The day with dianne Louise

Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By one of works? No, on the contrary, by the law of faith. For we conclude we are justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Romans 3:27,28 The Law of faith! What are the components of this law?  God, is the basis, His character, His nature. Grace through love is the driving force. The word of God is the principle. Faith is the action, in trust on all of the above. The result is justification. In the Old Testament the law of Moses was in charge. The components of this law were: God, His righteousness and holiness Sinful man never completely free bound to actions, rules and regulations. The word of God was the principle. The driving force was a legal requirement to obey. The result was a need for constant sacrifice for a temporary forgiveness and freedom. I know which one I choose, option A. Why try to be right and constantly fail when I can live in faith that He is right and I live in and throug Him. A no brainer...

But now, apart from the law, God's righteousness has been revealed- attested by the Law and the Prophets- that is, God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely in His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:21-26 As I read the Old Testament I see the golden thread that represents God's grace coming into the world, Jesus Chrsit. As I read I am on a treasure hunt for that thread. At times it becomes an image, at other times a hidden glow of glory to come. For me the Old Testament is not abo...

There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive wih their tongues. Viper's venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Romans 3:10-18 Here Paul is quoting a compilation of scriptures: Psalm 14:1-3; Psalm 5:9; Psalm 140:3; Psalm 10:7; Is 59:7-8; Psalm 36:1 Guess what Paul's favourite scriptures are? Here it looks like Psalms and Isaiah. Yet Paul puts all the scriptures together expertly, woven in gold. He is showing us that mankind is unable to be holy, pure, righteous or even decent, except for the power of God. Today I went to a funeral service, without a body, it was already buried. Have yo...

So what advantage does a Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Considerable in every way. Firstly, they were entrusted with the spoken words of God. What then, if some did not believe, will their unbelief cancel God's faithfulness? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That you may be justified by your words and triumph when You judge. Romans 3:1-4 The quoted scripture comes out of Psalm 51. This is the Psalm David wrote when his sin with Bathsheba was uncovered by Nathan the prophet. It actually says: 'Against You- You alone- I have sinned and done this evil in Your sight. So You are right when you pass sentence; You are blameless when You judge.' (Verse 4) As Paul says, the Jew has an advantage, if it is taken by faith, of being entrusted with the word of God. God chose them from the beginning to walk with Him as His people. Yet again and again they struggled to be faithful. As a Gentile, I now know that the good news ...

For circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore if an uncircumcised man keeps the law requirements, will his uncircumcision not be counted as circumcision? A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who fulfills the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of you having a letter of the law and circumcision, For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart- by the Spirit, not the letter. That man's praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:25-29 Feeling superior for any reason, not only a physical one as in circumcision, will only benefit our egos but not our eternal salvation, if we fail to recognise our God's view and priority. Our God wants us to be pure as  He is pure, this can only be done as we walk in the Spirit. Why do we c...

Now if you call yourself a Jew (Christian-italics mine), and rest in the law, boast in God, know His will, and approved the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, and if you are convinced you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the full expression of knowledge and truth in the law- you then, who teach another, do you teach yourself? You who preach, "You must not steal"- do you steal? You who say- "You must not commit adultery,"- do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? For, as it is written: 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.' Romans 2:17-24 Many parts of Christendom operate according to the law, that is they do not teach the freedom of Christ. Yet, even in those churches that do teach the freedom of the gospel, there are many b...

All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged under the law. For the hearers of the law will not be called righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be called righteous. So when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, instinct lay do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the works of the law is written on their hearts. Their conscience confirms this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them, on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to the gospel through Jesus Christ. Romans 2:12-16 Having a knowledge of law is not good enough to, we need a living relationship with the One who give it. Abraham was before the law, his acts with validate him. He instinct lay did what was right before God, most of the time. When we allow our conscience to convict up us about God and His ways, we are helped alon...