Archive for March 2023

Deuteronomy 1-3, Psalm 62, Matthew 26:1-16, Romans 9:19-33 Romans 9:19-33: “Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works.” Here is the key to our response to God: are we pursuing him by faith or by works? Are we working out salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at…

Numbers 33-36, Psalm 61, Matthew 25:31-46, Romans 9:1-18 Romans 9:1-18: The pain of sensing that someone you love is not responding to Christ—that pain is real and hurtful, sometimes extremely so. But what would it be like to know that your whole people —with many exceptions, but still as a group—that your whole people were in danger of…

Numbers 31-32, Psalm 60, Matthew 25:14-30, Romans 8:18-39 Romans 8:18-39: Few words in all of Scripture are more precious than these. Such profundity, but also such practicality. And all encased in a beautiful frame that resonates with the power of the gospel. What can we learn from these words? First (v. 18-25), when we suffer, we should compare…

Numbers 28-30, Psalm 59, Matthew 25:1-13, Romans 8:1-17 Romans 8:1-17: It is impossible to summarize this magna carta of the Christian faith—this summa laude of that majestic Book of Romans, this chapter 8—in a few short words in a devotion. What can we say? First, the chapter as a whole moves from no condemnation (verse 1) to no…

Numbers 26-27, Psalm 58, Matthew 24:34-51, Romans 7:13-25 Romans 7:13-25: This passage has received several contrary interpretations. At stake is whether Paul is describing the condition of being a Christian (wrestling with the ongoing implications and struggle with sin that all Christians face), or whether he is describing his pre-Christian stage (wrestling with conviction of sin that should…

Numbers 23-25, Psalm 57, Matthew 24:15-35, Romans 7:1-12 Romans 7:1-12: Here Paul answers a potential objection to what he is arguing. As a recap, Paul is arguing that we are saved by grace, through faith, by the work of Christ on the cross in our place. This then means that we now live for him in joy and…

Numbers 21-22, Psalm 56, Matthew 24:1-14, Romans 6:15-23 Romans 6:15-23: Paul is continuing to talk about the way that the gospel does not lead to license to sin. In particular, now he addresses the question as to whether because we’re not under law but under grace, does this mean that we can sin as much as we like.…

Numbers 18-20, Psalm 55, Matthew 23:25-39, Romans 6:1-14 Romans 6:1-14: This passage of Scripture is profoundly important and has great practical utility in the life of the Christian. Let us summarize it in these 5 ways. First, the question that Paul is addressing. That question is based upon the story of the gospel that he has told. Given…

Numbers 15-17, Psalm 54, Matthew 23:13-24, Romans 5:12-21 Romans 5:12-21: A good summary of this complicated section of Scripture can be found towards the end of this section: “just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (5:21). When we become a Christian, we move realms. We move…

Numbers 12-14, Psalm 53, Matthew 23:1-12, Romans 5:1-11 Romans 5:1-11: Perhaps the most glorious piece of writing in the whole New Testament—certainly one of the most joyful—these eleven verses deserve to be read, studied, memorized, and relished over and over again. Wow! Who can do justice to these things? Let us try by applying in the following five…