Romans 7:7–25 (NIV) 7  What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! my Junior year of High School, the entire year for Bible class was spent going through the book of Romans

Romans 7:18-25 (ESV) 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. Summary Romans 7 is both agonizing and encouraging. While this battle is brutal and unceasing, the encouraging aspects of Romans 7 give you peace for two

While this battle is brutal and unceasing, Romans 7 gives you peace for two reasons. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Romans 9

Today's passage forms the basis for the classic hymn Blessed Assurance Romans 8:14-17 ( LSB ) 14 For Summary This is the fourth time now just this year that we've returned to the 8th chapter of Romans.

Romans 9:15-16 15  For God says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion Summary This isn't the first time we've come to Romans 9 this year ( we also read this passage in February Romans 9 is all about God's sovereignty in our salvation - that is, His control, authority and presence But you can and should memorize Romans 9:16.

Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Eccl. 7:20 13  “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”  Psalm 10:7 15  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17  and the way Isaiah 59:7-8 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Summary The book of Romans is the clearest exposition of Christian doctrine in the Bible. But the first two and a half chapters of Romans seems like anything but good news.

Christian Pictures Blog Romans 4:16–17 (NIV) 16  Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may Summary The final clause of Romans 4:17 is one of the most stunning statements ever written.

Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel 1 Timothy 2:1-7 - God Our Savior Isaiah 52.7 - Good News! The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It Ecclesiastes 7: Mercy, Not Your Effort 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Love The Truth Psalm 81 - Call To Worship ​ Article 7: Election Ephesians 1:3-6 - Before the Foundation Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart John 17:1-5 - Sovereign 2 Timothy 1:7-10 - Passive & Powered Titus 3:3-7 - Transformed Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - You're Not That Awesome

Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel 1 Timothy 2:1-7 - God Our Savior Isaiah 52.7 - Good News! The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It Ecclesiastes 7: Mercy, Not Your Effort 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Love The Truth Psalm 81 - Call To Worship ​ Article 7: Election Ephesians 1:3-6 - Before the Foundation Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart John 17:1-5 - Sovereign 2 Timothy 1:7-10 - Passive & Powered Titus 3:3-7 - Transformed Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - You're Not That Awesome

You are not your own. Do you find this comforting, or constricting? Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Summary Most people would classify life and death as mutually exclusive opposites. You can't be both: you're either dead or alive. Christianity breaks down this division. Certainly there's still a big distinction between being dead and alive, but what the Catechism and the Bible want you to know is that while there's much that will change after you take your last breath, there are some significant things that won't change. First of all, your core identity won't change: So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s (v8b) Just as you belong in body and soul to your faithful Savior Jesus Christ while living, you will belong to Him in death just as you do in life. Second, your primary purpose remains the same as well: if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord (v8a). In other words, you were created and given life so that you could live to/for the Lord by using the gifts and talents you've been given to glorify Him. Although sin has marred God's image and purpose in your life, the gospel proclaims that death - the ultimate result of sin - no longer can keep you from fulfilling your primary purpose. In fact, it's through death that Christians are finally set free from sin and can begin truly living for Jesus. Dig Deeper Human beings are weird. We're full of paradoxes. On one hand, our sinful natures crave independence - especially from God. But on the other, we hate to be alone. Even the most introverted of us needs other people in our lives. That's why the opening words to the Catechism are so comforting: That you are not your own, but you belong. Certainly these words bring comfort to the part of you that needs community, but they also stand as a solemn reminder to your sinful nature that yearns for independence from God's ways, reminding you that you belong to the Lord. As you begin a new year, remember to not just live to yourself (v7), but to live for Christ. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Father in heaven, you are the Lord of life and you have conquered death ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: I pray that in all things, I would live to the Lord (v8) ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Mark 1