Romans 2:1-29

Romans 2:4 Now here is something that I never picked up on before. It is the "kindness of God" which "leads you toward repentance". Boy is this true in my life. However I came across another passage Psalms 19:7, that speaks of a turning in our lives that comes from another reason. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting (restoring) the soul". What actually brings us to our knees? Is it the recognition of our sin or the kindness of God? As David alludes to in Psalms, the law is perfect and we are imperfect. We will never stack up to the standards God has set for us. So like a knife piercing our hearts, we turn from our wicked ways and ask God to save us from the wrath to come (v.5), and restore us into a right relationship with Him. Or as Paul alludes to in this verse, when we realize our filthiness side by side with God's kindness, shouldn't we weep and turn from our current sinful patterns and want to follow Him? So which is it, do we need His kindness or His law? Maybe both. Grace, MB

Romans 1:1-32

Romans is the first epistle (a letter like you would write to a friend) in the New Testament. Although it is not the oldest of the epistles. It was written by Paul. In the epistles we find most the doctrines you hear about in churches across the world. Romans especially highlights the doctrine of grace. We are saved by grace, in other words, we can't earn our way into eternal life, it's a gift we must accept and believe in (that's faith).

For time purposes I will only comment on 3 areas of this first chapter. Please read the 1st chapter of Romans before moving on from here.

Romans 1:11-12 I too am excited about sharing time with you as we begin this bible study. When I see your hunger for the Word and you growing in your faith, it encourages me to the point that I lose sleep at night. I pray our "mutual faith" grows through this study. Let me encourage you set your alarm an extra 10 minutes early so you have time to read the chapters and share on this blog. I especially need discipline in this area, so you guys keep me accountable. Thanks.

Romans 1:16 One of my favorite verses of the bible. I pray none of us are ever "ashamed of the gospel of Christ". But I also realize put in a difficult situation none of us are past that shame, so let us walk humbly with our God. (see Matthew 26:33,34,75)

Romans 1:19-20 No matter what people say about God, there's no denying that God has made Himself evident to everyone, "so that they are without excuse". Wow! Simply put, there's no jungle too thick or far away from civilization, that God has not penetrated and made Himself evident. No one can use that excuse, "well, what if they have never heard of Jesus and they die?". I believe they will be held accountable for what they did know, and this passage says everyone knows right and wrong. (see Romans 2:14-15, Psalms 19:1) Grace, MB

What's Coming?

Well, this will be a new endeavor in what is commonly called Bible Study. My thoughts are to start in a book of the New Testament and a book in the Old Testament, taking one chapter per day and see how it goes. I might be biting off more than I can chew, but this isn't about me, this is about anyone who would like to talk about the bible and add comments and questions about what they read. If I miss a day or two someone will be faithful to keep it going so that the Word is rightly divided on a daily basis.

Any thoughts on which OT and NT books we might start in? Any other thoughts on this blog and the intention of this blog? Please come back and join us on this site. Grace, MB