Day 204: Romans 8:9-25

“...all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” - Romans‬ ‭8: 22-23‬

We all identify with the word groan that is found in these verses. It is the Greek word stenazō, and it can also be translated as to sigh, complain, or moan. Nida and Louw, in their Greek Lexicon, explain that the word expresses “to groan or sigh as the result of deep concern or stress.”

Are you feeling that concern or stress as you take a look at our world today? You are not alone. Christians for nearly 2000 years have also been sighing over the state of our world and longing for renewal.

We have the Holy Spirit now, but we will one day experience our “full rights.”

In light of the context of Romans 8, maybe you're groaning today because you're not where you want to be personally. Keep in mind that you are a child of God, adopted into his family. We aren't to groan because we've lost hope. We are to "sigh, complain, or moan" because we know that what is to come (heaven) is better than anything we can experience here.

When Jesus returns, he will make all things right. Check out the following verse for another reminder:  "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3: 2 NIV

Day 203: Romans 7:14-25, 8:1-8

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” - Romans 8:5-6 ESV

When we became Christians, many of us assumed our battles with sin would immediately subside. I mean, now that Jesus has cleansed the depths of who we are from all sin and shame, shouldn't we be completely free from its power? This is such a complicated topic, and in our reading today Paul decides to throw himself in there as an example. Such a bold move.

The point he seems to be driving home repeatedly is that our identity and our status with God remain secure as we continue to trust in Jesus for salvation.

But we do have this thing called "the flesh." The temptations and the cravings for that which is terrible for us continue. So, we have a decision to make. Will we choose to set our minds on the flesh or the things of the Spirit? By simply reading this devotional today, you've made an act of defiance against your flesh. You are choosing to flood your mind with truth from the hand of God.

It may not always feel victorious as we battle day-to-day against our desires, but may we continue to allow God to match our lives to the inward change that has already taken place.

Our preference is set: Spirit led.

"...to be determined by the Spirit is to have one’s gaze focused upon that which cannot be seen, upon that invisible Other who alone gives meaning and authority to existence." - Barrett, C. K. (1991). The Epistle to the Romans (Rev. ed., p. 148)

Day 202: Romans 7:1-13

“I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.” - Romans 7:9-11

The Bible is very clear about us being fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139). So much care went into God forming us to be who we are. Though we were born into this wicked world, we were not born wicked. We do, because of the sin of Adam (go back and read Romans 5:12-19), have an inclination to evil, and this is when our flesh starts to war against us (come back for tomorrow's reading!).

There is a moment in everyone's life (the age varies) when we learn what is right and what is wrong. God's standards activate our consciences. Even if we know nothing about God, we know that what we've done is wrong. Guilt, shame, and their effects start to set in; and when the guilt and shame are ignored, we die spiritually. This is what sin does to us. It kills us by using God’s standards (law) against us.

Jack Cottrell says it so well:  "But Paul makes one thing very clear: the real culprit is sin, not the law. Sin is personified as a formidable and powerful enemy who attacks us and kills us. The law is only the instrument used by sin to accomplish this awful deed. Thus sin, not the law, is the true source of death." - Cottrell, J. (1996). Romans (Vol. 1, Ro 7:11)

I remember this happening when I was ten years old. I knew I had done wrong in God's eyes. It was heavy on my young heart. I was convinced I needed to be saved. I was ready to accept Jesus' free gift of salvation and to be reborn into His family (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Is this heavy upon you or someone close to you right now? 

We may do well to go back into Acts and re-read what Ananias told Paul (also remember our reading from yesterday):  "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." - Acts 22:16

Only Jesus can set right what our sin made wrong.

Day 201: Romans 6:1-23

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” - Romans‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What kind of death do you want to die?

What kind of life do you want to live?

This chapter in Romans answers so many questions that we ask as we start to live this Christian life. The main one is: “How many sins can I commit and still be good to go for eternal life?”

Much of this confusion comes from a lack of knowledge about what is actually happening to us at our baptisms. When we are baptized, we aren’t performing an ancient rite of passage for believers. We are dying. We are resurrecting. We are joining in the act of Jesus during the first century when He was killed, buried, and raised.

Enslaved to sin?

That’s who we used to be. That person is dead and gone. We're new. We're set free. We don’t have to live a life according to our weaknesses or lusts. Jesus has given us a new life.

Our flesh still wants it, though. This is why it is so crucial for us to remember the day we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, to remember the day we were buried and raised out of the waters of baptism. We are bound to forget. Jesus won’t let you forget as you stay focused on Him. We won’t let you forget either, as your Christian family.

This is not only our current status, but it will be our eternal experience as well.

"So he says, 'We were buried into his—i.e., Christ’s—death; that is, by the power of the Holy Spirit we were made to delve down deeply into the meaning of that marvelous death. In fact, so deeply did we, with heart and mind, bury ourselves into it that we began to see its glorious meaning for our lives. Therefore we reject and loathe the terrible wicked slogan, Let us continue to live in sin in order that grace may increase.'" - Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001) Romans (Vols. 12–13, p. 196)

Day 200: Romans 5:6-21

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.” - Romans‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isn't it annoying when someone is consistently late? If this happens over and over, our trust in that person drops significantly. Is this how you sometimes feel about God? Perhaps He hasn't come through when you wanted Him to. Our reading for today is yet another reminder that His timing isn't flawed; He's seeing the entire picture.

Timing has always been something that has baffled humans from the very beginning. In our pride, we would like to think we have complete control over time—a little allocating here and a little manipulating there. Yet the overarching timeline is square in the control of our Almighty God.

As Daniel said in 2:21 of his Old Testament book, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.”

Jesus’ coming wasn’t early, and it wasn’t late. It was right on time — and funny enough, Jesus’ birth is how we even measure time today.

It was no mistake that Jesus was born and died during Roman rule. The Pax Romana (27 BC to AD 187) gave Jews the freedom to worship and maintain their culture. Roman roads were conducive to travel. Time was given for Jewish prophecy to pile up about Jesus’ coming.

God’s perfect timing also has you in His hand today, in this time, to experience the love of Jesus.

"At the right time. That is, at the time of greatest need, when nothing but his death would help." - Bruce, F. F. (1985). Romans (Vol. 6, p. 127)

Day 199: Romans 4:13-25, 5:1-5

“...we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” - Romans‬ ‭5:3-5‬ ‭NASB‬‬

The progression Paul lays out as we tip-toe into Romans 5 immediately reveals that we're going to need to read this, again and again, to even begin wrapping our hearts and minds around it. This should be a go-to spot for us when we're confused by the difficult circumstances we have to face in this life.

Why does God allow us to face “problems and trials”? Does He take great delight in seeing us struggle and suffer through them? It can seem confusing when we match it up with the world’s definition of love.

Yet when we realize that we are living in a broken and fallen world, even as one of its participants, we know we need this process that leads to hope.

True love enables us to grow, to develop into someone who sees further, embracing hope. And hope gives us more and more reason to look toward tomorrow with anticipation of what God will do in and through us despite the difficulty.

H.C.G. Moule drives home this thought by writing, "For now the Apostle takes up that word, 'the Love of God' and holds it to our sight, and we see in its pure glory no vague abstraction, but the face, and the work, of Jesus Christ." - Moule, H. (1975). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 134)

Day 198: Romans 4:1-12

“…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

In our reading for today, Paul lays out a masterful argument for Abraham having been justified (to pronounce and treat as righteous) before he was circumcised. This would have blown the minds of the Jews reading this from Rome. How could Abraham have enjoyed this pronouncement before he had the physical sign of circumcision?

What we can see is far different from what God can see. Abraham had two significant trust moments before his circumcision at age 99:

1. He left his home to follow God’s call to a destination he didn’t know. He went from rooted to nomadic (Genesis 12:1-4).

2. When God told him about him and Sarah having a baby, he trusted God (Genesis 15:4-6), even though he and Sarah had a relapse soon after (Genesis 16:1-4).

In both instances, statistics would have told Abraham that the odds were not in his favor. Yet he believed.

Is this how much we trust Jesus?

May we ask God today to increase our trust/faith in Him (Mark 9:24).

"God is the Father of all who place their trust in him regardless of their racial or religious background. To possess the revelation of God is of no ultimate importance apart from the walk of faith. Conduct demonstrates the reality of faith."- Mounce, R. H. (1995). Romans (Vol. 27, p. 126)

Day 197: Romans 3:9-31

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 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 3:23-25 ESV

When we speak of the Law of Moses or the Prophets, we cover much of the Hebrew Bible (OT), but Paul also used the word law to describe God's standard of holiness. As we start to really study the Bible, we realize that our lives aren't what they should be. This is why we need God's word so much; it reveals our sin. Not only does it expose our sin, but it also provides the solution for overcoming all weaknesses.

Throwing finances, time, and energy at any problem can usually resolve any issue we may have.

This isn't true when it comes to the sin that has attached itself to our souls. The blood of Jesus Christ alone can clean unrighteousness, and this forgiveness can only be activated when we place our faith/trust in His sacrifice and resurrection.

So many people thrive on exposing wrong. We love talking about it and discussing its origins.

Jesus can not only identify our sin; he can also drive it out permanently.

"But in this way of righteousness apart from the law, the procedure is reversed: God pronounces believers righteous at the beginning of their course, not at the end of it. If he pronounces them righteous at the beginning of their course, it cannot be on the basis of works which they have not yet done." - Bruce, F. F. (1985). Romans (Vol. 6, p. 108)

Day 196: Romans 2:25-29, 3:1-8

“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 the Jews blew it doesn't mean that God has blown it or is somehow haphazardly fumbling with the destiny of humanity. God had snagged Abraham for the sole purpose of bringing the nations to Himself (see Genesis 12:3). This plan, even though many in Israel tried, was not derailed. God saw it through all the way to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, as they helped bring the Lord Jesus into the world.

"God is always reliable, faithful and true to his word. He always keeps his promises, both for blessing and condemnation. Because of His very nature He cannot lie (Titus 1:2)."  - Cottrell, J. (1996). Romans (Vol. 1, Ro 3:4)

Hypocrisy among Christians is noted as one of the main reasons many want nothing to do with Christianity.

Perhaps they are looking in the wrong place. We are the cracked mirrors, many times poorly reflecting God's glory. The good news is that it only takes a sliver of God's majesty to show someone just how amazing He is, worthy of our worship.

We lie.

God doesn't.

This means that the more we become like Jesus (sanctification), the more we will align with the truth. And we already know that it's the truth that sets us free (see John 8:32).

Day 195: Romans 2:1-24

“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 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” - Romans 2:15-16 ESV

There was no shortage of sin taking place in Rome during the first century. Even a quick look at the death penalty shows us that they buried the convicted alive, impaled them, or used crucifixion. When it came to sexuality, things were even worse. Pedophilia was often practiced, along with the frequent abuse of women.

It would be easy to sit in judgment over their behavior as a Jew would compare and contrast their lives. In the spirit of Jesus (see Matthew 5:21-48), Paul is showing them their own guilt. Romans 2 communicates that just because someone is among the nations (a Gentile) doesn't mean that some weren't genuinely seeking after the one true God.

It can be so easy to generalize and dismiss people as hopeless. That is until we take a long hard look at our own lives and remember all the crimes Jesus has absolved for us. God's kindness, through Jesus Christ, allowed us into His family, not our good behavior.

This should give us a great amount of patience with those we're trying to reach with the Good News about Jesus.

"Until one has submitted to the saving work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and has allowed the truth of biblical revelation to reinform his original moral database, the conscience will at times, perhaps most of the time, yield false results. 'Always let your conscience be your guide' is bad theology. Actually, the conscience itself needs a guide or standard, and the only sure guide for sinners is the objective Word of God, the Bible." - Cottrell, J. (1996). Romans (Vol. 1, Ro:15)