Hello! Welcome to the adventure of studying God's word with me. The first five books of the Bible are called the pentateuch of the Bible. What does that mean exactly? It means that it lays a foundation for the rest of the Bible and informs the reader of it the authority assumed by its writer. It means that the writer of the Bible has supreme authority as law-giver and controller of life. The book of Genesis emphasizes this starting with the creation story. It shows that God is in control of life and creation of it. It also shows God's intentions for His creation by understanding what it was like and it's role before sin. Divine control. Finally, it shows God's promises. It shows that the God that is in control promises to use His creation for great things in His name. He loves us and wants us to be what we were created to be. The pentateuch will be a journey of perfect follow through on His promises to those that love Him. I know I want a God like that!
My prayer: God, thanks for your help in understanding your word that much more and the guarantee that you do follow through with everything that you promise. Thanks for being in control so that I don't have to be. The knowledge of true control is comforting when you are changing my life. I know that you will take care of me when I need you. I know that you have control of everything around me. Please take control of me, and use the knowledge that you have instilled in your word to change me. Change my Heart. Continue a good work that you have started in me.
Zeke
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Introduction to my blog:
Hello! If you are reading this, then you'll come to realize that I am changing the way that I have blogged in the past. Starting tomorrow, I will be starting a blog that will take me through every chapter, every book, every verse of the Bible. I want to read through the whole Bible as if it were to tell me a story. A true story of a monotheistic God that wants to redeem His creation from its self stricken destruction. It is a story of love and peril. Action and true life. Love, Joy, and Peace. The truth of finding peace in a God that prevails. And ultimately, a story of the peril of sin and the God that loves us prevailing over it. Hope that you'll join me in my adventure! See ya soon!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Romans 3:1-4 Then what advantage has the jew? or what is the value of circumcision? much in every way. to begin with, the jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithfulness 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."
the jews were unfaithful in their actions. they were saying that they believed in God, but not doing his calling in their lives. The statement that paul is making in these verses is adressing that exact problem. He is making it known to them that even though they are the chosen people of God, that does not give them authority to do as they choose. It does not nullify the faithfulness of an almighty God. All it does is prove how faithful He is to us. It shows that while we disobeyed Him, (and He knew we would), He still gives us blessings we don't deserve. this is an ultimate example of faithfulness because He remained steady while we continued to disobey Him.
How can I apply this example to me? Am I striving to be as steady as his example? Am I trying to change my ways to reflect His purpose?
the jews were unfaithful in their actions. they were saying that they believed in God, but not doing his calling in their lives. The statement that paul is making in these verses is adressing that exact problem. He is making it known to them that even though they are the chosen people of God, that does not give them authority to do as they choose. It does not nullify the faithfulness of an almighty God. All it does is prove how faithful He is to us. It shows that while we disobeyed Him, (and He knew we would), He still gives us blessings we don't deserve. this is an ultimate example of faithfulness because He remained steady while we continued to disobey Him.
How can I apply this example to me? Am I striving to be as steady as his example? Am I trying to change my ways to reflect His purpose?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Right Standing
Romans 3:20 - For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. Since not even one can be righteous before God by keeping the law, right standing with God comes through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The hope that we get from understanding and realizing his sufficiency in saving us from ourselves.
Romans 3 :21-23: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it. The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
We know that we cannot no matter how hard we try overcome our sinful nature and obey the law completely. We have already fallen into the snare of sinful nature. However, God provides a hope through faith in Him that surpasses all other possible escapes. He provides a perfect savior to take away the sins of the world.
How can this apply to me? Does this in fact prove that being a Christian is not a set of rules? What is the moral standard of being a Christian? If his righteous overcomes me, do I really need to do anything to recieve his gift?
The answer is yes and no. Being a Christian revolves around the knowledge and understanding that yes, I am a sinner. Yes, I need God. Yes, I can't save myself. God is the only one who saves.
Yes, I need to do something to recieve His gift. I need to see that He is calling me into a relationship with Him, and He is calling me to live towards His will. It really isn't a set of rules, but there are definite rights and wrongs that are evident. He makes them evident through his scriptures, and if we live by the scriptures (His word) we are following His leading.
All have sinned, and all can believe on His name and be saved.
I love you Lord, and I lift my heart to you. I know that you listen to me, and you make your word clear and evident to what you want me to hear. Help me to not only see your word as law, but to see it as a guideline for my life to act on the will in my life that i can gain from your scriptures.
Romans 3 :21-23: But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it. The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
We know that we cannot no matter how hard we try overcome our sinful nature and obey the law completely. We have already fallen into the snare of sinful nature. However, God provides a hope through faith in Him that surpasses all other possible escapes. He provides a perfect savior to take away the sins of the world.
How can this apply to me? Does this in fact prove that being a Christian is not a set of rules? What is the moral standard of being a Christian? If his righteous overcomes me, do I really need to do anything to recieve his gift?
The answer is yes and no. Being a Christian revolves around the knowledge and understanding that yes, I am a sinner. Yes, I need God. Yes, I can't save myself. God is the only one who saves.
Yes, I need to do something to recieve His gift. I need to see that He is calling me into a relationship with Him, and He is calling me to live towards His will. It really isn't a set of rules, but there are definite rights and wrongs that are evident. He makes them evident through his scriptures, and if we live by the scriptures (His word) we are following His leading.
All have sinned, and all can believe on His name and be saved.
I love you Lord, and I lift my heart to you. I know that you listen to me, and you make your word clear and evident to what you want me to hear. Help me to not only see your word as law, but to see it as a guideline for my life to act on the will in my life that i can gain from your scriptures.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Who is better off?
Romans 3:9-11: 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, as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. We are all the same, no matter what we do, we are all under sin in desperate need of a savior to lift the burden of sin in our lives.
Psalm 53:3 - They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Everyone sins, Christ died for everyone and took the punishment whether we choose to accept it or not. Everyone falls short of God's glory. Can we truly seek God without Him seeking us? Can we choose to follow Him if We can't choose to seek Him? Is sin so evident in our lives that it is dividing us completely from Him. The answer is yes. Sin divides us from a relationship from God. God cannot be in the presence of sin. If sin is present in our lives, God cannot be a part of it. We cannot seek God without realizing that we have sin in our lives that needs to be washed away by the free gift that God gives on the cross. This is not something that we can just realize. God has to open our eyes in order to hear Him. We don't ever seek Him. He seeks us in ways that we don't understand. Sin does divide us. He seeks us, and we have to choose whether or not we will follow Him.
Lord,
Thank you so much for the free gift that you have offered me on the cross and the reminder that you give me in your word. Thank you for seeking me, for helping me realize that I have a sin issue and am in need of a savior. Thank you so much for giving me the choice to follow you, and to be a part of the family of God. Lord, I pray that you would make this evident in the lives of people that I come into contact with. Help them to realize the almighty God that I live and love to serve. I pray that they would find a love for You as I have that would fill their lives with abundance and mercy and love.
Psalm 53:3 - They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 - Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Everyone sins, Christ died for everyone and took the punishment whether we choose to accept it or not. Everyone falls short of God's glory. Can we truly seek God without Him seeking us? Can we choose to follow Him if We can't choose to seek Him? Is sin so evident in our lives that it is dividing us completely from Him. The answer is yes. Sin divides us from a relationship from God. God cannot be in the presence of sin. If sin is present in our lives, God cannot be a part of it. We cannot seek God without realizing that we have sin in our lives that needs to be washed away by the free gift that God gives on the cross. This is not something that we can just realize. God has to open our eyes in order to hear Him. We don't ever seek Him. He seeks us in ways that we don't understand. Sin does divide us. He seeks us, and we have to choose whether or not we will follow Him.
Lord,
Thank you so much for the free gift that you have offered me on the cross and the reminder that you give me in your word. Thank you for seeking me, for helping me realize that I have a sin issue and am in need of a savior. Thank you so much for giving me the choice to follow you, and to be a part of the family of God. Lord, I pray that you would make this evident in the lives of people that I come into contact with. Help them to realize the almighty God that I live and love to serve. I pray that they would find a love for You as I have that would fill their lives with abundance and mercy and love.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Judgement and Law
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
It seems to say that there are two different guidelines to which a person lives their life. One who has the law, and one who does not. Those who have the law must do what it says, and those who don't must do what the law requires without necessarily knowing the full extent of it. For when gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law themselves, even though they do not have the law. They sho 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 ment by Jesus Christ.
This verse contradicts the assumption that everyone can choose what is good for themselves. there is truly only ONE law. Some people have it, some do not. All have to do what it requires. All are judged under equal circumstances. All are sinful and deserve death. All deserve judgment.
How do we prove we are living by the law?They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience bears witness.
God calls us to learn his word in heed to know his law. We need to staple his word to our hearts so that we may identify our sin problems, grow in Him and become more like Him.
Lord,
help me in my daily interactions to show your word in everything that i do. God, i know that you have a plan for me. if sin is holding me back from realizing your plan for my life, make this known to me. Jesus, I know that I have issues with fully obeying your law. help me to be digging deeply into your word and give me an understanding and concentration and focus that can only come from you. I love you father.
It seems to say that there are two different guidelines to which a person lives their life. One who has the law, and one who does not. Those who have the law must do what it says, and those who don't must do what the law requires without necessarily knowing the full extent of it. For when gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law themselves, even though they do not have the law. They sho 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 ment by Jesus Christ.
This verse contradicts the assumption that everyone can choose what is good for themselves. there is truly only ONE law. Some people have it, some do not. All have to do what it requires. All are judged under equal circumstances. All are sinful and deserve death. All deserve judgment.
How do we prove we are living by the law?They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience bears witness.
God calls us to learn his word in heed to know his law. We need to staple his word to our hearts so that we may identify our sin problems, grow in Him and become more like Him.
Lord,
help me in my daily interactions to show your word in everything that i do. God, i know that you have a plan for me. if sin is holding me back from realizing your plan for my life, make this known to me. Jesus, I know that I have issues with fully obeying your law. help me to be digging deeply into your word and give me an understanding and concentration and focus that can only come from you. I love you father.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Justification
For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgement of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man, you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and foebearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 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.
Wow. In passing judgment on another you Condemn yourself. The word condemn is such a strong word. Its usage according to the dictionary in verbe tense as it is seen here is:
1. To pronounce judgment against.
2. To pronounce to be guilty and sentence punishment.
In judging others we are are really judging ourselves because of the fact that we are falling into the same things (verse 2). We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. That's crazy to think about. We know that all of the sins that we do will be judged by God as we go into eternity. The amazing thing about this, is that Jesus Christ was without sin. He experienced a terrible death and at the same time purchased us from the wages of sin (romans 3:23-24, 6:23). He gave us the ability through a free gift that all sacrifice went upon him while He lived a perfectly sinless life. How is that just on his part? It seems very irrational for Him to make the choice to do such a thing. The unjust person is us. He loved us so much that while we condemned ourselves that He was willing to give us the hope that is in His death and ressurection. THE MINIMUM WE CAN DO IS SURRENDER TO HIS WILL. DOESN'T HE DESEVE IT?
God,
You continue to amaze me in the truth of your word. Help me to surrender fully to your will in my life. I love you with my whole heart as you do me. I could never compare to the amazing love that you have for me. Help me to imitate that in my relationships. I want to go home and hear you say "well done, good and faithful son."
Thank you for making such an irrational decision on my part because of your authentic love for me. Help me to be the servant that you have been for me. Help me to imitate that through a sincere and authentic faith that is shown in my daily life.
Wow. In passing judgment on another you Condemn yourself. The word condemn is such a strong word. Its usage according to the dictionary in verbe tense as it is seen here is:
1. To pronounce judgment against.
2. To pronounce to be guilty and sentence punishment.
In judging others we are are really judging ourselves because of the fact that we are falling into the same things (verse 2). We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. That's crazy to think about. We know that all of the sins that we do will be judged by God as we go into eternity. The amazing thing about this, is that Jesus Christ was without sin. He experienced a terrible death and at the same time purchased us from the wages of sin (romans 3:23-24, 6:23). He gave us the ability through a free gift that all sacrifice went upon him while He lived a perfectly sinless life. How is that just on his part? It seems very irrational for Him to make the choice to do such a thing. The unjust person is us. He loved us so much that while we condemned ourselves that He was willing to give us the hope that is in His death and ressurection. THE MINIMUM WE CAN DO IS SURRENDER TO HIS WILL. DOESN'T HE DESEVE IT?
God,
You continue to amaze me in the truth of your word. Help me to surrender fully to your will in my life. I love you with my whole heart as you do me. I could never compare to the amazing love that you have for me. Help me to imitate that in my relationships. I want to go home and hear you say "well done, good and faithful son."
Thank you for making such an irrational decision on my part because of your authentic love for me. Help me to be the servant that you have been for me. Help me to imitate that through a sincere and authentic faith that is shown in my daily life.
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