Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Click To Read or Listen to Romans 13 Submission to Governing Authorities In chapter 12 Paul started the practical application for all he taught in chapters 1-8, whereas in chapters 9-11, he focused on the future of Israel. Paul continues to teach on practical matters in chapter 13, as he moves to how a Christian's relates to the government.  The Holy Roman Emperor obviously lived Rome, so this would have been especially applicable to the Roman Christians, and all the other Christians who lived under the heavy hand of Caesar. Some Christian were teaching that because the government was evil, that the believers should disobey their rule. But Paul tells them they must obey the governing authorities because they are appointed by God.  There are two kingdoms. God's kingdom, which is ruled by the church on this earth. We also call it the "body of Christ". And, also the secular kingdom, which God has appointed earthly judges and rulers to govern in order to keep civil order....

Click Here to Read or Listen Romans 12 A Living Sacrifice Along with Romans 8, this is one of the finest and most important chapters in the New Testament. And it starts in these first two verses. Romans 12:1-2 should be mandatory memory verses for every Christian. They came to me at a time in my life where my walk with Christ was taking off after a period of spiritual apathy.  He starts off with the word, "Therefore" , which makes the transition from the previous 11 chapters. Chapters 1-11 focused on the basic doctrines of how we are justified by grace through faith based on the righteousness Jesus gave to us. Then, in chapters 9-11, Paul talks about the fate of the Jewish people and how he desires for them to be saved.  Here are the important parts: "In view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God."   As Paul is explaining what it means to live the Christian life. It all starts with our motivation. And our motive is the ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 11 The Remnant of Israel If anyone wondered who Paul's audience was when he wrote the letter to the church in Rome, we have seen the last three chapters are directed at the future of the people of Israel. He starts by saying, " Does that mean God rejects the Jews ". Because the gospel went to the Gentiles as a result of the unbelief of many Jews, it did not mean God was going back on any promises God made to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. Paul cites himself as an example. He was fierce and loyal Jewish, until he came to faith in Jesus. He became a Christian, or what some call a "Messianic Jew ". I like this term because Jewish people who come to faith in Jesus are fulfilling the call given to their ancestors. Paul presents the idea that there is a "remnant" of Jewish people who will come to faith in Jesus at some time in the future! Like anybody else they will saved by faith.  What does this word "remnant" m...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 10 Paul starts chapter 10 by reiterating his love for his fellow Jewish people. Specifically, his desire for them to be saved. He notes that they have been zealous for the Law, but could not obtain righteousness by it. In this way, they tried to "establish their own". Many people try to create their own way to God either not realizing, or being ignorant of the Way Jesus has shown us. Jesus is the culmination of the Law they so idolize. But, they don't recognize Him as the only way to fulfill it.  Moses says the " one who does right by the Law will live by it ." The Jews tried to live by it but like everyone they fall short. The Law doesn't get it done. Paul says the word is near them. It literally is in their mouth and heart. It is that close. And through the power of the Holy Spirit it calls out, " Jesus is Lord ".  Paul gives us a verse that is one worth memorizing and is often used for evangelism, as it con...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 9 Paul’s Anguish Over Israel Paul explains the anguish he is experiencing knowing that his fellow Jewish brothers and sisters have rejected Christ. You see his heart as a pastor with the depth of sorrow he expresses for them. He still holds out hope that they will realize that they were the recipients of the promises through patriarchs, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. God had made his covenant with them to bless all nations through them. God raised up Moses to reveal His Law to them, realizing that the Law could only be fufillied with the Messiah, born of King David's lineage.  God’s Sovereign Choice As Paul seeks to make sense out of the fact that those who are not Jewish, the Gentiles, accepted Christ but most of the Jews did not. He points out that it is not that God's promise has failed, but his people failed to believe in the promise. Even within the genealogy of the Jews, in God's sovereign choice he chose some over others. For instan...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 8 Life Through the Spirit Romans 8 is one of my favorite chapters in all of the bible. It has many verses you will have heard quoted many times. I use some part of this chapter at almost every funerals I have done. Romans 8 is chock full of hope and promises God has given us as we live out our faith here on earth.  After talking about his own battle with sin in chapter 7 Paul concluded,  "Why do I do what I don't want to do. I do the very thing I hate. What wretched man I am!" Fortunately he starts out Roman 8 with the promise,  "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!" Romans 8:1 Though we will struggle with our sinful nature our whole lives, this promise reminds us that our sin can never reverse what Jesus has done on the cross for us. Though we may fail God in our flesh, Jesus will never leave or forsake us.  Then, Paul talks about our new life in the Spirit. Through Jesus' work on the c...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 7 All quotes are from David Guzik, unless otherwise noted.   In chapter 6 Paul talked about how it would be ludicrous to use the grace of God in order to sin all the more. It is like a slave that is set free that wants to go back to slavery. Paul continues to teach on how we have been released from the Law to serve Christ.  Released From the Law, Bound to Christ Paul begins by saying he is writing to those " under the law " meaning his fellow Jews. He uses the analogy of marriage to say that as long as two people are married it is unlawful for them to be with someone else. But if one dies, they are released from the oaths they made under the law and are free to marry someone else.  Likewise those who have died to the law through what Jesus did on the cross are free to give themselves to another. When we were in bondage to sin the law only aroused in us our sinful desires. But now that we have died to the law, we are released to live ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 6   All quotes in italics are from David Guzik's commentary Enduring Word, unless otherwise stated.  Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ In the beginning of chapter 6, Paul addresses an issue which is just as relevant today, as it was in his day. We call it "cheap grace". It is basically characterized by, "Well I'm forgiven, so I guess I can do whatever I want! I can do it and just ask for forgiveness later!" It is also evident in the popular phrase, " It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission!" Paul addresses this issue at the church in Rome by saying,  What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 When he says, " By no means" , he is saying something like, " Really, you've got to be kidding me!" And then he uses this phrase that we are,  "Dead to sin, ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 5 Peace and Hope Paul points out the benefits we receive by being justified by faith in what Jesus has done for us on the cross. The first benefit is "peace". Peace with God is different than the peace the world promises. Worldly peace is based on being in power. The one who is in power thinks they can keep the peace, which they may do for a period of time. But this peace can be taken in a heartbeat and usually never lasts as human history shows us.  Peace with God is something different. God's peace is an eternal peace that comes to us through the Holy Spirit when we come to believe. Paul calls this a " peace which passes understanding" in Philippians. It comes through prayer and through the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural. Even though someone can be suffering, they can still maintain perfect peace. This was the peace that Stephen had when he was being arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin,  "All who were sitti...

Click Here to Read or Listen Romans 4 All quotes are taken from David Guzik's, Enduring Word Commentary, unless otherwise Noted.  Abraham Justified by Faith Paul spent a fair amount of time in Romans 3 explaining that the righteousness we have obtained has been given to us by Christ and we receive it through faith. Since no one is righteous, Jesus became God's righteousness for us. Paul, then reflects back on the father of the Jewish faith, Abraham. Paul states that Abraham was also justified by faith alone, as it says in Genesis 15:6,    “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness .” So you see that faith in God's promises came before God gave the Law to Moses. Before Sarah and Abraham had any children, God promised him that he would have as many descendant as stars in the sky. Abraham believed it would be as God said it would be.  Then, Paul points to the fact that Abraham was circumcised after he believed God in faith. He uses this as the ba...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 3   All quotes are taken from David Guzik's Enduring Word Commentary Unless Otherwise noted! God’s Faithfulness Given Paul's previous comments about the Jews, and the limited value of circumcision, what advantage is there in being Jewish? Paul says that they (and him) have been entrusted with the VERY words of God. God revealed himself specifically to Abraham, Moses, and all the kings and prophets. Just because they were rebellious and sinful, it did not change the nature of God's promises to them. God is always faithful to His promises.  Some might say that if God's righteousness brings our unrighteousness, how can God hold us accountable? Some even said in Paul's day, if our unrighteousness brings out God's unrighteousness, then we should sin all the more. He adds a statement being made, " Let us do evil so that good can result!"  Paul thinks this argument is ludicrous and says, "They deserve the condemnati...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 2 All Quotes Are From David Guzik's Commentary "Enduring Word" Unless Noted God’s Righteous Judgment Paul then compares God's judgment to our judgement. God's judgment is based on the truth, whereas often ours can be subjective. We might consider another's sin as worse than ours. But, if we look into the mirror of God's perfection, we will quickly find out how far we all are from His glory.  In Romans 1, Paul pointed out the sin of the most notoriously guilty. He now speaks to those who are generally moral in their conduct. Paul assumes they are congratulating themselves that they are not like the people described in Romans 1. The Jewish people's stubbornness and refusal to repent of their sin will be revealed on the day of God's wrath and judgment. But then Paul says something which is challenging. He says,  " To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give etern...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Romans 1   All quotes taken from David Guzik, Enduring Word unless otherwise mentioned.  Today we begin reading a very important book of the bible, the book of Romans. Romans played a significant role and impacted several important figures in our church history including Saint Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley.  Here is the impact the book had on Martin Luther, the father of the Protestant Reformation.  In August of 1513, a monk lectured on the Book of Psalms to seminary students, but his inner life was nothing but turmoil. In his studies he came across Psalm 31:1: In Thy righteousness deliver me. The passage confused Luther; how could God’s righteousness do anything but condemn him to hell as a righteous punishment for his sins? Luther kept thinking about Romans 1:17, which says, the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.” Luther the monk went ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 28   All quotes are from Enduring Word Commentary Written By David Guzik unless noted.   Paul Ashore on Malta Once Paul and his sailing companions made it to shore on the island of Malta, they were welcomed by the natives. It was cold and rainy, so they built a fire on the beach. The heat drew out a snake who fastened to Paul's arm. Being a superstitious people, the islanders thought this was a sign that Paul was a murderer. But when Paul shook off the snake and suffered no ill effects, they changed their minds and said he was a god.  These experienced sailors would certainly have known the island of Malta, but not this side of the island. Almost all the traffic to Malta came to the main port, on the other side; they didn’t recognize this side of the island. God didn’t preserve Paul from the storm just to let him perish by a snake. Paul was protected. It was promised he would go to Rome (you must also bear witness at Rome, Acts 23:11),...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 27 Paul Sails for Rome Paul and other prisoners were put on a boat to sail to Italy. Julius, the Centurion, was kind to Paul. When they landed in Sidon, he allowed Paul to meet with his friends and provide for his needs. With all of the changes in wind patterns, they faced difficulty making headway.  Paul was different from the other prisoners on board. The other prisoners were probably all condemned criminals being sent to Rome to die in the arena. - Guzik An Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy: This was a grain freighter, taking grain grown in Egypt to Italy. According to Hughes, the typical grain freighter of that period was 140 feet long and 36 feet wide. It had one mast with a big square sail, and instead of what we think of as a rudder, it steered with two paddles on the back part of the ship. They were sturdy, but because of its design, it couldn’t sail into the wind. - Guzik As the boat continued to struggle in the wind, winter was approac...