Scripture: Romans 1: 18-22

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: Don’t be a slave to the wickedness that is your human nature.

The people in Romans Chapter 18, just like some of us today, chose to live in wickedness, rejecting God.

God does not usually stop us from making choices that are against His will.

He allows us the choice to reject Him.  He lets us declare our supposed independence from Him, although He knows that in time we will become slaves to our rebellious choices.

Does life without God look like freedom to you?

Look more closely.  There is no worse slavery than slavery to sin.  People tend to believe lies that reinforce their own selfish, personal beliefs.  Today, more than ever, we need to be careful about the input we allow to form our beliefs.

The Bible is the only standard of truth.  Bible study, and strong support in a Christian church can help you gain strength to resist Satan’s powerful temptations.

God’s gift of His Son Jesus Christ is the only gift we need.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1

Scripture: Romans 6: 7-10

For he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Scripture Commentary: Why do you fear death?

What are you doing in your life that you know is wrong?  Are you a part-time Christian?  If any of these apply, then death has a hold on you.

Put Christ first in your life.

Look at yourself.   Be free from the hold of sin and death.  Then you will have a new life with the Holy Spirit being your comforter, and you will be bound to Christ.

We have a choice to live a life with Christ, doing good.  Or we can live in sin with satan.  Without Jesus, we would be doomed, suffering and separating from God.

We have one master, and He is God.

You are free to choose, so choose to be free of sin and death.  Jesus died on the cross to save us, so we can choose to live with Him in eternity.

God has freely given us the gift of life with Him forever.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.   For the law of the Spirit of life has set you^[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus’ sacrifice has made us free!

Free at last, O mightly God, I’m free at last!  This is what Jesus Christ did for us when he went to the cross.  We were on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s Holy law.  (If you haven’t accepted Jesus in your life, you are still there!)

Without Jesus we would have no hope at all!

Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  But if you don’t turn from sin, what he did is lost on you.  You can’t say, “The devil made me do it,” if Christ is in your life.

Jesus’s sacrifice has declared us ‘not guilty’.  He has offered us freedom from sin and the power to do his will through the Holy Spirit which is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian.

We have a choice to make.

We have a choice to be controlled by our sinful nature or to follow the Holy Spirit.  Once you have said ‘yes’ to Jesus, you want to continue to follow Christ.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will.  Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that he will always do what is best for we are truly free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Scripture: Romans 8: 31-34

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus intercedes for us; He is always with us

These verses are especially for those who do not think they are good enough to receive God’s love. Do you think that you are not worthy of God’s salvation? Do you exclude yourself from the forgiveness and mercy God has for us?  Just remember the words in the Scripture, “If God is for us, who can be against us!”

God gave his only son, hoping we might turn to him and serve him. He gave his son to you. With his son, he gave salvation to everyone. Christ gave his life for you; he will not turn around and condemn you. He will not withhold any of the tools you need to live for him and with him.

Jesus always advocates for you

Paul says that Jesus is interceding for you in heaven. God acquitted you and removed your sin and guilt. It is Satan, not God, who accuses you and guilts you. Satan strikes all the time. Jesus always advocates for you; he stands at God’s right hand to present your case.

No matter what happens to you, no matter where you are, you can never be lost to God’s love. If you believe these overwhelming assurances, you will not be afraid of anything. In Christ, you are a super conqueror, and his love will protect you at all times.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary: Do you walk after the flesh or after the Holy Spirit?

Paul sorted all people into two categories; those whose sinful natures control them, and those who follow or walk after the Holy Spirit. Which are you? Every one of us would fall into the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out. Accept Jesus into your life; follow his way of eternal life and peace.

Jesus gave himself as the sacrifice for our sins. He forgave us, relieves us of our guilt and lets us go free. Without Jesus there would be no hope at all. We would be justly condemned for breaking God’s holy law every day.

We have the right of choice every day … Who do you choose to follow?

Every day we must consciously choose to center our lives around God. Thank God every day. He declares us not guilty in spite of our sin. God offers mercy and freedom from sin. He gives us the power to carry out his will. Do God’s will and you will always do right. Let the reality of Christ’s power lift you up to real victory over sin.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Scripture: Romans 8: 8-11

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Scripture Commentary: The Holy Spirit intercedes for us

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God sent to guide us God’s only son, Jesus Christ, sacrificed himself as payment for our sins. If we ask for forgiveness and accept Christ, we receive God’s mercy.

Some of us struggle to fully accept Christ. We say we accept him, but then we live in the flesh and not in the spirit. Have you ever questioned your Christian identity?

A Christian is anyone in whom the spirit of God lives

We all have God in us, but we also have Satan. Do you try to go back and forth? Are you playing the dangerous game of walking between good and evil?

Trust Christ with your salvation and acknowledge him as Lord. The Holy Spirit will come into your life. If you are waiting for a certain feeling to know that the Holy Spirit is there, it will never come. You will know because Jesus promised it.

Read the entire chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Additional posts on the Book of Romans:
Jesus Freely Died For Your Sins
Backbiters: There Is a Price for Being Disobedient
Being Saved Is Being Under Grace

Scripture: Romans 11: 12, 16, 18

But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!(12)  If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.(16)  do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.(18)

Scripture Commentary: God is the root of the tree

As sinners we are branches that have fallen off of the olive tree. When we repent and come to Christ, we are being grafted onto Jesus’ tree. We become a part of his family and we are supported by he who is the root.

As members of the tree, we have a responsibility to graft more branches onto our single body. We do not have a right to put others down. This is analogous to Paul’s vision for the church, where Jews and Gentiles would unite with God and Christ. God’s original plan was for the Jews to be a source of God’s blessings to the Gentiles.

There is great rejoicing when we come to Christ

We have been grafted onto a tree representative of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore, we must work to unite Jews and Gentiles, and to become one with Christ.

When a Jew comes to Christ, there is a great rejoicing. Symbolically, a dead person has come back to life. When Christ is in you, a new you has been born. We are all absolutely dependent upon God. He is the root of the tree, the source of all things including ourselves. God deserves our praise.

Have you been grafted into the family, or are you a wild olive branch?

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 11

Scripture: Romans 8: 31-35

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Scripture Commentary: Jesus died so you can have everlasting life

Do you ever think that because you aren’t good enough for God, He won’t save you?  Do you ever feel as if salvation is for everyone else but you?  If yes, then these verses are especially for you.  God gave His Son for you; Jesus died for you! He isn’t going to hold back the gift of salvation!  If Christ gave His life for you, He isn’t going to turn around and condemn you!  God will not withhold anything you need to live for Him.

Paul says that Jesus is interceding for us in heaven.  God has acquitted us and has removed our sin and guilt.  Therefore, it’s Satan, not God, who accuses us.  And when Satan accuses us, Jesus advocates in our defense, and stands at God’s right hand to present our case.

No matter what happens to us, not matter where we are, we can never be lost to His love.  If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid of anything.

In Christ we are super-conquerors, and His love will protect us at all times.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Scripture: Romans 1: 30-32

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Scripture Commentary:  Being disobedient may feel good, but it comes with a price.

We know that it’s wrong to be spiteful, a boaster, and disobedient.  But why does wrong feel so good?

God allows us to choose.  He won’t stop us from making choices that are against His will.  He lets us declare our supposed independence from Him although He knows that in time, that “independence” will make us slaves to our rebellious choices.

We tend to believe lies that reinforce our own selfish desires.  Today, more than ever, we need to be careful about the input we allow to inform our beliefs.

TV, music, movies and other forms of media often favorably present sinful lifestyles and unwholesome values .  We are constantly bombarded with attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Word of God.

Paul says that nature itself is eagerly awaiting its own redemption from the effects of sin.  So, knowing that everything comes at a price, live like a christian.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 14-18

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?(1)  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Scripture Commentary:  God places us under grace and mercy when we chose to be saved

We are under grace, and this grace has removed us from legalistic religion.  Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Jesus said that he came not to change the law, but to fulfill it.  Matthew 5:17-18 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Jesus was crucified and on the third day was raised from the grave and ascended into heaven to sit by His Father.  When Jesus ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit to us.  Because of God’s love, grace and mercy, we are saved.

If it wasn’t for God’s grace, we would still be lost in the wilderness.  When we become saved, our old self dies, and our new self, through His grace, is raised up in His spirit to begin a new life in Jesus Christ.

When we become saved, we move out of darkness into His light.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

Additional Reading:
Romans Chapter 10
Matthew Chapter 5