TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 16:5-15
When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. - John 16:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of cyclical depression brought on by changes in season and the fewer hours of daylight that come with them. Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite, irritability, anxiety, lack of energy, problems concentrating, and feelings of despair. Thankfully, SAD has a straightforward solution—light. Light therapy, as prescribed by doctors, requires a specialized lamp, usually in the form of a “light box.” The light from the light box must enter a sufferer's eyes to be effective.

Light therapy gives us an apt illustration of spiritual illumination. While we should strive to be accurate handlers of the Word, we're not to trust in our own interpretive abilities or learning, but rather look to the Author for right understanding. This is the Holy Spirit, the Counselor whom Jesus promised His disciples to send (v. 7). To the world, the Spirit has a ministry of conviction of sin in order to bring people to salvation (vv. 8-11; cf. 15:26-27). His mission is to proclaim to unbelievers who Jesus is and what He's accomplished.

Within the community of believers, the ministry of the Holy Spirit focuses on teaching and enabling (vv. 12-15). We cannot “bear” or follow God's commands on our own—we need the Spirit to guide us in the way of truth. Through the apostles, who wrote the New Testament under His inspiration, He revealed the future to us (cf. 14:26). As part of the divine Three-in-One, He speaks the very words of God and brings glory to the Son. He empowers us for evangelism, just as He did the disciples: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31). Remarkably and thankfully, the Holy Spirit gave us the Word, He is working toward its fulfillment, He gives us knowledge of it, courage to speak it, and power to live it!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here's a prayer to end your devotional time today: “O you who are the Source and Ground of all truth, guide me today, I beseech you, in my hours of reading. Give me wisdom to abstain as well as to persevere. Let the Bible have proper place; and grant that as I read I may be alive to the stirrings of the Holy Spirit in my soul. Amen” (John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:33-48
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. - Luke 24:45
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 2002, Colorado high school senior Ryan Patterson won one of the most prestigious national awards for young scientists. He earned the top prize of a $100,000 college scholarship at the Intel Science Talent Search Competition, an honor generally considered to be a “junior Nobel Prize.” He invented a glove that converts American Sign Language into text on a portable screen, thereby enabling those who sign to be understood by those who cannot. Their minds are opened to understand.

In the same way, the Holy Spirit opens our minds, and in case we were wondering, our minds desperately need it! On our own, our minds and hearts are blind, closed, inadequate to receive, understand, or obey God's truth. This was evidently the case with the disciples after Christ's resurrection. Peter, John, and the others seem quite clueless—surprised by what happens and slow to recognize their Master.

The two followers from the Emmaus road encounter (see Jan. 30) relayed the good news to the remaining eleven disciples: Jesus is alive—and we've seen Him! In the middle of their story, Jesus Himself appeared. Despite the eyewitnesses and His actual presence, the disciples still couldn't “see.” They thought He was a ghost, so far were their minds from comprehending. Jesus offered them evidence—His physical body, the nail holes in His hands, and the fish He ate. Once they'd finally wrapped their minds around who was right in front of them, Jesus went on to open their minds to the Scriptures. His mission of redemption, including His death and resurrection, fulfilled the Old Testament (vv. 44-47; cf. John 5:39-40). How incredible it would have been to be a fly on the wall during that Bible lesson!

Proclaiming the gospel of forgiveness to all nations would hereafter be the disciples' core task, and it is the privilege and responsibility of all believers. Their main identity, and ours by inheritance, is “witnesses” to the good news of salvation (v. 48).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like the disciples, perhaps you don't really know what the Old Testament has to say about Christ. If so, we urge you to undertake additional research and Bible study in order to increase your knowledge of and gratitude for God's plan of redemption. You might start by taking a look at Isaiah 53, a messianic psalm such as Psalm 2, or God's promise that Abraham's seed would be a blessing to the nations (Gen. 12:3).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16
We have the mind of Christ. - 1 Corinthians 2:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
A light bulb in Livermore, California, has been burning for over a century. Installed in a fire department building in 1901 and moved to another station in 1976, the three-watt bulb remains on 24 hours a day. The fixture's longevity is helped by a tight seal and continuous power. According to the Guinness Book of Records, it has been on for nearly one million hours altogether and is the oldest and longest-burning light bulb in the world!

Without the mind of Christ, trying to understand Scripture is like trying to read in a windowless room in which the light bulbs have all burned out. “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,” wrote Paul (2 Cor. 4:4). Only the mind of Christ can understand the Word of God; only a supernaturally enlightened heart can receive a supernaturally revealed Book.

The Holy Spirit is the key. On the divine side, the Spirit completely and accurately knows the thoughts of God, analogous to the way in which a person's inner spirit knows his or her thoughts (vv. 10-11). On the human side, He is the key to the Christian's identity and mission (vv. 12-13). As opposed to the finite and sinful “spirit of the world,” the Holy Spirit enables us to understand and proclaim God's gift of salvation. The apostles' message, then, was not based in “human wisdom,” but rather its content and authority came from God Himself.

Verses 14-15 restate the basic contrast. Those without the Spirit cannot comprehend the gospel—the message appears to them to be pure “foolishness” (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18). Those with the Spirit, on the other hand, are able to discern accurately about “things that come from the Spirit of God,” including Scripture. This ability of spiritual insight and discernment does not spring into being fully formed, but develops and grows through a process of spiritual maturing (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-2).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Here's an object lesson that illustrates the principles we've studied today. Take your Bible to a dark room and try to read it. That's like the unregenerate mind trying to understand Scripture. Next, light a small candle and try again. That's like the redeemed mind trying on its own—perhaps a few things in focus but not much. Finally, do your reading under a 100-watt bulb or a nice halogen lamp. That represents the Spirit's illumination. Make sure that's the way you are reading the Bible every day!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 119:33-40
How I long for your precepts! - Psalm 119:40
TODAY IN THE WORD
Scientists recently claim to have located a “sweet tooth gene.” Two teams working independently found such a gene in mice, and by using the recently finished human genome map they located what is probably a similar gene in humans. Further research has been undertaken to confirm this finding, which might have applications for diets, diabetics, and the design of new artificial sweeteners.

The “sweet tooth gene” might also explain that craving you had last night for more cake and ice cream! More seriously, what do we hunger for or desire most strongly in the spiritual realm? God's Word should be our bread, butter, and dessert. Careful study, obedience, and the Spirit's guidance are very necessary aspects of our relationship with Scripture, but let's not forget delight! Today's reading, one of the sections of Psalm 119, weaves the theme of delight or pleasure with many of these other themes that we've explored the past two weeks.

The psalmist first wanted God to show him what is true, seen in the petitions “teach me,” “give me understanding,” and “direct me.” Second, to motivate him to live what is true—a movement from knowledge to action, seen in the requests to “turn my heart toward your statutes” and “away from worthless things.” When we do otherwise, it's like throwing our lives away, which is why he prayed, “Preserve my life.” Third and finally, to keep His promises so that His name will be glorified. If God did the first two things, the psalmist would be able to live righteously and bring honor to His name.

In his prayer, the writer vowed to obey God's commands wholeheartedly, “for there I find delight” (v. 35). Only in God can true pleasure be found; all else is “worthless” and counterfeit. “Delight” suggests and intertwines the ideas of joy, longing, commitment, and trust. We too should exclaim: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (v. 103).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Among the Bible's purposes of guiding, convicting, etc., it's cheering to find that it also has the purpose of delighting us. After all, to love God is to love His Word and to revel in it with pleasure. Which Scripture verses delight you personally? Make a list of five to ten. Write them on index cards and place them strategically throughout your house today (or even for the week). It's guaranteed to fill your day with godly delight!

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: John 7:37-44
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. - John 7:38
TODAY IN THE WORD
When people report crimes, the police usually ask them to look through a book of mug shots to see if they can identify the perpetrator. If no picture can be found, they ask the victim to describe that individual to a sketch artist. The photos or drawings are then distributed to detectives and police working on the case to help them identify and capture suspects. Knowing criminals' identities is a key step in bringing them to justice.

Similarly, the key to Scripture is the identity of Christ. As we begin to wind up our month of study on God's Word, no point is more important than this one. Jesus' message in today's reading was straightforward: believe in me (vv. 37-39). He extended His invitation in Jerusalem, on the first day of the weeklong Feast of Tabernacles (a harvest celebration), when the people built booths and remembered the nation's wilderness journey from Egypt to Canaan. His invitation, an evocative metaphor of satisfying spiritual thirst, was based on an Old Testament allusion. Given the occasion, this was probably Isaiah 12:3—during a procession from the temple to the Pool of Siloam and back again, the priests drew water from the pool (to be poured out as a drink offering) and recited this verse.

The people's range of responses reminds us of the Parable of the Sower (vv. 40-44; see Jan. 15). Some showed partial faith, seeing Jesus as a messenger from God, perhaps the “Prophet” who was to precede the Messiah. Others believed fully, recognizing Jesus to be the Christ. Still others doubted. Ironically, they cited a messianic prophecy Jesus fulfilled, but lacked accurate information about his birthplace that might have changed their minds. A final group reacted with hostility and wanted Jesus seized and tried as a heretic.

In Jesus' message and people's responses, we see in a nutshell the meaning of Scripture and the history of the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The next time you get ready to enjoy a cool drink of water, take just a moment to reflect on its refreshing nature. Those few seconds spent thinking about the unequaled refreshment of water can be a tiny picture of what Christ meant when He spoke in today's passage about coming to Him and drinking (v. 37) or when He spoke to the Samaritan woman about “living water” (John 4:10). Let the water you drink today be an object lesson that focuses your thoughts on the Living Water.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:13-32
Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. - Luke 24:27
TODAY IN THE WORD
Earlier this month, we told you about the world's largest book. How about the smallest? The smallest reproduction of a printed book is a complete New Testament, engraved in gold ink on a five-millimeter-square microchip. Created with the help of a computer by the husband and wife team Pawan Sinha and Pamela Lipson, the book's letters are each only four microns high, about the size of a red blood cell. Such “tiny writing” has been among the couple's interests since their days as doctoral candidates at MIT.

Whether written large or small, the whole of Scripture testifies to the centrality of Christ, as we learn again in today's reading. On Resurrection Sunday, two followers of Jesus were on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Apparently members of the inner circle, they were discussing reports they had heard of the morning's events—the women's account of the empty tomb, the confirmations from Peter and John. What had really happened? What did it mean? On the road, they were met by the risen Lord but were prevented from recognizing Him, perhaps so they could focus on His amazing message.

In contrast to their puzzled and uncertain version of the story, Jesus taught them with authority how all that had happened had been foretold by the entire Old Testament (vv. 25-27). The suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah was the way it had to be for salvation to be made possible. Their failure to understand this was evaluated as foolishness and slowness of heart. They should have known!

At the moment these two followers began to share a meal with Jesus, they recognized Him. Now they understood why their hearts had burned with excitement for the truth while Jesus had been teaching them—God had been opening their eyes! As believers in whom faith had been kindled, they ran off to share the good news with others (see Jan. 26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's passage says that these two followers recognized Jesus at the moment of breaking bread with Him. In the culture of that day, meal-fellowship or table-fellowship was a very meaningful and even intimate experience. Inviting someone to dinner was not merely a ritual or for show but a deep expression of friendship.

In the near future, plan hospitality or meal-fellowship for several close friends or another family.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Revelation 19:11-21
His name is the Word of God. - Revelation 19:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
Books 5 and 6 of John Milton's epic, Paradise Lost, tell a story of Satan's rebellion and war in heaven. Succumbing to pride, Satan led a revolt and tried to set himself up as God's equal. When battles between the two angelic armies were inconclusive, the Son of God Himself entered the fray. Alone, He rode onto the field in His Father's chariot, and alone, He defeated the Devil's legions. In fact, there was no battle, as the fallen angels fled and were cast out of heaven. Our all-powerful Lord is not to be resisted!

This scene from Milton echoes the picture from today's reading, as Christ on a white horse rides triumphantly onto the final stage of history. Since all of God's Word testifies to the centrality of Jesus, it's very appropriate that Christ, the “Word of God,” appears here as the victorious King (v. 13; cf. John 1:1, 14).

This dramatic picture symbolizes several key attributes of our Lord (vv. 11-16). The white horse may stand for purity and righteousness. His eyes like fire indicate both wisdom and anger. The crowns show Him to be the King of Kings. The robe dipped in blood can symbolize both atonement and judgment. His intention to make war means that justice will be done (vv. 17-21). The sword is the Word, which is why it is pictured coming out of His mouth (v. 15; cf. Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16). And His secret name probably implies that His true nature is far beyond our limited comprehension. Allusions to the Old Testament here are many, including His iron scepter (Ps. 2:9) and the winepress (Isa. 63:1-4).

In His Second Coming, Jesus will be accompanied by previously raptured believers, the “armies of heaven.” We know their identity because a few verses earlier (Rev. 19: they are said to be dressed in “fine linen, white and clean,” given to the Bride of Christ (the church). Thanks to God's Word, riding behind the Word-Made-Flesh, we too will play our part on that momentous day! Let us pray for His glorious appearing to be soon!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
What an incredible gift God has given us in His special revelation that we call the Bible! This will be a great year of discovering even more of His “good and perfect” gifts, our theme for 2006.

To conclude this month's study, you may want to write a song, poem, or letter to God, thanking Him for the gift of His Word and the illumination of His Spirit. Present your creative work as a love-offering before His throne.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 1:1-17
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. - Romans 1:16
TODAY IN THE WORD
In the preface to his commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans, Martin Luther wrote: “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.”

All Scripture has been given by God for our edification and encouragement, and the book of Romans certainly has a wealth of theological and practical teaching. Numerous people have come to faith through reading Romans, and countless believers have had their faith increased through studying it. As Luther said, one cannot meditate on its message too much or too well. Addressed to believers who inhabited the most important city in the ancient world, Romans displays the power of the gospel. Probably written during the three months that Paul spent in Greece while on his way to Jerusalem, it expresses his longing to visit Rome (vv. 8-10; cf. Acts 20:2-3).

Given Rome's strategic place in the ancient world, it is worth noting that the gospel did not come there through the ministry of an apostle or even as the result of a targeted evangelistic campaign, but through the witness of believers who visited the city in the course of their business. It soon became the location of a vibrant church. The presence of Jews and Gentiles in the Roman church was a source of strength but also produced some tension. One of Paul's goals in writing this letter was to address some of the theological and practical questions that had arisen as a result of differences between these two groups of worshipers. This book is a portrait of the gospel's power to forgive and transform, and it outlines obligations that are part of the Christian life.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
As we begin our study of the book that Martin Luther described as “the purest gospel,” it is appropriate to take the reformer's advice and meditate on its key verse, also our verse for today. Memorize and spend some time meditating on Romans 1:16. If you have trouble memorizing, try writing out the verse on a three-by-five card and carry it around with you. Keep it in your pocket and review it when you have a few spare moments during the day.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 1:18-32; Isaiah 40:18-26
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
An anonymous donor sponsored a series of clever billboards with a spiritual message that captured the attention of drivers all across the nation. According to the Web site www.godspeaks.com, originally eighteen sayings were selected for billboards in south Florida. When the Outdoor Advertising Agency of America volunteered to make the series its public service campaign for 1999, the number of billboards mushroomed to 10,000. Each saying was signed “God.”

Long before the first billboard was ever erected on a Florida highway, God had already emblazoned His message in a far more indelible medium. Since the beginning of time, God's eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen in creation (v. 20). The psalmist speaks of this general revelation of God's invisible qualities, noting that the heavens “declare” God's glory and the skies “proclaim” the work of His hands (Ps. 19:1). God is speaking to the entire human race through creation, which leaves us without excuse from knowing that there is a Creator.

This truth that God revealed about Himself in creation is not sufficient, however, to lead people to eternal life. The message of creation is clear but not comprehensive. General revelation shines a light on God's glory but does not convey the gospel. What is more, ever since the fall of Adam, its message has been suppressed by those for whom it is intended. Its voice has gone throughout all the earth but those who have heard have plugged their ears and distorted its message.

Humanity's downward spiral into sin described in today's passage attests to our need for an additional word from God. That word is the gospel message, which is the focus of the book of Romans. The gospel is the only thing powerful enough to remove the veil of sin from our sight and open our eyes to the true significance of all that God has revealed about Himself in creation.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
You might enjoy visiting the God Speaks Web site at www.godspeaks.com where examples of the billboard messages are displayed. When you have finished, take a few minutes to go outside and observe creation. As you watch the sun set and gaze into the night sky, what does God teach you about His power and divine nature? Thank God for speaking to you through creation and ask Him for greater insight into His written revelation.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 2:1-16
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. - James 2:19
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last June the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Texas could continue to display the Ten Commandments on the capital grounds in Austin. In a separate ruling the court ordered that two other displays be removed from courthouses in Kentucky because they were intended to emphasize religion. The justices determined that the Texas display did not violate the Constitution's establishment clause, even though it was adorned with Jewish and Christian symbols, because it was part of a larger group of exhibits that depicted the state's legal history. Interestingly, the display was originally part of a public relations campaign for Cecil B. DeMille's 1956 Hollywood epic about the Exodus starring Charlton Heston as Moses.

If we believe God's Word, then we must conclude that the key to moral transformation in society does not lie in merely posting the Ten Commandments in courthouses and school rooms, but in the proclamation of the gospel. Today's passage underscores this by emphasizing that hearing the law is not enough. True righteousness is reflected in obedience that comes from the heart.

When the Day of Judgment comes, those who knew God's law will not find that they have any advantage over those who did not. Likewise, those who never received the law will not be exempt from God's judgment because of their ignorance but will realize that God's moral law was stamped on their conscience all along. Those who know the law and those who do not will both find that they come short of God's standard. God will judge everyone by their actions and the actions of all will condemn them, unless they have experienced the transforming grace and forgiveness that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Mere knowledge of God's commandments cannot compel us to do what sin has robbed us of the power to do. They can show us how far we have fallen, and prepare us to see our need for Jesus Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Quiz yourself to see if you know the Ten Commandments. You can check by comparing your answer to Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. After you have done this, read Jesus' commentary on the true meaning of God's Law in Matthew 5:17-48. Which of the commandments does He specifically address? What does He say was lacking in the way the religious leaders of His day approached God's Law?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 2:17-29
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. - 1 Peter 2:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
A businessman who was well-known for his unscrupulous business practices boasted to Mark Twain, “Before I die I mean to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I will climb Mount Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top.” Unimpressed, Twain offered a suggestion. “I have a better idea,” Twain said. “You could stay at home in Boston and keep them.”

Like Twain, the apostle Paul had little patience for those who passed judgment on others for the same things they did themselves. Some of his readers who had been raised in the Jewish tradition and had been taught the Mosaic law since childhood felt morally superior to Gentile believers who had come to faith without knowing the law. While they condemned others for their ignorance of God's standard, these religious hypocrites failed to address their own moral inconsistency.

In a stinging rebuke, Paul challenged his readers' view of themselves, implying that they had broken the same commandments they had tried to enforce on others. One wonders why they couldn't see the inconsistency in their actions. Like the Pharisees that Jesus condemned in Matthew 5:20, they may have interpreted the law so narrowly that they were unable to see how they had done the very things they had condemned in others. Or perhaps they were convinced that simply knowing the law gave them a “pass” when it came to obedience.

Something about the nature of hypocrisy makes it easier to spot in others than in ourselves. It seems doubtful that those Paul criticized would have considered themselves to be violators of God's law. It is also sobering to note that many of the things they affirmed in verses 17-20 are statements that a follower of Jesus might make as well. Fortunately, one of the functions of God's Law is to help us see our own sinfulness. Thankfully, a true understanding of its nature will inevitably show us our need for Jesus Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Those who condemn others for the same sins that they themselves commit often think only in terms of the letter rather than recognizing the spirit of God's Law. People who would never think of robbing a bank may be stealing from their employer by arriving late and leaving early. A seemingly faithful spouse may be guilty of virtual adultery by the way he or she uses the Internet. Ask God to search your heart by His Spirit and point out any unrecognized hypocrisy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:1-20
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. - Romans 7:18
TODAY IN THE WORD
The phrase “bait and switch” refers to the unscrupulous practice of advertising one item and selling an inferior product in its place. Paul's Jewish readers may have felt that they had been victims of a kind of spiritual bait and switch when they read that the circumcision practiced under the Law of Moses was merely outward and physical (v. 28). Such a claim would have raised an obvious question: was there any advantage to being a Jew? Paul's answer was a clear, emphatic “yes.”

The chief advantage of the Jews was that they had been given the Word of God. While the law exposed humanity's problem of sin, it also pointed to God's solution for sin. The rites and sacrifices of the law foreshadowed Jesus Christ's once-for-all offering of Himself on the cross. Indeed, the author of the book of Hebrews referred to the Law of Moses as a “shadow” of the good things to come in Christ (Heb. 10:1).

If the law could not save, why was it given? For one thing, it made clear that there was no alternative other than the grace of Christ. This wasn't a weakness in the law but rather in us. Sin kept those who had received it from meeting its high standard. The Jews' inability to bear the yoke of the law was proof that both Jews and Gentiles alike were all under sin (v. 10; cf. Acts 15:10). The primary function of the law was to highlight the universal sinfulness of mankind and to leave men and women without excuse. Once the law was given no one could stand in God's presence and say, “If you had only told me what had been expected of me, I would have complied.”

Some still misunderstand the message of God's Law. They believe they can earn God's favor through religious practices and good works. While these may be admirable, they are not enough to expunge the guilt of sin. No one can be justified in God's sight by these things.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Nobody likes to hear bad news. But bad news is often necessary before we can appreciate the good news. A patient values the good news of a curing treatment if he has just received the diagnosis of having a disease. In this way the “bad news” of the law is an important component of the good news. If your hope of heaven is based on the fact that you attend church, are a good neighbor, and live a moral life, you have missed the point of God's Law.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 3:21-31
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. - Matthew 5:17
TODAY IN THE WORD
The Greek legislator and statesman Solon was once asked whether he had given the Athenians the best laws. He said no—that he had given them the best laws they had been able to receive. Solon's answer implied that the laws could have been improved if the nature of the people had been better.

God does not approach His Law like Solon. As a perfect reflection of the righteousness of God, rather than accommodating sinful human nature, His Law was designed to point it out.

This created a grave spiritual dilemma. God could not lower His standard without compromising His justice. None could be saved under the requirements of the Law. The solution was not to eliminate the Law but to meet its requirements. Through Christ, God provided a righteousness that was “apart from law” and yet was still consistent with the law (v. 21). Martin Luther characterized this as “alien righteousness” and described it as “the righteousness of another, instilled from without.”

The language of sacrifice and atonement in verse 25 provides the key to understanding the nature and purpose of Christ's death. His shed blood appeased God's wrath for sin and satisfied the demands of the law. In this way, Jesus served as both priest and sacrifice when He offered Himself on the cross. Rather than repudiating the law, Christ's atoning death validated it by showing that it could not merely be laid aside.

By sending His Son as our sacrifice, God the father justified sinners without relinquishing His standard of justice. By obeying God's Law perfectly and then suffering its penalty on our behalf, Jesus leveled the playing field for Jew and Gentile alike. Forgiveness and righteousness can now be offered freely to all who have sinned.

The importance of Christ's shed blood to the gospel message cannot be overstated. Remove it from the Christian message and the gospel ceases to be the gospel.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Under the Law of Moses, when a burnt offering was brought to the priest, the worshiper laid his hand on the animal's head to signify that the animal was about to die as his substitute (Lev. 1:4). When it comes to the blood of Christ, the believer lays hold of His sacrifice by faith. If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and to provide access to God, do so today. Pray and ask Him to apply the payment of Christ's shed blood to your debt of sin.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 4:1-25
So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. - Galatians 3:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
A visitor approached Pastor Phil after the service with a question about the sermon he had just preached from the book of Genesis. “You spoke about someone named Abraham in your message,” she said. “Did you mean Abraham Lincoln?”

In an age of biblical illiteracy, we probably should not be surprised that the Old Testament patriarch Abraham does not come readily to mind when people think of their favorite Bible characters. Yet these Old Testament characters are tremendously important for Christians. Romans demonstrates this by focusing on Abraham's example in the discussion of the nature of the gospel. The Rabbis taught that Abraham performed the whole law perfectly before it was given by Moses. Quoting Genesis 15:6, Paul points out that Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of faith (v. 3).

The order of events further supported Paul's argument that faith preceded works in Abraham's story. Those who championed the Law of Moses taught that Gentiles needed to be circumcised in order to be justified in God's sight. Paul counters this argument by noting that Abraham did not receive circumcision until after being declared righteous by faith (v. 10). Circumcision was a sign that Abraham's righteous standing had already been granted as a gift of grace. Genesis 15:6 says, “Abraham believed God, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

By making faith the condition of receiving the promise, God ensured that salvation was given by grace and was guaranteed to all who follow Abraham's example. This is why Paul characterizes Abraham as the spiritual father of both Jews and Gentiles who follow in his steps. Like Abraham, those who place their trust in Jesus Christ depend on Him to do for them what they cannot do for themselves. They experience the blessing of forgiveness and receive the gift of righteousness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Like Abraham, our Christian experience begins with grace and is sustained by grace. Although the Rabbis claimed that Abraham obeyed the law perfectly even before it was given, the Scriptures paint a more realistic picture of this Old Testament patriarch. Use a concordance to learn more about Abraham's history. Can you find the sequence of events that Paul mentions in today's passage? What evidence is there that Abraham continued to depend on God's grace and forgiveness even after he was circumcised?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Romans 5:1-11
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1:4
TODAY IN THE WORD
Shortly after Carl Sagan's death, his wife Ann Druyan observed that the popular scientist and well-known agnostic maintained his skepticism to the very end. “There was no deathbed conversion,” she told Newsweek magazine's Jerry Adler. “No appeals to God, no hope for an afterlife, no pretending that he and I, who had been inseparable for 20 years, were not saying goodbye forever.” When she was asked whether Sagan had not wanted to believe, she replied, “Carl never wanted to believe. He wanted to know.”

For the Christian, believing is a matter of knowing. It is knowledge that enables the believer to rejoice in the midst of suffering. In Romans 5:1-11 the apostle Paul describes a chain of grace that leads from faith to hope. Faith is both the starting point and point of access for “this grace in which we now stand” (v. 2). It results in justification, which is God's declaration of righteousness for all who trust Jesus Christ for forgiveness and eternal life.

The believer's experience provides additional confidence, as the believer's transformed life provides objective evidence of the presence of God's grace. This is why those who are in Christ rejoice in suffering. It's not because we enjoy suffering, but it's because we are encouraged by the way that God uses it in our lives to produce character.

Paul also speaks of a subjective experience of assurance as a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has “poured out” God's love in the believer's heart (v. 5). The believer's assurance is further strengthened by the testimony of God's Word that describes all that Christ has done on our behalf. The strongest proof of God's love comes from the fact that Christ died for us. In verse 8 Paul uses the present tense to say that God demonstrates His own love for us through the death of Christ. Although our Lord's crucifixion took place some two thousand years ago, it continues to be proof of God's abiding love for us.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Romans 5:3-5 Paul describes several of the benefits that grow out of the experience of suffering. Think of a recent occasion where God used suffering to help you grow stronger in the Christian life. How did the “chain of grace” described in this verse manifest itself? For example, how did suffering help you to persevere in your faith? Which elements of godly character were strengthened as a result of your perseverance? How did the Holy Spirit make Himself known during this time?