In Romans 9:25 Paul quotes Hosea 2:23, and in Romans 9:26 he quotes Hosea 1:10. The background is that God instructed Hosea to take “a wife of whoredoms” (Hos. 1:2) as an illustration of God’s relationship with Israel, because the nation had gone after strange gods. The children born to this marriage were given names signifying God’s rejection and punishment of idolatrous Israel. … Continue reading –>
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:8-9). Read Romans 9:17-24. Given what we have read so far, how are we to understand Paul’s … Continue reading –>
“It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Rom. 9:12-13). As stated in the introduction for this week, it is impossible to understand Romans chapter 9 properly until one recognizes that Paul is not speaking of individual salvation. He is … Continue reading –>
“And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Exod. 19:6). God needed a missionary people to evangelize a world steeped in paganism, darkness, and idolatry. He chose the Israelites and revealed Himself to them. He planned that … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Romans 9. Memory Text: “Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth” (Romans 9:18). Is it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. . . . For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy . . ., and I will … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “The plan of salvation does not offer believers a life free from suffering and trial this side of the kingdom. On the contrary, it calls upon them to follow Christ in the same path of self-denial and reproach. . . . It is through such trial and persecution that the character of Christ is … Continue reading –>
How does Paul describe the new relationship in Christ? Rom. 8:15. What hope is found in this promise for us? How do we make it real in our lives? The new relationship is described as freedom from fear. A slave is in bondage. He lives in a state of constant fear of his master. He stands to … Continue reading –>
His name was Hiroo Onoda. In 1944, at the age of 23, this young Japanese soldier began one of the strangest odysseys in all of history. For twenty-nine years he lived, dreamed, planned, and struggled under the illusion that he was at war – a war that had long ago ended. Living deep in the recesses … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: Christ made victory over sin possible for those who believe, not as a means of salvation, but as its result. Lesson 9, December 2, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read Romans 8:1. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. b. What does … Continue reading –>
No condemnation. After last week’s lesson on Romans 7 about how wretched Paul felt his sinful life to be, what has changed with the new chapter? Do you agree that Romans 8 is refreshing and reviving? By contrast, what will Romans 7 do to us if we stumble from a full commitment to Jesus Christ? … Continue reading –>
Our study this week opened with the first paragraph giving us: Hymn 294, “Power in The Blood” – “freedom and victory through Jesus Christ”. Sunday’s lesson shows us that we surrender to Jesus: Hymn 309, “I Surrender All”. Once again we are reminded of Power In The Blood. This idea comes to us again in … Continue reading –>
Paul continues his theme, contrasting the two possibilities that people face in how they live: either according to the Spirit – that is, the Holy Spirit of God, which is promised to us – or according to their sinful and carnal natures. One leads to eternal life, the other to eternal death. There is no … Continue reading –>
