A Few Thoughts on Romans 9

Before finishing the next part in Romans, I wanted to study Romans 9 before consulting commentaries, theological articles, etc. in order to understand the primary meaning of the passage. I’m not finished, but I thought I would post this until I have time to study it more.

Definitions

B1 Foreknowledge

C1 Secular dictionary: Knowledge or awareness of something before its existence or occurrence; prescience. [Source]

C2 Theological/biblical dictionary

D1 Most have a Calvinistic redefining as knowing the future before it happens, but it also has the idea of a predetermined plan.

D2 It is hard to find anything honest.

C3 Greek word with examples

D1 The Greek word is πρόγνωσις prógnōsis. It is used 2 times in the New Testament.

D2 It means to know before something happens.

D3 It is an attribute of God. Personally, I think it is near blasphemy to believe that God does not have foreknowledge as it is commonly defined. To have it mean “prearrangement” (Source) or When the Bible speaks of God’s foreknowledge it means more than merely that he knows what will happen. Usually God’s foreknowledge is linked with God’s purpose, which means that it is often the same as his pre-determined will (Source) takes away from the simple idea that God truly knows the future before it happens instead of predetermining it. Having a plan is different than predetermining a plan and rendering it certain. Foreknowledge is not causative. See Ed Jarrett, “Arminianism: Foreknowledge, Predestination and Election” This article also addresses some point in this topic of Romans 9.

D4 Bible verses:

E1 How can this verse have foreknowledge mean predetermined? ...according to God’s determined plan and predetermined purpose? Acts 2:23 CSB Though he was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail him to a cross and kill him.

E2 1 Peter 1:2 CSB according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

B2 Predestination

C1 Secular dictionary: previous determination as if by destiny or fate [Source]

C2 Theological/biblical dictionary: Divine predestination means that God has a purpose that is determined long before it is brought to pass. It implies that God is infinitely capable of planning and then bringing about what he has planned… [Source]

C3 Greek word with examples

D1 The Greek word is προορίζω proorízō. It means to decide beforehand. It is used 6 times in the New Testament.

D2 Bible verses (Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29-30, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:5, and Ephesians 1:11)

E1 Romans 8:29-30 NIV For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

E2 Ephesians 1:5 NIV he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Side note topic on Romans 9

B1 We know

C1 God knew the outcome of these two boys before birth

C2 Note that it was before they had done any good or evil

C3 A prophecy was given to Rebecca that older will serve younger

B2 God had a purpose

C1 A choosing not based on works but on God’s call

C2 Teaches us that just because both are sons of Isaac does NOT mean both are chosen. One is the chosen, Jacob, the younger. The DNA relationship does not effect spiritual outcome. God foreknows the future. His foreknowledge is truly knowing the future, not decreeing the future and having a perfect memory for what was decreed. Truly knowing the future is a character trait of God.

B3 We see a hardening

C1 Hardening is not for heaven or hell, salvation or damnation.

C2 It appears to be related to a decision on the part of individuals towards God and His ways instead of an arbitrary decision based on some secret will of God.

C3 Romans 11:25 NIV I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,

C4 Ephesians 4:18 NIV They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

B3 Romans 9:15-16 NIV For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

C1 Why does God show mercy?

D1 Asking God for mercy:

E1 Isaiah 55:6-7 NIV Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

E2 Seeking God’s help: Daniel 2:18 NLT He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.

E3 Psalm 4:1, Psalm 9:3, Psalm 25:16, etc.

D2 Humility:

E1 Pharaoh did not humble himself, so he was given no mercy: Exodus 10:3 NIV So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.

E2 Daniel did humble himself, so he was given mercy. Daniel did not merit this mercy of answered prayer, but it was a condition for receiving God’s mercy: Daniel 10:12 NIV Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

D3 Truth: Matthew 9:13 NLT Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.

D4 Showing mercy to others: Matthew 5:7 NIV Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

D5 A contrast of one who does not seek God’s mercy and one who does. One depends on what he does; the other depends on his plea for mercy. Luke 18:9-14 NIV To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

C2 Why doesn’t God show mercy?

D1 Not seeking God’s help and trusting Him: Isaiah 27:11 NLT The people are like the dead branches of a tree, broken off and used for kindling beneath the cooking pots. Israel is a foolish and stupid nation, for its people have turned away from God. Therefore, the one who made them will show them no pity or mercy.

D2 Seeking false gods and sinful pleasures: Jeremiah 16:5, 10-12 NLT This is what the LORD says: "Do not go to funerals to mourn and show sympathy for these people, for I have removed my protection and peace from them. I have taken away my unfailing love and my mercy. ... 10 "When you tell the people all these things, they will ask, 'Why has the LORD decreed such terrible things against us? What have we done to deserve such treatment? What is our sin against the LORD our God?' 11 "Then you will give them the LORD's reply: 'It is because your ancestors were unfaithful to me. They worshiped other gods and served them. They abandoned me and did not obey my word. 12 And you are even worse than your ancestors! You stubbornly follow your own evil desires and refuse to listen to me.

D3 Concealing sins instead of confessing them: Proverbs 28:13 NLT People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

D4 Not showing mercy to others: Exodus 1:13 NLT So the Egyptians worked the people of Israel without mercy.

D5 Refusing to give God credit for what He has done, does, and will do, and also, not being thankful for what He has done.

E1 Romans 1:21 NIV For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

E2 Punishment starts here: Romans 1:24 NIV Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

D6 Hardening their hearts (resisting the Holy Spirit [Acts 7:51] and refusing to believe [Numbers 14:11 NIV version and John 10:26 NET version]): Psalm 95:7-11 NET For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him! 8 He says, "Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors challenged my authority, and tried my patience, even though they had seen my work. 10 For forty years I was continually disgusted with that generation, and I said, 'These people desire to go astray; they do not obey my commands.' 11 So I made a vow in my anger, 'They will never enter into the resting place I had set aside for them.

D7 It is a principle of God. The punishment God gives is frequently delusion. God is the God of truth. When truth is rejected, people turn to imagination, a lie that they believe is truth. We note this today in that for many people truth is their personal opinion. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 NIV For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

D7 Pride

E1 Proverbs 16:5 NIV The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

E2 Luke 18:14 NLT I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

C3 Why did Jacob receive mercy but Esau did not?

D1 Jacob confessed sins (it took until he was an old man), built an altar, believed God (shown in that he obeyed God), etc.

D2 Esau did none of the above.

C4 Why do some receive mercy today?

D1 After God initiates salvation, some do not resist God. They believe God, obey God (repent and believe the Gospel [Mark 1:14-15]), place their trust into Jesus alone (Acts 4:12). The others resist because of pride and love of sinful pleasures.

D2 It is not the secret will of God. God wants all people to repent.

E1 Acts 17:30 NIV In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

E2 Real repentance is seen by a change of life in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds: Acts 26:20 NIV First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.

D3 Belief that God (Yahweh) exists:

E1 Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

E2 Exodus 5:2 NIV Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.

D4 God shows mercy to all but most resist and refuse to believe: Romans 11:30-32 NLT Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31 Now they are the rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.

C5 God has a purpose as well for choosing. Consider:

What was/is God’s purpose in election; what is his purpose for choosing people? 1 Peter 2:9-10 gives at least a partial answer to that.

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. – 1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV

We are a chosen, or elect, people so that we can declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness and into his light. In the parable of the wedding banquet, who was it that would be praising the king who had invited them? It was the chosen ones. But would they praise because they were chosen, or were they chosen because they were the ones who would praise him? It is likely that it is the later; the ones not chosen couldn’t be bothered to come and were likely not inclined to praise the king. (Source)

C6 I believe that God created humans to have fellowship with Him and to serve Him forever. God does NOT need fellowship. It seems that He enjoys it.

D1 1 Corinthians 1:9 CSB God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

D2 2 Corinthians 13:13 CSB The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

D3 1 John 1:3 CSB what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Daily Devotions

While I’m studying but not ready to post yet, I thought I’d share how I do my personal Bible devotions.

This takes 3 years.

In the morning, read from the morning column, and in the evening, read from the evening column. Weekends are a time for reflection of what you have read. Use the study guide to journal for reading, thinking, studying, and applying the passage.

The table (not produced here) has a morning reading and an evening reading. The morning reading is 1 chapter in the Old Testament. The evening reading is 1 chapter from the New Testament. It takes almost 3 years to finish the Old Testament and in that time the New Testament is read through 3 times.

1. Pray that God would give you understanding of the passage you read.
2. Use a notebook or software notebook to record your studies. I use linux and my notebook is cherrytree. They have a Windows version, too.
3. Take at least 15 minutes to read and study.
4. Read the sentence slowly.
5. Pay attention to the prepositional phrases.
6. When you are done, thank God for the things you have learned.
7. Share your findings with others.

Questions to ask in your personal Bible study

• What does this mean?
• Why is this chapter in the Bible?
• What is God teaching us?
• How do I apply this to my life?
• What do we learn about God?
• What do we learn about humans?
• What do I learn about me?

An example of the template I use in cherry tree for writing some of my thoughts is this:

MORNING

Exodus 9

What does this mean?


How do I apply this to my life?

EVENING

Luke 15

What does this mean?


How do I apply this to my life?



Examples:
19 Nov 19

MORNING

Psalm 15

What does this mean?

Some societal norms that is in the Kingdom of God, and what He wants from us. Human society would be better off living this way.

How do I apply this to my life?

Help me to live this way, O Lord.

EVENING

1 John 1

What does this mean?

John testifies that he has seen and heard Messiah. Fellowship with God is important. One of the reasons John wrote was for their joy to be full. God is complete light, which means there is no darkness in Him. Darkness is evil in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Fellowship with God entails being clean, that is, in light as God is. We cannot be sinless, of course, so we have the Messiah, our Savior, who has the authority and paid for our sins, thus He can forgive us.

How do I apply this to my life?

Forgive me o Lord.

22 Nov 19

MORNING

Psalm 18

What does this mean?

God had delivered David from Saul. In thankfulness, David praises and thanks God. All was lost. He felt that he was going to die. He had no hope. Then, God delivered him. In poetic language describing his fears and God's deliverance.

How do I apply this to my life?

Have hope.

EVENING

1 John 4

What does this mean?

Jesus is THE Messiah. He is God the Son. He is the 100% God and 100% man. This one thing must be freely admitted (confessed) to not be considered a false prophet. Not agreeing with this means agreement with false teachers, false ministers/pastors, false church members, etc. If their doctrine of Christology does not agree with this, they are false believers. These are of the world. They think like the world. They talk like the world. The world is attentive to what they say.

We are to love. God is the source of love. Love is a choice. The actions of love are found primarily 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. God's love for humanity is seen in His sending of Jesus Christ into the world as Messiah. He did not have to do this. Jesus did not have to come. It was a choice motivated by love.

Whoever freely admits that Jesus is the Son of God, is a believer, a Christian. Son of God refers to His deity.

We need to love the way God has shown us how to love. This is the way God loves us.

How do I apply this to my life?

Help me, O Lord. Please give me strength.

As you see, I don’t spend much effort in spelling or grammar.

1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part D+15 Blessings given by the Holy Spirit

B5 Teaching about sanctification 6:1-8:39

C1 Freedom from sin

D1 In our sin nature, we are addicted to sin. It is the master, we are the slave.

D2 A result of salvation is that we died with the Lord Jesus. He died, and we died with Him. He rose, and we will rise with Him. Even now, we are risen into new life. Free from enslavement to sin. We still sin, because we still have the flesh, but in time that flesh will be dead, too.

D3 We are to live as freed people. We are freed from death, sin, and the world’s system (worldview and lifestyle).

D4 We are not to let sin, the sinful desires of the flesh, the worldview of the flesh, nor the lifestyle of the flesh to rule us. We are not to obey.

D5 God gives His grace to help us.

E1 James 1:12 WEL Blessed [is] the man who patiently endures temptation, for when he has passed the test, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him.

E2 Hebrews 2:18 NIV Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

E3 Let us remember Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:3-4 ISV Peter asked, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you should lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back some of the money you got for the land? 4 As long as it remained unsold, wasn't it your own? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? So how could you have conceived such a thing in your heart? You did not lie to men but to God!”

E4 God’s grace has given us the Armor of God to help us (Ephesians 6:10-20).

D6 We fail many times, but we must resist.

D7 God teaches us, reminds us, and chastens us we are now free from sin.

D8 Romans 6:12-14 WEL Therefore, sin must not rule your mortal body by obeying its evil desires, 13 Neither give any part of your body as tools to sin, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and all of your body as righteous tools for God. 14 For sin must not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.

C2 Freedom from sin illustrated

D1 Law, especially Mosaic law, only has authority over the living.

D2 Illustrated by marriage law.

E1 God’s ideal is once married, always married until death.

E2 There are reasons for divorce, but God’s perfect plan is no divorce.

E3 When a spouse dies, the law of marriage is dissolved, and the surviving spouse is free to marry.

E4 We have died with Messiah and are free from the law of sin (addiction to sin).

E5 Romans 7:6 NLT But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

C3 Purpose of the Law

D1 To make clear what God’s law is and when we have broken the law. God’s law is THE standard. God is King of the Universe. The 10 Commandments are 10 categories/sets of God’s law. God’s law reveals our true sinful nature. Romans 7:7 NLT Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, "You must not covet.

D2 The Law is the teacher and guardian until Christ. Now, Jesus is our teacher: Galatians 4:23-25 WEL But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut away from the faith, which would later be revealed. 24 So then the law was our schoolmaster until Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

D3 Romans 7:8-11 teaches us that we thought we would be considered good, but God’s law shows us that we are evil.

D4 Romans 7:13-14. It is not the Law that is evil; it is us.

D5 To show the completely hopeless enslavement of the flesh to sin. Flesh refers to the worldview and lifestyle of sinful desires.

E1 The flesh of the physical body is a wonder of design.

E2 The desires of the flesh as hunger, thirst, rest, etc. is good, but it must be in its proper use. It is when we are outside God’s laws and purposes that we are in conflict with God’s laws.

E3 Sometime flesh refers to the flesh of the body, which is of amazing design and engineering

F1 Psalm 139:13-14 NLT You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

F2 John 1:14 PickNT So the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we observed His glory, glory of an Only-begotten, from the Father, full of grace and truth.

E4 At other time flesh refers to the “flesh” lifestyle, which is described as evil

F1 Romans 8:1 PickNT Now then, there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit,

F2 Galatians 5:17 NKJV For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Another version: Galatians 5:17 NLT The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

C4 Two worldviews and lifestyles contrasted

D1 The one termed “flesh”

E1 Flesh in this sense is the opposite of “spirit” and fights “spirit.”

E2 First list of examples: Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious. They are adultery, sexual sins, moral corruption, unrestrained lust, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, provoking jealousy, hot anger, pushing to be first, selfish scheming, dissensions, heresy, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, wild partying, and so on, about which I have told you before, and as I have also told you in the past that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

E3 Second list: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.

E4 Third: 1 John 2:16 NIV For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

D2 The one termed “spirit”

E1 This is the opposite of “flesh” and fights “flesh.”

E2 First list of examples: Galatians 5:22-23 WEL But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

E3 Second list: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never ends,

C5 A list of blessings given by the Holy Spirit

D1 Freedom from the law of sin (being addicted to sin) and freedom from death: Romans 8:2 NIV because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

D2 Life and peace: Romans 8:6 NIV The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

D3 Our regenerated heart (new birth) is the temple of the Holy Spirit: Romans 8:9 NIV You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

D4 Life instead of death: Romans 8:10 NIV But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

D5 Promise of a coming resurrection to new body (like Jesus had after His resurrection): Romans 8:10 NIV But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

D6 Leads (this is not a mystical leading): Romans 8:10 NIV But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

D7 Does NOT make us slaves: Romans 8:10 NIV But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

D8 An assurance of salvation: Romans 8:16 NIV The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

D9 Heirs of God (joint heirs with the Lord Jesus): Romans 8:17 NIV Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

D10 Freedom from the bondage of decay: Romans 8:21 NIV that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

D11 Hope: Romans 8:24-25 NIV For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

D12 The Holy Spirit helping our weakness and helping us in prayer: Romans 8:26 NIV In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

D13 Everything working our for good: Romans 8:28 NIV And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

D14 God being for us, not against us: Romans 8:31 NIV What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

D15 Not separated from the Christ’s love: Romans 8:35 NIV Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

1 Year Through the Bible Series—Romans Part C+23 Benefits of Salvation

B4 Teaching about salvation 3:21-5:21

C1 Salvation

D1 Not by following Mosaic law, which must a been a difficult thing for religious Jews.

E1 Jesus made this clear: John 7:19 NLT Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me."

E2 Romans 8:3 NLT The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

D2 Not by being a descendant of Abraham: Matthew 3:9 NLT Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.

D3 Not by being a “good” person: Romans 3:10 As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous—not even one.

D4 Salvation is a gift by believing God and calling on His name. We trust into Jesus alone. Frequently the words “call on the name of the Lord” refers to asking God to save from sins, to have mercy and forgiveness.

E1 Luke 18:13 BSB But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

E2 1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

E3 Romans 4:3 WEB For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Genesis 15:6]

D5 There are those who teach that faith (believing for salvation) is a work. The Scriptures clearly have that this is absolutely wrong. Romans 4:4-5 ISV Now to someone who works, wages are not considered a gift but an obligation. 5 However, to someone who does not work, but simply believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.

D6 Abraham was saved by believing God, not keeping Mosaic law. Mosaic didn’t exist in Abraham’s lifetime.

C2 God acknowledges our faith and justifies us.

D1 Justification is a complete work by the God. It brings us into fellowship and peace with God.

D2 Either we are punished for our sins or another is. The other person must offer freely and be sinless, else he/she would have to die for their own sin. Jesus Christ is the only human that qualifies.

E1 Human:

F1 Matthew 1:21 NLT And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

F2 John 1:14 NLT So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

F3 1 Timothy 2:5 NLT For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

F4 1 John 4:2 NIV This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

E2 Sinless: 1 Peter 2:22 NLT He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.

E3 He is our Passover Lamb: 1 Corinthians 5:7 NLT Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

E4 His shed blood wrought salvation:

F1 Hebrews 9:22 NIV In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

F2 Colossians 1:20 NIV and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

D3 He paid for our sins in atonement of His shed blood. He saves us from God’s wrath and eternal punishment of hell (the Lake of Fire, Revelation 20:15).

D4 Sin entered the world because of Adam’s sin, not Eve’s sin: Romans 5:12-14 ISV Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to everyone, because all have sinned. 13 Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death ruled from the time of Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. He is a type of the one who would come.

D5 Everything of salvation is because of Jesus Christ.

E1 Forgiveness of sins: Colossians 1:14 NASB in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

E2 Peace with God: Romans 5:1 NASB Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

E3 Reconciliation with God: Romans 5:11 NASB And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

E4 The Holy Spirit: Acts 2:38 NASB Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

E5 Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 NASB But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

E6 Eternal life: Romans 6:23 NLT For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

E7 Rewards for serving God: these are the crowns given (2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, etc.)

E8 Healing the brokenhearted: Luke 4:18 PickNT The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He has anointed me to evangelize poor people. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to captives and recovery of sight to blind people, to send those who are oppressed out in freedom,

E9 Freedom from the fear of death: Hebrews 2:14-15 NASB Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

E10 Joy in heaven: Luke 15:7 NLT In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven't strayed away!

E11 Fellowship

F1 With other believers

G1 Family of God: 1 John 3:9 NLT Those who have been born into God's family do not make a practice of sinning, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they are children of God.

G2 Sharing: Acts 2:42 NLT All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.

F2 With God

G1 Holy Spirit: 2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

G2 With the Godhead (Trinity): 1 John 1:3 NLT We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

G3 Jesus, God the Son: 1 John 5:20 NLT And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

E12 A witness of God’s goodness to us: Luke 8:39 MEV Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” So he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

E13 Adopted into God’s family: Ephesians 1:5 NLT God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

E14 God’s love: Romans 8:38-39 MEV For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, 39 neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

E16 Assurance of salvation: 1 John 5:13 NASB These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

E17 Resurrection (Much of 1 Corinthians 15 teaches us about resurrection): 1 Corinthians 15:42 NLT It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.

E18 A protection from the enemy: Ephesians 6:17 NLT Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

E19 Hope: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NIV But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

E20 Holy: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

E21 The assistance of God’s holy angels: Hebrews 1:14 NLT Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

E22 A Christian lifestyle. This is the lifestyle of God’s kingdom.

F1 Based on truth: John 1:17 CSB for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

F2 Based on God’s love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn’t brag about itself, is not haughty, 5 Doesn’t behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn’t easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, 6 Doesn’t rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth, 7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, calmly endures all things. 8 Love never ends...

F3 Based on God’s holiness:

G1 1 Peter 1:16 CSB for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

G2 Hebrews 12:14 CSB Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.

F4 Based on God’s wisdom: 1 Timothy 1:17 PickNT Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [Pickering adds: Most modern versions, following 2% of the Greek manuscripts (of dubious quality), omit 'wise', leaving 'the only God].

F5 Some characteristics of that lifestyle: Galatians 5:22-23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

E23 A King to serve: Hebrews 12:28 NKJV Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Romans 5:10-11 ISV For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life! 11 Not only that, but we also continue to boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.