Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 Fall of Creation

Romans 7: 14-25
“For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Vs 19

As the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13), Paul preached Christianity across the Roman empire during his three missionary journeys around the Mediterranean. Apostle Paul also formulated the doctrinal foundations of Christianity in his New Testament epistles, with the “Romans” as the magnum opus. Paul wrote Romans from Corinth in AD 56—at the end of his third missionary journey—as he prepared to leave for Jerusalem with an offering for the poor believers (Rom. 15:25). Paul had wanted to visit the Roman church—founded by believers from the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10), where he was personally unknown—for long, but was prevented (Rom. 1:13).
Paul offers a sweeping presentation of the Gospel—the “good news” proclamation mandated by Jesus to all believers (Matt. 28: 16-20)—of grace in Romans, to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. The overarching theme of Romans is God’s righteousness: that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone. Chapters 1-11 show how God has revealed His righteousness in the world, and why the Gospel needs to be proclaimed. Chapters 12-16 provide guidance to believers for reflecting God’s righteousness in their lives and the Church to the watching world.
Chapter 7 presents two broad themes: (i) Sin and the Law (Rom. 7: 1-13); (ii) The fight against the Flesh (Rom. 7: 14-25). While the Law reveals the divine standard—expressing God’s nature and the will for His people—sin represents the failure to meet the divine standard, living independently of God. Therefore, we have only one nature—the sin nature—prior to salvation, marking the very Fall of Creation. When we are born again through faith in Christ and made new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), we still struggle against the flesh, the remnants of the old sinful nature. The two natures war constantly, pulling us in the opposite directions of good and evil. In the final verses of the chapter (Rom. 7: 23-25), Paul depicts well the resultant predicament of the Christian experience from the constant struggle against Sin. While we agree with God’s precepts, we cannot do them. However, we are victors over the power of Sin by trusting in Christ.


                                                Prayer 
Help us O Lord to resist evil and choose good.

Thought for the Day

 Becoming Christ-like is a Christian’s lifelong endeavor.

 Dr. Cherian Samuel
Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Virginia.

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more