Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 11 The Remnant of Israel Paul has been addressing primarily his brothers and sisters, the Israelites in the last three chapters. He had explained that many of the Jews, though they were zealous, had missed the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus. Interestingly he says, " God did not reject the people he foreknew ". This could possibly play into the predestination vs. free will argument suggesting that God might foreknow someone but they have rejected his free offer of grace in Christ.  Then, Paul says there has been a remnant of Israel which will be saved "by God's grace". Like Gentiles, they did nothing to deserve this free gift, or it would not be grace.  Ingrafted Branches  Paul uses the metaphor of a tree, which is very common both in his writings and in Jesus' gospels. The Israelites are presented as the original or natural branches.  As the Israelites' hearts were hardened, the natural branches were cut...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 10 Paul starts out the chapter by re-affirming his love for Israel, and his desire that they might be saved. He acknowledges they are zealous, but they are putting their zeal into the wrong place. They were seeking to establish their own righteousness (by being zealous to keep every jot and tittle of the Law), rather than submitting to the righteousness God desired which came by faith.  Then, Paul teaches that the Word and promises of God came to us through a person, Jesus Christ. Deuteronomy 30 says that the " Word is near you and in your heart and mouth ".  Instead of having to go to great lengths to achieve righteousness by the law, we can immediately receive righteousness by faith, by trusting in the word of the gospel. - Guzik In Romans 10:9 Paul summarizes quite nicely what it means to justified by faith in Jesus. " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, yo...

Click Here to Listen to or Read Romans 9 Paul’s Anguish Over Israel Though Paul has had many things to say about the unbelief of his own people, the Jews, he writes here how much anguish he feels over their refusal to believe. He is even willing to be cut off from Christ if this might save his people. Paul then cites all of the ways that God had revealed Himself to the people of Israel. Most significantly through the patriarchs Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, who were recipients of God's covenant, which was fulfilled in Jesus.   God’s Sovereign Choice Paul points out that it is not that God's Word has failed. He defines the true Israel as those who trust in God's promises. Because some of the Israelites didn't trust in or obey God's promises does not mean God is a promise breaker. Paul shows that just because someone is a descendant of Abraham does not necessarily mean they are a child of the promise.  He uses the example of Issac and Ishmael to illustrate this point.  T...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 8 Simply put, Romans 8 is one of the best chapters in all of the bible. It would take me a couple of hours to adequately expound upon all of the key verses in this chapter. Romans 8:18, 8:28, and 8:38 are three notable verses, and 8:1 is not far behind.  Life Through the Spirit After Paul has convincingly taught on the the powerlessness we have over our own sinful nature, he starts with a verse we all need to hear.  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Romans 8:1 Romans 8 begins with no condemnation; it ends with no separation, and in between there is no defeat. - Guzik Paul goes on to explain how the Holy Spirit is the fuel for an effective Christian life. Once we have believed in Christ and received the verdict of "no condemnation", it is the Holy Spirit who keeps us from going back to living in the "flesh". Importantly the Holy Spirit works in our "mind".  Those who live accord...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 7 Released From the Law, Bound to Christ Paul uses an analogy from marriage to show that when we are released from the Law, we are free to be bound by someone else. When a person's husband or wife dies, they are free to marry someone else. In the same way when we come to Christ, we are set free to give ourselves to him. We are not free from the law to lead a lawless life. We are free to follow Christ and bear the fruit that we were intended to bear as his followers. We are bound to Christ, and the power and his resurrection. What is interesting is not only do we not measure up to the Law, but it also triggers our sinful nature. Meaning because we know something is wrong makes us want to do it.  Another example, " A waterfront hotel in Florida was concerned that people might try to fish from the balconies so they put up signs saying, “NO FISHING FROM THE BALCONY.” They had constant problems with people fishing from the balconies, with line...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 6 Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ The Romans presented a really bad argument that because God's grace increases when we sin, we should sin all the more. But Paul argues that as we have been baptized in Christ, we are not only forgiven, but also baptized into his death. What does that mean?  But Paul’s point is clear: something dramatic and life changing happened in the life of the believer. You can’t die and rise again without it changing your life. The believer has a real (although spiritual) death and resurrection with Jesus Christ.  - Guzik The bottom line is that Jesus death and resurrection gave us victory over sin. It no longer has power over us and it cannot rule us. So therefore why would be want to go back to sin, since we have died to it. It's as if we have been set free from slavery only to go back and willfully put back on the chains. The lifestyle of sin brings death, but we have been raised to new life in Christ. Just as Christ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 5 Peace and Hope Having delineated our standing before a holy God and that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Paul now reveals the benefits of being justified by faith freely by God's grace in Jesus Christ.  First of all, we have peace with God. Some people may not even know they don't have peace with God. They are so inebriated with the things of this world, that they don't stop and think about their standing before a holy God. But every now and then dread comes upon them thinking, " What if there is a God? Will I be responsible for what I have done with my life? " The way of life is characterized by fear and anxiety. But when have been justified by faith we have peace with God. Not in God, by God, or for God. It is with God.   " This is peace with God; the battle between God and our self is finished – and He won, winning us. " - Guzik But just because we have peace with God doesn't mean ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 4 Abraham Justified by Faith Paul now turns to the central figure in Jewish history (showing at this point he is writing to the Jews), Abraham. Abraham was called, "the father of many nations".  His faith in God's promises is the "gold standard" in the bible. Most importantly Paul says in verse 3,  "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." In the last chapter Paul explained from the Psalms, " There is none righteous not even one. " So then how can one become righteous before God if not by works? When I get a credit on my credit card statement something I owe is paid back but not by me. For instance if I owe four hundred dollars and am credited two hundred dollars, now I only owe two hundred dollars. Someone outside of me credited my account.  In the same way I could never justify or settle my account with God due the sin I have committed. So I needed a credit to my spiritual ac...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 3 God’s Faithfulness These first eight verses are a little hard to follow. Paul is rhetorically answering those who have perverted his teachings. So he is responding to them "tongue in cheek". When Paul talked about the Gentiles showing their righteousness by obeying what they knew about God, the Jews falsely accused Paul of saying it meant nothing to be a Jew. Paul counters that by saying that the Jews had the advantage of receiving God's Word through Moses, and the promises through Abraham. Their disregard of the Law and failure to trust in God's promises did not nullify what God had revealed to them. It only showed their unfaithfulness to God.  Secondly, Paul taught that God's judgment of our sin was necessary to reveal God's righteousness. The Jews were falsely arguing that if sin brought God's grace why not sin all the more and bring on more grace. We call this today " cheap grace ". To think that my si...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 2 God’s Righteous Judgment In chapter 1, Paul described those who suppressed their knowledge of God and turned to all kinds of wickedness by worshipping the created things (idols) rather than the Creator. But lest any of the Jews get judgmental, Paul says that at whatever level you judge someone you judge yourself because you do the same things. Your actions may not be identical, but the nature of what you are doing is the same. I.e. Rebelling against God and choosing to disobey him.  Being judgmental, or being a "moralist", happens all too often in the church. Christians should be the most forgiving people on this earth. When you truly know how great a debt you owe God, it is absurd to charge someone else for their debt. I.e. The parable Jesus told about the guy who had a large bill forgiven and then went out forced a man to pay a mere pittance.  People who are very judgmental likely need to experience God's grace in a deeper way.  ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 1 Introduction In the book of Acts we ended up with Paul being tried in Rome for supposedly opposing the customs and laws of Moses. Paul appealed to Caesar, and because he was a Roman citizen, he was sent to Rome to see the Roman Emperor. When Paul went to Rome, I mentioned in the last blog that he had already written this letter to them.  Perhaps this is why Romans is the first letter included after the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament. Many consider Romans to be Paul's "magnum opus". Like the church in Ephesus, the church in Rome was a very important church in the 1st century. Paul's letter is primarily focused on what it means to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul spends quite a bit of time distinguishing between the Law, which convicts us of our sin and need for Christ, and the Gospel, which justifies us before God by faith by what Jesus did for us on the cross.  In Romans there a good mixture of both ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 28 Paul Ashore on Malta Paul's brief stay on the island of Malta was eventful. First, he got bit by a poisonous snake. But rather than killing him, he shook it off and nothing happened to him. At first, the islanders thought it was a consequence of him being a murderer. The thought the goddess Justice had exacted her sentence. This shows the islanders had spiritual beliefs.  It demonstrates that all people look for meaning to life and for issues like justice for wrongdoing. The questions is where will they find their answer. In worthless gods?  But because Paul was unharmed they thought he too was a god.   Paul also demonstrated his supernatural power by healing a public official's father, who was sick with dysentery and a fever. This likely would have killed him, but Paul rescued him from death. The official was indebted to Paul and showed him hospitality for three days. Seeing this miraculous healing all those on the island came...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 27 Paul Sails for Rome "When it was decided that we would sail for Italy." The first verse in this chapter reminds us that Luke accompanied Paul on this trip. Luke was writing as an eyewitness to all of these events.  Julian, the Roman Centurion, shows favor to Paul by letting him visit some friends at Sidon, which is on the coast. They changed ships, finding an Alexandrian ship, which was going to Italy. This was a huge ship, 50 yards long, by 12 yards wide. It was a freight ship which took grain from Egypt to Italy. It had a huge mast and square sail and was guided by two rudders in the back of this ship. The structure of the ship was why it struggled sailing into the gale force winds. (Guzik) The time was past the "Day of Atonement", which meant it was approaching the winter season, which often brought fierce storms. God enabled Paul to see that the voyage was likely going to end in a disaster. But the Centurion refused to li...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 26 Paul Speaks to Agrippa Paul was happy to speak with Agrippa not only for him to hear his side of the story, but it also gave him a chance to defend himself against the accusations of the Jews.  This was a partial fulfillment of what the Lord promised Paul at his conversion: Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15) - Guzik Paul describes his previous way of life as a dedicated Pharisee and points out that his hope is grounded in what the Jews have always believed about God. It is his knowledge of the prophets, which is where his hope is in the resurrection of the dead came from. Certainly Paul reasoned it should not be surprising that God could raise anybody from the dead.  Paul recounts his previous way of life, when he persecuted and imprisoned Christians and even cast his vote to have some of them put to death. Paul was so obsessed with keeping the Jewish reli...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 25   Paul’s Trial Before Festus Festus went to Jerusalem to figure out what the Jewish leaders wanted to do with Paul. Of course, they wanted Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem so they ambush and kill Paul, as they had planned before. But instead of bringing Paul to them, he made them come to Caesarea. As Paul was questioned, he once again simply pled his case that he had done nothing to violate the Jewish or Roman law. If had and he deserved death, so be it. Paul was not afraid to die for the cause of Christ, yet he wanted to be justly tried.  Paul, as a Roman citizen, demanded to be tried before Caesar, who was in Rome. Paul knew exactly what he was doing, because he wanted to testify to Christ and the resurrection in Rome. Paul didn't " suffer fools gladly ".  Festus knew this but still conferred with his other leaders, and at the end of the day concluded, " If you want to go to Caesar, to Caesar you will go! "  Festus Cons...

Click Here to Listen to or Read Acts 24 Paul’s Trial Before Felix Five days later, Ananias and Tertullus came down from Jerusalem to bring formal charges against Paul. Again, they tried to use the angle that Paul was inciting the people revolt like some previous zealots had done. They accused him of desecrating the temple, which never happened. The other Jews who were with them also joined in the accusations.  You can see how there were trying to "butter up" Felix as they said,  " Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly ." When Paul had the chance to address Felix, he pointed out that he came to Jerusalem to worship the same God as they worshipped. There was no evidence that he did anything to provoke the leaders or the people. What he preached was in accordance with the Law and the Prophets. While Paul admitted he...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 23 Paul confronts the Sanhedrin (70 Jewish elders) by telling them he has proclaimed to them everything God has laid on his heart. Ananias, the high priest, struck him in the face. Paul cited the Mosaic Law that no one could be struck a Jew without a trial. Paul rebuked Ananias calling him a " whitewashed tomb" , meaning he looked good on the outside, but was a decaying corpse on the inside.  The other leaders confronted Paul for speaking to a high priest like this. Paul again shows his character by admitting he was wrong based on a law to speak to a ruler like this.  Paul, by the wisdom of God, finds a way to take the attention off of him. He cites his upbringing as a Pharisee, and then addresses the resurrection of the dead. Of course, this is at the heart of what the apostle are preaching, which proved Jesus was the Messiah.  This took the focus off Paul and incited a fight between the Sadducees, who didn't believe in a resurrection...