal mercy to the individual. He does not punish them in the way they deserve, instead effecting an interchange between them and Christ and giving them what they do not deserve. He makes them alive from the dead in Christ and literally gives them a new nature by the Holy Spirit.

The whole trinity is involved in the God centred conversion of us as sinners. Think about how God has shown you mercy today and praise Him.

Humble yourself

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?” (Romans 9:20, ESV)

How can we have the audacity to challenge God and say… hey what you have done is unfair… WHAT, He is God!!

One thing we absolutely must do is humble ourselves before God.

God is patient

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, (Romans 9:22, ESV)

Paul is alluding to the truth that God endures with sinners while desiring and seeking to lead them to repentance by showing them mercy and goodness.

God is patient with man because He desires that man would humble himself and seek the mercy and grace he so desperately needs.

Vessels of mercy

in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—(Romans 9:23, ESV)

Thank you Lord for making us a vessel of mercy. We were vessels of wrath but have been transformed into vessels of mercy and it was not happenstance or any goodness or sense in us because He prepared us beforehand to His own honour and glory.

One new man

even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:24, ESV)

We are one new man in Christ, This is one of Paul’s most important points in the book of Romans.

Only a remnant

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, (Romans 9:27, ESV)

Only messianic Jews will be saved, those who believe in Jesus, because He is the only way to salvation. Being Jewish is not enough, we must be born again.

We must also remember that many times when the Old Testament speaks about the salvation of all Israel it is talking about salvation in the military sense. So we all need Jesus.

Proverbs 24:1–22

Don’t desire to be with them

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, (Proverbs 24:1, ESV)

We must remember this when trying to be a friend and reaching out to those at work etc. Something in the heart rises and makes us want to be with them but that is not God, it is far better to be with God and embrace the world’s rejection.

If they do not resist and reject you to some degree then you should really be worried about your stand.

The homemakers

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:4, ESV)

Lord we pray you will give mothers and wives the wisdom and knowledge they need to build the home.

God will repay

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Proverbs 24:12, ESV)

We can not claim ignorance before God, He knows our hearts and has given us a conscience.
What we do is so important because God will repay.

Bounce back

for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. (Proverbs 24:16, ESV)

This is not about sin but about us bouncing back when wicked men scheme against us.

Be meek

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, (Proverbs 24:17, ESV)

This is the type of outlook, attitude, and temperament God intends us to have.

Fear God

My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, (Proverbs 24:21, ESV)

You can not truly be friends with those who hate God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 9

Today’s Reading: Jer 37:1–38:28, Rom 9:1–12, Prov 23:19–35

Today’s Theme: God’s Sovereign Choice

Today’s theme looks at God’s Sovereign Choice, we begin by looking at His choice of Israel as a national people in redemption history. We then go further to look at God’s choice of all His redeemed people by Israel’s greatest son, the Messiah Jesus Christ who is Himself God above all.

Roman’s 9 – 11 serves well as a blast against the misguided trajectory of the replacement theologians.

Jeremiah 37:1–38:28

God’s provision

So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard. And a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard. (Jeremiah 37:21, ESV)

Even through this unjust hardship Jeremiah was still provided for in times of great want. As God’s people He will provide for us as a good Father. Even in difficult times God will not forsake His own people.

The welfare of the people

Then the officials said to the king, “Let this man be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers who are left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.” (Jeremiah 38:4, ESV)

The fact is Jeremiah was seeking the welfare of the people, he just wasn’t saying what they wanted to hear.

Let’s thank God for those with the role of the prophet in our own day like our own Pastors who seek our welfare by telling us the uncomfortable truth.

A wimpy leader

King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.” (Jeremiah 38:5, ESV)

What a wimpy weasel of a leader, pray that the leaders of our nations, industries and ministers have some backbone to stand up against evil.

Selfish fear

King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” (Jeremiah 38:19, ESV)

The king was very fearful and the fears were all centered on himself not his people. We must not be governed by fear or be self centered.

Romans 9:1–12

Brothers in the flesh

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. (Romans 9:3, ESV)

Paul’s brothers in the flesh are the Jewish people, not the spiritual Jews but the actual physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Paul is patterning the love of Christ for us in laying down His life and becoming a curse for us when he expresses that he yearns so deeply for the salvation of the Jewish people that he would even be cut off from Christ and so damned to that end.

The apostle is showing the depths of devotion, love and affection he has for his own people, to the extent if it would benefit (which it would not because Christ has already been made a curse for us) in their salvation he would freely lose his.

This is in a sense a poetic expression to display the depth of his feeling on the issue of the salvation of the Jewish people. Paul has just spent Chapter 8 explaining the eternal nature of our security and love in Christ and so is using the strongest image possible to paint his love in the most vivid colors over against accusations that he is against the Jewish people and loves only the Gentiles.

The Israelites

They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. (Romans 9:4, ESV)

Let’s be clear, we are talking about the ethnic and genetic Israelites, the actual Jewish people. Despite the world’s anti Israeli sentiment they really are God’s sovereign choice as a nation.

What Paul outlines here shows the unique place Israel has played in redemption history.

They were the first to be adopted as God’s son’s opening the way for all nations through their greatest son Jesus, to be adopted by God in the church.

They had the glory of God revealed to them first and they recorded and honoured it and in their own way became carriers and evidence of God’s glory by their very survival and thriving despite every attempt to exterminate them. It is through them that we now have the ultimate revelation of God’s glory in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Jew.

The Covenants were given to and kept by them, and it is the Old Covenant on which the New Covenant finds it roots and footing. If we did not have the backdrop of revealed sin through the law the gospel would lose it’s context and power.

The children were the only true worshipers of God in the ancient world and have passed on the worship of the true God to all God’s people in Christ.

God made promises and prophecies to Israel and it is on those same promises that we stand, believing that Jesus is the promised Messiah and fulfilment of the law.

They were the carriers of God’s message of hope and salvation for all mankind, fulfilled in Christ.

Jesus is God

To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:5, ESV)

Jesus is God, not some demi-god or angel, or just a man.. He is God and Paul makes it clear, He is the God over all. Once again the deity of Christ is defined and defended.

Paul makes the very important point that Jesus was a Jew, not a Roman, Greek, British, American or African, He was a Jew.

Those who belong to Israel

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, (Romans 9:6, ESV)

Being a physical Israeli is not enough for salvation. This is Paul’s point to those he is writing to. He loves the Jews and recognises their unique heritage as God’s chosen people. However for them to be a part of the true commonwealth of Israel in God’s kingdom they must believe through the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

We must urge our Jewish friends to be a part of the true Israel (or princes with God which is what the name means) which are those who put their faith in God through his Son Jesus Christ.

Children of the promise

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 9:8, ESV)

This includes two distinct people, one is the faithful from the Old Testament era, the second are those who have genuinely put their faith and trust in Jesus the Messiah (Jew and Gentile).

In short the children of the promise are those who believe the promise and so receive its reward. Namely the true church (not a state church or the church conceived by replacement theologians), the one new man comprising of Jews and Gentiles who love Jesus.

God’s purpose in election

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 — (Romans 9:11, ESV)

The account of Jacob and Esau was to demonstrate Gods purpose in election. This is the reality, God sovereignly chose the Children of Israel and today continues to choose every single person that is saved from all nations tribes and tongues.

God elects to save according to His own love, wisdom and purposes.

Proverbs 23:19–35

Don’t hang out with drunks

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, (Proverbs 23:20, ESV)

You should not hang around with people getting drunk or stuffing themselves. They may influence you to join them in their evil or your presence may give them silent approval.

Invest in your study

Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. (Proverbs 23:23, ESV)

Invest in your study by doing something simple like getting a study bible, or a good book on a good biblical subject like the Sovereignty of God, Missions or the Atonement of the Cross or something else. Actually spend something on your study of God’s word, by spending your own money it will be more precious to you.

This is also meant in a mental sense, you should prize the getting of wisdom in your heart, treat it as a treasure.

Don’t be a traitor

She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind. (Proverbs 23:28, ESV)

This is so true, men can so easily be robbed of all integrity and right-standing and become traitors to their wives and children.

Don’t attempt to drown your sorrows

Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. (Proverbs 23:30, ESV)

This is not the way to solve your problems. Go to Jesus.

Abused by alcohol

In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. (Proverbs 23:32, ESV)

The abuse of alcohol has bad effects in the end… Hangovers, sickness, smelliness (from the sickness), headaches and it destroys the body.

If you abuse alcohol the alcohol will abuse you.

Don’t abuse drugs

Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things. (Proverbs 23:33, ESV)

You can end up hallucinating and saying things that will embarrass you. This is true of drugs and alcohol so avoid both.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 9

Today’s Reading: Jer 35:1–36:32, Rom 8:18–39, Prov 22:17–23:18

Today’s Theme: God’s Everlasting Love

There are two great themes in our reading from Romans today; one is the future glory and grace promised in the gospel of God, and the second looks at the eternal nature of God’s love for His elect, and so in turn, our assurance and security in Him.

Jeremiah 35:1–36:32

Be resolute

But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever.(Jeremiah 35:6, ESV)

These men had integrity under trial, we must be resolute like this as believers.

Faithfulness rewarded

therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall never lack a man to stand before me.”(Jeremiah 35:19, ESV)

This promise was because of their stand, faithfulness and resolution to obey their father in the midst of a very individualistic and rebellious culture. Again we can learn from their example.

Fear the Lord

Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments.(Jeremiah 36:24, ESV)

These men despised the word of the Lord and foolishly did not fear the coming judgement. We should honour the Lord and tremble at His word.

The indestructible book

“Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.(Jeremiah 36:28, ESV)

The enemy cannot destroy God’s word. He always tried and always fails. God has always preserved His word and we should be grateful that we now have a number of English translations (KJV, AMP, ESV, NASB, HSCB etc.), which are faithful to the originals.

Thank God for the sacrifice of those like William Tyndale, who made it his mission to translate the bible into English. Also pray that the work of modern day translators, who are producing bibles for the unreached and constantly improving our understanding of the original writings of the bible through translation.

Romans 8:18–39

Encouraged by future glory

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.(Romans 8:18, ESV)

The future Glory that will be ours in Christ is so great, that the sufferings of this life are not worthy of comparison or weighing against.

This should encourage us through every trial and suffering. There is great glory coming, so don’t give up, instead look up.

Creation’s curse

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope(Romans 8:20, ESV)

The ‘Him’ spoken of here is God. The creation was subject to the curse in the hope of glory and redemption.

Creation glorified

that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.(Romans 8:21, ESV)

Paul teaches, not the annihilation of this visible world, but its transformation.

God created the world and it was good. Salvation and redemption is not just for man but for God’s creation, which is why in the end there will be a renewed earth and heaven.

The glory of resurrection

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.(Romans 8:22, ESV)

This makes clear we are talking about the glorious reality of resurrection.

We will be transformed in our resurrection, the earth too will go through a type of resurrection.

The best bits

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?(Romans 8:24, ESV)

Part of the message of salvation is regarding the resurrection for the dead and the glory of eternal life, this is one of the best bits so we should remember to share it.

The Spirit groans

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.(Romans 8:26, ESV)

It is an error to say that this is tongues because the groanings are too deep for words, but tongues is just another word for languages, languages are words.

This is a deep groaning of the Spirit of God in our heart, compelling us to praise, prayer and even action.

It goes beyond our understanding and thoughts, we need this intercession of the Spirit to empower our prayers and it helps us pray for and say the things we would not think of saying ourselves.

The Spirit prays

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8:27, ESV)

We should appeal to the Spirit of God when we pray for the saints, so that we can pray according to God’s will. Let the Holy Spirit pray through you.

Things working out

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.(Romans 8:28, ESV)

Not for everyone, just the elect who love God, all things work together for good for us because we are called to fulfil God’s purpose. This truth is tied up in the sovereignty, providence and elective love of God.

Intimate foreknowledge

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.(Romans 8:29, ESV)

This is personal foreknowledge in a loving sense, not in the sense of knowledge, although God knows all things. The meaning of this word makes the anti-reformed (anti Calvinist) view unsuitable.

God foreknew the elect in Love, which gives us the purpose of election… Love!

We have been elected by God, not by our decision but by God in His love, which we do not fully comprehend.

The Christian experience, summarised

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.(Romans 8:30, ESV)

This speaks to the entire trajectory of the Christian life, we were pre-loved, chosen, called, justified and glorified.

From election through perseverance to glory.

Eternal security

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?(Romans 8:31, ESV)

We have eternal and firm security in God.

Gods elect

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.(Romans 8:33, ESV)

Clearly election is a teaching of God’s word, even though secular, western ideals reel at the thought.

God justifies His elect and it is before Him they ultimately stand or fall.

Jesus intercedes for us

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.(Romans 8:34, ESV)

One of the reasons for our eternal security is not only what Christ has already done, but what He is doing now, He is interceding for us at God’s right hand.

The whole Trinity is involved, The Spirit groans, the Father justifies and Jesus intercedes.

Eternal love

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.(Romans 8:37, ESV)

The important answer to the questions leading to this verse is No.

We are more than just conquerors, it is not that we have conquered sin and death, Jesus conquered sin and death. We are the recipients of the deed of His love, we are the beneficiaries, we have the guarantee of His finished work, we did not earn it so we are not conquerors, we are so much more… we, by the Spirit of adoption, have become righteousness imputed sons, with an entitlement to that which we could not possibly conquer and achieve for ourselves.

We are kept in security for all eternity by the love of God, He has overcome.

Proverbs 22:17–23:18

Incline your heart

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,(Proverbs 22:17, ESV)

Inclining your ear takes effort, the root words give some indication of the type of effort involved (to stretch, spread, lengthen; to bend down; to turn aside; to entice).

To apply our heart means to firmly set our heart in resolution, on the knowledge given.

Good pleasure

for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.(Proverbs 22:18, ESV)

Inclining our ears and applying our hearts brings us pleasure.

Physical discipline

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.(Proverbs 23:13, ESV)

This is not just training and teaching, this is a physical strike, administered in self control and love.

Future hope

Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.(Proverbs 23:18, ESV)

This is encouraging when you look around and see the ungodly prospering.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 8