Chapter One
ROMANS 1:31
31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless,
ruthless. 32 Although they know God's
righteous decree that those who do such
things deserve death, they not only continue
to do these very things but also
approve of those who practice them.
God's Righteous Judgment
2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you
who pass judgment on someone else,
for at whatever point you judge the other,
you are condemning yourself, because
you who pass judgment do the same
things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment
against those who do such things is
based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere
man, pass judgment on them and yet do
the same things, do you think you will
escape God's judgment? 4 Or do you show
contempt for the riches of his kindness,
tolerance and patience, not realizing that
God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness
and your unrepentant heart, you are
storing up wrath against yourself for the
day of God's wrath, when his righteous
judgment will be revealed. 6 God "will
give to each person according to what he
has done." 7 To those who by persistence
in doing good seek glory, honor andimmortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But
for those who are self-seeking and who
reject the truth and follow evil, there will
be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble
and distress for every human being
who does evil: first for the Jew, then for
the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace
for everyone who does good: first for the
Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does
not show favoritism.
12 All who sin apart from the law will
also perish apart from the law, and all
who sin under the law will be judged by
the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the
law who are righteous in God's sight, but
it is those who obey the law who will be
declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when
Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by
nature things required by the law, they
are a law for themselves, even though
they do not have the law, 15 since they
show that the requirements of the law
are written on their hearts, their consciences
also bearing witness, and their
thoughts now accusing, now even de-fending
them.) 16 This will take place on
the day when God will judge men's
secrets through Jesus Christ, as my
gospel declares.
The Jews and the Law
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if
you rely on the law and brag about your
relationship to God; 18 if you know his will
and approve of what is superior because
you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are
convinced that you are a guide for the
blind, a light for those who are in the
dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a
teacher of infants, because you have in
the law the embodiment of knowledge
and truth-21 you, then, who teach others,
do you not teach yourself? You who
preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that people should not
commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you rob
temples? 23 You who brag about the law,
do you dishonor God by breaking the
law? 24 As it is written: "God's name is
blasphemed among the Gentiles because
of you."
25 Circumcision has value if you
observe the law, but if you break the law,
you have become as though you had not
been circumcised. 26 If those who are not
circumcised keep the law's requirements,
will they not be regarded as though they
were circumcised? 27 The one who is not
circumcised physically and yet obeys the
law will condemn you who, even though
you have the written code and circumcision,
are a lawbreaker.
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one
outwardly, nor is circumcision merely
outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a
Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision
is circumcision of the heart, by the
Spirit, not by the written code. Such a
man's praise is not from men, but from
God.
God's Faithfulness
3 What advantage, then, is there in
being a Jew, or what value is there in
circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First
of all, they have been entrusted with the
very words of God.
Topic: Understanding Our World
Romans 1:16
Activating faith
All the members of his family gathered
around Mark's hospital bed as he took his last
breath. Neither they nor the best doctors in
the world could save him. Death was just too
powerful.
Apart from God's power, there is no
greater force in the world than death. Because
of the impact of sin on humanity, we all came
into this world spiritually dead (separated
from God). The only way out of this condition
is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The gospel refers to God's actions in history,
when his Son Jesus lived an obedient life
and chose to die on the cross, paying the price
for humanity's sin. Thus Jesus broke the power
of death and was resurrected to offer new life,
God's life, to all who choose to believe he did
this for them.
The unrelenting power of physical death
through cancer won the battle for Mark's
body, but death had lost its sting. Because of
his faith in the gospel, Mark was full of resurrection
life. He simply shed his outward shell,
free at last to be with Jesus entirely. That's the
power of the gospel.
It takes a choice to become a Christian. Are
you certain of resurrection life? Why?
PATH INTRODUCTION
First path article on "Giving Up Rights" found on page 63.
Topic: Giving Up Rights2 Thessalonians 1:15
Jesus, the Supreme Example Many of today's world leaders command huge armed
forces and can launch weapons of mass destruction with a single word. But all their weaponry
combined can't compare to the awesome power of Jesus, the King of Kings. How amazing it is
then that during his earthly ministry Jesus never flaunted this power. He modeled a life of complete
submission, meekness and servanthood.
Some have interpreted this meekness as a sign of weakness, but that's not the case at all!
Meekness is a character trait of strong people who, out of love, surrender their rights to God.
The Greek word for meekness comes from the description of a powerful stallion responding to
the gentle signals of his master.
Jesus was in such complete unity with the Father that he willingly gave up his rights and
power to embrace his Father's will. He said, "I do nothing on my own but speak just what the
Father has taught me" (John 8:28).
So great was his love and trust that even when facing death he could pray, "Not as I will, but
as you will" (Matt. 26:39).
Jesus wants us to have that same relationship of complete love and trust. It's in knowing the
Father's heart that we gain the freedom to embrace His will for our lives. At times, it's difficult to
do that. We cannot fathom what it was like for the Son of God to leave heaven and come into
our sinful world as a man.
While on this planet he gave up the right to be born in a customary manner. We may glamorize
the Nativity in Christmas celebrations, but anyone who has been in a stable knows it is
damp, drafty and reeks of animal dung. Jesus also surrendered his reputation. Many viewed
him as an illegitimate son, raised in a town that was scorned, and yet this very town later
scorned him. The ultimate slur to his reputation came when he, the Son of God, was called a
devil by religious leaders (Matt. 12:24).
Philippians 2:5 says he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. Some servants gave
up their right to freedom out of love, continuing to serve their masters even after they had
completed their term of service. In our modern world, where we love our rights and freedoms,
it is hard to imagine giving them away. But that's exactly what Jesus did for our sakes. His final
surrender was the right to life itself. He became obedient to death on a cross, a death reserved
for common criminals.
This love offering of his own life dealt a crushing blow to the kingdom of darkness. Human
beings were trapped in this evil kingdom, slaves to sin. But Jesus, through his death, not only
provided forgiveness for sins but also broke the power of sin altogether (Romans 6-8).
We can still choose to please ourselves, but we no longer have to. We give up our rights and
say no to self, so we can respond obediently to God.
(Continues.)
