Month: November 2025

“Christ in me, my hope my song, the life I live to you belong – all for you, Christ in me.”

” I accept your worship and dedication. My desire is that that worship should be welded together into the love which I have cast over you and all who I have called. It pleases Me when you set aside your own agenda and give all your attention and love to Me. That is why I have created and am working towards a kingdom where everyone will have that attitude – from that will come total unity of spirit and mind. It is a huge task since I have given everyone freedom to choose and there are so many ways that that freedom works its way out. Yet ultimately the kingdom will look like I want it to and the good news for you and your readers is that you will all be there – part of it”.

Today we wrap up Paul’s argument which he started in 1:18 -“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness….” He has come from different angles to show that ultimately everyone falls under that description. Every person is “under God’s wrath”.

In today’s section, Romans 3:9-20, he drives this home with a number of quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures. Firstly in v9, a reminder that Jews and Gentiles are equally culpable.

He then takes 7 quotes from various parts of the OT, combining some. Read them. The list is all encompassing and frightening in its reality: no one righteous, or who understands. No one who seeks God, but all have rather turned away from Him, becoming worthless.

No one who does good – NOT EVEN ONE. Friends even the “good works” with the best intentions are as filthy rags in winning God’s approval.. Every word we speak is evil, coming – as it were- from an open grave with the aim of practicing deceit. Our words are like a viper’s poison, full of cursing and bitterness.

Our aim is to destroy, to harm, to bring misery and ruin, the opposite of peace and the bottom line is that there is no fear of God.

As I contemplated all these I thought, “No wonder the world is in the state it is in and things like divorce so common.” What hope is there? Then I realised that our need is perhaps far greater than I have ever perceived. I think that is what Paul wants us to see. We are all totally unrighteous, the law has shown that up but not changed it. The conclusion – we all need a righteousness that only God can give.

It is absolutely basic to the gospel that one has to understand the need, the desperate situation each person is under. Against that background the gospel offer is like a shining light, drawing all to it. Against that background the opening statement in next week’s study 3:21, “a righteousness from God has been known” draws us into desperately wanting to know about this righteousness.

Although we may feel so frustrated with people, especially our loved ones who don’t “get it” that we may feel like hitting them over the head that they may listen and understand this. However the reality is we cannot make someone grasp this frightening truth. This is the work of God, through His Spirit and His word and we are merely witnesses. Bur we do have God’s ear in prayer. It is the Spirit’s work to convict. To apply these truths to the heart

Any “gospel” that does not have this reality placed centrally in it, is no gospel at all. Jesus is portrayed in so many ways, as Healer”, “Friend”, “Peacemaker, “Reconciler”, “The Answer”,etc without addressing the basic problem everyone has of being totally separated from God and under His wrath is presenting a false Messiah. It is the most difficul thing of all for man to accept our sinfulness and the reality of God’s wrath on us.

God bless you all as we move to the exciting part next week as the Christmas season starts.

I am learning how to breathe in the rhythm of your grace. Be still and know I am finding rest within the storm.

” The noise of the world can easily occupy you and your mind so every moment your consciousness is overwhelmed by noise, sights and colours, people, thoughts churning around in your mind. That is why it is so important to draw aside and become still and allow your mind and thoughts to focus on Me. I am there to bring stability amidst the storm, to bring hope when voices are shouting there is only disaster coming. In all this My aim is to help you turn your thoughts to Me, to seek Me in the quietness and in the storm. I am always there, always the same and will be into eternity – in Me is total stability – I am The Rock.”

Today we come to a little pause in Romans as Paul takes up a diatribe (an argument) with an imaginary person. Read Romans 3:1-8. It’s almost as if he feels that the Jews may think he is being a bit harsh with them. Remember that throughout Romans this problem of dealing with both Jews and Gentiles keeps surfacing. This little interlude almost acts as an introduction to Paul’s later argument in chapters 9 – 11, where he deals in greater detail with the problem of the Jews.

As we read this section we need to hear the questions Paul is answering, to follow his argument.

Verse 1 -“Is there no advantage (spiritually) to being a Jew? – Much – in many ways, and here he picks the main one initially. They have been entrusted with the very words of God. Is that not our claim as well?

Verse 3 – does the Jewish unfaithfulness point to God also being unfaithful? His answer is much stronger than the NIV shows it. More like the powerful replies in Galatians “let them eternally be damned”. God is and will always be true!

Verse 5 – So if our unrighteousness sets off against God’s righteousness, highlighting it by comparison, should we not sin more to show God’s righteousness up better? If that is so it means God is being unfair by bringing His wrath to bear on us. Paul pauses here realising how outrageous this may sound. If God is unfair how could He judge the world. He takes this argument to its conclusion in verse 8 with a statement commentators believe was one that was being spread around at the time “Let us do evil that good may result”.

So how do we apply this passage to ourselves? I don’t believe we would easily take a view that sinning more is good because it shows God’s righteousness up better. However many people feel quite comfortable in their lack of taking sin seriously, because in their minds their sins are being covered by God’s forgiveness and grace. Paul repeats this question in 6:1 again. This lack of recognizing the seriousness of sin is far more subtle and I believe pervades the western Christian culture. God’s wrath is very real and very frightening so much so that He sent His Son to die for our sins, how can we not take them seriously?

(Lily has pointed out to me that the LutheranChurch has a special day of repentance today. This is most appropriate in this context).

Then there is also the reminder at the beginning of this passage of the huge grace we have in our possession in the form of God’s word. This is so precious and we should all appreciate its value enormously, demonstrating that by spending time reading and meditating on it. It is in seeing God’s holiness that we become more conscious of our lack of real holiness.

So Paul is building his case that everyone is a sinner and in need of God’s solution, the forgiveness of sins as won for us through Jesus’ death on the cross, as described in the gospel, about which Paul is so passionate. We will reach the climax next week. God bless till then.

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee.

” I receive your worship which is good and right. That is what I seek from each one of my children, even if the words may seem more grand than the actions that follow. Nevertheless the desire to offer yourself and your body as a full act of worship is the way to enter and continue our relationship. There will be many areas which you may not be aware of yet, that actually hold you back from complete consecration. However the desire to give all of yourself is an important step, from there we can work together to the point where you will ultimately see and experience My glory while you receive yours. So welcome as you and your readers walk with me into the future.”

As we read Romans 2:17 – 29, Paul now turns to address the situation of the Jews in relation to God’s wrath and judgement.

There were two main things that gave the Jews their specific identity as God’s chosen people. 1. Circumcision, which was the entrance right to His covenant relationship that God had given Abraham. 2. The Law, which was given centuries later, to direct the covenant people how to live and express their relationship as an example to the pagan world.

So Paul challenges them: If they know all the benefits of obeying the law – a relationship with God (vs 17), know His will, and what is superior, because they are instructed in the law, being a guide to the blind, a light in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because of their knowledge of the law…… Stop there. Does that sound familiar? Is that not what we claim as the benefits of being in a relationship with God?

Continuing – if they know all these things why do they not practice them? Do they steal, practice adultery, seek idols? Brag about having the law yet openly breaking it causing God’s name to be blasphemed by those who watch. My unsaved partner once told me that he knew all the people who sit in the front row of the church on Sunday and he knows what they get up to during te week and used this as a reason not to take Christianity seriously.

Paul then turns to circumcision. Once again the charge is that they claim the identity that God has given them because they have been physically circumcised, yet their behaviour does not reflect that.

Ultimately Paul concludes with the the statement that to be a genuine Jew their hearts have to be circumcised….note: not by the written code but by the Spirit. Sound familiar? We can apply these thoughts to ourselves as part of a massive “Christian community”.

Paul is moving along to bring everyone, equally to the same hugely frightening conclusion, that everyone is equally culpable and under God’s wrath. He will drive this home in the first part of ch 3 which we will look at next week.

This passage brought home to me again how we might. Identify ourselves by a number of outward actions – belonging to and attending a church, talking Christ – talk, doing charitable things etc, expecting them to identify us as Christian. While what actually identifies us as Christian is our changed lives through the Spirit and fired by our ongoing relationship with God through Jesus, expressing itself outwardly by a supernatural love for our neighbours.

May God bless you all till next week.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise all ye creatures here below, praise Father Son and Holy Ghost.

”I receive your praise with joy. Your praise joins millions of brothers and sisters who are part of our beautiful family. Yes, and every part of My creation has been made to praise Me and represent Me to those who would open their eyes to see. That is why I have said man is without excuse because I am there, everywhere in creation, in all my creatures and especially those whom I have taken into My family. So open your heart and mind and open your mouth and praise Me with all your being.”

We take a second bite at Romans 2:1-16. I have often had difficulty in placing this section in the overall argument of Paul. This is how I see it, being as simple as possible.

Back in 1:18 Paul makes the statement about God’s wrath in introducing an explanation why the gospel – salvation story is so important. In the rest of that chapter he starts proving how all mankind is under God’s wrath. Now there are two questions. Why is it a serious situation to be under God’s wrath? What about those who live more moral lives, especially those who have the law?

So this part of ch 2 he devotes to showing how God’s wrath leads to His judgement. He expands that to say His judgement is always right, according to His righteousness, vs 2. (Then he deviates to discuss man’s judgement by comparison. That is what we dealt with last week). He ends this section, bracketing it, in 2:16 where he rounds off the description of God’s judgement.

The rest of the section is largely devoted to showing that everyone is equally culpable under God’s judgement. Everyone will be judged according to the way they have lived their lives. Here we read for the first time what judgement under God’s wrath looks like. Vv 8,9 wrath and anger and trouble and distress.

The last paragraph is devoted to proving that those who have not had the benefit of the law are equally culpable because God has built into every person a conscience. Those who have the law should not think that they are better off than those have not heard it, because hearing it alone has no benefit, it is how we live in the light of it that matters.

In 2:16 he makes three points concerning God’s judgement as he rounds off this section: All that which was secret will be revealed. Judgement will be through Jesus. And finally, most important the gospel will make all the difference. Hence a reminder that all will fall under judgement. The only way to escape it will be through the salvation provided by Jesus Christ.

The bottom line then is that there will not be any special treatment for those who have never heard the gospel or those who have heard it and ignored its appeal. This is a stark reminder that each believer holds a golden key in the gospel, as the only way to escape God’s judgement and should therefore be prepared to share it with whoever we can that God leads into our path. There is no reason to believe that we could ever live such a righteous life that we will not be judged so we need to continue to be eternally grateful that, despite everything we have received Jesus’ salvation.

God bless you all till next week.