AM July 1st Rom 6

July 1st

Slaves to Christ

15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20: For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21: What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul again reiterates the question at the beginning of the chapter. Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under Grace? And again he says, God forbid. Paul says don’t you know that when we yield ourselves to do sin we become the servant to sin. However l thank God that you were once a servant of sin but now you have obeyed God from the heart the teaching that you received from the Lord. So having been set free from sin you have become slaves to righteousness. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PM June 30th Psa 15

June 30^th           Psalm 15

True Worshippers

1: LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2: He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4: In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5: He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

 

Psalm 16

[1]Michtam of David

(16-41 Christ in the middle of his people)

A Prayer of Confidence

1: Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2: O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; 3: But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. 4: Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. 5: The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6: The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7: I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8: I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9: Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Today in Psalm 15 and 16 we have an insight into the heart of David and the worship of Israel. In Psalm 15 David asks the question as to who can stand living in the tabernacle the place of the presence of God. Then he added who will live in the holy Hill? (This probably has a prophetic tone because in the coming kingdom The Temple of the Lord will be established on the Holy Hill of Zion.) Then David answers his own question, he says He that walks with God uprightly according to the Law. He does righteous works and he speaks the truth in his mind. He does not return bitter words to others nor does he do evil things to his neighbour. And he does not take up a case against his neighbour. He treats vile people with contempt and he gives honour to those who reverence the Lord. When he promises something he will fulfil it even when it proves to be very injurious to himself. He does not lend his money to make more money nor does he take bribes to testify against innocent people. The man who lives like this is unshakeable. The next Psalm, No 16, is called a Micham of David. This means ‘A Golden Psalm’. It is a call by David on the Lord to protect him in the dangerous life that he lived as Gods man. He says preserve me because l am trusting in you. He confesses that his righteousness is not enough for the Lord but that the Lord’s goodness does extend to all those who live holy lives before their Lord. The Lord delights in them. He says those who worship other gods may they have an increase of sorrows. He says l will never offer sacrifices like them nor call on the name of their gods. The LORD, he says, is my inheritance and my cup of joy. You maintain my plot of land. The lots that chose my plot have appointed me to pleasant places. I have a good inheritance. I will bless the LORD who has given me good guidance. He motivates me even in the night. Therefore my heart is full of joy and my glory rejoices in the Lord and one day this old body will come into its rest in the assurance of resurrection to glory. Because you will not allow your holy one to be corrupted by this earth. You will show me the path of life. In your presence of overflowing joy and at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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[1] Or A golden Psalm

AM June 30th Rom 6

June 30th  

Romans,  6

(Sanctification)

We are dead to sin

1: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In this passage Paul talks about the union that believers have in Christ. This passage is not about christian baptism, its about baptism into Jesus Christ in which the believer becomes united to Christ. First, Paul suggests an objection to his teaching. Some might say, If Gods grace abounds more and more to cover all sin then we might as well sin more so that Grace might abound. His response to this devish suggestion is, God forbid. Then he explains why. He asks a question, How shall we Christians, who are dead, to sin live any longer in it? Don’t you know, he says, that we who believe have been baptised into Jesus Christ’s death. We are buried with him in baptism into death that in Christ we might be raised up from the dead by the Glory of God. Therefore we should walk in a new life. If we Christians have been planted into the same death as Christ then we will also live in the same resurrection power. Our old man is crucified in Christ so that the body of our sin might be destroyed and so that we might be free from the ruling power of sin. The person who is dead is free from sin. If we are dead in Christ we will also live in him. We know that Christ is not subject to death any more, death has lost its rule over him. Christ died once but he now lives in resurrection power to God. In a similar way we are to believe that we are also dead to sin but alive to God. We must not let sin rule our lives in the flesh to obey its lusts. Nor must we submit the parts of our body to unrighteous deeds but we are to submit ourselves unto God, as those that are living in a resurrection life. If we walk in the Spirit sin will not dominate our lives. Sin dominated our lives under law but this will not happen under Grace.

PM June 29th Psa 13

June 29^th           Psalm 13

 

A Psalm of David

A Prayer for help

1: How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? 3: Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; 4: Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. 5: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. 6: I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

To the chief musician,

 

Psalm 14

 

A Psalm of David

The sinfulness of man

1: The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2: The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3: They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 4: Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. 5: There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. 6: Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. 7: Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

On this day in June we are reading in Psalm 13 and 14. Both of these Psalms were written by David. In Psalm 13 David calls on the Lord in his time of distress because he feels that the Lord has forsaken him. The salvation of the Lord seems to be a long time in coming and David is getting more and more desperate. He asks how long will l talk to myself and have sadness in my soul every day? And he asks how long will you allow my enemy to rejoice against me? He aks for the Lord to think about him and to shed his light upon his eyes because if not that he will be killed and then his eyes will be shut in the grave. David says do not let my enemy overcome me and be able to rejoice at my downfall. He says they want to hurt me, but l have put my trust in the Lord and my heart will yet rejoice in my salvation. In that day l will sing to the LORD because he has given me so many blessings that l cannot count them all. In Psalm 14 David coments on the foolish men who live as if there is no God. Who become increasingly curupted in their deeds and none of then live righteously. The LORD sees all men and he looks to seek if there are any that truly seek after him. Yet God sees that among the foolish there are none that are holy or that live righteously. He speaks in incredulity – Is there none among those who do works of wickedness that have any knowledge? They devour the people of the Lord as if they are eating bread. And they do not call on the LORD. They will suddenly fall into great fear because God is with the generation of the righteous. The poor have a refuge in the Lord and therefore the wicked will come to shame. If only the salvation of Israel were to come out of Zion when the LORD brings deliverance to his people. In that day Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad.

A Psalm of David

AM June 29th Rom 5

June 29th  

Romans,  5

Peace with God

1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4: And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10: 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. 11: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Christ, the second Adam

12: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14: Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16: And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17: 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.) 18: Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul says we are declared righteous before God on the basis of faith and because of this we are in a state of peace with God through what Christ has accomplished. Because of what Christ has done we are brought into a standing before God characterised by the unmerited kindness of God and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only this we glory in the opposition, we face, because we know that this trouble works patience in our lives and patience brings experience and experience hope in God. And our hope will never be embarrassing because Gods love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which God has given to us. You see, when we were helpless sinners Christ died for us. Most people would not die for a righteous man however perhaps people would die for a good man but God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. But much more than this we are declared righteous by the blood of Christ and therefore we are saved from the wrath of God that is coming. If God has reconciled those that were his enemies by the death of his Son we will most certainly be saved by his life. And even more we are full of the joy of the Lord through Jesus Christ, and in Christ we have received the atonement. Through Adam sin entered into the world and death by sin and so that is why every man dies eventually because all men have sinned. Until the Mosaic Law was given sin existed in the world but sin was not reckoned to men when there was no law. However death dominated the lives of men from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not committed the same sin as Adam had. Through one man’s (Adam) sin all die, but conversely, through one man (Christ) many receive the gift of Gods Grace. Adam committed one sin and through it brought condemnation to all men. But the free gift of God in Christ brings forgiveness of many sins. Death dominated the lives of men through one man but by one other man the abundance of God grace came to all believers who are declared righteous in Jesus Christ. One man brought judgment on all men but the righteousness of God comes on all believers. By Adam’s disobedience many were made sinners, but by the obedience of Christ many are made righteous. The law was given so that men might know how wicked they really are, but where sin abounded the grace of God abounded even more. Just as sin dominated in men’s lives bringing death so the grace of God dominates through righteousness to eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.