Be Declared Not Guilty By God

Scripture: Romans 4: 6-8

King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared “not guilty” by God. “Blessed and to be envied,” he said, “are those whose sins are forgiven and put out of sight. Yes, what joy there is for anyone whose sins are no longer counted against him by the Lord.”

Scripture Commentary:

King David was guilty of terrible sins: adultery, murder, lying. Yet he experienced the joy of forgiveness.

What can we do to get rid of guilt? First, we need to quit denying our guilt and recognize that we have sinned, admit our guilt to God and ask for His forgiveness. Then we should let go of our guilt and believe that God has forgiven us.

This can be difficult when a sin has taken root and grown over many years. It’s difficult when the sin is very serious, or involves others. We must remember that Jesus is willing and able to forgive every sin.

Jesus paid a tremendous price on the cross for us.

Have faith and believe you have no sin that God cannot forgive. It is Jesus Christ who saves us, not our feelings or actions. He is strong enough to save us no matter how weak we are.

Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it through our powerful works. Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ, and reaching out to accept his gift of salvation.

God’s Word declares that sins confessed are sins forgiven.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans

Worship the Creator, The One True God

God Has Made It Plain

Lord, Help My Unbelief, Increase My Faith

Scripture: Romans 3: 1, 3

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (1) For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (3)

Scripture Commentary: We all stand as sinners before God.

Paul contends that everyone stands guilty before God. He dismantles the common excuses of people who refuse to admit they are sinners. Some do not believe there is a God. But does their unbelief negate God? Others will say they follow their conscience, and some try to justify their actions by saying, “I’m not as bad as other people.” Some church-goers rely on their church membership, or call out that they are “religious.”

No one will be exempt from God’s judgment on sin.

Every person must accept that s/he is sinful and condemned before God. Only then can we understand and receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation.

In the beginning of Romans, Chapter 3, Paul prints a depressing picture. All of us — pagans, Gentiles, humanitarian, and religious people — are all condemned by our own actions. The law, which God gave to show the way to live, holds up our evil deeds to public view.

But there is hope for us!

It’s true that the law condemns us but the law is not the basis of our hope. God is! He, in His righteousness and wonderful love, offers us eternal life with Him.

We cannot earn it. Accept it as a gift from our loving heavenly Father through His son, Jesus Christ. In order to receive it, we must give ourselves to Our Lord. Live as He commanded us to do. We must love our fellow man, and help spread the Word of Our God.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 3

From the title: Mark 9: 24

Other Commentary from the Book of Romans

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

God Is the Root That Supports You

We Have Done Wrong and Ask Forgiveness

Scripture: Romans 2: 6, 8, 12-13

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”(6) But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (8) All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.(12) For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.(13)

Scripture Commentary:

If we stand before God today, He will ask us what we have done? Did we obey His ways or did we go our own way? If and when we didn’t know God, we still knew right from wrong. This is the Holy Spirit in each of us.

People are condemned not for what they don’t know but for what they do with what they know. Take a child for example. When s/he is about to do something wrong, s/he will look to see if anyone is looking. This is the Holy Spirit.

Those who know God’s written word and His law will be judged by them. Those who have never seen a Bible still know right from wrong. They will be judged because they didn’t keep even those standards that their own conscience dictated.

Admit to yourself and to God that you fit the human pattern and have fallen short. That’s the first step to forgiveness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 2

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Do I do the same things I pass judgment on?

Scripture: Romans 2: 1-3, 6

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? (1-3) God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” (6)

Scripture Commentary:

How can you justifiably judge someone else? Whenever you find yourself feeling justifiably angry about someone’s sin, look in the mirror and say, “Do I do the same things?”

We have all sinned.

If we are being truthful, we still sin. Oftentimes the things we notice in others are the things that have taken root in us.

God has halted His judgment on us to give us time to repent. If God is giving us time, why can’t we give one another time?

Be a true light in the world for Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help others. In doing so we must live the life of being a true Christian.

When others look at us, what do they see?

Do they see the God in us or the Satan in us? If it is the God in us, they will see the wonderful gift of salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 2

Read Other Commentary on the Book of Romans:

Let Christ Set You Free

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

How Will You Live Your Life?

Sermon – Part Two: How Will You Live Your Life? (What Punctuation Mark Describes Your Life?)

God has given us time between our birth and death. How will you live your life? What will your ‘black box’ record about you?

Have you ever done something wrong and wondered why you could not look in the mirror and lie to yourself? Satan tried to make Eve think that sin was good, pleasant and desirable. God’s Word, The Holy Bible, tells us what is good and what is evil.

As God called to Adam, “Where art thou,” He is also calling to you. Where are you?

Genesis 3:11

“And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?”

God tells us what to do and what not to do. As with Eve, people think sin is good, pleasant and desirable, and think that the knowledge of good and evil is harmless. People usually choose wrong things because they have become convinced that those things are good. It feels good so it must be good. Our sins don’t always appear ugly to us. And it’s the ‘pleasant’ sins that are the hardest to avoid.

Romans 1: 22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools

We can’t always prevent temptation. God does not tempt us; the devil does. But there is always an escape. Recognize and confess your sin to God. He will forgive you.

John 1: 29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

What statement will be in your black box when that day, hour, minute and second comes?

John 12: 26

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Jesus has accepted you? Have you accepted Him?

John 6: 47

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Life is short. Accept Jesus. That is eternal.

Read the Entire Chapter to the Scriptures Referenced:

Genesis Chapter 3

Romans Chapter 1

John Chapter 1, Chapter 12, and Chapter 6

Read Part One of the Sermon, What Punctuation Mark Describes Your Life?

How to Be Good Enough for God

Scripture: Romans 10: 2-4

²I know what enthusiasm they have for the honor of God, but it is misdirected zeal. ³For they don’t understand that Christ has died to make them right with God. Instead they are trying to make themselves good enough to gain God’s favor by keeping the Jewish laws and customs, but that is not God’s way of salvation. ⁴They don’t understand that Christ gives to those who trust in him everything they are trying to get by keeping his laws. He ends all of that.

Scripture Commentary: You, by yourself, will never be good enough to get into heaven.

I am a good person, I try to live right so I know I am going to heaven. You will be surprised how many people think this way. I was one of them. These thoughts are misdirected.

You will not get into the kingdom merely by being a good person. Some people think it’s a complicated process, but it’s not. Believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead on the third day.

Jesus is the way to heaven.

Jesus ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God, the Father. You are saved when you ask for forgiveness of your sins. This is how you go to heaven.

Read chapter 10 of the Book of Romans. Paul tells us how to be saved. We aren’t to live by customs or traditions. We are to live by faith in Jesus Christ, not in ourselves.

Salvation is God’s gift to us.

There is no human effort, no matter how sincere, that can ever substitute for the righteousness God offers us by faith. We cannot earn salvation – we cannot be perfect.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 10

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Do Not Continue in Sin – You Have Been Set Free

Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins

Live in the Spirit of Christ

Scripture: Romans 8:6-9

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

Scripture Commentary: Ask yourself these questions …

Do you truly have the Spirit of Christ in you? Do you study the Word, live a Christ-like life, help others? These are questions that only you can answer.

It can be hard to live in this world and not be affected by what you see, hear and do everyday. You are in one of two categories – those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful natures, or those who follow after Christ.

What does it mean to be a Christian?

All of us would be in the first category if Jesus Christ hadn’t offered us hope. Being a Christian means that you have the Spirit of Christ living in you. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and have acknowledged Him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life. You are a Christian.

If this has happened to you, then you are working for Our Lord already. If this is not the case, pray and ask Him to forgive you your sins and see the Holy Spirit work in you. When the Holy Spirit is working in you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 8

You Have No Excuse!

Scripture: Romans 2: 1, 12-13

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.(1) When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.(12,13)

Scripture Commentary:

How can you judge when you are just as bad? You belong to a stubborn race. You know what’s right but you insist on doing what’s wrong.

Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms by our earthly standards.

The Bible lays the groundwork for the Christian life.

If you follow Jesus, earthly standards do not apply to you. The Bible is your book of standards; it tells you how to conduct yourself.

We are all weak.

Everyone makes mistakes and falls but if Jesus is truly in our lives, we need to ask Him to help us. He will!

There is no worse slavery than slavery to sin. Admit to yourself and to God that you fit the human pattern and frequently fail to live up to His standards. Ask for help and watch Him work on you.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 2

The Wrath of God Against Sinful Humanity

Scripture: Romans 1: 18-23

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Scripture Commentary:

Why is the wrath of God against sinful people? It’s because they have substituted the truth about Him with a fantasy of their own imagination. They’ve stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people to believe anything that supports their own self-centered lifestyle.

God cannot tolerate sin because His nature is morally perfect. He isn’t able to ignore or condone such willful rebellion. God wants to remove the sin and restore the sinner, and He is able to as long as the sinner doesn’t stubbornly distort or reject the truth.

Every person accepts or rejects God

However, God’s anger erupts against those who persist in sinning. Make sure you’re not pursuing a fantasy rather than the true God. Don’t suppress the truth about Him merely to protect your own lifestyle.

Every person either accepts or rejects God. If you reject Him, you reject the truth. Don’t be fooled. When the day comes for God to judge your response to Him, no excuses will be accepted. Now you know!

Read the Entire Chapter:

Romans Chapter 1

Who are You to Pass Judgment on Others?

Scripture: Romans 2: 1-4

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Scripture Commentary: We are not to pass judgment on others.

How can you tell another that s/he isn’t living as God intended when you aren’t either? In order to pass judgment (for you do not have that right), you must look at yourself. And when you do this, what do you see? Do you see your true self or do you see the person you think you are?

We have all sinned; we are all sinning.

Don’t pass judgment on others. But do start with yourself. Take a look; find your faults and work to correct them.

We belong to a stubborn race. We know what’s right but we insist on doing what’s wrong. But we must start to do what is right. Even people who have never read The Bible – and who do not know Jesus Christ – know right from wrong. If you travel the world, you find that all cultures prohibit murder, adultery, and stealing. Yet these laws are always being broken.

If we would violate our own laws, what are we doing to God’s law?

There are always people within society who violate the law. If we do not follow the laws we’ve made, what then are we doing to God’s law? If you follow God’s laws and live the life He intended, then as His children your life would become a reflection of Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 2