Discuss Romans 4 Page 3

God is good and His commandments are good and good for us. They show us how to love God and Love others. They help us have relationships that honor God and others. The help us have civility in our families and society. What parent does not teach their children to not lie, steal, hurt others? If we feel that our children need to obey these commands, then certainly we should feel that we should do, especially since God granted us grace that has the power for us to say no to what is sinful and yes to what is good. God wants His children to live godly lives among wicked, unbelieving people. So, one who lives in godly ways will love His commands and obey them. Just because we are "under grace" does does not give us license to dispense with God's holy commands.

The week has seven days, only because there is a Creator thar ordered Adam and Eve to rest on the seveth day, called the Sabath. When the time of prophecy came, Jesus was born from the flesh, through God's sprit, acording to The Holy Scriptures. Jonh starts the first chapter, witha tremendous declaration about Jesus, being The Word and God! Isaiascalls Emmanuel to the Messiah, wich means God amongst us! Jesus presents Himself ONE with God the Father, and as Being The Light of the all World. The Word of God points Sion as God's Inhabitation on the northern side of the Universe. Job didn't answer to God's question about the magnetic North and the Light's source and how does the Light propagates through the entire Universe.

ezequiel describes the Temple of God and a river that comes out of The Temple. God is the source of The All Power, Light, the magnetic North and All the other forces of the cosmos, as gravity wich operates under strict mathematic laws known by the Astrophisicists, who through astronomic observatories, mesured the length of Light waves and recognised Light's relevance to understand time and space. God is THe Spirit, as the bible aknowledges! Therefore God isn't subjected to the Laws He made for His free wil living creatures. The character of God is Love! Love comprehends Mercy and Justice! Jesus was baptised to acomplish all the Justice, as He answered Jonh Baptist. Jesus has Two natures Divine+Human! Satan's rebellion could have succeded, if Jesus didn't acomplish all Justice of the Law. On Mathew 37, Jesus declares ten commandements's Law, eternal as everything done or written by God. If not so, why did Jesus died for? says Paul, appointed by Jesus to be Jesu's apostle to the gentiles, whom we are part of also.The Ten commandements was the Law broken by Adam and Eve, putting satan's lie, above TRUTH WHO IS GOD! These is consacrated by God's Hand Writting, on the first four commandements of the Law. Jesus's good works are for walk on them.

Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you..."equal" with God." There's only one form of eternal life, that is the life of God.

Part II God's ETERNAL Assurance

ONLY God Knows the heart of Every man! Acts 15:8 Romans 8:27

"That we should be to The Praise Of HIS Glory, who first trusted In CHRIST! In WHOM ye also trusted, after that ye heard The Word Of Truth, The Gospel Of your salvation: In WHOM also after that ye believed, ye Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit Of Promise, Which Is The Earnest Of our inheritance Until The Redemption Of The Purchased Possession, Unto The Praise Of HIS Glory!" Ephesians 1:12-14

"Who Hath Also Sealed us, And Given The Earnest Of The Spirit in our hearts!" 2 Corinthians 1:22

"And grieve not The Holy Spirit Of God, Whereby ye Are Sealed Unto The Day Of Redemption!" Ephesians 4:30

"And such were some of you: But ye Are Washed, But ye Are Sanctified, But ye Are Justified In The Name Of The LORD JESUS, And By The Spirit Of our God!" 1 Corinthians 6:11

"But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren Beloved Of The LORD, Because God Hath From The Beginning Chosen you To Salvation Through Sanctification Of The Spirit And belief Of The Truth!" 2 Thessalonians 2:13

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, But According To HIS Mercy HE Saved us, By The Washing Of Regeneration, And Renewing Of The Holy Ghost!" Titus 3:5

God's OPERATION?:

God Made us worthy for inheritance of saints! Colossians 1:12

God Delivered us From the power of darkness! Colossians 1:13

God Put us In The Kingdom Of HIS Dear SON! Colossians 1:14

God Justified us "...Freely By HIS GRACE Through The Redemption That Is In CHRIST JESUS!" Romans 3:24

God "Reckons Debt To those proud who work" For Salvation! Romans 4:4

In GRACE, To him/her "that worketh not, but believeth on HIM that Justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness!" Romans 4:5

God, Through Paul, States: "...David also describeth the blessedness of the man [ /woman ], unto whom God Imputeth righteousness Without works!" Romans 4:6

to be continued in Part III

Part III God's ETERNAL Assurance

"Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities Are Forgiven, And whose sins Are Covered [By HIS BLOOD?]! Blessed is the man to whom The LORD WILL NOT Impute sin!" Romans 4:7-8

YES, By HIS ALL-Sufficient BLOOD:

"But God Commendeth HIS LOVE Toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST Died for us. Much More Then, being NOW JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we SHALL BE SAVED From wrath Through HIM. For if, when we were enemies, we Were Reconciled To God By The Death Of HIS SON, Much More, being Reconciled, we SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE!" Romans 5:8-10

God's All-Sufficient GRACE?

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; Much More they which Receive Abundance Of GRACE And Of The Gift Of Righteousness Shall reign in life By One, JESUS CHRIST!" Romans 5:17

"And HE Who Searcheth the hearts Knoweth What Is The Mind Of The Spirit, Because HE Maketh Intercession For the saints According To The Will Of God!" Romans 8:27

==============================================

God's OPERATION!:

[ God, Who Raises the dead! {v. 9} ], "Who Delivered us from so Great a death, And Doth Deliver: in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!"

Expounded:

PAST Tense = { Justification!!! = God Establishes Eternal Relationship! } "Who Delivered us from so great a death,... {From The PENALTY of sin!}

PRESENT Tense = { Sanctification!! = WE work out fellowship on earth! } ...And Doth Deliver:... {From The POWER of sin!!}

FUTURE Tense = { Glorification! = Eternal fellowship, In Heaven!!! Amen?} ...in Whom we trust that HE Will Yet Deliver us!" {From The PRESENCE of sin!!!} 2 Corinthians 1:10

==============================================

All Of The Above Are Because Of The "FINISHED" Work Of CHRIST On The CROSS, For God's Glory And GRACE! {NOT "what WE do/don't do!"}

Precious struggling friend(s):

Is The Precious BLOOD Of CHRIST ALL-SUFFICIENT for you?

To be continued in Part IV

Part I

2 Corinthians 1:9-10

"...God Which raiseth the dead: Who Delivered us from so great a death, and Doth Deliver: in Whom we trust that He Will Yet Deliver us"

Precious friends, is not the Solution to Confusion about God's Eternal Salvation, recognizing God's Differences Between His Relationship With us, And our fellowship with HIM?

God's Simple Will, Today, Under His Pure GRACE? Very Simply showing Three Tenses Of His ETERNAL Salvation:

1) Past Tense:

God Establishes His Eternal Relationship With those who humbly believe, 100% trust, place Total faith, In The LORD JESUS CHRIST, His Death {Precious BLOOD}, Burial, And His Resurrection, According To The Scriptures! 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 cp Ephesians 2:8-9 Romans 3 Romans 4 Romans 5

"GRACE Through faith" In The Merits Of HIS Precious And ALL-Sufficient BLOOD Results:

All sins Forgiven, His Eternal Life, and, Peace With God! This Is Eternal Deliverance From "So Great A Death," The Penalty of sin! God's Operations Are Justification And Sanctification:

Justification Is 'His Righteousness Imputed To us' Romans 4:13,16,22,24

Sanctification Is 'God Setting us Apart,' Spiritually Romans 15:16 1 Corinthians 1:2

This is First for those who have "first trusted In Christ, Are Made Accepted In The Beloved, and Were Sealed With That Holy Spirit of Promise, Which is The Earnest of our inheritance until The Redemption of The Purchased possession, To The Praise And Glory Of HIS GRACE" Ephesians 1:6,12,13,14 = The Past tense of God's Eternal Salvation

And Then Only After This, occurs the "present and future" tenses of 2 Corinthians 1:10

to be continued in Part II

Basic Distinctions between Prophecy and the Mystery (C.R. Stam) - continued:

8) Prophecy mainly concerns nations as such ( Isaiah 2:4; Ezekiel 37:21-22)

Rightly Divided ( 2 Timothy 2:15) From "Things That DIFFER!":

8) The Mystery Concerns individuals ( Romans 10:12-13; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

9) Prophecy concerns blessings, both material and spiritual, on earth ( Isaiah 2:3-4; Isaiah 11:1-9; etc.)

RDf

9) The Mystery Concerns "all spiritual blessings in The Heavenlies" ( Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 3:1-3)

10) Prophecy concerns Christ's Coming to the earth ( Isaiah 59:20; Zechariah 14:4)

RDf

10) The Mystery Explains Christ's absence from the earth ( Ephesians 1:20-24; Colossians 3:1-3)

11) In prophecy, salvation by Grace through faith alone is not contemplated ( Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 23:1-3; Luke 7:29-30; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; James 2:17)

RDf

11) Salvation "By GRACE Through faith" Alone lies at The Very Heart Of The Mystery! ( Romans 3:21-26; Romans 4:5; Ephesians 2:8-9)

12) The proclamation of the prophetic program committed particularly to the twelve ( Matthew 10:5-7; Acts 1:6-8; Acts 3:19-26)

RDf

12) The proclamation of The Mystery program committed particularly to Paul ( Ephesians 3:1-3; Ephesians 3:8-9; Colossians 1:24-27)

13) The prophetic program revealed through many of God's servants Luke 1:70; 2 Peter 1:21)

RDf

13) The Mystery revealed through one man: Paul! ( Galatians 1:1; Galatians 1:11-12; Galatians 2:2; Galatians 2:7; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2-3)

14) Old Testament writers frequently did not understand the prophecies made through them ( Daniel 12:8-10; 1 Peter 1:10-12)

RDf

14) Paul Both understood And longed that others might understand The Mystery revealed through him ( Ephesians 1:15-23; Ephesians 3:14-21; Colossians 1:9-10; Colossians 2:1-3)

{borrowed from "Things That Differ" by C.R. Stam}

Part II (Previous) Gospel of the kingdom

Rightly Divided From ( 2 Timothy 2:15) From "Things That DIFFER!":

Gospel Of The GRACE Of God =

Gospel of the Uncircumcision ( Galatians 2:7; Galatians 6:15; Romans 4:9-11)

Preached first by Paul, then his companions ( Acts 13:38-39; Acts 20:24; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:24)

The Mystery Program for The Gentiles ( Ephesians 3:1-3; Colossians 1:25-27; Romans 16:25)

The preaching of The Cross as Good News ( 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4)

Gospel to be believed = Christ's Work ( Romans 5:6 Romans 5:8 Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Salvation By GRACE Through faith plus nothing ( Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 4:5; Titus 3:5)

Justification by faith without works emphasized ( Romans 3:28; Romans 4:5,16; Galatians 2:16)

Repentance as a synonym for faith ( Acts 17:30; Acts 20:21; Acts 26:20; Romans 2:4)

Involves reconciliation to God and man ( Romans 5:10-11; Romans 11:15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:21)

Covers Paul's letters Romans - Philemon (Also Acts 9-28)

Not under the law ( Romans 5:20-21; Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:6)

----------

IMKane, hope this was helpful answering your Great questions.

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, And Edified!

Kevin: "who specifically is 'God' that raised Christ?"

RESURRECTION By The Triune GODHEAD!:

(1) The LORD JESUS Raised HIMSELF From the dead!: "JESUS Answered And Said Unto them, Destroy This Temple, and in three days I Will Raise It Up!...But HE Spake Of The Temple Of HIS BODY!" ( John 2:19, John 2:21 cp John 10:17-18) +

(2) God, The Father Raised HIS SON From the dead!: "Whom God Hath Raised Up, Having Loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it!" ( Acts 2:24 cp Acts 2:32, Acts 3:15, Acts 3:26, Acts 10:40, Acts 13:30, Acts 13:34, Acts 17:31; Romans 4:24, Romans 6:4, Romans 8:11; Ephesians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 1:21) +

(3) The Holy Spirit Raised The LORD JESUS CHRIST From the dead!: "But if The Spirit Of HIM That Raised Up JESUS From the dead Dwell in you, He That raised up CHRIST from the dead Shall Also Quicken your mortal bodies By HIS Spirit That Dwelleth In you." ( Romans 8:11 cp Acts 2:24, Acts 2:32; 1 Peter 3:18)

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, And Edified!

George,

Technically, faith has always been in existence. The bible tells us in Galatians 5:22 that faith is a fruit of God's Spirit. In other words, a human being cannot produce spiritual faith. There are two types of faith, human faith which every human being has, and then there's faith that the bible speaks of which can only produced by God's Spirit. in our own human effort, we cannot produce spiritual faith. I say that faith has always been in existence because I believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit.

The word faith in the bible comes from the word PEITHO, and it literally means persuasion. It is the presence and activity of God's Spirit in a believer that persuades them to do the things of the Lord. That's what faith is, persuasion! You can ask 10 people to describe faith and what it means, and you will probably get 10 different answers. But if we understand that faith means persuasion, and we say we have faith, what we are saying is that we are under the persuasion (Faith) of God's Spirit. When He persuades us to do something, that's faith!

In Romans Chapter 4, we see Abraham and Sarah were past the age of bearing children, but God made a promise to Abraham and Abraham was persuaded that God would keep His promise as we see in Romans 4:21.

That's what faith is. It's believing God, that if He says it in His word, that He's going to use us as His people, He is perfectly capable and has the ability to do it. We believe God because it is His Spirit in us that persuades us to believe. Faith is not me doing it. That's works. If it's in my own human effort, that's religion and it's works.

If we keep in mind that faith literally means persuasion, once we take that approach, all the frustration of trying get our walk with the Lord right will fade away. The more we trust the Lord to do it (Faith/Persuasion), the better off we will be. When we fully trust in the Lord, God's Spirit moves in a great way!

Jesse said: "a non-believer can become a believer and still not be forgiven. A person has to be born of God's Spirit in order to be forgiven and saved. Belief is important, but belief itself does not bring salvation. Receiving Jesus Christ and being born of His Spirit is what saves a person. With that salvation comes forgiveness."? According To Plain/Clear Scriptures?:

Precious friend, then I must Misunderstand: "Repent, and Believe The Gospel Of The GRACE Of God"? = "Believe On CHRIST, His Death, Burial, and Resurrection, by GRACE Through faith {BELIEF, trust}." ( 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) ( Ephesians 2:5-9)?

I must Misunderstand "trusting CHRIST" In ( Ephesians 1:12)? Also:

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of The LORD, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and BELIEF of The Truth:" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:13)?

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that BELIEVE..." ( Romans 3:22)? compare ( Romans 4:11) ( Romans 4:24) ( 1 Corinthians 1:21) ( Galatians 3:22) ( Ephesians 1:19) ( Philippians 1:29) ( 1 Thessalonians 1:7) ( 1 Thessalonians 2:13) ( 1 Thessalonians 4:14) ( 2 Thessalonians 1:10)

Finally IF I BELIEVE, "but sins are NOT forgiven," how is it that I HAVE Life Everlasting, According To ALL The above Plain And Clear Scriptures About "BELIEF"?:

"Howbeit for this cause I obtained MERCY, that in me first JESUS CHRIST might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter BELIEVE ON HIM to Life Everlasting." ( 1 Timothy 1:16)?

Upon my BELIEF Of Truth, did not The Holy Spirit Baptize ( 1 Corinthians 12:13) me Into The Body Of CHRIST, God "forgiving my sins," in the twinkling of an eye?

Now, IF you are referring to "water baptism for the remission of sins" that is altogether

Another Different Bible study we could pursue, IF you wish...

Respectfully, ChrisE

Hi Lauren.

I feel pretty good with you asking me how to work the site, Because I'm the worst!!!

Most of the time I'm on my smartphone and it keep misspelling my texts.

but if you just put in a verse in this format

Romans 4:13. it will link you to the scripture when you touch on it.

But there's other ways, but someone would have to share that with you and me.

God bless you.

Hey Robert,

Great questions and they are not irrelevant. Asking is good, it is the motive that may not be good. Many questions asked by the scribes and Pharisees were to try and trap Jesus and not to learn the truth.

Those who died before Jesus' death on the cross, were saved because of their faith in the coming messiah. Romans 4: 3-5, Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 11: 1-3. We look back to the cross, those before us looked forward to the cross.

Those who believe in the Messiah, the Christ will be at the Bema Seat of Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:11-16, Acts 4:10-12

God has always had a way for people of all ages to be saved. Ps 19; Luke 16:27-31

Hello Jannelle. This is one of those oft-asked profound questions to which there is no adequate well-informed answer. I think most of us have given this much thought at some point in our Christian walk, so various answers may well be correct.

Even as God has all Power to protect or shield His children from all harm, discomfort & disappointment in life, it seems He often chooses not to do so. Even with the ministry of Jesus to the sick & suffering, or those who died & He raised to life, there was certainly joy amongst them that their life had been restored but does that mean that they didn't have to face struggles, ill-health & calamity the next day? Or, even those in the Church so equipped with the Gift of healing, have certainly restored many to health by the Spirit's Power, yet there was never a complete removal of their other problems that would come to them later on.

So in my understanding, the root cause for our woes is simply because we live in a sin-ravaged corrupt world & living in bodies so affected. Indeed, our spirits might be renewed & refreshed by God's Spirit, & even healing can come to us during that experience & subsequent times in our lives, yet the fact remains, none of us has ever been freed from pain or calamity - Adam & Eve saw to it. And it would be nice if God would wave His Hand over us every time an impending trouble approaches us, but that doesn't happen.

Rather, for the one who has placed his trust in God through His Son, our sufferings, though just as painful as unbelievers might experience, can find a measure of relief, of joy & of perfecting that none else can receive. This is because we are His children - He cares - He gives Grace - He draws us closer to Him - He uses us for others. You can look at these few Scriptures to guide you: Romans 8:18-28; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; John 16:33; Romans 4:1-5; Philippians 4:11-13. In the midst of our suffering, we can always prove the Lord sufficient & gracious to us.

I'm glad I won't be forgiven on the basis that I have forgiven others. That is Law not Grace. We are now forgiven because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He forgave us all our sins, past, present and future. That is Grace. Now we forgive because we were forgiven not to gain forgiveness. The Law was given by Moses. God raised up Paul to preach Grace to Gentiles who were - "with out Christ, being ALIENS from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" Ephesians 2:11-12.

When you read the Bible take note of who it is addressing. We were not told to sacrifice animals, build an ark, keep Jewish holidays, etc. that was under the Law of Moses. We are saved by faith alone. Romans 4:4; Colossians 2:14; Galatians 2:20.

I see a lot of people twist the verse, and say we are on the same level of God? We are on the same level and can do the same things as He? Were is that part of verse? Dear brother and sister it is a ability we dont have. Only God can call things into existence. If we say its ability we have we take scripture out of context. Who wanted to be like God and what happened to him? Be blessed.

Thank you lord for your love you showed in the cross of calvary for my justificatio, thank you my father and my God for your mercy that counted in righteousness!

Hello Skip, I am happy that the Lord in His righteousness continues to cover my sin, even today. I am glad that I still have the opportunity to look by faith and be led by His Holy Spirit. However, I remain in the flesh and my flesh remains in this life, in time. Eternity is at the end of the race for my body, though my soul now has entered into his rest by faith. But more rest is to come for a changed body into immortality to match the peace of my soul in eternity.

These verses speak to me related to our discussion.

2 Peter 3:10

1 Timothy 5:24

Romans 4:25

No, you cannot lose your salvation, here is why:

1. We are washed from our sins by the blood of Christ. Rev. 1:5

2. We are justified or acquitted from all guilt. Rom. 5:1; Tit 3-7

3. We receive the forgiveness of all sins. Col 1:14; 2:13

4. We are redeemed or purchased by God through the blood of

Christ. I Pet. 1:18; Heb. 9:12

5. We are born again spiritually into God's family. John 1:12; 3:3-5;

Gal 3:26; I John 5:1

6. Our sins are not imputed unto us. Romans 4:8 Romans 5:13 7. We are given eternal life and shall never perish. John 10:28; I

John 5:11-13

8. We are reconciled or restored to a right relationship with God. II

Cor. 5:18; Col 1:21

9. We are made the righteousness of God. II Cor. 5:21

10. We receive the Holy Spirit. I Cor. 6:19; I John 4:13

11. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit to the day of redemption. Eph.

1:13-14; I John 4:13; II Cor. 1:22

12. We are anointed by God with the Holy Spirit. II Cor. 1:22; I John

2:27

13. We are placed into the body of Christ. I Cor. 12:13,27

14. Our bodies become the members of Christ. I Cor. 6:15; Eph 5:30

15. We become one spirit with the Lord Jesus. I Cor. 6:17

16. God becomes the owner of our body and spirit. I Cor. 6:20

17. We are placed into Christ and found "in Him". John 14:20

18. We are risen with Christ to life. Col 2:12-13; 3:1

19. We are adopted as sons of God. Eph. 1:5; Rom 8:15

20. We enter into the grace of God. Rom 5:1-2

21. We are delivered from darkness and Satanic power. Col 1:13;

Eph. 5:8; Acts 26:18

22. We are placed into the kingdom of Christ. Col 1:13

23. We have been spiritually healed. I Pet. 2:24; Acts 28:27

24. We are chosen in Christ to be blameless before Him Eph. 1:4

25. We are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. Rom 8:29

26. We are elect according to the foreknowledge of God. I Pet. 1:2

27. We are perfected or made complete forever. Heb. 10:14

28. We are preserved or kept safe in Christ Jesus. Jude 1; II Tim.

4:18 29. God forgets all our sins forever. Heb. 10:17

30. We are s

looking for scripture :call that which is as it is not

Don't let anyone judge you; you are the only one one earth, YOU. Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" If you have believed the Gospel that Paul preached in 1st Corinthians 15:3,4, you have the righteousness of Christ. Romans 3:22 "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:" Plus: all your past sins, present sins, and future sins were forgiven when you believe the Gospel. Did you believe this Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" If you did believe that, you are Perfect, Colossians 2:10 "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:" Sins are not imputed once you are saved, but righteousness is; Romans 4:23-24 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;" Let me hear from you.

Neither. I understand that the crucifixion & resurrection of Jesus was for the forgiveness of our past sins & removal of them that were held to our account. Hebrews 10:16,17: "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." And, Romans 4:25: "Who (Jesus) was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Our sins placed on Jesus at the Cross have been taken away, no longer imputed to us & we remain justified (i.e. to be declared not guilty, absolved, acquitted) from any further recourse or punishment. When God looks at us, He sees us IN Christ & clothed in His Righteousness (& not our own which could only condemn us).

Salvation, I believe is a once only event that was accomplished at the Cross & received through full faith in that Work. It can't be undone or re-given: we're either saved or not, or else, we show that we despise this great Work & count it of little worth. What you wrote, "that Salvation is a process of maturing in the spirit of Christ", I see that as the ongoing filling Work of the Spirit, as we continue to empty ourselves of that which hinders His Work. And when we do, He reveals to us more of Jesus, endeavouring to make us more like Him in every way. ( Ephesians 3:19, 5:18).

Harold Denley,

"what does the word circumcision mean i dont understand what it talking about?"

Genesis 17:9-13, The rite was a sign of the covenant between God and the children of Abraham. In Romans 3 Paul is stating that while there was an advantage of God revealing himself through the children of Israel, it was not a guarantee of their being right with him in their hearts and truely having faith. Romans 4:8-14 is where Paul reminds us that Abraham was promised blessing and God continues to be faithful to that promise, because his true heirs live by faith also, not in the letter of laws and rites.

Greetings, Morton, on this Lord's Day.

"The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest." Isa 34:14

In this verse is a Hebrew word that is difficult to understand, that the King James scholars translated, "screech owl." This word is lylyth. This word is related to another Hebrew word, laylah, "night."

This is one of those places in The Bible that is very difficult to understand. But keep this in mind:

The MAIN things are the PLAIN things.

There is no doubt about Jesus and what He did when He "was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Romans 4:25.

Romans 4:16-22

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (verse 7 Jesus said)- Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye MUST be born again.

Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.(Not because he is a Jew)

Galations 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham BELIEVED God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

FAITH IS NOT WHO YOU ARE BLACK, WHITE, NATIONALITY HAS NO EFFECT ON BEING A HEIR WITH CHRIST BUT BY GRACE WE ARE SAVED BY/THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

Romans 10:9-10 should help.

You are saved by grace through faith in Christ through the gospel and not of your own works, otherwise Christ would be dead in vain. Check out galatians as well.

Romans 4:4-5 too

Thanks Robert for your detailed explanation. I can only deal with one aspect of what you have said & that is on the verses that show the Christ Jesus is now risen & is seated at God's right Hand. I've checked the Greek in each of the cited verses, & they show a physical position of 'sitting' (kathemenos), at the 'right hand' (dexion), & of 'God' (Theos).

You have written: "Explanation = "right hand of God" is an idiomatic expression that means "Power" or "Authority", not location". How have you arrived at this 'explanation', given that the original language specifically states that Jesus' position is 'seated', 'at God's right Hand', & beside 'God', which you state He's no longer there, because Jesus is now God?

An idiom is something quite different: such as "hang one's head (in shame)", or to "kick the bucket", where clearly it is an expression to attract a response, an action. That Christ rose in victory over death & for our justification before God is seen in Romans 4:24,25: "But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." By transliteration: 'To us also, that our faith shall be imputed for righteousness (v 22), if we believe on God Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, being delivered for our sins & raised that we might be justified by God'.

And then in Hebrews 10:12: "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God". The same thought is expressed that Christ rose from the dead by God's Power & took up his rightful place at the Father's right Hand. This can't be an idiomatic expression, as the existence of the Person of God is present, who raised Jesus from the dead, God had to be fully satisfied (Christ was our propitiation for sins) & God could only then justify us - no other event could secure us. God is present & Jesus at His right Hand receiving worship.

I think you may be seeking clarification of Romans 14:5,6 to a similar passage in Galatians 4:9,10.

As both of Paul's letters are to believers, I read the Galatians portion as applying to some who wanted to observe those aspects of the Jewish religious requirements as necessary, as opposed to the freedom believers now have in Christ, in Romans 14.

In Galatians, Paul speaks of the Jewish customs & observances (of special days & times) that were required for the performance of their religion. This went part & parcel with a strict & correct observance, & any departure from it, brought displeasure & punishment.

But when one is "in Christ", we have no such constraints placed upon us, as we look into the "perfect law of liberty" because Christ, in His Sacrifice, not only brought us a glorious salvation from sin's penalty, but also released us from the bondage to anything else (whether a Law, custom, or tradition), so that we may enjoy the liberty that comes with faith in Christ & being led of His Spirit in our lives. So in Romans 4:5,6, Paul is reminding the believers there that they are free to observe any day they wished or eat anything they desired, for they were no longer under legal constraint, but under the dictates of the conscience, as those now belonging to Jesus. And of course, the reason for Paul bringing up this matter, was the concern about a judgemental attitude, which would be prevalent especially by those coming out of Judaism & who believed that the 'old' observances were still necessary to live as a Christian. And we know that the Apostle Peter too failed momentarily in this matter of behaviour in front of Jews ( Galatians 2:11-16).

We are never to judge another, except to proclaim the Word accurately to one who is failing or departing from the teachings from the Word. Therefore, whether in our mind or action against them, we are to desist, but by loving instruction guide or warn them, leaving the matter of the soul's condition only to the Lord.

I thank you for God's word released into my life, at such a time as this