Practical Rules For Living

Backstory:
Paul’s focus on justification (how to come into a right relationship with God) and sanctification (how to grow in a relationship with God) concluded with Romans 8. By their union with Christ in his death and resurrection and by the in-dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, believers can live in freedom. As a reminder of their past, Paul reflected on the long and sometimes painful history of the Jewish people, showing that they have a place in God’s sovereign redemptive plan. Paul now turns to the practical application of all he has said previously in his letter to the Romans, going into detail to show that Jesus Christ is to be Lord of every area of life.

God’s Story:
Through the church, my people are united in one body. Together they will show the world my love, which lives in them. Both their words and their actions must testify that they live in me and I live in them. I delight when my people offer themselves to me wholeheartedly. And when they do so, I transform their thinking and change their hearts so they can know and fulfill my will for them.

Read Romans 12:1-21

Your Story:
Extending God’s love to others sounds easy until you disagree with someone. Too often Christians resort to petty arguments and allow minor differences to cause conflict, reverting back to “the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2). Using some of Paul’s commands, how can you handle disagreements differently the next time they come up?

It Will All Work Out

God’s Story:
Here is my promise to those who believe and have aligned their story with my story: I will work all things together for their good. That means I am working in a way that will help them to be conformed to the image of my Son. The laughter, the tears, the joy, the heartache — they are all a part of my purpose for their story, their life. My people will see that every event, every detail is important. Nothing is ever wasted. I will use it all for good because nothing in heaven or on earth can isolate my people from my love.

Read Romans 8:1-39

Your Story:
Paul’s honest and direct teachings will open your eyes and make you face your true self head-on. They will also give you great comfort and hope to guide you through the most difficult times of your life. You know exactly who you are, and you know exactly what you need to do to be who God wants you to be. To keep this knowledge in the forefront of your mind, be sure you read and memorize some of the verses that bring you the most encouragement. Keeping God’s Word close to your heart will ensure that you never stray too far from it.

The Problem With Sin

Backstory:
After establishing the fact that all people are in need of salvation through faith in Christ, Paul continues his letter to the Romans by showing how believers are freed from sin, the law and eternal death. Paul reminded his readers that humans are born with a sinful nature that doesn’t allow them to do good. Only by turning your life over to Christ, who has delivered you from sin, can you live well and do good through the power of the Spirit.

God’s Story:
The purpose of the law I gave Moses is to expose the sin that is in each person. Because of that sin, people cannot do good on their own. But from the beginning, I planned to conquer sin once and for all by sending my Son to die as the sacrifice for all the world. Because he lives, my people can live.

Read Romans 7:1-25
Your Story:
Because you are human, you have to struggle to do good even when you genuinely want to do what is right. What situation or temptation do you struggle with the most? How do you resist? Whom do you turn to for help?

Accountability

Backstory:
Paul probably was at Corinth on his 3rd missionary journey when he wrote this letter to the believers in Rome. Circumstances continued to prevent him from visiting the Roman church, so he sent this letter in part to prepare the Christians there for his intended future visit. Paul began by surveying the spiritual condition of all people. He declared that Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners and in need of salvation.

God’s Story:
There is no reason to argue about what my dear apostle wrote because no one is exempt from its truth. I gave my people the law for a purpose: so they would recognize their sinfulness and need for a Savior. It was all part of my marvelous plan to provide the gift of right standing to those who believe and thereby restore the relationship with my people. All people are sinful, and I will hold them accountable. No one is righteous — except those who believe in my Son, Jesus Christ.

Read Romans 3:1-31

Your Story:
This chapter from Romans may sound rather daunting and depressing, but don’t focus  on that part of God’s story; focus on the hope. Yes, it’s true that you sin, both consciously and sometimes unconsciously. You are guilty before God, the great Judge, and there is nothing you can do to change that. But here’s the good news: By God’s grace you can be declared “not guilty!” Christ sacrificed himself for your sins. If you accept this gift, God will forgive you and declare you righteous. All you have to do is believe!

Strength In Weakness

Backstory:
In the final 2 chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul dealt firmly with the opposition forces in the church at Corinth who charged that he did not have the apostolic authority he claimed to have. In order to compare his own ministry with that of the false apostles — or “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5), as he sarcastically called them — Paul spoke about himself, which inevitably sounded like foolish boasting. He wanted to boast of the things that showed his weakness, because that opened the way for him to boast about the strength of God’s grace in his life.

God’s Story:
I have a plan for everyone who believes in me. No matter who that are, what they can or cannot do, I can use them. Regardless of their abilities or physical condition, my Spirit will empower them with the strength they need to live out my will. Divine power is made perfect in human weakness.

Read 2 Corinthians 11:1 – 12:10

Your Story:
Everyone has weaknesses. Even the apostle Paul, the greatest missionary of all time, had a chronic “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) that plagued him. He struggled with it constantly, although there’s no documentation of what it was. Nevertheless, this reference to the apostle’s “thorn” has helped countless believers cope with “thorns” of their own. Paul felt strong when he was weak, knowing that God would work in and through him. How can God use your weaknesses for his service and glory?

Inside the Ordinary

Backstory:
After writing 1 Corinthians, Paul heard that his letter had not completely accomplished its purpose. A group of men who presented themselves as apostles had come to Corinth. They were false teachers who were challenging, among other things, Paul’s personal integrity and his authority as an apostle. In defense of his ministry, Paul wrote the Corinthians another letter.
God’s Story:
All along, my plan has been to pick unlikely individuals to lead my people and spread the news of my love. I pack the treasure of the gospel inside “jars of clay.” These are ordinary, fallible human beings whom I have chosen so the world will know that I am working in and through them. My power and glory shines through their lives.

Read 2 Corinthians 4:1-18

Your Story:
Maybe you are in awe of the apostle Paul or another of God’s chosen servants whose story is told in the Bible. But remember, they all were ordinary people just like you. God’s power ignited them and filled them so that they became great leaders, powerful missionaries and sincere representatives of the gospel. God uses ordinary people to make extraordinary things happen all the time. Trust him to use you too.

Resurrection Assurance

Backstory:
One of Paul’s purposes for writing this letter was to correct false teaching concerning the resurrection. Just as 1 Corinthians 13 is considered the Bible’s classic chapter on love, 1 Corinthians 15 is considered the Bible’s classic chapter on the resurrection. In it, Paul outlines the subject of the resurrection from the dead — a teaching that some in the church at Corinth had been questioning.

God’s Story:
Denying the historical resurrection of my Son not only relegates the  Messiah to a martyr’s grave but renders faith futile, sin triumphant and the hope of glory a pitiful myth. The reality is that my Son’s resurrection guarantees my people’s resurrection — along with the conquest of death, the subjugation of evil and the daily empowerment of believers for faithful service

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-58

Your Story:
The Good News is both simple and complicated. Resurrection and eternal life are mysteries to the human mind that can only be accepted by faith. Praise God that by his grace you are forgiven and will be part of the resurrection. You can live in joy and peace knowing that your body may die but you will live forever.

The Body of Christ

Backstory:
Paul’s 2nd missionary journey also took him to Corinth (see Acts 18:1-28), a large and prosperous city rife with idolatry and immorality. Paul stayed in Corinth a year and a half, much longer than was his typical practice. A couple of years later, Paul received information concerning problems in the church at Corinth, particularly in regard to conduct — problems he attempted to resolve with this letter. He also gave instructions on public worship, including the use of spiritual gifts.

God’s Story:
My Son could not teach everyone in the short time he was on earth, so his believers are to continue the work he started. Believers are the body of Christ. They represent Christ. They have been given gifts by the Holy Spirit to enable them to minister to the needs of the body and to proclaim  my message to the ends of the earth. They are my chosen instruments to show my love to the world.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1 -13:13
Your Story:
You are part of the body of Christ. You are being changed by God’s Spirit to become more like Jesus every day: to think like Jesus, to act like Jesus, to treat other people like Jesus would treat them. When you walk into a room, you represent Jesus. It’s as though Jesus himself walked into the room. Even if you don’t feel called to be a preacher or teacher, you are called to proclaim Christ through a life of love and Christ-like living.

Waiting For Christ’s Encore

Backstory:
Paul wrote a 2nd letter to the Thessalonians just a few months after writing the first one. After receiving his 1st letter, the people continued to progress in their faith. But they had been unsettled by a false teaching that the day of the Lord had already come, which obviously was untrue. Paul wrote this 2nd, more commanding letter to correct those teachings and inform the people about what they had to look forward to.

God’s Story:
My Son will return suddenly, when no one is expecting it. Before that time, there will be great spiritual rebellion and upheaval, but those who trust me have no reason to worry. If they live each day according to my will and follow the teachings of Jesus, it does not matter when that day arrives — they will be ready & that’s all that matters!

Read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Your Story:
Because the events surrounding it are so mysterious, talk of Christ’s second coming can be disconcerting. While the Bible offers some signs of what to expect, much of it is one to interpretation and speculation. But you can be sure of this: Jesus WILL return in victory! There will always be those who teach error and persecute believers. Remember what Paul told the Thessalonians — it is important to “stand firm” in your faith (2 Thessalonians 2:15). God loves you, and by his grace he gives you encouragement as you await his Son’s return.

Living to Please God

Backstory:
On his 2nd missionary journey, Paul visited Thessalonica, where some Jews, a large number of “God fearing” Greeks (Gentiles who were not converts to Judaism but who believed in one God and respected the moral and ethical teachings of the Jews) and quite a few prominent women, opened their hearts to Jesus the Messiah. After a rather brief stay, Paul fled Thessalonica when opposition to his message became threatening. He wrote 1 Thessalonians from Corinth not long after that. One reason Paul wrote this letter was to address some confusion among the Thessalonian Christians concerning Christ’s second coming.

God’s Story:
Patience. At the time of my choosing, my Son will return to earth in glory. Only I know when that will be, so there is no use trying to guess. Human measurements of hours, days and years are of little value when it comes to my divine plan and kingdom. Rather than trying to figure out times and dates, my people ought to live in faith, hope and love in preparation and anticipation of Christ’s return.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 5:28

Your Story:
Paul’s appeal for living a holy life is timeless. What he wrote to the church long ago continues to be true for you today. Make a list of how Paul advises Christians to live. Then do a self-evaluation and ask God to strengthen you in your areas of weakness.