John 5:1-15

John 5. The healing at the pool. Jesus asks "do you want to get well?" and he explains his faith in the pool. Jesus says get up and he is healed. Then later meets him again and explains that he needs to stop sinning or something worse will happen. But it isn't up to the guy to stop sinning by himself, he has already seen how 'to get well.' it is by trusting in Jesus and so we too only by trusting in Him can go from being invalid for years and useless to God, to being healed and telling others of how Jesus has made us well.

Psalm 62

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

In God is our strength and Salvation. By none of our own deeds are we made 'good people' deserving of what God gives us. By our own actions we are condemned and deserved death, but Jesus came to free us from our sin. Out of God's unimaginably great love we are made right ib His sight if we trust in that forgiveness.

Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Numbers 9-11

Those who could not participate in the passover were allowed to next month. The cloud of the Lord went with them and they all followed at aby hour of the night or day. But still the Israelites complained that there was no meat so God gave them quail, far too much quail. Also, God placed his Spirit in 70 people other than Moses. Moses wishes that all people would have the Spirit poured out on them.

Psalm 52-54

Evil men are attacking David, but he calls out to God, trusting in His faithfulness and unfailing love. Their wickedness will lead them to everlasting ruin, but those who make God their stronghold will flourish.

Romans 2

God's judgement is right. It is based on truth. When we pass judgement we are condemning ourselves because we too do the same things. God however judges from perfection, but realize this, if he judged you right now, what would happen? He is giving each of us time to see the kindness offered in his patience and sacrifices for us that we may come to repentance. It isn't even just those who have the Law that will be judged, because God has written the law in our hearts and gives us morals. But we still do what is wrong.

Romans 1

Strong yet simple words. Although Paul has not yet been to Rome the church there is already being spoken of all over the world. He is sending them a message of the gospel. In just his opening greeting he shares all about who Jesus is before even saying who the letter is to. Near the end of this chapter he explains how humans have sinned and are deservibg of death.

Psalm 51

Honestly, one of my favourite Psalms. It resonates so greatly with me. I know only a part of the depths of my sin, from birth surely I was sinful, but I try not to do wrong to other people, the main sins are against God and God alone or at least that's how I often think. When I was trying to beat my sin on my own they were always before me, mocking me, building guilt and shame, but in His great love and compassion He sent His only Son to die on the cross for us. He payed the price, taking the death we deserved and then rose again three days later. He offers us this very same thing, to kill the old self and make us new, give us a pure heart and the Spirit to be with us always. Oh grant me the joy of thy salvation and help me to teach others of you.

Numbers 7-8

The Dedication of the Tabernacle went on for nearly two weeks and a lot of animals were offered. The Levites were set apart to do the work.

Galatians 3

Paul is making a thorough point to the Galatians, it is not because of the law that God graces us with his Spirit. It is not. If by the law we could be saved, that would have happened. In actuality, the law made us prisoners of a curse since we cannot live up to it. It is because of this curse that Christ had to die for us, that by faith we might be forgiven, that we might be righteous in His sights. But this wasn't just a new thing, since Abraham faith has been a factor in righteousness. Not that Abraham lived lawlessly, but that his faith was the thing that made him righteous. Even back then it was promised that his seed would bless the nations. All the way back then and even before creation God had the foresight to see or fall and need for redemption and to have it all planned out that Chrst would make the substitution for us, and pay our ransom.by faith in Jesus and him crucified we are made sons of God, through him anything is possible, through him is life and love everlasting. Even so, we can fall back into trying by our own strength, trying to earn something we couldn't possibly. So, yeah, just remembering that it isn't by anything that we have done that we have come into this relationship with God and that we have a tendency of slipping back into that mindset and that we need to be rebuked is humbling.


In the Chapter:
Questions:
Who has bewitched you?
Did you recieve the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you have heard?
Are you so foolish?
After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
Have you suffered so much for nothing?
Does God give you his spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you have heard?
What then was the purpose of the law?
Is the law, therefore opposed to the promises of God?

Facts:
Abraham believed God and righteousness was acredited to him.
Those who believe are children of God.
Those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham
All who try to live by the law as their means of justification are cursed because they cannot possibly live up to it's standards.
Christ redeemed us from this curse by dying for us.
He redeemed us to give us the chance to recieve the Spirit by faith
The law did not override God's promise to Abraham, but
The law was established along with the sacrifice system because of the iniquities of the Israelites
If it were possible to establish a law that would give life, it would have been.
Although the world is a prisoner of sin, through faith we can receive the blessing through Christ
The law held us prisoners, but Christ has set us free and justified us by faith
By faith we are sons of God, clothed with Christ
We are all one in Christ

Numbers 1-3

The census and levite families. It's pretty cool that the number of levites is so close to the number of first born sons in Israel.

Psalm 47-50

Man, by himself will fail and perish. 'man does not endure. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves'. But God is much greater, infinitely so, deserving of all praise and worship. 'within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love', 'for this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end', He says to his people 'call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.' Indeed we will honor him. Another couple verses show where we were in the most trouble 'no man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough- that he should live on forever and not see decay.' We cannot redeem ourselves or even others, but God has, out of his unfailing love for us, given his own Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for us. Paying the price for all our sins and redeeming us.

Matt 20

In the parable of the workers in the vinyard we see that the owner pays them all the same even though they haven't warked the same amount of time. It is as said that he who reaps was not he who sowed. We should be glad that God extends his love and mercy to all, no matter how long they were in sin.

Leviticus 23-27

A lot of stuff. Rewards and Punishment. Years of Jubilee. But all through it, even things about how in the promised land how every seven years the land would take a Sabbath break, the repeated 'I am the Lord' or 'I am the Lord your God' was repeted. Kinda like, having seen all I have done, just trust me. 'I will keep my covenant with you'. 'I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people'.

Acts 27-28

Paul's trip to Rome. He never lost sight of the goal. He had faith that they would get there safely. Through storms and shipwreck and snakes he kept going and went right back to telling the Romans the Gospel. 'boldy and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Leviticus 21-22

I am the Lord who makes you holy. Again and again this is stated. Rules for priests so that they do not become unclean and rules for acceptable offerings. Nothing less than perfect is acceptable in His sight, since He is perfect. So, it's a good thing we have Jesus' righteousness otherwise we would be cut off forever.

Leviticus 20

For the wages of sin is death. That is clearly seen in this passage. Basically all of the sins described have stoning as the punishment. But it alsi says be holy for I am holy and that God is the one who sanctifies us and makes us holy, which is encouraging. I know very well that I can't make myself holy.

Psalm 45-46

God is just, God is strong and powerful, he wants to bless those who follow him, he stops wars and is our fortress.