Category: Bible Study

GROANERS

“Yes, we know that all creation groans and is in agony even until now.” –Romans 8:22 After the first sin was committed, a groan was heard for the first time. Adam groaned in his labors; Eve groaned in her labor pains (see Gn 3:16, 19). Both groaned when they saw the first dead body ever: the body of their son Abel, murdered by his brother Cain (Gn 4:8). This groaning grew increasingly worse until the whole world groaned (Rm 8:22). Eventually, there came a Man Who groaned like the rest of us, but also unlike the rest of us. His...

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

“If you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the spirit you put to death the evil deeds of the body, you will live.” –Romans 8:13 If we live according to the flesh, that is, according to our fallen human nature, we will die, that is, be damned in hell. It is therefore of supreme importance to be freed from the slavery of our fallen nature. We put to death the prideful, self-centered deeds of our fallen nature by the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus, we must be born again of water and Spirit (Jn...

HE’S JUST PITIFUL

“Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” –Mark 10:47 Bartimaeus was blind. Many people had no pity on him, but instead scolded him to keep quiet and out of sight (Mk 10:48). Jesus had pity on Bartimaeus and healed him (Mk 10:52). A leper was treated without pity by the masses. He had to keep out of the way, calling out, “Unclean, unclean!” (Lv 13:45) Jesus saw him, was “moved with pity,” touched him, and healed him (Mk 1:41-42). A vast crowd was hungry for the Word of God. Jesus “pitied them, for they were like sheep without a...

A CONDEMNED BUILDING

“There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus.” –Romans 8:1 We often feel condemned or about to be condemned. In these moments, we feel as if people are judging us, because they are. We are afraid of not being accepted and even rejected. We know that people’s love for us is conditional, and sooner or later we won’t meet their conditions. We have the haunting fear we will be condemned not only in this life but for all eternity. The Good News is: “There is no condemnation now for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rm...

THE ONLY HOPE

“Who can free me?” –Romans 7:24 Our human nature is fallen, wounded, and weakened because of the sin of our first parents, that is, original sin. Our desires, intentions, and feelings lack power (Rm 7:18). “What happens is that I do, not the good I will to do, but the evil I do not intend” (Rm 7:19). Our wills also are incapacitated. We do what is against our wills (Rm 7:20). “This means that even though I want to do what is right, a law that leads to wrongdoing is always ready at hand” (Rm 7:21). Moreover, our bodies are...