…the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. —Colossians 1:26,27
If we can see what Paul saw we can live like Paul lived.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned… —Romans 5:6-12
CHRIST DIED FOR US WHILE WE WERE
Helpless • Ungodly • Sinners • Enemies
John 15:13; 1 John 4:10
Read about the Great White Throne Judgment in Revelation 20:11-15 and the Judgment Seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:9,10.
…because Jesus lives forever… Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. —Hebrews 7:24,25
…work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. —Philippians 2:12,13
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. —2 Corinthians 3:18
PRAYERS FOR 2022
Strengthen me with might.
Illumine me with light.
Show me great and mighty things.
Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:16-19, Jeremiah 33:3
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Books
The Dying Citizen by Victor Davis Hanson
The Case for Heaven by Lee Strobel
Videos & More
gracestl.org/weekend-resources
Bible Reading Plan
gracestl.org/bible-plan
Discussion Questions
1. Romans 2:17 says, “Indeed you are called a Jew and rest in the Law and make your boast in God…” But despite all that, Paul points out that they dishonored God by breaking the Law. Why was their boast in God hollow?
2. Romans 5:11 says, “And not only this, but we also exult (rejoice) in God…” What’s the difference between the Jew boasting in God and the Christian rejoicing in God? On what is each based? How does the love of God described in chapter 5 transform our response to Him?
3. What are you beholding when you read the Bible? What are you becoming?