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.