Romans 2 Righteous Judgement

Romans 2 continues the theme from the first chapter by slapping the reading in the face. Paul says that if anyone who is reading this and saying "YEEE HAWWW the immoral is finally going to get it" they need to look out because you do the same things. I think this is also the passage that people misuse because it says "DO not judge." But I submit to you that it is a warning to those who is quick to point out things in other people's lives and not look to their own.

I thought it was neat that in verse 12 through 15 Paul states that the law is the standard to which everyone is going to be measured but those who did not have the law will still be judged by it. If a person who has never heard the law they instinctively do what the law demands because they themselves are the law unto themselves. "They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts." Their consciences testify to this. You know what is right and wrong without being taught. Greatest example from history I can think of is that from Hammurabi. He wrote a law that is morally right because he knew what was right in his heart.

THe best part of this passage is that when Paul said that people's thought are competing. They will either accuse or excuse their actions and thoughts.

Do you do this? Does your thoughts excuse your actions or do they accuse you of wrong doing?

Romans 1 A Description of an Immoral World

This is the beginning of a 90 day journey reading the New Testament Epistles and Acts. I will try and have these written and out published by the evening of the prior day. This will be a challenge for me. I am not one that does this sort of thing ahead of time.

Romans is a great starting book for new Christians. It almost records the "why" aspect of being a Christian. Romans 1:16 gives the basis on which a Christian should live, "by faith".  According to Hebrews 11:1 faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. We know that God exists by what is around us. God's glory is in His creation. But Romans tells us that there are some people who deny His existence and we see what it means how not to live by faith.

Paul goes on to describe how people who deep down know that there is a God "did not glorify Him or show gratitude.(v. 21) They are also described as thinking that they are being smart and explaining away how everything came into being (evolution), yet they "became fools". As Christians this should burn us up. And it does! The next verse seems as though God deals with this laissez fare, hands off. But be rest assured because God has delivered them over to their own desires. Notice that Paul starts with the most evil of desires. Sexual immorality. He says that just as the females went to unnatural sexual desires so did the men. "...in the same way also left natural sexual intercourse with females and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Males committed shameless acts with males." If anyone says that God allows homosexuality then they should keep reading because those who think that God is not worthwhile to be in their knowledge do the things that are listed here. They not only do them but applaud others who practice them.

Have you seen on TV when a homosexual "comes out of the closet?" People applaud it when we should condemn it! No wonder there is the issue of same sex marriages. Politicians are wanting to excuse their own evil desired by excusing others immorality. But we cannot expect a person who is blinded by satan to be aware of such things. We have to remember that they are in bondage. We cannot set them free but the Holy Spirit can.

They are without excuse, because the evidence of God is all around them and they choose to not even notice. Therefore denying God and making excuses for their own unrighteousness and immoral acts.

The Enemy of evil.

I have been often asked if God was the creator of evil. The answer is a simple NO. Many people get hung up on this question. Why is there so much evil in this world? Why does a good God let things like 9-11 happen?
Glance at any newspaper and the headlines tell you what's wrong with the world. Watch television, listen to the radio, talk to friends, and you will find no shortage of opinions as to what is wrong on planet Earth.
When terrorists hijacked passenger planes and slammed into the Pentagon, two NY skyscrapers, the world quickly called it evil. The destructive power of this epic evil event made people feel paralyzed and helpless. And that's what evil does best; it makes us feel powerless.
But we're not. Most of us experience evil on a smaller more personal scale. And for us, the apostle Paul outlined the proper response. He said we are to abhor evil (Rom. 12:9), not to repay it with more evil (v.17), and not to be overcome by it (v. 21)
The true victim of evil is goodness-- the goodness that God designed as part of creation for everyone to enjoy (Gen. 1:4-31). It is surprising then when Paul concludes that the casualty of evil is also its conqueror (Rom. 12:21).
Evil gets all the headlines, but God's goodness is stronger, and He wants us to use it on His behalf to overcome His enemy.

See also:
Prov. 20:22, MaTT 5:38-48, 1 Thess 5:15, 1 Peter 3:8-17

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Launching the New Bible Grounds

Alright!!

I have been SUPER busy the past couple of weeks. School has started, both Seminary and public school. My daughter is going to school for the first time. Wait a minute... she is only 16 months. How can she go to school??? Oh thats right, she is going to "WEE" school. Kind of a mothers day out.

Any way, I havnt set a launch date for this site yet because I am still learning about how to set everything up. My goal is to have it to where all I have to do is recruit writers and write a little myself each week on certain sections and have an updated post section on prayer.

Look for all this soon!!!

Test of the first post

Well this is the first post. I am sitting here writing this in bed using my phone.