1 Cor 15:3-8

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter), and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Have you been intellectually honest in your investigation of the faith? 

Hebrews 1:1-4

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

John 6:47-59

⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Exodus 3:13-15

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

He was Pierced for Our Trangressions

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,

But you, Bethlehem

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” - Micah 5:2

For Unto Us a Child is Born

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

Matthew 4:15-16

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

The Lord Himself will Give You a Sign

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”- Isaiah 7:14

John 8:58

"Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Greek phrase, egō eimi, echoes God’s words to Moses. Jesus is the “I am” in his incarnation. From eternity, the Son of God existed with the Father in the glory.

Mark 2:10

"But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

…in Daniel 7:13-14 where the name refers to God’s agent of redemption who comes “with the clouds of heaven” and stands before God’s eternal throne where he receives ultimate power and authority to rule the world.

John 1:1

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Before his incarnation — his becoming a human being, Jesus existed as the “Word” of God whose relationship with God is as His “Son.”

Matthew 28:18

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Yet the rule of Jesus is not tyrannical or cruel. He comes to his throne by way of the cross. Scripture reminds us that human beings “crucified the Lord of glory”. 

Ephesians 5:23b

"Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Christ,” on the other hand, is not a proper name. Rather, Christos, refers to Jesus special role as the Messiah (HaMašiaḥ), “the anointed one.”

Matthew 1:21

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”

From Background Notes [BN] for December 3^rd/4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The name “Jesus” is his proper name given to him at birth in accordance with the instructions of God’s angel. Based on the Hebrew language, this name means “Yahweh saves.”

Isaiah 40:13-14

"Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 26^th/27^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The kingly Son of Yahweh requires no counselor: he is the counselor.

Romans 12:12

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Hope is actually “waiting” within Hebrew thought, and Jewish people knew a great deal about waiting for promises to be fulfilled. To Paul’s mixed Gentile/Jewish audience, the notion of “hope” had different meanings.

Romans 12:11

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Fiery passion and strong determination characterize the zealous person. Paul knew about other forms of zeal of which he did not approve, such as “zeal without knowledge” (Romans 10:2; from Proverbs 19:2).

Romans 12:6

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Trust, but verify” works pretty well in this context! If someone makes a claim as a prophet, his words must correspond to the body of truth contained in the gospel.

Romans 12:3

"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In that statement are echoes of Paul’s instruction about not living according to the flesh, but instead, according to the Spirit.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Paul calls, not for a new conformity, but for transformation, using the Greek word
metamorphousthe, from which comes our English term "metamorphosis". The prefix meta implies "change", while morphē refers to the essence of a thing.

Romans 12:1

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 19^th/20^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Paul "appeals" in strong terms for his readers to render this kind of sacrifice to God. By saying that his appeal is based on the "mercies of God" (Greek: tōn oiktirōn tou theou), he uses covenant language, drawn from God's formal relationship with His people.

Romans 8:34

"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

From Background Notes [BN] for November 12^th/13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Condemnation only matters where a successful guilty verdict has been given by the Judge. No such verdict ever came, because “Christ died, rose, and sits at the right hand of the Judge!”

Romans 8:11

"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 12^th/13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Following the storyline of ancient Israel in the wilderness, Paul elaborates the Spirit’s indwelling by paralleling God’s Shekinah glory above the earthly tabernacle or the Jerusalem Temple (compare 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19).

Romans 8:1-2

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 12^th/13^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Charles Wesley began one stanza of his famous hymn “And Can It Be?” with the words “No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine.” He no doubt had been re-reading Romans 8:1!

Romans 5:9

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 5^th/6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The door to the kingdom is open, the veil of the Temple has been ripped open, and the holy God stands ready to receive His children home...

Romans 5:8

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 5^th/6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Salvation-history took a new turn when “Christ died for the ungodly.” We often refer to the death and resurrection of Jesus as the Christ event because of its epoch-making significance.

Romans 5:6

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 5^th/6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

There is urgency in those words, for they remind us about the extremity of the
human condition by using the word “ungodly”.

Romans 5:3

"…Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

From Background Notes [BN] for October 5^th/6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Holy Spirit shapes us through this affliction. Such suffering is not accidental or merely circumstantial, operating in our lives without God’s oversight…

 

Romans 5:1

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…"

From Background Notes [BN] for October 5^th/6^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Paul began Romans with the confident theme of the Gospel — the Good News — that Jesus is Messiah of Israel and Lord of the world (1:1-18).

The Gift of God is Eternal Life

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Slaves to God

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of ? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans 6:20-22

You Have Been Set Free from Sin

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18

Do Not Let Sin Reign Over You

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14

Shall We Go On Sinning That Grace May Abound

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2

Romans 7:21

"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me."

From Background Notes [BN] for October 22/23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The language of law inherently has to do with government and rule and kingdom. Sovereigns rule through law. Rome prided itself on its law and justice by which it ruled the world and maintained the famous Pax Romana — the Peace of Rome.

Romans 7:18

"For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature."

From Background Notes [BN] for October 22/23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The knowledge of good and evil is really a split between wanting to do good, but ending up doing evil. That is truly what we know about ourselves, Paul tells his audience.

Romans 7:14

"We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin."

From Background Notes [BN] for October 22/23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The human experience with law and sin didn’t end with the historical events of the Old Testament. Those old issues are still with us in the present!

Romans 7:7

What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law.

From Background Notes [BN] for October 22/23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Fearing no doubt that he would be misunderstood, Paul poses a rhetorical question: “Is the law sin?” (Greek: honomos hamartia;). Perhaps some thought Paul meant we were married to the Torah and needed to die to the Torah…

Romans 7:5

For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.

From Background Notes [BN] for October 22/23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In 7:5 the text calls this environment, “the flesh” (Greek: sarx). We have a translation issue here in NIV (1984) which decided to translate sarx as “sinful nature.”

Your Faith Promise Provides...

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had...There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. Acts 4:32, 34

Don't Confuse Faith Promise with...

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4

What Does My Giving to Faith Promise Do?

Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10

2 Corinthians 9:7

You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Romans 10:14

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

Romans 4:17

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

From Background Notes [BN] for October 8 & 9 written by Pastor Bob Brown:

By tapping into the ancient texts about Abraham in Genesis 12-25, Paul attracts his Jewish audience to the deeper meaning of the covenant God made with Abraham. When God told Abraham that He would bless the world through him, he meant it. That was His long-term goal, and…

Romans 4:7

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered over"

From Background Notes [BN] for October 8 & 9 written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Paul illustrates this point by citing the remarkable case of David whose sins, public and private, became part of the Biblical record (4:7-8). The full account of David’s confession appears in Psalm 51. However...

Gaston?

"You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?" Romans 2:23

You remember Gaston from Beauty and Beast right?  Not attractive to brag about your physique.  How much less attractive to brag about your righteousness??   

Only God Can Judge Righteously

"For all our righteous acts are like..." (Find the rest in Isaiah 64 :-)

From Background Notes [BN] written by Pastor Bob Brown:
 

"Religion relies on human judgments about the righteousness of persons. Those judgments lack the depth of insight found only in God who searches hearts and knows about persons what no one else can.

Faith in the Faithful God

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

We are Not Faithful

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12

God is Faithful

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." Romans 3:1-4

Issues with the Jewish Law

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. - Romans 2:28-29

Only God Can Judge Righteously

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1

Wrath of God Revealed

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

Bad News Good News

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16

Unbelievable: Jonah

Jonah 1:2: "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for