Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Week 3 Romans 7-9

We missed out on Week 3. Sometimes our schedules just don't jive and that's ok-I've learned to accept it as a consequence of living several time zones away.
Anyways I read Romans 7-9 but I haven't posted up any thoughts yet and here it's about time for me to be posting for week 4. (better late than never)

There were several familiar passages in the reading this week.
Romans ch 8 was especially thought provoking. I was encouraged or rather reminded as I read that as Christians we have life and peace through the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace

AND we are God's children.

14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.


There is always so much more that can be gleaned. This week it was good for me to be reminded of the simple truths that I am a child of God and nothing can separate me from His great love. I have peace and "life" when I live by the Spirit.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Week 2 Romans 4-6

This week I was not quite on top of it and I'm reading the day of our study..(head shaking at my procrastination)

Here's my thoughts of what I read:

In Romans chapter 4 Paul writes about Abraham’s life and his faith being "accredited to him as righteousness" all before the law was given and before Abraham was even circumcised. Meaning that justification is and always has been acquired by faith not the law or by works. This applies to us today.

21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

I love how Chapter 5 begins.

1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.


We have peace with God through our faith and belief in him! Our salvation is a sure thing! We don't have to be bogged down with the guilt of our sin-thanks to grace. We are justified through our faith. Just like Abraham our faith also is accredited to us as righteousness.

Chapter 6- We are not slaves to sin!

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So those are the points that stuck out to me. I know there is so much more to glean and I look forward to hearing what my sisters have to say. (in just a few short hours)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Romans 1-3

Ok, I really enjoyed this and am very excited for many more readings to come. Overall, I really enjoyed these three chapters.

The main thing I really got out of it was faith. I realized how much we underestimate that word and how important it really is. For example, 3:28 "So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law." also the last part of 3:31 "...In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law."

I really like this and felt this as an encouragment to keep strong in my faith and never let go. Faith is such a powerful thing, our whole relationship with God is based on faith.

So, that's really what I wanted to point out I enjoyed many other things but really felt that this is what I needed to say.

I'm happy I get to spend this time with my sisters and spend this time in the word.

Tori

Chapters 1-3

First I just want to say how excited I am do be doing this!! Ok that’s all.

Romans 1
Paul is writing to the church about what God has shared with him. In other word Paul has received some revelation from God; That it is not the law that get’s us to heaven but our Faith in Him. We are never going to be perfect so God sent His son to die now we have Grace.
I really like vs.16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, 17 For the Jews first and also for the Greek, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith as it is written, “the just shall live by faith,”
Paul is declaring he is not ashamed and he will proudly tell everyone about God because it is for Everyone. I want to also have that mentality to go out and share God’s salvation with out hesitation, with out fear.

Vs. 18-32- I believe it is talking about those who know God but don’t live the righteous life. If you don’t live the righteous (right living in Gods eyes) then you are heading toward death.

Romans 2
Vs. 1-3 Just because you are judging others doesn’t make it right for you to do wrong. God does not play favorites, you are either doing right or wrong.
You are not saved by just being a good person you have to believe, trust and faith in God.
Vs.17-24 don’t say one thing then do other. We are all guilty the law does not protect you, Faith in God does!
Vs.25-29 It is what is in the heart not what you do on the outside.

Romans 3
God knows so how dare us try and figure out the judging, let Him be the Judge. God is God He knows what He is doing.
God justifies us by faith , and grace, We still need to keep the law and be righteous and much as possible and God will take care of the rest.


Summed up
So basically what I received from this, is that we don’t live by the law anymore to save us. God sent His son to save us. We need to believe, have Faith and live righteous. We are not the judge of others God is the judge, He doesn’t play favorite so no worries put your faith in Him and see what He does with you! It will be exciting and a heck of a ride!

Sarah

Friday, October 9, 2009

Our first Study-Romans

We begin our first study with Romans. We are reading chapters 1-3 this week.

As I read the first "wow" scripture that came to me was Romans 1:16-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith.


The rest of chapter one (verse 18 and on) talks about men (and women) who are given over to idolatry, sexual immorality, and all other kinds of wickedness-even though they know about God. (Romans 19-Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For 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 men are without excuse)
As I read verses 18-32 I thought about how humankind has not changed much-though I often think humanity is at it's worst today and we are living in the "last times" because of all the perversion I see in the world. Yet even thousands of years ago people chose to please themselves instead of honoring God.

Moving on.....another key verse was Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus It's an often quoted verse telling us that we are sinners and there is no redemption except through Jesus.

Before I dive in further and share my thoughts I'm going to wait for my sisters to chat with me and hear what they have to say- I can't wait to hear about their insights to the reading.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Something new

My sisters and I have decided to study the bible together. This blog will help facilitate our thoughts and ideas as we explore God's word.
It's something new and fresh that should spice up our quiet time in the Word and God's presence. I'm looking forward to reading, seeking, and teaching with my sisters.

My vision for this "sisters study" is to read the same passage from the bible together each week. After we read each sister will write up a post about what she thought, questions she had, and insights she gained. We'll all chime in with our comments.

First study: The book of Romans.