Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Romans 5 Enduring Word Commentary Peace and Hope 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Having explained how we are justified by faith in chapter 4, Paul now gives us the benefits of being justified with God. First of all, we have peace with God. This cannot be overstated. Many people live in fear of God or wracked by guilt. By being justified by faith, we have been reconciled to God and enjoy a loving relationship, free of guilt or shame.  Paul says we should, " Stand in this grace "....

Romans 4 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Abraham Justified by Faith 4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” This is a very important chapter where Paul shows that the concept of being justified by faith. This doctrine is found in the Old Testament multiples times beginning with Abraham, the recipient of the first covenant from God. Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 15:22 ,  where it says that because of faith, Abraham was given God's righteousness. Meaning he could not earn righteousness, it only came by faith alone.  4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteo...

Romans 3 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary God’s Faithfulness 3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.  3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:  “So that you may be proved right when you speak  and prevail when you judge.”  5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is ju...

Romans 2 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary God’s Righteous Judgment 2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? Paul continues the logic from chapter 2 where we all stand condemned before a holy and righteous God. Since we are all equally guilty, when we judge someone else it as if we are judging ourselves. Paul warns us to be careful when we judge, because the same standard will be applied to us. Solution: Don't judge anyone. Let God do it.  The bottom line is God ...

Romans 1 Click Here for A Commentary Overview of the Book of Romans 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life[a] was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power[b] by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from[c] faith for his name’s sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.  7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people:  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says three things about himself. He was a servant. The Greek word for "servant" is "doulos ". It also can be translated " slave ". It me...

Acts 28 Enduring Word Commentary Paul Ashore on Malta 28 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. Again we see the historical nature of the bible in Acts, as Paul and his companions came to the island of Malta. Malta was a small island in the Mediterrean Sea, south of Cicil...

Acts 27 Paul Sails for Rome 27 When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.  3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8...

Enduring Word Commentary Acts 26 - NIV 26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”  So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently. 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) Herod Agrippa II, also known as Agrippa II, was the son of Agrippa I. He ruled over Jewish territories as a Roman client king, though he focused on areas outside of Judea. He respected Jewish religious practices, but his kingdom was mainly populated by non-Jews. (Google AI) Because King Agrippa was of Jewish descent, Paul hoped he would b...

Acts 25 Paul’s Trial Before Festus 25 Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, 2 where the chief priests and the Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. 3 They requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. 4 Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. 5 Let some of your leaders come with me, and if the man has done anything wrong, they can press charges against him there.” The Jewish leaders were trying to trick Festus into asking Paul to come from Caesarea, so they could ambush him. But in God's sovereignty, Festus instead decided to visit him in Caesarea. He invited other Jewish leaders to come and see if he was guilty of anything.  We don’t know if Festus knew the intentions of the Jewish leaders or not. Either way, he refused to grant their request for a change of venue...

Acts 24 Paul’s Trial Before Felix 24 Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. I imagine Tertullus to be a slick talking lawyer who is trying to " sweet talk " King Felix by attributing the peace they have to him. He compliments his wisdom. He calls him Most Excellent Felix  hoping his flattery can get him an audience with the king.    5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the N...

Acts 23 - NIV 23 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” 2 At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  4 Those who were standing near Paul said, “How dare you insult God’s high priest!”  5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.” Paul confronts the high priest of the Sanhedrin for judging him falsely and for commanding that he be struck on the mouth. When Paul realizes that it is the high priest, he is remorseful because he didn't know he was a man in that position. Paul claims that as a Pharisee he has acted in good conscience.  The Ananias who was high...