BEAUTIFUL FEET

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Romans

HOW SHALL THEY HEAR?

Read Romans Chapters 9 –10

     That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.    Romans 10:9 NIV

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     Although the church at Rome was started by Jewish believers, the larger growth was among the Gentiles. Paul’s heart was that his own Jewish brethren would be saved, but God had called him to spread the Word to all who would believe.
     He now makes his case for the importance of evangelism. He asks them, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” (10:14)

     The Jews, he said, had heard the message by way of the prophets, though most had not accepted their Messiah when He came. But the way of salvation was the same for both Jews and Gentiles.
     "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' " (10:12-13)

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     Lord, I pray for the day when Israel will recognize their Messiah. I am so thankful that the gospel was preached to people groups who passed it down to us. May we be faithful to tell others that As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (10:11)

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     ...And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"   Romans 10:14b-15 NIV

THE TRINITY

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EQUAL WITH GOD

Read John 5:1–23     Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:18 NKJV

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     This passage in John is one of the strongest proofs that Jesus claimed to be one with the Father. The reason they wanted to kill Him was that He claimed equality with God. He not only said He was able to give life — He demonstrated it by raising people from the dead, and eventually rising from the dead Himself.

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     Men and women come to our doors today claiming that they believe in Jesus, but not in the Trinity. They cannot honestly believe in the Jesus of the Bible, without making Him a liar, because He claimed deity for Himself. He was more than a good teacher - He was and is the Son of God.

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     Lord, help me to give a confident and kind answer to those who come to my door with a false teaching about Jesus. Perhaps some day one of them will be searching for the real Jesus.

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     For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it . . . that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:21, 23 NIV