Today’s Reading: Jer 25:1–26:24, Rom 4:1–24, Prov 19:1–29

Today’s Theme: Justified by Faith

Today we read about the way we are justified, which is not through a ceremony, moral code or religious rite. We learn that we are justified by Faith in God and what God has done and will do, just like Abraham.

We must have faith in the person and work of God, as revealed in the gospel, to access the inheritance God has offered by His grace.

So, our salvation is based on God’s grace,  our faith in that grace and the God who provides it.

Jeremiah 25:1–26:24

Persistent Leaders

“For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened.(Jeremiah 25:3, ESV)

We should pray that our leaders are persistent in speaking the word of God to His people, Jeremiah at this point, had been the prophet to Judah for 23 years.

We must pray for ourselves as well that we don’t find ourselves in the helpless state that the people found themselves in, where after 23 years of the prophet faithfully bringing the word of God, they still refused to listen.

God, Lord of time

This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.(Jeremiah 25:11, ESV)

God was in control the whole time, so He could be very specific about the years. God, not man, the devil or Dr Who, is the Lord of time.

When we get frustrated about the timing of things in our lives, or even a train breaking down or traffic making us late, we must in those times remind ourselves that God is sovereign over time and our days, we are not, so we must continue to trust Him.

Judge of the whole earth

For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the Lord of hosts.’(Jeremiah 25:29, ESV)

If judgement begins at God’s house… Where will the ungodly be. God is the judge of the whole earth, this is why we need to put faith in God and His grace.

Romans 4:1–24

Salvation is not our due

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.(Romans 4:4, ESV)

We cannot work for or work up salvation, otherwise salvation is our due payment for work rendered. This is not God’s way.

Paul has spent time showing us that all men are consigned under sin and that the only solution is God’s own righteousness, shown and fulfilled in Christ.

Now Paul turns to the personal application of the gospel of God for every believer, he outlines the mechanism by which man is justified and makes the case that it is by faith alone.

So salvation is by faith in God’s grace, not by work to our merit.

Believe in God

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,(Romans 4:5, ESV)

One of the simple tenants of Christianity, we must not just have faith as a mystical quality and outlook but put actual faith in God, the one who justifies the ungodly.

Believing in God and in what God does, is counted as righteousness for the one who believes.

The father of all believers

He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,(Romans 4:11, ESV)

This shows that God’s master plan always included all nations (the uncircumcised), this is why He said that all nations would be blessed in Abraham.

The church cannot be disconnected from its Jewish roots because as believers, Abraham is the father and example to us all.

The figure of Abraham as the example of faith apart from the works of the law, should have served to improve unity between the Jewish and Gentile parts of the church.

We don’t do something to be justified and counted as righteous, instead we believe something which leads to works rather than works leading to belief.

Those who walk in the faith

and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.(Romans 4:12, ESV)

The distinction of those who are truly God’s people, has always been those who walk by faith in Him. So even amongst the Circumcised, the true children of Abraham were those who followed the faith of Abraham, which came before the outward expression of faith, which was circumcision.

We too are called to walk in faith like Abraham, as God’s people.

The promise depends on faith

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,(Romans 4:16, ESV)

The inheritance God promises those in the gospel of God, cannot be attained by the works of the law and has never been God’s model, as Paul has just argued.

The reality is that the promise is dependent on faith so that it can be attained by grace and not through the cold, mechanical working of the law.

It is clear that without faith we cannot be saved. Without faith the gospel is just a message and we are lost.

God. Creator and Regenerator

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.(Romans 4:17, ESV)

God gives life to the dead, this happens to us when we are saved, the Holy Spirit makes us alive.

God creates out of nothing and is the only being who can do this. This is the God we believe in.

Give glory to God

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,(Romans 4:20, ESV)

We will grow strong in our faith as we give glory to God. God is the object and end of our faith so naturally we should think, sing, speak and live to His glory. True faith cannot be disconnected from covenant and relationship with God.

God is able

fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.(Romans 4:21, ESV)

We must be fully convinced that God is able. This is our faith at work practically. Today trust that God is able.

Believe in God the Father

but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,(Romans 4:24, ESV)

We are counted as righteous if we believe in God the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 19:1–29

Rage against God

When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.(Proverbs 19:3, ESV)

This is why we so often hear, “why did God let this happen…” etc.

Love your soul

Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.(Proverbs 19:8, ESV)

If you really do love your eternal souls, you will live for God.

Forgive

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.(Proverbs 19:11, ESV)

This is where we can get glory as men, forgive!

The deep sleep of slothfulness

Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.(Proverbs 19:15, ESV)

Dear Lord, keep us from the deep sleep of slothfulness, we do not want to waste our lives.

Charity work unto God

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.(Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

One of our great motivations for charity work and social action.

Discipline in love

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.(Proverbs 19:18, ESV)

Discipline must be done in love, with the intention of instruction and building the child up, not to crush them.

God’s purpose stands

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.(Proverbs 19:21, ESV)

Open theism (the idea that the future is not set and God does not know the future, but instead responds to the actions of His creatures), is slain with this one verse.

God’s purposes stand because God is not partially God, He is fully God, the one who knows all, He is everywhere and is all powerful. The Sovereign God.

Live and rest

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.(Proverbs 19:23, ESV)

We will fear you Lord, because this leads to life and rest.

Don’t stray

Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.(Proverbs 19:27, ESV)

This is a verse for all who are not in fellowship and under instruction, accountability and covering.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 4

Today’s Reading: Jer 23:1–24:10, Rom 3:21–31, Prov 18:1–24

Today’s Theme: God’s Righteousness

God’s plan for our justification and righteousness is expounded powerfully today by Paul in Romans. Man’s righteousness would never do so God saved us by His own righteousness as a grace gift through faith in the Gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ the One who died in our place, meeting God’s righteous requirements and opening the door for us to receive God’s gracious impartation of righteousness… Hallelujah!!!

Don’t just get lost in the words today, praise the King of Heaven for all He has done.

Jeremiah 23:1–24:10

A woe for today

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1, ESV)

This woe is extended today to self centered prosperity preachers and to the dead theologians in the mainline churches who bicker about small points of theology at the expense of the flock.

Thank good for good Shepherds

I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:4, ESV)

Thank you so much for the pastors You have given us who care for us in Your name.

The mention of none being lost seems to point forward to that great shepherd of the sheep our Lord Jesus Christ who said of all the Father gave Him He had lost none and any who come to Him He will in no way cast out.

We can have assurance in our salvation and the joy of eternal security because Jesus is our shepherd.

Jesus the Branch of David

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ (Jeremiah 23:6, ESV)

This branch is the Messiah, here is evidence from the Old Testament that the Messiah will one day reign as king. This will be fulfilled at the second advent when Jesus returns to rule from Jerusalem.

Don’t be led astray

In the prophets of Samaria I saw an unsavory thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray. (Jeremiah 23:13, ESV)

Lord keep Your people from false and demonic prophets and fake “spiritual” people who seek to manipulate Your people through demonic lies to lead us astray. Give us the spiritual discernment needed to see through their deceptions.

Don’t give in to the flesh

But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from his evil; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.” (Jeremiah 23:14, ESV)

The capitulation to the flesh seen in liberal and “word of faith” theology and practise must be resisted.

Vain hope is pointless

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16, ESV)

Vain hope is pointless hope, the church is not here to make people feel better but to lead them to and build them up in Christ.

God’s council

But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. (Jeremiah 23:22, ESV)

Let’s pray that pastors will seek God for His council about what to say to the people in the long term (what to study or read together) and short term (what to say at a particular gathering or moment).

God is everywhere

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? (Jeremiah 23:23, ESV)

God is omnipresent, He is the only one who is everywhere at the same time. He is both transcendent and imminently close while remaining Holy and set apart.

God is not limited by time and the three dimensions of space as we know them. After all He created both time and space and in His infinite wisdom and great power. He is able to occupy dimensions of space and existence that would make our minds boggle in the same way a 3D cube would be beyond understanding to the people on a 2D world.

The Word is a hammer

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29, ESV)

The word is like a hammer and is like fire. It breaks the hard heart and purifies and sets alight for God the soul of man.

Grow in the faith yourself

Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another. (Jeremiah 23:30, ESV)

Plagiarism and just quoting other men is very prevalent today. We need to seek God in His word and prayer to hear from Him ourselves and not stand on the faith of others but have our own relationship with God. Lets personally and corporately grow in the faith ourselves.

Reckless lies

Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:32, ESV)

Lord keep us from falling for the reckless lies of false prophets who seem to get so much airtime in the media.

How God chooses to regard you

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. (Jeremiah 24:5, ESV)

The Lord determines this, He chooses how He will see His elect. They are His and He has redeemed them with a price, thank you Lord for choosing to see us as good figs.

6 I wills of God

I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:6-7, ESV)

Here we see a further 5 I wills of God (the first was in the previous verse where God said I will regard….), when God says He will, no one, not me, no man and no devil can stop Him… He is GOD.. He is the all powerful Sovereign Lord and King.

He declares he will..

• Set His Eyes on them for good
• Build them up
• Plant them
• Give them a heart to know Him
• Be their God

This shows the paternal heart of God for His children who are under His discipline. Lord give us a heart to know you too.

Romans 3:21–31

Righteousness through faith

the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: (Romans 3:22, ESV)

We are made righteous before God through putting our faith in Jesus, this applies to all humanity.

We now leave the teaching on man’s condition in sin to the brighter things of righteousness and how it is and always has been truly attained, which is through faith in God.

Although now the faith is quite specific, the faith is in the message given in the Gospel of God which is through Jesus only.

So let’s be clear, Paul is clearly saying that righteousness with God cannot be achieved but is received or imparted through faith.

All have sinned

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, ESV)

The common need of all men to be saved, religion and human understandings of righteousness can save no one because all have committed sin at some point. This is why it is a gift received through faith.

God’s grace is a gift

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:24, ESV)

God’s grace is neither an entitlement or right, it is a gift. This truth alone sets Christianity apart from all the other religions which have a works based righteousness system and gods who are bound to or limited by powers and so are unable to bestow the gift of righteousness.

God’s righteousness

whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:25, ESV)

This is the crux of Paul’s teaching to us on the Gospel and new covenant. It is not based on the righteousness that man in futility tries to achieve but the righteousness that God already has and graciously bestows.

God’s righteousness was revealed and satisfied in the person, work, death and resurrection of Christ which is the heart of the good news that Jesus became the atoning sacrifice for all who believe so that through the blood He shed they can receive by faith the righteousness God provides by passing over our sin.

Jesus was our atoning sacrifice to appease the righteous requirements of the law, upholding the righteousness of God and God’s gracious love simultaneously.

God, the just, justifier

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26, ESV)

God did not want to just waive away our sins as this would make Him unjust, Jesus on the cross was the solution.

God is a just, justifier of sin because someone did die for our sin making the way open for us to be forgiven and made righteous through faith in Him.

The only way this solution could possibly work was for Jesus to be the unique one and only God-Man.

One God, One Way

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:29–30, ESV)

We Gentiles and the Jews serve the same God and He seeks to justify us by faith in the Son of God or through faith in the Son of God. It is simple, we are made just as if we didn’t sin, justified, through faith in God’s one solution…. Jesus.

Live righteous lives

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:31, ESV)

Our faith if genuine, leads us to live lives in righteousness. We live according to the righteousness imputed to us by God, we live in honour of it and uphold God’s righteousness in our lives by His grace and Spirit.

Proverbs 18:1–24

Don’t be isolated

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. (Proverbs 18:1, ESV)

Self isolation is an un-natural and dangerous thing, the asceticism of the monks and nuns is wrong, its only saving grace is that they are in community with each other.

What is your opinion worth?

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (Proverbs 18:2, ESV)

Lord keep us from expressing our opinions which are not profitable and just the sound of our own voice.

Don’t let your mouth ruin you

A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. (Proverbs 18:7, ESV)

The mouth is a dangerous and powerful thing which will ruin our life if not governed by the Holy Spirit. Not in a mystical way but in a very practical way it can ruin relationships, careers etc.

Don’t be slack

Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys. (Proverbs 18:9, ESV)

Lord helps us to not be slack in our work.

Godly intelligence

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15, ESV)

Lord help us to have godly intelligence like this and not the devilish so called intelligence of the world.

Use words wisely

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. (Proverbs 18:21, ESV)

Our words have great potential for good and bad. Whatever we say we need to be prepared to deal with the result of what we say (it’s fruit). If we use words with wisdom we will enjoy the fruit of well said words.

Use words wisely in this world.

Quality friendship

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24, ESV)

Don’t have too many so called friends (companions), instead have friendships which are of a high quality, that are like family.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 3

Today’s Reading: Jer 21:1–22:30, Rom 3:1–20, Prov 17:1–28

Today’s Theme: God’s Good Law

Today’s reading is rich with practical and theological truth. It is hard to do justice to the richness of the writing of Paul in Romans in such a short format as these notes.

One of the most important themes we see today is the purpose of God’s good law which makes it clear to us that we are not good and therefore need the good news found in the Gospel of God who is faithful to His word and people.

Jeremiah 21:1–22:30

Fighting a losing battle

I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. (Jeremiah 21:5, ESV)

If God fights against you then you are finished, it is like an ant fighting a man, there is no contest. We need to learn to humble ourselves before God not just because of His great power but because of His person.

Surrender and live

He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. (Jeremiah 21:9, ESV)

To stubbornly take our stand has no virtue, sometimes we need to surrender and live. That was literally the case for the people of Judah. God gave them good advice through the prophet to preserve the lives of those who would humble themselves and listen.

There may be a situation in your life today where God wants you to surrender. Maybe you need to surrender your right to retaliate in a disagreement with someone for example.

Justice in the city

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. (Jeremiah 22:3, ESV)

God wants to see justice in the city. The church has a big role to play in establishing God’s kingdom in the earth and seeing justice, mercy and truth reign in every place.

We should pray for and practically seek to establish justice in the city we live in and the world in the name of Jesus, to the glory of God for the joy and flourishing of all peoples.

A worker should be paid fairly

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages, (Jeremiah 22:13, ESV)

It is evil to have a man work for you with no remuneration (payment).

It is also wicked that the third world is exploited in the production of goods for the first world.

We should seek to raise awareness and shop in a way that reflects our beliefs that the trading practices which see a worker on only pennies a day is wrong and not in keeping with Christian values.

What are your eyes for?

But you have eyes and heart only for your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.” (Jeremiah 22:17, ESV)

Lord help us to have eyes and hearts for You, in this context eyes means desire or longing for.

Romans 3:1–20

Replacement theology debunked

Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2, ESV)

Replacement theology (the idea that God is finished with the national / physical people Israel, having replaced them with the church) is shown to be an unbiblical teaching here.

Paul has spent the last two chapters consigning all mankind under sin and has shown that both those under the law as Jews and not under the law as Gentiles have the same problem which is the bondage of sin.

If Paul’s theology were over simplified at this point then there would no longer be any distinction and the Jews as an entity would cease to exist, however this is not the case.

Paul asks the question what advantage is there in being a Jew and in having the Jewish people and he answers that there are indeed advantages and distinctions?

Paul’s outline which he will expound upon further in Chapters 9-11 explain that for God to prove Himself faithful to the Jews as a people matters a great deal.

We are given two simple examples to that end here. On the one hand, without the Jews there would be no Old Testament to be fulfilled and on the other they were the ones entrusted with the scriptures upon which we now stand and depend.

So God has not discarded His people Israel. There are promises He has made which are yet to come to pass including Jesus ruling from David’s throne in Jerusalem (not in Rome, London or Washington).

God is faithful

What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” (Romans 3:3–4, ESV)

Just because many Jews are unfaithful to God, this does not change God’s faithfulness. God will uphold the covenant and will fulfil every promise and decree.

Many are fulfilled in Jesus but there are some which Jesus is yet to fulfil in context to the actual (not inward or spiritual) Jewish people.

We take comfort from this as disciples of Jesus Christ, if God’s promises, favour and relationship to us was based on our faithfulness we would be without hope, but even when we are unfaithful like many Jews, God remains faithful to us as His people of the New Covenant. Just as He is still faithful to the Jews as His people of the Old and New Covenant.

Us not believing God does not change God but we will suffer for our lack of faith. The proper response to God’s promises and person is to place our trust in Him and remain faithful (theologically and relationally) to Him.

With this in mind let’s pray for the Jews today, because God has not changed, let’s pray that their eyes are opened to be faithful to their own scriptures and will see Yeshua (Jesus) as their promised Messiah and evidence of God’s faithfulness and commitment to fulfil His word.

We all need Jesus

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, (Romans 3:9, ESV)

The lie of the enemy to make either Gentiles or Jews feel or seem superior is dismantled here. We are all sinners in need of a saviour.

This is something Paul was dealing with in Rome, where Jews had been expelled from Rome the Gentiles began to dominate and disconnect themselves from their Jewish roots and even see themselves as replacing the Jews. On the other hand there had always been Jews who saw themselves as superior and would seek to force others to be circumcised and keep the laws of Moses.

Both of these extremes are of course wrong. Paul holds to the same truth he has been expounding on which is that both Jew and Gentile are bound under sin and so are in need of the Gospel of God which is the power of God to bring salvation through Jesus by the Holy Spirit.

Total depravity

as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; (Romans 3:10, ESV)

This and the following statements make clear that all have sinned.

The Reformers were right in affirming from this letter to the Romans that all mankind is totally depraved in our nature.

We denounce the ancient Pelagian heresy which says man can be righteous or without sin. We also denounce modern day heresy which says there is no sin. We affirm with Paul and the scriptures that every man that has ever lived is not righteous in themselves and have all committed sin except Jesus the Christ.

We also affirm that man’s righteousness is like filthy rags in comparison to the righteousness that God demands.

We finally affirm that true right standing with God is only available through Jesus Christ which is in agreement with the sound teaching of the Bible and the Gospel of God.

It is important to remember that this canvas of the universality, totality and helplessness of man’s condition in sin must be well stated for the Gospel to be needed, make sense and retain its context and power to save.

We are not good

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:12, ESV)

No one is good!

Our human centered way of thinking has us believing the lie that man is essentially good when the reality is that man is essentially bad.

This is again why the Way of the Master really have grasped this truth of scripture so well. In their method of evangelism they encourage us to ask a person if they think they are a good person and when they answer yes we help them to see that they are not by reviewing a short number of basic commands.

You can do this as you share the truth today, help people to break the lie of the enemy and see that they are not good and need to be transformed by the power of God found in the good news of the victorious and glorious Gospel of God.

God is good and He seeks to save us bad people, remaking us in His good image, making us conform to the perfect and good example, Jesus Christ.

The purpose of the law

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. (Romans 3:19, ESV)

God’s law shuts the proud mouth helping them realise they are not good and need God’s grace.

God’s law holds the whole world accountable before God.

Some say talking about God’s law makes us legalist but that is not true because then Paul would be a legalist as well.

We speak about the law to bring context to our need for not only salvation but supernatural transformation by the regenerative power of the Holy Spirit who makes us alive in Christ as new creatures.

As new creatures with new natures and motivations we live by faith in the Son of God and through our love for God and for His glory keep the moral law. It literally becomes our nature as new creations and is the natural outworking of a genuine and loving relationship with God.

So the point is the law has a purpose in defining the need for the Gospel and must not be absent from our Gospel presentations.

The law CANNOT justify us

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20, ESV)

The law was not designed for justification before God but to highlight and give knowledge of what sin is before God so we would see our need for God.

We can’t be justified by it because it was not designed or purposed to that end. It serves as a large signpost on the road to our destination. Our destination is God.

The end of the Gospel is to have God as our greatest treasure and to enjoy Him forever. God is the Gospel because it is He who has come to save us, transform us, forgive us and keep us forever.

Use the signpost of the law to point others to the Gospel of God and ultimately to God Himself.

Proverbs 17:1–28

The crucible purifies

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. (Proverbs 17:3, ESV)

The analogy with the crucible and furnace shows that when the Lord tests our hearts it is a purifying process.

Cover offence

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. (Proverbs 17:9, ESV)

Lord help us to be those who cover offence to seek love and so we do not separate close friends.

Take rebuke deeply

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. (Proverbs 17:10, ESV)

Learn to take rebuke deeply, to the roots to grow and learn by it.

Quit the argument early

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14, ESV)

Lord help us to quit early before the quarrel breaks out and causes a mess.

True friends

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17, ESV)

Lord help us to be true friends and brothers.

The medicine of joy

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22, ESV)

Lord help us to have the medicine of joy in our heart.

Be cool

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. (Proverbs 17:27, ESV)

Lord help us to have a cool spirit, not to be hot tempered people who fly off the handle.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 3

Today’s Reading: Jer 18:1–20:18, Rom 2:12–29, Prov 16:12–33

Today’s Theme: The Conscience

Today we read about the natural law of the conscience which God has given to all men, which means we are without excuse and so are in need of the Gospel.

We also see God as the great potter who reworks us into a vessel for His use, the one who transforms our hearts making us His true people by faith.

Jeremiah 18:1–20:18

Reworked vessels

And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. (Jeremiah 18:4, ESV)

Let’s be clear, this refers to the nation of Israel at a specific time in history, however we can find application for our own lives because like Israel each of us is a vessel in God’s hands and are even a corporate vessel as the church in His hands for His use.

We are clay in God’s hands, He moulds us as He wills. We should not become hard and brittle but supple in the Master’s hands so He can rework us into the vessel He wills us to be (not the one we will us to be).

Hope for our nation

and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. (Jeremiah 18:8, ESV)

So there is still hope for our nation too, please go to the prayer fuel area today and pray today’s prayer over our nation posted by Pastor Dennis at this time in 2014 https://www.wwmf.org/2014/12/09/prayer-fuel/daily-prayer-for-our-nation/

God desires your repentance

Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the Lord, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’ (Jeremiah 18:11, ESV)

God in His love and tender care is calling the men of Judah to repentance. At the same time He openly lets them know that He is planning disaster for them in judgment upon their sin if they do not repent.

God’s desire has not changed, He desires that all men everywhere would repent.

The blood of the innocents

Because the people have forsaken me and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of innocents, (Jeremiah 19:4, ESV)

The wickedness of Israel had become so great that slaying their own children had become common place. We look at this in horror but then must remember the genocide our western society is guilty of today through the abortion of unborn children. We realise that we too have the blood of the innocents on our own hands.

Don’t be stiff necked

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I am bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their neck, refusing to hear my words.” (Jeremiah 19:15, ESV)

Today if we hear His voice we should repent. The worst thing we can do is to become stubborn in our sin and against God. Don’t become rigid or stubborn, be humble and pliable in God’s hand.

Fire in my bones

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9, ESV)

When the Lord gives His servants an urgent word they just have to get it out. The fire speaks of passion, zeal and urgency. This is the spirit we should hold the word in so when it is released it is done with power in the Spirit.

Lord let that fire be shut up in our bones as it were like Jeremiah for your word today.

Romans 2:12–29

Hearing alone is useless

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Romans 2:13, ESV)

Paul makes the point that man is rightly judged on performance not hearing. Therefore those who seek justification by the law must keep the whole law which has been impossible for all human beings except Jesus.

So Paul takes away the false security in religion and moralism to leave the canvas blank for the presentation to both Jew and Gentile of the Gospel of God which is the only means of salvation.

The Conscience

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them (Romans 2:15, ESV)

God has given all men a conscience to know right from wrong so all men are without excuse.

Here are a few definitions from Greek dictionaries (BDAG and Mounce) on the word used for conscience which is syneidēsis.

• Awareness of information about something, consciousness
• The inward faculty of distinguishing right and wrong, moral consciousness, conscience
• Attentiveness to obligation, conscientiousness
• Conscience, as an inward moral impression of one’s actions and principles
• The inward faculty of moral judgment
• The inward moral and spiritual frame

Even those who have never heard the law, Bible or Gospel are without excuse because the conscience gives all men moral judgement against the law written on their own hearts.

The moral structure inside the human being is universal, all men know murder, lying and stealing are wrong because we have a moral creator who made us as moral creatures having an innate sense of right and wrong.

This is why appealing to the conscience can be useful in evangelism as demonstrated by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron in the Way of the Master.

Live your talk

For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:24, ESV)

We can cause people to speak evil of the Lord when we do not live right. This is why we must teach, judge and preach to ourselves before we open our mouths to share with others.

Inward Jews

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29, ESV)

Paul’s point here is that circumcision is not the way to salvation. Outward works are worthless if they are not a reflection of an inward reality.

This is not new, God has always called His people in Israel to have circumcised hearts pointing to the true meaning of circumcision.

A Jew is identified as one of God’s covenant people. We are truly God’s covenant people by our hearts and relationship to God not by birth.

God praises the true Jews, the inward Jews who like all the faithful of Israel believe in God and have a relationship with Him and not with dead religion.

Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus form a new humanity. A true Israel of God made of only those who are inwardly Jews in the sense that their hearts are circumcised.

God is the one who brings transformation to our hearts and makes us truly Jewish (this is one reason Christianity should not be severed from its Jewish roots) and in that sense God’s own people here in the earth.

Proverbs 16:12–33

Get wisdom and understanding

How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. (Proverbs 16:16, ESV)

Wisdom and understanding are the most precious things in the world. Lord we ask you afresh this day that You would help us attain both, that You would graciously bestow these on us in Jesus’ name.

Guard against pride

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18, ESV)

Lord please help us to guard against this in all areas.

Give thought to the word

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord. (Proverbs 16:20, ESV)

We should meditate on and study the word.

What are you hungry for

A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on. (Proverbs 16:26, ESV)

Hunger will drive us to work hard. What are we hungry for, if we hunger for righteousness we will be filled?

Rule your spirit

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32, ESV)

This is the true test of a great man.

God controls dice

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33, ESV)

There is no such thing as chance, God even controls apparently random acts like dice throwing.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on Romans 2

Today’s Reading: Jer 16:1–17:27, Rom 1:18–2:11, Prov 16:1–11

Today’s Theme: The Wrath of God

Today’s theme is the wrath of God toward every sinner regardless of their nationality or background. Here Paul lays the canvas on which the beautiful picture of redemption is skilfully painted.

Without the reality of God’s personal and active wrath and judgement then the cross and Gospel lose their context.

Sub themes include man’s depravity in sin and the rewards earned through fruitfulness or judgement through unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 16:1–17:27

Don’t follow your evil will

and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me. (Jeremiah 16:12, ESV)

The modern and western exaltation of the will is a very dangerous thing… it seems we all have rights to choice and will except God.

Don’t follow your own stubborn, evil will, instead listen to God.

Who will you follow?

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:5, ESV)

The first two (trusting in man and human strength) result in the third (heart turns from the Lord). Who will you trust today, whoever you trust, your heart will follow.

Well placed and watered

He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:8, ESV)

Yes Lord we want to be like this well watered, well placed tree, always bearing fruit without anxiety.

This is the state of those who really do have a healthy, biblical relationship with The Lord. The evidence is in the fruit.

Total depravity

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV)

This is every mans problem, total depravity. This is not just true of some men or those who commit a particular sin, it is true of all Adam’s children who have inherited sin and are evil by nature (the teaching of Original Sin).

We will read more about man’s depraved state in sin in our New Testament reading today.

Paid according to fruit

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV)

With this being true, Lord we need Your help, mercy and grace.

God will pay every man that has ever lived, if the payment has not been made for an individual in Christ then God will pay with his wrath.

Again we are called to be fruitful as this will determine our reward.

God actually saves

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. (Jeremiah 17:14, ESV)

God actually saves, not potentially saves. If God saves you then you are saved and can rest in that calm assurance that those He saves, He keeps.

Romans 1:18–2:11

God is angry

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18, ESV)

The truth of God’s active, personal, revealed wrath (anger) and judgement against all mankind’s sin is a teaching that has fallen on hard times.

Many attempt to teach today that God is not angry. This is not true. Paul begins his argument by consigning all men under the present and future wrath and resulting judgement of God.

This is connected to verse 17 from yesterday’s reading where we read the righteousness of God is revealed. It stands in contrast to the anger of God revealed against those who stand opposed to his righteousness which can only be received by faith through the power of the Gospel message.

God’s wrath is against all sin not just select ones and it is not against sin as some abstraction from the sinner He is angry with the sinners themselves who by their sin supress the truth.

Preaching about the reality of God’s wrath is essential to the presentation of the Gospel. It is the canvas on which the beautiful picture of grace and reconciliation is painted.

God’s anger is an important part of who God is, we do not need to sanitize God, He is who He is and He is righteously angry with the self destructive treason of man.

No excuse

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:20, ESV)

Paul now makes the case that man in his sin is suppressing the very basic truth all men know, that God is God, Creator and King worthy of worship and honour.

Creation is a testimony to all men even atheists who are all liars, lying to themselves that there is no God when the creation is clear evidence of the creator.

This is often called general revelation, the truth that creation testifies to the reality of God to every creature and even the fact that we are moral creatures points to God.

All mankind are without excuse. Our sin is the wilful suppression of the truth about God.

Foolish, dark hearts

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21, ESV)

Paul continues to build his argument to show just how depraved man is in sin. He asserts that although all mankind knows who God is through creation, all (not just some men or sinners but all men) do not honour or thank God.

This wilful rebellion and thanklessness leads to God giving all men over to a futile, foolish dark heart.

Mankind is totally depraved in his thinking because he does not honour the Creator and so have become fools even asserting that there is no God.

God gave all men up

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, (Romans 1:24, ESV)

We all need to recognise what a desperate condition we were in as children of wrath, we were all given up to a reprobate, lust driven mind.

We may try to sanctify our own past in sin as being respectable “natural” sins as opposed to the spectacular, gross “unnatural” sins but this is a false economy.

All sin at it’s core is the same, it is open rebellion against the King of Heaven, it is an honouring of the creation instead of the Creator.

God in His wrath gives men over to their sin which is in a sense the present judgement for their sins because sin by its corrosive nature will rot and destroy the life it holds.

Don’t worship creation

because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:25, ESV)

Naturalism, Evolution, New Age even some Environmentalism is all guilty of this as well as the core nature of sin which is self and creation worship.

Homosexuality defined

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (Romans 1:26-27, ESV)

The Bible is bold in talking about homosexuality, it is called unnatural so it can never be redeemed as a way of life or being.

Homosexuality is described as a shameless act which receives a due penalty because of the wrath of God and the breaking of natural law. We see this today in sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS which used to be called GRIDS (Gay Related Immune Deficiency).

There is no confusion in the Bible, homosexuality in men and women is a sin that must be repented of if someone claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

One of the problems with sin worshiping the creation is that creation was not made to handle worship and so the undue honour distorts the creation resulting in the most deplorable and unnatural deviations from God’s plan and created order.

A debased mind

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (Romans 1:28, ESV)

Not an unredeemable but a worthless mind in sin. If we are willing to be honest all our minds were debased and reprobate in sin when we consider what we should be before God.

The death penalty

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Romans 1:32, ESV)

The wages of sin is death as decreed in Eden, the reason men die is the penalty of sin not old age, sickness or happenstance. All sinners (not just the worst) actually deserve to die for their sin.

Don’t be a hypocritical judge

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (Romans 2:1, ESV)

All mankind have no excuse! When we start to judge one sin over against others and in light of our own sin we are being hypocrites hiding our sin behind the condemnation of others.

The proper response is to judge our own sin first and seek God’s grace and from that place judge all sin against the word of God…now without hypocrisy.

Kindness should lead to repentance

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4, ESV)

What do we do with God’s grace, goodness, kindness and mercy to us. Is it a licence to live in any way we like… Of course not… The goodness and grace of God should lead us to initial repentance from sin and perpetual repentance in our daily walk with Him.

Do not be presumptuous, God will not be fooled or used.

Stored up wrath

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5, ESV)

This is a word to all those who knowing the truth harden their hearts and refuse to repent.

It is also a word to those who seek to abuse God’s grace and will not repent.

In both cases God’s very real wrath is being stored up and not general but personal and specific judgement will be meet out on the day of judgement.

Jesus took the judgment and wrath due to us on Himself on the cross.

Judged by works

He will render to each one according to his works: (Romans 2:6, ESV)

We may not be saved by works but we are judged by them so be fruitful.

The reward of Eternal Life

to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; (Romans 2:7, ESV)

We must endure in doing well, the reward/gift is eternal life.

A level playing field

For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2:11, ESV)

We are one in Christ, now we are all judged on our works this is why we need Jesus to be saved and then to be fruitful.

Proverbs 16:1–11

Avoid self deception

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. (Proverbs 16:2, ESV)

Dear Lord, please keep us from thinking our ways are pure or right, help us to know our own spirit and be genuine so when You weigh each of our spirits we are not found wanting.

Commit your ways to the Lord

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)

As I read through my notes on this today I read a prayer I wrote this time last year committing every area and plan of my life to the Lord, the prayer included family, ministry and my career. I would encourage you to do the same today.

Sovereign over the wicked

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. (Proverbs 16:4, ESV)

God is sovereign even over the wicked.

Punishment will come

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5, ESV)

Arrogance will be punished by the wrath of God so humble yourself today.

Fear God and repent

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. (Proverbs 16:6, ESV)

There can be no repentance without the fear of the Lord.

Seek to make peace

When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Proverbs 16:7, ESV)

He makes his enemies be at peace with him, they are not at peace with him by default of his ways pleasing the Lord but a man whose ways please the Lord will seek to make his enemies at peace with him.

Make a plan

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)

At least make a plan and the Lord will lead.

Glorify God in business

A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work. (Proverbs 16:11, ESV)

Good and fair business brings glory to God.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Romans 1