Romans 3

The first part of the chapter, v.1-8, seems like complicated rhetoric. It goes back and forth between our unrighteousness and lies vs God's righteousness and truth. But J. MacArthur sums it up very simply: "By contrast, like a jeweler who displays a diamond on black velvet to make the stone appear even more beautiful." I love that! "...our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God,..." v. 5

"...there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, who God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith." v. 22-25

Propitiation, a placard. In the Hebrew it means: the mercy seat, the cover to the ark of the covenant. Christ's death was done publicly, for all to see. All the world knows that Jesus Christ was slaughtered for our sins - the lamb of God was sacrificed and His blood sprinkled on the alter to save each one who believes.

Switching gears, v. 10-18 are key verses from Psalms declaring all our unrighteousness. I want to particularly point out v. 13. "Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness..."

"As an unsealed open grave allows those who pass to see and smell what is inside, the unregenerate person's open throat - that s, the foul words that come from it - reveal the decay of the heart." J. MacArthur Wow.

I wanted to bring this up because words can be a nemesis. Words can break spirits; they can cause chaos in any environment. I am particularly thinking about the work place. A few wrongly placed negatives can turn co-workers against each other. This just happened where I work, and I was the culprit...not meaning to, but did just the same. I have been memorizing a verse about asking God to guard my words and let them be always be good. FAIL!...our unrighteousness spot lights God's righteousness.

Romans 2

"...for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things.". v. 1


That verse, in a nut-shell, is what the whole chapter is about. The church, starting as early as Paul's first churches and continues to this day, seem to practice judgement of each other. Maybe it came from having to follow the law for hundreds of years, or just our human nature to feel ourselves better than someone else; whatever the reason, it is always our downfall. It has been my experience that the very thing someone boasts that he is so much better at, will be the very thing that will eventually bring him down, ie: morality/adultery. How many pastors have fallen to this because they didn't recognize in themselves the possibility of their own desires. I was trying to think of other examples of this. Can you come up with a couple that you have seen along your path in life?


"...God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." v. 16


Ultimately, it is the deep secrets of our heart, that if we don't acknowledge and hand over to God, has a greater chance of finding fluidity. There is a song or a story about how you let Jesus into the rooms of your heart but there is one closet you don't want Him to go into, you don't want Him to see. The content of that closet needs to be cleaned out. Do you know how good you feel when you go into conquer the disaster area of a closet that, though painful in the beginning to start sorting through and throwing things away, leaves you with a feeling of peace and relaxation and cleanliness?

One note on a particular word "stubbornness". v. 5 "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation...".
The English word, "sclerosis" - as in arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries) comes from the Greek word. Stubbornness, rigidity, callous is a result of the hardening of the heart.

Romans 1

Just reading the first few verses, I am totally excited! This book is filled with so many truths and Paul's love for the gentiles and his unwavering devotion to God. Paul never could get to the Roman church he so loved. This epistle - this letter - is the closest he got. Paul was a roman himself, a second generation pharisee before his conversion on the road. He most likely was martyred under Nero's reign.


Also, an interesting note, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible." 2 Cor. 12:10 Paul was not a good looking man...I guess you can't have it all. LOL


Romans is not, by any means, politically correct. Paul states in no uncertain terms what is considered depravity in the sight of God. Paul mentions a few times in this chapter that God "gave them over" to their sins. This means: the wrath of abandonment, which is removing restraint and letting people go to pursue their sin and its consequences. I have known such wrath. Better this wrath and be able to repent and return to and enjoy once again a loving relationship with God.

One of those, "God gave them over": "God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward on another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." v. 26-27

I quote this verse for two reasons. 1. The obvious, I think. This the number one topic of debate in this state or maybe not even debate but giving total and complete acceptance to this sin. The pros for this keep bringing up this countries prior bans on "inter-racial" marriages. The difference is that the Bible never mentions a sin between a man and a woman of different races - but quite the opposite; where it very much mentions the sin amongst same sex.

And 2. "Paul mentions women first to show the extent of debauchery under the wrath of abandonment, because in most cultures women are the last to be affected by moral collapse." J. MacArthur. Wow! What does that say about the day that we are living.

But let's end on a good note, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..."v. 16

Have a Blessed Day!

Mark 16

His burial and His resurrection.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and other women were on the way to the tomb. The discussion, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" v. 3 This interaction between the two women is only recorded in Mark.

I love this part. "Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe, and they were amazed. And he said to them, 'Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here." v.5-6

This video was written by Don Francisco...fantastic story song. Sung by Dolly Parton - listen to the words - I love the pictures in the end during the chorus, "I'm Alive." Very powerful.

Mark 15

Man alive, my blogging has slowed to a snail's pace. Shoot. I'm going to have to rename my blog: A Lifetime By His Side...which it should be, anyway! LOL

Mark 15 is the crucifixion. None of the gospel accounts give a detailed analysis of the actual crucifixion process. - The below passage does a pretty good job...it was the most heinous form of capital punishment. However, it was prophesied in Psalm 22:11-20

" Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax. It is melted within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; The divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
But You, O Lord, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance, Deliver my soul from the sword..."

At the end, Jesus cries out, "Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthan?; My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" v.34

That is right from Ps. 22 as well, v. 1: "My God, My God, why have Your forsaken me?" Wow!