Good morning, 

Romans 3 tells God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. The problem is all have sinned and need redemption. The solution is Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice to pay man’s sin debt.  

Romans 3:9-20 

THE PROBLEM: All are sinners (9-20) 

⁹What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; ¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ¹³Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: ¹⁴Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: ¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood: ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways: ¹⁷And the way of peace have they not known: ¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes. ¹⁹Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 

“Romans 3:9–20 contains a string of quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul uses these to demonstrate that both Jews and Greeks alike are under sin. After establishing that ”there is none who does good” from Psalm 14:1, Paul uses quotes from Psalms and Isaiah to show ways we have always used our bodies—throats, tongues, lips, feet, and eyes—to express our sinfulness. He concludes the section with his strongest statement, yet, that no human being will be justified in God’s sight by following the works of the law. The law can only show us our sin, not save us from it.” (BibleRef.com) 

Remember earlier God said He was no respecter of persons. That point is made clear in relationship to sin. All are under sin, none are righteous, none that understands, none that seeks God, none that does good.  

Sin separates us from God. If man’s sin is not dealt with, he will be eternally separated from God. Some may not see this as a problem until they understand what that entails. 

Hell is the abode of those who will not deal with their sin and turn to God. Hell is described as “torments”, “tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:19-31), “lake of fire and brimstone”, “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:7-10). 

Revelation 20:11-15 refers to these people as dead. Judgment day has come and those who chose not to repent of their sins stand before God. When the book of life was opened their names did not appear. The consequence is “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” 

That is where those who choose not to deal with their sin go.  

HOWEVER, there is a solution to the problem of sin. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

Romans 3 tells God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. The problem is all have sinned and need redemption. The solution is Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice to pay man’s sin debt.  

First though, God speaks to the Jews through the Apostle Paul. The Jew had an advantage because they were given “…the oracles of God.” They had the opportunity to know God’s plan, promise, and covenants. They also were aware of the blessings and curses for obedience and disobedience. They really believed that because they were Jews they were above the judgment of God. They were wrong. 

Romans 3:1-8 

God’s special blessing to the Jews (1-8) 

Three questions 

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? ²Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 

³For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? ⁴God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.  

⁵But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) ⁶God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? ⁷For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? ⁸And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 

“Romans 3:1–8 contains a series of questions which might have come from someone opposed to Paul’s teaching in Romans 2. Using this challenge-response structure, Paul clarifies that being Jewish and circumcised still comes with great advantages. He also points out that God remains faithful to the Jewish people in spite of their sin. In fact, His faithfulness in the face of unfaithfulness increases His glory. That does not mean, however, that God wants human beings to continue to sin, as some were accusing Paul of teaching.” (BibleRef.com) 

It is one thing to know the Word of God and quite another to act upon what you know. As Israel failed to act on what God had revealed to them, Christians, in good Bible believing church’s, are ignoring the clear revealed will of God. Unbelievers see no difference in the believers’ lives than in their own. So, they ask “Why do we need to become Christians?” 

Obeying God’s word is critical to the furtherance of the gospel outreach and salvation of lost souls.  

OBEY and be part of God’s solution. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning, 

Romans 2, continues to challenge us as to whether we will follow or oppose God’s plan. The themes covered are judging others, choosing to obey or disobey God’s word, the law, and circumcision.   

Today we will look at circumcision. 

4. Circumcision  

Romans 2:17-29 

^“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,¹⁸And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;¹⁹And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,²⁰An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.²¹Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? ²²Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? ²³Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? ²⁴For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. ²⁵For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁶Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? ²⁷And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? ²⁸For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” 

Genesis 17:9-14 

“And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.¹⁰ This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.¹¹ And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.¹² And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.¹³ He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.¹⁴ And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.” 

CONCLUSION 

• God will judge everyone 
• There is no respecter of persons with God 
• The law could not save 
• The law pointed to Jesus 
• The heart needs to be circumcised 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Romans 2, continues to challenge us as to whether we will follow or oppose God’s plan. The themes covered are judging others, choosing to obey or disobey God’s word, the law, and circumcision.   

Today we will look at the law points to Jesus. 

3. The law points to Jesus  

Romans 2:12-16 

^“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; ¹³(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)¹⁶In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” 

Exodus 20:1-17 (Ten Commandments) 

“And God spake all these words, saying,² I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.³ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.⁷ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.⁸ Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.⁹ Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.¹² Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.¹³ Thou shalt not kill.¹⁴ Thou shalt not commit adultery.¹⁵ Thou shalt not steal.¹⁶ Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.¹⁷ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Romans 2, continues to challenge us as to whether we will follow or oppose God’s plan. The themes covered are judging others, choosing to obey or disobey God’s word, the law, and circumcision.   

ROMANS 2 

But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:For there is no respect of persons with God. (2:10-11) 

Introduction Judgment, Righteousness, Law 

1. God will judge all of us 

Romans 2:1-5 

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.²But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.³And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”  

Matthew 7:1-5 

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.³ And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?⁴ Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”  

2. Lovers of righteousness  

Romans 2:6-11 

^“Who will render to every man according to his deeds:⁷To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:⁸But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,⁹Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;¹⁰But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:¹¹For there is no respect of persons with God.” 

Deuteronomy 6:1-19 

“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:² That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.³ Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:¹⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.¹⁰ And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,¹¹ And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;¹² Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.¹³ Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.¹⁴ Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;¹⁵ (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.¹⁶ Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.¹⁷ Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.¹⁸ And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers.¹⁹ To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.” 

3. The law points to Jesus  

Romans 2:12-16 

^“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; ¹³(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)¹⁶In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.” 

Exodus 20:1-17 (Ten Commandments) 

“And God spake all these words, saying,² I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.³ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.⁴ Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.⁵ Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;⁶ And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.⁷ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.⁸ Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.⁹ Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work:¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.¹² Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.¹³ Thou shalt not kill.¹⁴ Thou shalt not commit adultery.¹⁵ Thou shalt not steal.¹⁶ Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.¹⁷ Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor’s.” 

4. Circumcision  

Romans 2:17-29 

^“Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,¹⁸And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;¹⁹And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,²⁰An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.²¹Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? ²²Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? ²³Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? ²⁴For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. ²⁵For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁶Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? ²⁷And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? ²⁸For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” 

Genesis 17:9-14 

“And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.¹⁰ This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.¹¹ And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.¹² And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.¹³ He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.¹⁴ And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.” 

CONCLUSION 

• God will judge everyone 
• There is no respecter of persons with God 
• The law could not save 
• The law pointed to Jesus 
• The heart needs to be circumcised 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Romans 2, continues to challenge us as to whether we will follow or oppose God’s plan. The themes covered are judging others, choosing to obey or disobey God’s word, the law, and circumcision.   

Today we will look at lovers of righteousness. 

2. Lovers of righteousness  

Romans 2:6-11 

^“Who will render to every man according to his deeds:⁷To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:⁸But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,⁹Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;¹⁰But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:¹¹For there is no respect of persons with God.” 

Deuteronomy 6:1-19 

“Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:² That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.³ Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.⁸ And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.⁹ And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.¹⁰ And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,¹¹ And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;¹² Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.¹³ Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.¹⁴ Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;¹⁵ (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.¹⁶ Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.¹⁷ Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.¹⁸ And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers.¹⁹ To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the Lord hath spoken.” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Romans 2, continues to challenge us as to whether we will follow or oppose God’s plan. The themes covered are judging others, choosing to obey or disobey God’s word, the law, and circumcision.   

Today we will look at judging others. 

ROMANS 2 

But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:For there is no respect of persons with God. (2:10-11) 

Introduction Judgment, Righteousness, Law 

1. God will judge all of us 

Romans 2:1-5 

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.²But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.³And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”  

Matthew 7:1-5 

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.³ And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?⁴ Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning,

The goal of living in this world

(J.R. Miller, “Things That Endure”)

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(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

The goal of living in this world, is ever to grow into more and more radiant and lovely Christ-like character–whatever our conditions or experiences may be.

We cannot escape temptations–but we are so to meet them and pass through them, as not to be hurt by them; to come out of them with new strength and new radiancy of soul.

We cannot escape trials and difficulties–but we are to live victoriously, never defeated, always overcoming.

We cannot find a path in which no sorrow shall come into our lives–but we are to live through the experience of sorrow, without being hurt by it.

Many people receive harm from the fires which pass over them. Many fall in temptation and lie in dust and defeat, not rising again. Many are soured and embittered by the difficulties, the irritations, the frictions, the cares of life. But the problem of Christian living, is to keep a sweet Christ-like spirit amid all that might embitter us–to pass through the fires, and not have the flames kindle upon us.

We live in the midst of the countless dangers through which we must pass in this world. Danger lurks in every shadow, and hides in every patch of sunshine. There are tempters all around us. Only by committing our lives day by day into the hands of Christ, can we be kept in safety amid the perils of this world. He is able to keep us from falling, to guard us from stumbling, and to set us before His presence without blemish, in exceeding joy!
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The making of Christian character

(J.R. Miller)

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(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

It used to be a custom for travelers in Switzerland to bring home clusters of the edelweiss. The flower is not sought because of its beauty or for its fragrance, but in recognition of its hardiness and victoriousness in living and blooming under very difficult conditions. It grows on the Alps and Pyrenees, at lofty altitudes, where almost nothing else lives, and on crags difficult of access, and is among the hardiest of all plants. Thus the edelweiss becomes the symbol of noble life which . . .
  endures hardness,
  is victorious amid antagonisms,
  rises superior to obstacles.

The man who has never known hardship, who never has had to practice self-denial or make a personal sacrifice–may be the envy of other men whose lives have been one continual struggle. They may think that if they could have had his easy circumstances, that they could have made a great deal more of their life. But really, their opportunities in life thus far, has been far better than his. Christian character is made in the field of struggle and hardship, not in ways of ease and luxury.
Hindrances are opportunities.
Difficulty is a school for character.

Strength is the glory of manhood. Yet it is not easy to be strong, it is easier to be weak and to drift. It is easier for the boy in school not to work hard to get his lessons–but to let them go, and then at the last depend on some other boy to help him through. It is easier, when something happens to make you irritable, just to fly into a temper and to say bitter words–than it is to keep quiet and self-controlled. It is easier, when you are with other young people, and they are about to do something that you know to be unworthy, just to go with them–than it is to say, “I cannot do this wickedness against God!” It is easier to be weak, than to be strong. But weakness never leads to mature Christian character.
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

ROMANS 1

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (1:16)

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul’s greeting (1:1-7)

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, ² (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) ³ Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; ⁴ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: ⁵ By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: ⁶ Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: ⁷ To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Ten attitudes/marks of true spiritual service (1:8-17)

          a. A thankful spirit (1:8)

          b. Concerned about others (1:9)

          c. Willing spirit to pray (1:9)

          d. Submissive spirit (1:10)

          e. Loving spirit (1:11)

          f. Humble spirit (1:12)

          g. Fruitful spirit (1:13)

          h. Responsibility (1:14)

          i. Ready to preach (1:15)

          j. Not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (1:16)

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; ¹⁰ Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; ¹² That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. ¹³ Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. ¹⁵ So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  ¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

3. How the enlightened race turned to heathendom (1:18)

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

4. The created universe proves a living God (1:19-21)

¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. ²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: ²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

5. Intelligence became darkened, religion perverted (1:22-23)

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

6. God gave them up to uncleanness (1:24-32)

²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. ²⁶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: ²⁷ And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Questions to ask yourself.

How many of the 10 attitudes/marks of true spiritual service are you performing? What does this chapter say to me? Do I need to confess/repent of some sin in my life?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com