Read Romans 5:13-14. What is Paul teaching us here about the law? What is Paul talking about here? The phrase “until the law” is paralleled with the statement “from Adam to Moses.” He is talking about the time in the world from Creation to Sinai, before the formal introduction of the rules and laws of the Israelite system, … Continue reading –>
Death is an enemy, the ultimate one. When God created the human family, He designed that its members should live forever. With few exceptions humans do not want to die; and those who do, do so only after the greatest personal anguish and suffering. Death goes against our most basic nature. And that’s because from … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 5:6-8. What does this passage tell us about the character of God, and why is it so full of hope for us? When Adam and Eve shamefully and inexcusably transgressed the divine requirement, God took the first steps toward reconciliation. Ever since, God has taken the initiative in providing a way of salvation and … Continue reading –>
Read Romans 5:1-5. On the lines below summarize Paul’s message. What can you take from that for yourself now? “Being justified” is literally “having been justified.” The Greek verb represents the action as being completed. We have been declared righteous, or regarded as righteous, not through any deeds of law but through our having accepted Jesus … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Romans 5 Memory Text: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). Paul has established the point that justification, or acceptance … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Christ the Center of the Message”, p. 388, in Selected Messages, book 1; “The Call of Abraham”, pages 125-127; “The Law and the Covenants,” pages 363, 364, in Patriarchs and Prophets; “The Sermon on the Mount,” pages 307, 308; “Controversy,” p. 608; “ ‘It Is Finished,’ ” pages 762, 763, in The Desire of Ages. “To him that worketh … Continue reading –>
We often hear folk say that in the New Covenant the law has been abolished, and then they proceed to quote texts that they believe prove that point. The logic behind that statement, however, isn’t quite sound, nor is the theology. Read 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 3:4, and Romans 3:20. What do these texts tell us about … Continue reading –>
As we saw yesterday, Paul showed that God’s dealings with Abraham proved that salvation comes through the promise of grace and not through law. Therefore, if the Jews wished to be saved, they would have to abandon trust in their works for salvation and accept the Abrahamic promise, now fulfilled in the coming of the … Continue reading –>
It was 500 years ago this day that Martin Luther hung his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg church. How fascinating that the subject for today also gets right to the heart of salvation by faith. In Romans 4:13, “promise” and “law” are contrasted. Paul is seeking to establish an Old Testament background for … Continue reading –>
The issue Paul is dealing with here is much more than just theology. It gets to the heart and soul of salvation and of our relationship to God. If one believes that he or she must earn acceptance-that he or she must reach a certain standard of holiness before being justified and forgiven-then how natural … Continue reading –>
