Devotionals: Romans Archives - Page 2 of 9

One Generous Lord

By Andrew YoungJune 4, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.” (Romans 10:12) Bible Reading: Romans 10:11-13 The righteousness that comes by faith, Paul has been saying, comes to those who “confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead” (Romans 10:9). This blessing, he goes on to insist, is available to all. There is “no distinction between Jew and Greek” in this (v. 12). As he has said previously, quoting the prophets, “whoever believes in him will not be put to […]

Righteousness Based on Faith

By Andrew YoungJune 3, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“But the righteousness based on faith says….” (Romans 10:6) Bible Reading: Romans 10:5-10 Paul has been talking about two kinds of righteousness, one that is based on works of the law and the other based on faith. In the verses before us, he contrasts the two, dwelling particularly on the righteousness which is based on faith. First, he tells us what Moses said about the righteousness based on the law. In brief, it can be stated in this way: “The person who does the commandments shall live by them” (Romans 10:5). It is a righteousness based on human effort […]

Zeal without Knowledge

By Andrew YoungJune 2, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (Romans 9:32) Bible Reading: Romans 10:3 This chapter begins with an expression of Paul’s passion for the salvation of his countrymen. It is his “heart’s desire and prayer” that they may be saved (Romans 10:1). Natural blood ties would have been enough to make Paul yearn for the salvation of his fellow Israelites. But that is made the stronger by their “zeal for God” (v. 2). They are not an indifferent, irreligious people. Nor have they been misled into worshipping some foreign deity. “For I bear them witness,” Paul writes, “that […]

Faith or Works

By Andrew YoungJune 1, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works.” (Romans 9:32) Bible Reading: Romans 9:30-33 We have noted more than once how Paul develops this letter to the Romans by posing questions at critical points. We have another example of this here. He has raised the point that the people of God – the vessels of mercy he has fashioned for glory – includes both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9:24-29). He has said that those who were once not a people (Gentiles) have now become the people of God, but that those who were historically God’s […]

Jews and Gentiles

By Andrew YoungMay 31, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles…” (Romans 9:24) Bible Reading: Romans 9:24-29 Paul has been speaking of two kinds of vessels fashioned by the Divine Potter, vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and vessels of mercy, “prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:22, 23). He now identifies himself and his readers with the latter – those whose destiny is to share in the glory of God. The point he stresses is the inclusiveness of this group. It is made up of all those whom God has “called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles” (v. 24). […]

Two Kinds of Vessels

By Andrew YoungMay 30, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…vessels of wrath… vessels of mercy…” (Romans 9:22, 23) Bible Reading: Romans 9:22-23 Paul has likened God, in the exercise of his sovereignty, to a potter fashioning vessels of his choice out of clay. He goes on, here, to speak of two kinds of vessel. The first he labels as “vessels of wrath” (Romans 9:22). Referring to God’s freedom to show mercy and to harden, he says, almost hypothetically, “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction…” (v. 22). These “vessels of wrath” are those, […]

The Potter and the Clay

By Andrew YoungMay 29, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“Has the potter no right over the clay…?” (Romans 9:21) Bible Reading: Romans 9:19-21 We are still absorbed in Paul’s teaching on the sovereignty of God. This is a difficult subject to understand and accept, and for that reason, we must deal with it slowly and thoroughly. As on other occasions in this letter to the Romans, the apostle asks and answers questions when writing about difficult or misunderstood truths. Here, he has been talking about God’s absolute freedom to show mercy to some people and harden others (Romans 9:18). Knowing how difficult it is for us to accept this idea, he […]

Freedom to Harden

By Andrew YoungMay 28, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“So then… he hardens whomever he wills.” (Romans 9:18) Bible Reading: Romans 9:17-18 Paul is here speaking about the sovereignty of God – his absolute freedom to act as he chooses. He has demonstrated that in regard to him showing mercy to some (Romans 9:14-16). Here he shows that it is equally true in hardening the hearts of others. He uses the example from Old Testament history involving the Egyptian ruler (Pharaoh) at the time of the exodus. Most will be familiar with the story of how the then Pharaoh repeatedly refused to let the slave nation of Israel go and worship […]

Mercy Alone

By Andrew YoungMay 27, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16) Bible Reading: Romans 9:14-18 Paul has explained that the widespread unbelief among Israelites was due, ultimately, to the sovereignty of God. Here, he answers what he anticipates will be an objection to this idea. “What shall we say then?” he writes. “Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!” (Romans 9:14). The apostle shudders at the thought. He then answers by appealing to something God said to Moses, namely, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion […]

God’s Purpose of Election

By Andrew YoungMay 25, 2019Devotionals: Romans

“…in order that God’s purpose of election might continue…” (Romans 9:11) Bible Reading: Romans 9:10-13 The words before us this morning are among the most difficult in the Bible for us to accept in our natural condition. They speak of the absolute sovereignty of God in the matter of those who are his true children. Paul here, remember, is explaining why it is that the great majority of Jews remained hardened against Christ and his gospel. He has illustrated from Isaac and Ishmael that the true descendants of Abraham were not simply those who were his natural offspring (Romans 9:7, 8). Had […]