09/01 Romans 3: 1-2
Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the Jewish ceremony of circumcision? Yes, being a Jew has many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
ADVANTAGE
They had the Law and they didn’t change. You can change because you have Jesus. He lives in you and brings you life and light for living.
09/02 Romans 3: 3-4
True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they broke their promises, does that mean God will break his promises? Of course not! Though everyone else in the world is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say, “He will be proved right in what he says, and he will win his case in court.”
TRUE
God is always truthful. His Word is right and just. He will never break His promises. He has promised eternal life to you and me. This is a true statement, one we can count on and trust. Jesus is alive and a light for us to follow.
09/03 Romans 3: 5-6
“But,” some say, “our sins serve a good purpose, for people will see God’s goodness when he declares us sinners to be innocent. Isn’t it unfair, then, for God to punish us?” (That is actually the way some people talk.) Of course not! If God is not just, how is he qualified to judge the world?
FOOLISH
People are foolish. They always think that God would think like they do. Our thinking is so very shallow and so limited by our lack of knowledge. The future is as clear to God as the past. He knows all things and out of His perfect knowledge He is able to deal with us appropriately. We can trust the Lord.
09/04 Romans 3: 7-8
“But,” some might still argue, “how can God judge and condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” If you follow that kind of thinking, however, you might as well say that the more we sin the better it is! Those who say such things deserve to be condemned, yet some slander me by saying this is what I preach!
TRUTH
Our unbelief does not stymie the Lord. All He does is right. His wisdom is beyond anything we can think. Our sin only besmirches our life. Every person is individually responsible for their life to God.
09/05 Romans 3: 9
Well then, are we Jews better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.
SIN
Sin is more powerful than people ever realize. It is able to destroy us eternally. Only Jesus can overcome our sin. Only Christ can forgive us of our sin and renew a right relationship between us and God. Jesus is Lord of all.
09/06 Romans 3: 10-12
As the Scriptures say, “No one is good – not even one. No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God. All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.”
LIFE
People are dead in their trespasses and sin. They cannot overcome the power of sin. They are enslaved to sin and it is their master. But, Jesus breaks the power of sin. We must turn to Him and give our life to Him. In surrender He gives us power over that which enslaves us, our sin.
09/07 Romans 3: 13-18
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their speech is filled with lies.” “The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “They are quick to commit murder. Wherever they go, destruction and misery follow them. They do not know what true peace is.” “They have no fear of God to restrain them.”
EVIL
Evil is always at work. It seeks to disguise itself. It would have us think that it is gone. It always rears its ugly persona when people least expect. Evil is always evil. It cannot be bartered with. Its price is always ones soul. Only Jesus can deal with evil. Only Jesus can save us from our sin.
09/08 Romans 3: 19
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God.
LAW
The Law is right and just. It is complete and exact. We cannot live up to the Law because it is harsh and complete. Only when we bend the knee to Jesus do we have any way of dealing with the Law. Jesus is our Savior and Lord.
09/09 Romans 3: 20
For no one can ever be made right in God’s sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God’s law, the clearer it becomes that we aren’t obeying it.
DISOBEDIENCE
Disobedience is mankind’s stock in trade. Everyone is disobedient. We are constantly breaking God’s Law. We cannot live up to it. We cannot save ourselves. Only Jesus can save us. Only the Lord Jesus can give us what we need and cannot earn-His precious gift of salvation.
09/10 Romans 3: 21
But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago.
GRACE
God’s way has always been the same. Our relationship is based upon His grace and mercy. The Lord Jesus, our anointed Savior has always been and always will be Lord. In Christ we live and move and breathe. He is Lord and He will be Lord of our life if we ask Him.
09/11 Romans 3: 22
We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
GIFT
Our salvation is a gift from God. We can accept that gift but we cannot earn it. When we accept His grace gift of family membership we also receive the power to live a Godly life. A Godly life is a life that is in change. We change from the way we feel or the way we want to the way God calls us to be. God in Christ calls us to be in opposition to the world. This world is not our home.
09/12 Romans 3: 23
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
GIFT
The free gift of salvation isn’t a cheap gift. It cost Jesus His life. Sin is real and it is an evil taskmaster. We are alive in Christ and no longer dead in our trespasses and sin. In Christ we have fellowship with the Father and are no longer unable to do anything about the sin that enslaves us. Because of Christ we have power to lead a Godly life.
09/13 Romans 3: 24
Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Our righteousness is based upon the work the Jesus did on the cross. He is Lord and He provides for me right standing with God by His free gift of forgiveness. His declaration is a gift. It is a gift that covers yesterday, today and tomorrow.
09/14 Romans 3: 25
For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.
BELIEF
Our belief is a key element in our relationship with the Lord. If we believe He is faithful and righteous to save us. Do you believe in Jesus? Look at the way you live and how you act. Are you different now than you were before you asked Jesus into your heart? The difference begins in your heart. Yes I believe. Then it changes the way we think and the things we do.
09/15 Romans 3: 26
And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.
OPTION
Everyone has the option to accept or refuse Jesus. The Lord enables all of us to choose. Christ makes the sacrifice. We have the opportunity to claim this free gift of life in Christ. If you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and ask Him into your life then you are saved. This is simple and direct. You choose.
09/16 Romans 3: 27
Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith.
FAITH
Faith is the central element in my relationship with Jesus. I read His Word to get to know Him. I spend time with Him in prayer so that He can change me. I do what He says. Faith is the result of a life lived under His control.
09/17 Romans 3: 28
So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
FAITH
When I live in faith I become like Jesus. I let Him have control of the elements and activities of my life. It does not mean that my life will be easier or that I will always be on top. It does mean that I will always walk with Him. My life will be under His control.
09/18 Romans 3: 29-30
After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and there is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
SALVATION
There is only one way to be saved and that is by accepting Jesus as Lord and asking Him to save you. This is God’s way. He did not consult with us when He decided on this. The truth is that He has revealed His way to us and people would rather do things their own way.
09/19 Romans 3: 31
Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
FAITH
Faith in Jesus completes us. It enables us to come into the family of God and be a part of His family. He is Lord and He is seeking to have fellowship with us. Jesus enables us to have this fellowship with the Father. It is His righteousness that we have faith in.
09/20 Romans 4:1-3
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God’s point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.”
GRACE
Grace is God giving us what we need and cannot earn. The Lord calls us. He is seeking each one of us. We listen and accept. Our acceptance enables His grace to instantaneously change us. This gift of grace changes everything about us. We are now free to serve the Lord. Our service is a moment by moment, day by day choice. The longer I walk with the Lord the better equipped I become to serve. The more I serve the better I serve.
09/21 Romans 4:4-5
When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.
FAITH
I cannot see Jesus but I know Him. I know Him because He is in my heart and has given me a new heart and light for living. The choices that I make are made because I have faith that He has given me life. My faith enables me to grow. I believe He has saved me, I change by faith that He is at work in me and I live knowing that it is Jesus that is guiding me. I am free in Christ and as I get to know Him better my freedom enables me to serve Him. As I serve Him I get to know Him better.
09/22 Romans 4:6-8
King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.”
JOY
Joy is a gift from God. It is part of our grace gift of salvation. All good gifts come from the Lord. I have joy because the Lord gifts me with His joy. Things do not bring joy because things cannot fulfill me. Only the Lord can bring fulfillment and His presence gives me joy.
09/23 Romans 4:9-10
Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith. But how did his faith help him? Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later!
FAMILY
We are family. Not because of our blood line but because He shed His blood. Christ is our righteousness. He is why we are in the family of God. We are no longer bound in slavery to sin. We are saved by grace through faith. Jesus is Lord.
09/24 Romans 4:11
The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous – even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith.
JESUS
We have everything we need for a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Christ is our everything. It is important that we focus our relationship and life upon Jesus. He is seeking to build a relationship with us so that we can follow Him in the way we should go.
09/25 Romans 4:12-13
And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised. It is clear, then, that God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was not based on obedience to God’s law, but on the new relationship with God that comes by faith.
RELATIONSHIP
Jesus is our friend. He is seeking our best good. Our time here is only a prelude to eternity. Our relationship with Him is to equip us to live a life that is pleasing to God. We are on a journey into eternity that begins right now. Our friendship with Him will enable us to live an abundant life. The chaos and indignity of this world will not swamp us nor will we be misplaced. He knows where we are and what we need and He will help us deal with our life.
09/26 Romans 4:14-15
So if you claim that God’s promise is for those who obey God’s law and think they are “good enough” in God’s sight, then you are saying that faith is useless. And in that case, the promise is also meaningless. But the law brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)
LAW
The LAW is something that we cannot fulfill. It is impossible for mankind to be obedient to the LAW. What mankind cannot do the Lord can. Jesus saves us from our sin. He gives us life. His love for us was before we were saved and guided us to and through the salvation experience. His gift to us is eternal life, life like His, and an eternal relationship. We cannot fulfill the LAW but Jesus has interceded for us. Praise His name. Jesus is Lord.
09/27 Romans 4:16-17
So that’s why faith is the key! God’s promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.” This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn’t exist before.
JOY
You can have joy, this moment, this day and every day. You can have joy because Jesus is Lord and He loves you. Think about your life. Whatever it has been and whatever you have done, Jesus still loves you. You are precious to Him and worthy of His devotion and love because Jesus has chosen to love you. It is His gift that you can receive. Jesus loves you.
09/28 Romans 4:18-19
When God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations, Abraham believed him. God had also said, “Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars,” even though such a promise seemed utterly impossible! And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though he knew that he was too old to be a father at the age of one hundred and that Sarah, his wife, had never been able to have children.
BELIEVE
Do you believe what Jesus has said? He said that if you asked Him to save you He would. If you believe that He will and if you have asked Him too and believe that He has then you are His child. You inherit all of the promises that He makes to us in His Word the Bible. This will change your life. No longer are you at the mercy of the world. You are a child of God.
09/29 Romans 4:20-22
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham’s faith, God declared him to be righteous.
BELIEVE
If you believe in Jesus and believe that He created you, saved you and loves you then you are on your way to living an abundant life. Remember that the things of this world are irrelevant in looking at our value and worth. Value and worth are based on eternal things. Your character is more important than the things you have.
09/30 Romans 4:23-25
Now this wonderful truth – that God declared him to be righteous – wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
RIGHTEOUS
Jesus makes us righteous. When we have Jesus we have everything we need from the Father to live a valuable, worthwhile life. Jesus in you changes everything. Rejoice, He is alive. Jesus is Lord.
