Tag: Romans

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Romans- Week 11- Day 2- Romans 12:2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

Explanation:

After pleading with the reader to live a life of sacrifice to God in response to the mercies of God, the text commands us not to conform to this world.  The idea here is not to pattern ourselves after the patterns we see in the world system.  What is the remedy?  He says a contrasting statement here.  He says to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  The world wants to control the way we think.  It wants us to think like them.  The plan of God in sanctification is to change our thinking, to change our hearts, and in so doing our behavior is changed.  We have to think differently.  Thinking God’s thoughts leads to our minds being renewed.  When our minds are renewed we are able to discern what God sees as good and acceptable.  In discerning that we begin to live that out.

This really is a pattern of what Paul has done in the book of Romans.  He has made the case in chapters 1-11 of how God views us, our sinful state, and our need for a Savior.  He has helped us take on a new perspective of our standing before God, and of God’s love for us.  He has helped us see how we are justified by faith and not by works.  All of these things are “the mercies of God” that he spoke of in verse 1.  Now that our mind has been renewed about these things he challenges us to offer our bodies (v1) and our minds (v2) to God as a reasonable response of worship for what God has done.  When we do that we are transformed and we live the way God wants us to live.

The transformation does not happen from the outside in, but from the inside out.

Application:

My behavior will not change if my thinking has not changed.  My thinking won’t change if I continue to pattern my thinking after the way the world things.  To think like God I have to know what God thinks.  The incredible thing is that God wrote a book! 

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  (17)  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

The scripture also says this in 2 Peter:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  (21)  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20-21 

Response:

  • Is there a sin I’m struggling with today?  What is that sin?
  • Is there a scriptural passage that deals with that sin issue?
  • What scripture should I dwell on, memorize and obey to help me think differently about my sin?
  • What does repentance look like? 
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Romans- Week 11- Day 1- Romans 12:1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1 

Explanation:

In today’s entry I want to rephrase or paraphrase each part of this verse to help bring some clarity.

“I beseech you”- I, Paul, plead with you.  I beg you.  I am putting the full weight of my influence into this next statement.

“…therefore, brethren”- Based on what I have said in these first 11 chapters, and because you gentile believers are my brothers and sisters in Christ…

“…by the mercies of God”– because of all that God has done for you in sending His Son to die, be buried, and rise again so that anyone who can call on Him will be saved whether they are jew or greek, wise or unwise, or any other human distinction…

“…that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”- …I’m asking based on my influence, our family connection in Christ, and because of all that God has done so that you can be saved, that you offer your very bodies as a sacrifice to God.  You should live in accordance with what God has done for you.  You should live lives of holiness, separating yourself from sin.  You should live so that you can offer to God bodies and lives that avoid sin and live in the way that He desires for you to live.

“…which is your reasonable service”–  It is reasonable and right for you to live this way because of all that God has done for you and all that He will do for you.  The least you could do is live for Him because He sent His Son to die for you.

Application:

Because of all that God has done for you, what He wants to do in you, and what He desires for your future, choose to offer your body to Him as an offering and sacrifice to God.  It’s the right response in light of all that He has done.

Response:

What sin do you need to give up as a reasonable response to what Christ has done for you?  What repentance needs to happen in your life today?

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Romans- Week 10- Day 5- Romans 11:30-32

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:  (31)  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  (32)  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

Romans 11:30-32 

Explanation:

The partial and temporary allowance of Israel’s hardening in unbelief of the Gospel has resulted in the gentiles hearing and believing the Gospel.   Ultimately there will be a revival among the children of Israel and they will believe in great numbers again.  God has allowed a temporary and partial unbelief so that his Divine salvation can be heard and believed throughout the world.

We know what God’s will toward the individual:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2 Peter 3:9 

Application:

What God has promised to Israel He will do.  What God has promised to us He will do.  His desire is for His glory, and for the salvation of sinners.  God is working in the course of human history so that people would know and believe in Him.


Response:

We must trust God in all that He does because of who He is.  What is a way that you can trust in God’s plan today?

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Romans- Week 10- Day 4- Romans 11:28-29

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.  (29)  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 

Romans 11:28-29 

Explanation:

When it comes to the gospel and the great commission, many of the Jews had made themselves the enemies of these gentile believers.  They did not recognize Jesus as Messiah, and had at times even persecuted local assemblies of believers in Christ.  In that sense the Jews as a category of people had made themselves the enemies of the gospel.  Paul makes the distinction though, that this did not mean God was going to abandon Israel.  Israel was and is still going to be the chosen people of God because God had made promises to the patriarchs like Abraham and David.  God will fulfill the covenant He made to Israel through Abraham, David and others.  This does not mean that every Jew will be saved.  It does mean that every Jew can be saved, and that God will keep His promises to Israel.  The gifts and calling of God promised to Israel are for Israel and will be given to Israel despite how the Jews at that time were responding to the gospel.

Verse 29 does not mean that repentance is not necessary for individual salvation from sin.  To be saved one must recognize their sinfulness and call on Christ to save them as a sinner.  Paul is referring to the promises of God made to Israel that were unconditional.  Since God made unconditional promises to Israel, He will fulfill those promises despite the present heart condition of many of those people.

Application:

We should have a desire for all people, including Jewish people, to believe on Christ.  God has not cast away His people.  He loves them.  We also should trust in the promises of God.  He is a promise keeping, never changing God.

Response:

How are you doubting or trusting in the promises of God today?

Who can you share the salvation message with today?