For the wrath (anger exhibited in punishment) of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness - Romans 1:18. ~ Note: People suppress the truth about God when they don't live righteously or are ungodly by paying no attention to God. God's true love can never condone or overlook sin. Ungodly people will get His wrath.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (us), even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they (we) are without excuse - Romans 1:20. ~ Note: God's divine nature can be clearly seen by realizing His awesome works in all of creation, so everyone is without excuse.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness (greediness), maliciousness (ill-will, desire to injure), full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness; they are whisperers (secret slanderers), backbiters (defamers, evil speakers), haters of God, violent, proud (showing one's self above others, despising others or even treating them with contempt, haughty), boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning (without understanding, foolish), untrustworthy (covenant breaker, faithless), unloving (without natural affection, unsociable), unmerciful - Romans 1:28-31.
who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death (the misery of the soul arising from sin which begins on earth but lasts and increases after the death of the body in hell), not only do the same but also approve of (consent of, agree to, applaud) those who practice them - Romans 1:32. ~ Note: Make sure that you do not practice any of those sins above if you want eternal life. Also, stand for righteousness and do not approve of others who practice these things.
Or do you despise (think little or nothing of) the riches of His goodness (kindness, integrity),... not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? - Romans 2:4. ~ Note: Please don't think little of God, you need to repent. That means you must change your mind about sin. Heartily amend with abhorrence of your past sins. Turn to God. He will help you!
[God] who "will render to each one according to his deeds", eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good (being upright, honorable) seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness -- indignation and wrath, tribulation (affliction, trouble) and anguish (distress, dire calamity), on every soul of man who does evil... but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good... For there is no partiality (no respect of persons) with God (meaning it doesn't matter who you are). For as many as have sinned without law (without the knowledge of law, to live ignorant of law and discipline) will also perish (to be given over to eternal misery in hell) without law... - Romans 2:6-12. Note: This is not about the O.T.law. It's about the moral law of discipline. It explains that ignorance is no excuse.
Do we then make void the law (the moral instruction given by Christ esp. the precept concerning love) through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish (cause to stand) the law - Romans 3:31. ~ Note: Faith in Christ will cause you to give heed to His moral instruction, and through that faith we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in a way that pleases God.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners (someone devoted to sin, not free from sin), Christ died for us - Romans 5:8.
What shall we say then? (2 verses earlier Paul stated that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more) Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live (be active) any longer (of a thing which went on formerly, wheras now a different state of things exists) in it? - Romans 6:1,2 ~ Note: A so-called believer who is active in sin is denying his or her own identity in Christ, and might not be saved.
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized (this is our union and identification with Christ, which brings a real change, not water-baptism) into Christ Jesus were batized into His death? - Romans 6:3 ~ Note: When we have faith in Christ, which causes us to obey His moral instruction, we are incorporated into, united to Jesus Christ, which includes being united to His death. Jesus' death becomes our death. To be baptized into Christ Jesus is not water baptism. To say that the rite of water baptism actually gives spiritual life is to believe in magic, not religion. ~ Jesus said, "But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplshed!" - Luke 12:50. ~ He was talking about His death being the baptism here. To be baptized into His death means we must die to our old sinful ways. That is done when we become a believer. The goodness of God leads us to repentance (2:4). So being baptized is becoming a believer.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk (to live, to conduct one's self) in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection - Romans 6:4,5. ~ Note: Since we are identified with His death, then it logically follows that we also identify with His resurrection. Having died (to sin) and having been raised with Christ, we live a new kind of life.
knowing this, that our old man was crucified (extinction of our former corruption, dead to our former habits) with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves (those in bondage, those who give themselves up to) of sin - Romans 6:6. ~ Note: Simply put, a true believer is not the same person he or she was before conversion; a believer is a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), set free from the bondage to sin. So baptism in the previous verses is crucifying the old body of sin and then no longer being a slave to sin.
For he who has died has been freed from sin - Romans 6:7. ~ Note: We no longer have any obligation to sin. We no longer are under the bondage of it.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him... Likewise you also, reckon (the word refers to facts not suppositions, think, count) yourselves to be dead (inactive, inoperative) indeed to sin, but alive (active, blessed, endless in the kingdom) to God in Christ Jesus our Lord - Romans 6:8-11. ~ Note: We are to consider ourselves as actually being dead to sin and live fully aware of that truth.
Therefore do not let sin reign (to exercise the highest influence, to control) in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts - Romans 6:12. ~ Note: Even though we have died to sin, sin is still a problem, but it has no right to reign in our mortal bodies. That's why Paul tells us believers not to obey it.
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin (for example, do not steal with your hands or lie with your mouth, members also refers to bodies given up to criminal intercourse because they are as it were members belonging to the harlot's body), but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God - Romans 6:13. ~ Note: So do some good with yourself.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death (the miserable state of the wicked dead in hell), or of obedience leading to righteousness (integrity, purity of life, correctness of thinking and feeling and acting)? - Romans 6:16. ~ Note: We are all slaves to someone or something. You are either a slave of sin which will make you die spiritually, or a slave that obeys God which will make you righteous. It is our choice whom we serve, so choose wisely.
If you choose to obey the truth, then I can say Romans 6:17,18 - But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered (to be delivered to be taught, molded). And having been set free from sin (set at liberty from the dominion of sin), you became slaves of righteousness. ~ Note: My doctrine is that Jesus will set you free from the bondage of sin.
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit (that which comes from something, an effect, result) to holiness (purification, sanctification of heart and life), and the end, everlasting life - Romans 6:22. ~ Note: That means you don't have everlasting life at the end until you are set free from sin now while living a holy life.
There is therefore now no condemnation (damnatory sentence) to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk (to live, to conduct one's self) according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit - Romans 8:1. The Greek word for flesh is the same one found in the next Scripture, 8:4. So people in Christ have divine influence and are not prone to sin. Do you see the condition for this no condemnation? Are you a real Christian with divine influence and not prone to sin? If so, then you have no condemnation from God's word. Hallelujah!
that the righteous requirement (that which has been deemed right so as to have force, what has been established and ordained) of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk (to conduct one's self) according to the flesh (the sensuous nature of man without any suggestion of depravity, the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin) but according to the Spirit - Romans 8:4. ~ Note: So don't do whatever your sensuous nature pleases to do. Let the Holy Spirit guide you and you will live right.
For to be carnally (it's the same Greek word for "flesh" in 8:4) minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (the way that leads to salvation, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ) - Romans 8:6. ~ Note: Peace is the inward harmony that results from yielding to God.
So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God - Romans 8:8.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His - Romans 8:9. ~ Note: That's plain and simple. If you do not have Christ's Spirit (the Holy Spirit) in your life, then you do not belong to Him.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you - Romans 8:11. ~ Note: That means God gives us life not to sin here on earth through the Holy Spirit.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die (eternal death, to be subject to eternal misery in hell); but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds (practices, crimes, wicked doings) of the body, you will live (endless in the kingdom of God) - Romans 8:13. ~ Note: By being spiritually minded, we put to death our sinful deeds and live for God.
... the sufferings (the afflictions which Christians must undergo in behalf of the same cause which Christ patiently endured) of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us - Romans 8:18.
As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated." - Romans 9:13. ~ Note: God hates all workers of iniquity = Psalm 5:5.
that if you confess (to declare openly, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, praise) with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved - Romans 10:9. ~ Note: Believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead is like the baptism into His death (Romans 6:3), that makes you set free from sin (Romans 6:7). Also, you have to confess with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" to be saved, so go tell somebody.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation - Romans 10:10 ~ Note: By believing, you wll become righteous. Confession is made unto salvation = that's the way to get saved, but it is not good enough. Confessing Jesus is your Lord is the way unto salvation, but that doesn't mean you have it yet. You must repent from your sin (Luke 13:3).
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God - Romans 10:17. ~ Note: So read or listen to Scripture to have the right kind of faith; I think whether it be with the ear or with your own voice in your head by reading the bible.
I beseech (exhort, encourage, instruct) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present (show) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy (being a saint), acceptable to God, which is your reasonable (following reason, logical) service - Romans 12:1 ~ Note: It is logical that we use our bodies to serve and obey God.
And do not be conformed (to fashion one's self accordingly) to this world (period of time, age), but be transformed by the renewing (a complete change for the better) of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God - Romans 12:2. ~ Note: So study the bible, which is meditating on God's truth, and let the Holy Spirit change your thoughts and behaviors.
Let love be without hypocrisy (let your love be sincere). Abhor (dislike, have a horror of) what is evil. Cling (keep company) to what is good (upright, honorable) - Romans 12:9. ~ Note: Be sure that you dislike evil and keep company with the good. Then you can escape the temptations that cause many to fall.
And do this, knowing the time, for now is a high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed... Therefore let us cast off the works (doings, acts) of darkness (of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality together with their consequent misery in hell) and let us put on the armor (any tool or implement for preparing a thing) of light (of truth and its knowledge together with the spiritual purity associated with it) - Romans 13:11,12. ~ Note: So reject sin and stand for righteousness.
Let us walk (live) properly (honestly, decently), as in the day, not in revelry (riotous parading through the streets late at night) and drunkenness, not in lewdness (adultery) and lust, not in strife and envy (jealousy) - Romans 13:13.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts - Romans 13:14.
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses (stumbling blocks, occasions to fall, a thing by which one is drawn into error or sin), contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them - Romans 16:17. ~ Note: Divisive people who offend you should be avoided because they can cause you to sin. Anybody teaching something that is contrary to sound doctrine of Scripture should be avoided. This goes for any so-called Christian who might be teaching something like "Once Saved, Always Saved." That doctrine gives the license to sin, and those people should be avoided.
For those who are such do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly (the innermost part of a man, the soul, heart as the seat of thought and feelings and choice), and by smooth words and flattering speech (language artfully adapted to captivate the hearer) deceive the hearts of the simple (those who distrust no one) - Romans 16:18. ~ Note: You probably know me by now. I don't try to flatter you. I'm not conformed to this world, so that's why you don't get smooth, pleasing words from me.
I use to live for the devil, the time before I got saved while living in Hollywood, CA, now I live for Christ. My pages just express what I have learned from the bible and deeper study of what words mean. I would rather be standing for righteousness and being rewarded later, than to be justifying sin by pleasing you now with a watered-down gospel.
The most important thing I hope for is your salvation. Make sure that Jesus is your Lord and that He set you free from sin. If you are not sure, please see my "The Way To Heaven..." page. May your faith ignite to know the divine in 2009. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Sincerely, Patrick.
preachingjesusforyou@yahoo.com
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