Credited to him as righteousness

"and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore, 'it was accounted to him for righteousness." - Rom. 4:21-22
My son in grade 3 has a system in class where they have certain duties to perform, when they perform those duties they get credits. However, if they are misbehaving or not accomplishing their duties, they get debits. So, there are debits which are taken off, and credits, which are added on.
At the end of a certain time period, they add the credits and subtract the debits and then the teacher writes a pay cheque which then they go to the bank (in the classroom) and cash it in.
Romans up to this point is talking about how the law points out our transgressions and that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Abraham, is said to be a righteous man, however, it is not because he was a Jew or that he was circumcised, but it was because he believed that what God said was true and that He would carry out the things that he said. His faith is shown in the sense that he didn't even consider what doesn't make sense to us humans, but rather, had faith in God who made the promise.

Paul then goes on to point out that this is not only for Abraham but for us who believe in Jesus.

Psalm 1

- vs. 1 We are going to be much happier when we don't follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners or join a group of mockers. Even though it's actually really tough being mocked by others we will actually be more happy when we don't join them. 

- vs. 2 Instead of doing those things it continues in vs. 2 of what the happy person delights doing - "hid delight is in the LORD'S instruction, and he meditates on it day and night."

- vs. 3 Then it paints a picture of what that happy person who delights in the LORD'S instruction and meditates on it paints a picture of a tree planted beside streams of water that bears fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever he does prospers. Really picture what that looks like. The key to fruitfulness as a believer is meditate on God's word night and day. 

- vs. 4 In contrast the wicked are not like this! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 

- vs. 5 Therefore the wicked will not survive the judgement, and sinners will not be in the community of the righteous. It is a community that we are going to be apart of. 

- vs. 6 The LORD watches over the way of the righteous! That us a comforting thought!  When mockers come our way and those who are doing wicked things try to entice you, remember who is watching over the righteous and and how happy you will be not following their ways and the ruin they will face and the delight in God's law. 

Job 1

- vs. 1 Right at the beginning of Job it says "He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil."
- vs. 5 one of the things that the man of perfect integrity did was pray for his children - rising early in the morning. "This was Job's regular practice."

- vs. 6-8 Satan roams the earth looking for those he can devour as a lion. 

- vs. 9-12 Satan has to get God's permission to attack us, if we are in His will - that's why it's very important we walk with God and follow His ways. 

- vs. 13-19 Job had been blessed by God - Satan pointed this out in vs. 10 "You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land." And now it's all taken away. 

- vs. 21 Job gives all credit and glory to God and admits where all his wealth and possessions and family came from, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. Praise the name of Yahweh."

- vs. 22 "Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything." That's how chapter one finishes. 

1 Thessalonians 1

- vs. 1-2 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy remembered the Thessalonians in their prayer.  Instead of talking about them, they remembered them in prayer.
- vs. 3 Work of faith - doing something with faith or while having faith.  Labour of love - sometimes its not easy to love people or certain activities, but we are doing it out of love.  Endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ - the endurance come from hope in the Lord Jesus -"those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:31  see also Psalm 23
- vs. 5 "God backs up His Word with power.  When the unsaved ask for proof, we have it.  If any person obeys the command to repent and trust Jesus Christ, he will experience the power of the gospel.  God will transform him on the inside by giving him a new heart with new desires.  instead of drinking in iniquity like water, he will begin to thirst after righteousness.  he will be born again.  God will make him a new creature, all of which will give him "much assurance." - The Evidence Bible by Ray Comfort
- vs. 7 The Thessalonians modelled the apostles and then those who were in contact with them modelled their behaviour.
- vs. 8 "the Lord's message rang out from you," they not only modelled how to live but also preached the Gospel of Jesus.
- vs. 9-10 they turned from idols to God - to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.  We need to be patient while we wait for the Lord's return, and yet we need to live for Him and preach the Gospel of Jesus.  "The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.  But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed." 2 Peter 3:9-10

Romans 1

- vs. 3-4 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh  and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness. Notice how Paul writes that Jesus was declared to be the powerful Son of God not by someone's mouth but by the resurrection from the dead.  This reminds me of the words of Jesus from Luke 19:40 - He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”  God wants to have us proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, but if we won't, God can use any means to do so.  He made a donkey speak and can use any part of creation to speak.
- vs. 5-6 Paul now talks about how he and the other apostles are now being used by God to spread the word around the world.
- vs. 7 is just one example that we are called saints when we are born again, not by man canonizing us.
- vs. 12 it's not only those Paul is speaking or writing to that need encouragement it is "mutual". Sometimes we hold our pastor's in such high esteem, but don't think they need to be encouraged. Hebrews 10:24-25 addresses this.
- vs. 17 "from faith to faith" - what does this mean?  I found an article by John Piper, on the last page he has this explanation: "So here in Romans 1:17 it says, "The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith." That is, when the revelation of the gift of righteousness meets with faith it leads to future faith. Faith is the initial window of the soul that lets the light of the revelation of righteousness in. And when the light of God's gift of righteousness comes in by faith, it powerfully works to awaken and sustain and engender more and more faith for the years to come." The link can be found here for that page.
- vs. 18-23 God's invisible attributes are plainly seen by creation.  When you look at a building you know there must have been a builder; the building did not just randomly form from random materials floating in the air.  You know it had a builder, the same thing when you look at the earth and humans, you know that all of these things could not have simply formed over time (who created time) and from random materials (where did the materials come from).  We know that a Boeing 747 couldn't be made by a powerful tornado that randomly put all the pieces together and made this jet.  It says that we are without excuse, and for whatever reason we trade all of the things of God for man made things.
- vs. 24-25 notice how Paul all of a sudden mentions sexual immorality.  The passage wasn't talking about it but all of a sudden he mentions it.  That is how quickly sexual immorality can slip into our lives! This is something I was referring to in my previous post The War At Hand, how we can go from an amazing time of fellowship, worship, prayer, etc. and then when we are back down the temptation is overwhelming!   Look at Jesus, He was baptized and then came the temptation after the glorious experience of the Spirit descending on Him like a dove and the Father saying He is pleased with (who doesn't want their father saying he is pleased with him).  So, Jesus went from a glorious experience into the desert and was hungry and thirsty and tempted.  A bit of a sidetrack, but remember what Satan ultimately wanted? He wanted Jesus' love and affection...he wanted Jesus to worship him, the created, rather than the Creator (who is to be praised forever, amen).
- vs. 26-27 they went from who knows what sort of sexual immorality (maybe constantly looking with lust in their hearts?), to now they have gone to unnatural sexual relations.  So even though the relations they had before, it was immorality because it was outside the bounds of marriage which is what God created and then they, living in their sexual immorality turn to unnatural relations.  This is how it works.  We start off doing something small (so we think) and then that doesn't satisfy anymore, so we need to "upgrade" to something different to find pleasure and than that doesn't satisfy as much, and it keeps going downhill from their and we keep doing worse and worse things in the sight of God and He gives us over to our degrading passions which really are degrading us inside and out.  "Run from sexual immorality! "Every sin a person can commit is outside the body." On the contrary, the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body." 1 Cor. 6:18.  This is something we need to remember like Joseph did and called it a great evil and sin against God, he ran from the situation!  We need to run from it right away when we are tempted.  God help us with this, You are faithful to lead us out of temptation and not let us be tempted more than we can handle, so please help us when we are in a situation to get out of it and give us wisdom to not go into tempting situations or places that would tempt us.
- vs. 28-32 they didn't acknowledge God and then were "given over to a worthless mind to do what is morally wrong."  I have seen too much when people are totally stuck in their sin and they don't acknowlege God and in their own minds they believe that they are not wrong and that they can and should continue in what they're doing.  Here is the list that Paul adds:
    - Unrighteousness (some manuscripts have sexual immorality) - living blatenly against God
    - Evil - they don't care about other people, their only concern soon becomes themsleves and will 
      do whatever it takes to get their pleasures fulfilled at the expense of others.
    - Greed - this goes along with the last explanation.  The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
      People want and want and want, it is really evident in our society today.  It is also very easy to 
      get caught up in that way of living.
    - Wickedness - Don't care for the things of God, rather the things of darkness.

    -  Full of:

      - Envy - (the sound of a spoiled brat) "I want it" - wanting and wanting

      - Murder - hating others and killing physically as well

      - Quarrels - "I'm always right."

      - Deceit - willing to lie to others to get what you want.

      - Malice - "the intention or desire to do evil; ill will" - the desire is not to do good to others, but

        evil.

    - They are:

      - Gossips - yapping about others issues instead of trying to help the person

      - Slanderers - putting down others

      - God-haters - its not that they just want to live to please their flesh, they actually turn against

        God and His people - oppose/opposition.  Does this sound familiar with athiests these days?

      - Arrogant - thinking they are the world's smartest and wisest, yet the Bible refers to them as fools

      - Proud - they are proud of everything wicked they do.

      - Boastful - they boast in their arrogance, they boast about their sin and how good they think they 

         are.

      - Inventors of Evil - they create new ways that they can go against God.  Brag about this, boast                

        about it, post it on the internet, make movies about it and drag others down with them.

      - Disobedient to Parents - the ones that are to love and care for their children are being  

        disrespected by their children and not showing any care for what their parents are trying to teach 

        them.  At the same time these days, parents are doing the previous things mentioned as well.

      - Undiscerning - ignorant/not knowing what is right or wrong anymore.  If others think its right

        who am I to say its wrong, is what they think and is becoming a popular thought process in our

        culture.

      - Untrustworthy - you just can't trust them...that is a hard for me because I know what its like to 

        not be trusted (as a child this was the case for me) and now that I'm older, I don't like not being 

        able to trust someone.  I'd rather see you as the above and honest...at least I would know where

        you stand, but when you are untrustworthy...

      - Unloving - not patient, kind, gentle - looking for wrong in others, all the opposite of 1 Cor. 13

      - Unmerciful - the One who died to take my place for my sins is a merciful and just God-the Bible

        says that He is love.  I thank God that He is - these traits.  

vs. 32 They know full well God's just sentence - that those who practice such things deserve to die - they not only do them, but even applaud others who practice them.

Genesis 1

 

- In the beginning God - this is the key verse for Christian's regarding our origins.  God always was and always will be.  He is outside time and space as we know it and He created time and space as we know it.

- vs. 3-4 I am not sure if this was the sun and moon or someone has said that because God is light (1 John 1:5) that He hid himself to create the darknes...I'm not sure about this one.

- vs. 24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so.

- vs. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

- vs. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”  God has given us control of the animals and the earth, we want to take care of it as best as we can as well as the animals.  Proverbs 12:10a: A righteous man cares about his animal's health.  I know some people have a hard time with us as humans eating meat.  Check out these verses.

The War At Hand

There is a debate happening right now over the name of the 3rd The Hobbit movie - for now it has officially been named "The Battle Of The Five Armies", I knew that when I started this blog it would be a bit of a battle to keep it up to date...most importantly my time in the Scriptures.

I find that when I go to the men's group through my church and have a good night with the guys in the Scriptures, praying and encouraging one another, the temptation that week is horrendous! 

With this blog happening, I find that all of a sudden I am having a hard time getting into the Scriptures!  I open up the Bible and find that I can't focus on what I'm reading.

The battle can rage on about what the title of The Hobbit will be, but the battle is always going to rage on "For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Ephesians 6:12