Bible Reference:  Romans 4:1-25 We put our faith in Jesus Christ.   He is the person who makes us right before God.  Abraham was declared right when he put his faith in God to put him right.   Abraham became the person from whom the Messiah would come. From David's declaration God makes you right.   You are right because God says so.  Righteous works do not make people right.  Circumcision was given to Abraham after he believed.   The Law was given to show us that we have a need to be made right.  The promise of being right depends on God's grace. Romans 4:16-24 Romans Chapter 16 We must be careful to not fall into the trap of trying to do good works to make us right.   We must just come back to God.  He makes us right. Romans 5:1-5 A lot of times we hear God will bless,  bless, bless you.  We tend to think we get, get, get.  This produces selfishness.   But Paul said he was blessed even when he was stoned, shipwrecked.   Paul had peace with God in whatever circumstance

Nehemiah understood the importance of the work he was under taking and was not distracted by those trying to trap him... Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. Nehemiah 6:2‭-‬4 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/neh.6.2-4.NIV

Bible reference:  Acts 20:24; Romans 2:17-29 The Religious Man We are called to the ministry of reconciliation.   We will do it differently.   God gifts us in different ways.   God likes unity, not uniformity. Romans 2:17-29 Paul is a very good example of a religious man.  Until he got to know Jesus,  then he understood the Gospel.   Religious people know the law, 10 commandments; instruction in the Law and God's rules for living.   They claim to be a teacher of children,  instruct the foolish,  help the blind.  But they do the very things they preach against. They break the Law.  You can be circumcised physically,  but unless you heart is right  it's of no value. They must refuse to apply Scripture in their own lives, but instruct in other people's lives. Who has a "special " relationship with God?  We don't just accept God, there must be a life transformation. Romans 3:1-26 We all fall short,  no one is worthy.   We can all fall into the trap of bei

Bible reference: Romans 2 Some people don't have a formal education,  yet they can learn. Some people receive an education.  Education or no education; we can't escape God's judgment.   We all need God's mercy,  regardless of our education.   God does not show favoritism.   The person who is educated,  can learn from nature as well.  He knows that there is a God with intelligence.   Many educated people try to reason out life.  They are challenged by answered prayer.  Sometimes you can't reason with intellectual reasoning.   The intellectual person knows there is a judgment,  he also knows God is merciful and compassionate.  He will try and find a way of escape. We must have God who is just.  If not, then there will be no repentance or paying the price to make the unjust act right.  The price had to be paid.  We are not to walk in another's pain.   We are to be compassionate but not take the hurt or pain on.  God calls us to love one another and care for o

Bible reference:  Acts 20:24 Paul's commission in life.   The task of testifying to the Gospel of grace. We are to lead people to where they can meet God; we can't change them.  We lead them, and the Holy Spirit dies the work. Romans1:13-32b In our country,  this explains much of what is happening in our nation.  The failure of our nation will not be without, but from within. Simple man - ordinary man.  Uneducated man.  From nature, he can see there is a supreme intelligence.   Today,  we are taught that there was a large explosion that caused our world into existence???! Yet man will reject the truth that God created the world and dream up something entirely different. When you give your heart to God, he no longer sees you as a sinner.   You may sin, but under God's grace,  we are saved.  Not by any of our good works,  but by His grace. Reference:  Romans 3:23 The sinfulness of man - not acknowledging the supreme intelligence of God; there is a surprise ability t