August 5

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

​Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
16. F I A N A O T G O C F I I T P O G U S T E O T B T T J F A A T T G

Notes on verse:

Not ashamed: Neither ridicule, criticism or physical persecution, could curb Paul’s boldness. He had been imprisoned in Philippi, chased out of Thessalonica, smuggled out of Berea, laughed at in Athens, regarded as a fool in Corinth, and stoned in Galatia, but Paul remained eager to preach the gospel in Rome.

Power: The English word “dynamite” comes from this Greek word. Although the message may sound foolish to some, the gospel is effective because it carries with it the omnipotence of God. Only God’s power is able to overcome man’s sinful nature and give him new life.

Salvation: Used 5 times in Romans, this key word basically means “deliverance” or “rescue”. The power of the gospel delivers people from lostness, from the wrath of God, from willful spiritual ignorance, from evil self-indulgence and from the darkness of false religion. It rescues them from the ultimate penalty of their sin, i.e. the eternal separation from God and eternal punishment.

Believeth: To trust, rely on, or have faith in. When used of salvation, this word usually occurs in the present tense “is believing”, which stresses that faith is not simply a one-time event, but an ongoing condition. True saving faith is supernatural, a gracious gift of God that He produces in the heart and is the only means by which a person can appropriate true righteousness.

Saving faith consists of 3 elements.

1. Mental: the mind understands the gospel and the truth about Christ,
2. Emotional: one embraces the truthfulness of those facts with sorrow over sin and joy over God’s mercy and grace,
3. Volitional: the sinner submits his will to Christ and trust in Him alone as the only hope of salvation.

Genuine faith will always produce authentic obedience (See 4:3).

Jew First: God chose Israel to be His witness nation and gave her distinct privileges. Christ’s ministry was first to Israel, and it was through Israel that salvation was to come to the world.

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

August 5
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
Ezra 7  —  8.0 minutes
Proverbs 5  —  4.0 minutes

New Testament
Luke 14:15-24  —  2.5 minutes
1 Timothy 3:11-16  —  1.5 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 16.0 minutes