Women of Firm Faith

Verses 1-2, "My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you."  Who doesn't want peace and a long life?  We all have the same choice to make...eternal life or eternal judgement.  We are not all God's children.  Only those who keep God's commands are considered His children.  The others are children on the devil according to 1 John 3.  Romans 2:5-11, "But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who 'will render to each one according to his deeds': eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of ...

Verses 1-5, "My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God."  Receiving understanding and knowledge requires action on our parts.  It all begins with receiving His word; then we must treasure His commands, incline our ears and apply our hearts to them, cry out for discernment, lift our voices in prayer, and seek and search for understanding.  If we do nothing, we certainly can't expect to receive anything.  We will reap spiritually what we've sown spiritually, and to think otherwise is just deceiving ourselves.  God is not mocked! Verses 6-12, "For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up ...

Verse 7, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction."  The world may think that it can find wisdom apart from God, but their efforts are in vain.  All that they see and do will be brought to nothing.  Being in the place where you recognize who God is and the power He possesses, is the very beginning of wisdom and understanding.  1 Corinthians 1:20-25, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God ...

Verses 17-18, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."  We know from  Chapter 8 that the carnal mind is enmity toward God. It is not submitted to God and His law, but rather serves its own lusts and desires. This is the person who is serving their own belly.  Romans 8:5-6 "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."  In order to serve their lusts, they will reinterpret Scripture and even add their own doctrines, creating a Jesus of their own making, all to ease their conscience and allow them to do as they please. We not onl...

Those who are stronger in faith should not only bear with those who are weaker, but do what's helpful to support and edify their weaker brother or sister.  Verses 1-2, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification."  We need to use Jesus as our example, who came not to please Himself but to lay down His life for others.  Christians need each other to grow in the Lord, especially those weak in the faith need that extra support.  We are all members of one body.  If one part of the body is sick or weak, the whole body suffers. Sometimes haughty attitudes develop among Christians, forming certain groups or classes within the body of Christ, only looking to use their strength for their own advantage. Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Let nothing be  done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better...

Verses 1-4, "Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."  We are not to judge how another serves God.  However someone who is weak in the faith is very different from someone who is stiff necked and rebellious to the commands of God.  Not disputing over doubtful things involves how a person discerns their service to the Lord.  It is not talking about allowing people to reinterpret the scriptures allowing them to fulfill their sinful desires without guilt. What this chapter IS talking about is how we serve the Lord.  You cannot say that you are fulfilling your lusts "...

Verses 1-2, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves."  It is very clear that we are to submit to our government and its officials.  God allows them to be in authority; therefore, they do not have to be Christians for us to honor their position.  God allows evil rulers to reign too, and it's always according to His plan. Jesus was even punished under an evil Roman governor, and He certainly could have fought back and stopped him if He desired to. Verses 3-4, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; fo...

Because of the mercy that God has shown toward us, the huge debt He has forgiven us, we ought to willingly lay down our lives on the alter.  It would be unreasonable not to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Verses 1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  Our sacrifice needs to be holy.  You wouldn't think about offering God a spotted lamb, so why would you think it's okay to offer yourself, spotted from the evil that is in this world? James 1:27, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Verses 4-5, "For as we have many members in one body,...

Israel may have rejected the gospel, but God's plan is not ruined and He didn't need to find a new group of people to fulfill His promises through so that He is not a liar.  There will be a remnant of Jews on whom He will pour out His grace. Verses 1-6, "I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, 'Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life'? But what does the divine response say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it  is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is ...

Now one can get to God through their own righteousness, or else your salvation would be works based rather than a free gift of God.  Besides, no one is even righteous besides Jesus.  Romans 3:10, "As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one."  The Jews were zealous for God, but were trying to reach Him by their righteousness through the law.  Verses 1-4, "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." Letting go of your way of thinking can be difficult, but it's exactly what we must do to be children of God. The end of the law came, and faith in God and His righteousness may have seemed too easy...

Verses 1-5, "I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of  God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen."  Paul has genuine sorrow for his fellow Jews, knowing that they were given such great promises and privileges by God.  Their rejection of Jesus as their Messiah makes them cursed, and Paul would even take that upon himself if he could.  This is exactly what Christ did for us. Galatians 3:13-14, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a ...

Verse 1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  If we are one with Jesus and He is our head, then we will respond by walking in obedience, and God will not condemn us. We could also say there IS condemnation for those who DO walk according to the flesh, but nobody wants to talk about that, nor do pastors want to preach that.  Being focused on the flesh, or carnally minded, brings death.  Why is the church so accepting, overlooking this in their sheep?  They may think they're being loving, but that's not loving at all! Verses 5-8, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor in...

Verses 4, "Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God."  Since Jesus' death, we are no longer under the law, but under grace.  Rather than being slaves to sin leading to death, we are to be slaves to holiness with an expectation to bear fruit of righteousness.  Verses 5-6, "For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."  When we profess to be followers of Christ, there must be evidence of our faith in Him.  We know that faith without works is dead religion, which is useless.  It does you no good in that it won't save you, and it does those around y...

Verses 1-4, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."  Grace does not teach us to continue sinning, but to walk according to the Spirit, a new creation in Christ, representing our Lord and Savior.  2 Corinthians 5:17, 20-21, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new...Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to  be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him...

Verses 1-5, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."  It is impossible to have peace with God if you are not saved (justified and sins forgiven).  Sin separates you from God and you carry the burden of guilt and shame for unrepentant sin, whether you want to admit it or not.  It can be emotionally and physically exhausting.  Isaiah 48:22, “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”  When we are in right standing with God, we also can stand in faith against all attacks.  We may...

Verses 2-4, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt."  Even if we could earn our righteousness, it would not even compare to the righteousness of God.  Isaiah 64:6, "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away."  Besides, those who work are owed a debt, but salvation is a free gift.  Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  We are the ones who actually owe Him, and m...

Since God shows no partiality, you could ask what benefit does a Jew have?  Verses 1-2, "What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God."  The Jews were God's chosen people through whom He delivered His word to the rest of the world. Romans 9:4, "...who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises."  God appeared to them in a cloud of glory, showing that they are his special people and made promises to them that are still to be fulfilled regardless if it looks like they've rejected Him.  Romans 11:25-29, "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ...

It is possible for people to know the word,  even teach the word,  and be blinded to their own sin.  Those within the church develop the same attitude that the Pharisee had before God.  Luke 18:11, "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector."  They judge others according to a set of standards that they aren't keeping themselves, which makes them hypocrites.  Verses 1-3, "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?"  You may fool man and escape judgement here on earth, but you...

Verses 1-6, "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and  declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ."  Paul begins his letter stating his wholehearted devotion to Jesus and his commitment to the calling God has for his life.  The message he's been entrusted with is nothing new, but spoken of by the prophets in the scriptures.  It is impossible to deny Jesus, because He the key to understanding the Father, and only through Him can we receive this gift of undeserved favor.  His grace is what makes us able to be obedie...

Verses 1-5, "Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.' But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm." After having nearly perished at sea from shipwreck, on the heels of being held prisoner for years, we see Paul here serving others by gathering wood for a fire to protect them from the rain and cold.  He doesn't have the "poor me" attitude that we see all too often.  He doesn't act like a victim and expect others ...