7 Jan 13: The Temptation of Jesus and/ God's Faithfulness to the Jews

**Read Matthew 4:1-11 and Romans 3:1-8

Prayer: Father God, we dedicate this study to you Lord.  Show us the true meaning of your message.  Help us understand your promises.  In Jesus Name Amen!

I. The Temptation of Jesus

- Matthew 4:1-11 tells the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This happened after His baptism. Sometimes, hardships and struggles come to Christians when you are in your highest point of your spirituality. This is only a test by God and for your faith in Him.

The first temptation was for lust and hunger. Jesus have been fasting for forty days and forty nights and was hungry when the devil came and started tempting him. Sometimes, the devil uses our daily needs (hunger, thirst, fatigue security) at the time when we are weak to make us make foolish decisions that we will regret in the future. This also happened to Esau in Genesis 25: 19 – 34.  Esau was so hungry after a whole day of hunting and wanted some of Jacob's cooking that he was tricked to trade his birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew soup. The devil wanted Jesus to turn the stones to bread but Jesus answered “Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God”.

The second temptation was for pride. The devil asked Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. This was done so that Jesus can prove his worth that he is God and to "show-off" that he has the strength and the protection of God. At the same time, if Jesus did jump, he was testing God to send his angels, which meant that he was doubting God, and then not trusting God.  This will then be a sin and this is what the devil wanted, for Jesus to commit sin. But as the scripture said, Jesus just answered “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.

The third temptation is about greed. The devil took Jesus in the high mountains and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil then offered to give everything to Jesus if He worships him but Jesus resisted temptation and told the devil "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."

The good news is that God gives us free will to follow Him and to do whatever we want.  The bad news is that we make bad decisions which opens us up to temptations and then sin.  1 Peter 5:8 reminds us "to be sober, be vigilant; because the enemy walks like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  The enemy is out there, constantly tempting us and trying to get us to commit sin. It is natural for us, especially the believers, to struggle with temptation.  Because we are for God and we help spread His word and promises of salvation, the enemy constantly targets us and persuade us to join him instead.  And this happens when we give in to his tricks and commit sin.  But after committing sin, does that satisfy your "thirst"?   Only the living water provided by our savior, Jesus Christ, will satisfy our thirst and give us eternal life.  Remember, when we face any temptation, God is faithful and trust in Him for:

"13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" - (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Be patient and trust in the Lord for God is always in control.

II. God's Faithfulness to the Jews

- Romans 3:1-8 once again talks about repentance. Paul said that we are condemned by our actions. He stated how Jews had an advantage for obtaining salvation because they already know God and possesses His laws. But nowadays, everyone has access to the laws and the gospel so we would not have an excuse.  The laws were made not as a way for salvation, but to show the public what we are doing wrong.  You could have followed all the laws of the Holy Bible but if you don't accept Jesus as your savior, repent your sins, and follow His way, then all your "good works" are just that.  Not all "nice, holy, or religious" people go to heaven.  It is all by God's grace.  Remember if someone goes to heaven, he has God to thank for. If someone goes to hell, he has himself to blame for. You have the choice if you would live by faith in God or live by what the world wants you to live. All the things here in the world are temporary but what we have in his kingdom is eternal and everlasting.

III. Proverbs for Today/2:1-5

1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.


Prayer: Father God, we thank you again for the holy spirit who guides us during this devotional. We thank you for giving us free will to make our own decisions.  Father, we ask for your guidance and wisdom that we don't succumb to our enemy's temptations . God, we know that sometimes we go hungry, thirsty, and tired but we know that if we trust in you that you will lead us to a way of escape. Lord, we also pray for ourselves and our hearts that you prevent us from saying, doing, and even thinking foolish things when we are in the time of distress. Let us be the light of the world, so others will see your love for us.  We pray that you continue to bless us, prosper us, and shower us with your grace. We ask for forgiveness not just of our sins but our families', friends', and those who had sinned against us.  We thank you and we love you.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

**Bible verses for faith in terms of stress:

1. My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. (Exodus 33:14)
2. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
3. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27)
4. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. (Psalm 9:9-10)
5. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)
6. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)
7. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7-8)
8. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalm 34:4)
9. Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10b)
10. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)
11. Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:3-5, 7a)

6 Jan 13: John Baptizes Jesus and/ Paul's Warning to the Jews

** Read Matthew 3:13-17 and Romans 2:17-29

I. John Baptizes Jesus
- Matthew 3:13-17 tells the story of the baptism of Jesus by John.  When John saw Jesus coming towards him, In John 1:29, he said "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world".  This signifies that John acknowledges that Jesus is the messiah and the sacrifice by God. At first, John was hesitant do the baptism and probably misunderstood the Lord's plan.  Even though Jesus Christ was sinless, he still asked to be baptized for purification and to fulfill the scripture.  Jesus is the High priest of the church and the final step of Moses' preparation of the priests was to be washed by water (Leviticus 8:6).  Jesus also sanctified himself in preparation of being the sacrifice for our sins.  Additionally, this event symbolized the passing of the Old Covenant to the new.  In verse 16, it says that Jesus came up immediately from the water.  This means that Jesus was in the water and came up from immersion in water or a dip in the water.  This is to symbolize a new body and a new life, someone that is born again.  People sometimes ask what being "born again" means (John 3:3).  It simply means being born again in the spirit.  We were born in the flesh during our birth date but when you accept Jesus and honor God, we are born of the spirit into the family of God.  When Jesus came out, the heaven opened up and the holy spirit came down to Jesus, like a dove, from God.  And then God said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  This confirmed to John the Baptist and to others who are at the site of baptism that Jesus was the messiah, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Lamb of God.

II. Paul's Warning to the Jews
- Romans 2:17-29 are not verses used as an ethnic slur or to discriminate the Jews.  This simply talks about Hypocrisy by the Jewish people and the salvation that they needed.  Most Jews at that time thought that they were better than everyone and they already have a free ticket to the kingdom of God just because they were born in God's nation that they are not guilty of their sins.  Paul in his message is trying to say that everyone is guilty before God, no matter who you are, and desperately need salvation through the faith in Jesus Christ, and not through rituals or laws (circumcision?).  At the same time, he is showing the Gentiles (non-believers) that even the Jews, who live in higher standards and possesses the Laws of God, are sinners and need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes, we as Christians, give our faith a bad name.  We say that we are followers of Christ but we still sin, we gamble, get drunk, commit adultery, have idols in our homes, hold grudges on people and do not forgive, lie, steal, our proud of our accomplishments (and do not give glory to God).  My advice to new and longtime believers is not to put your faith into people.  Don't rely on your brothers and sisters in faith and even your pastors or teachers for they are only human and still have their sinful nature.  If you keep "idolizing" them, you will only be disappointed because it is not "if" but "when" they commit sin.  The Word of God is available, you can buy a Bible or use the internet to read the Gospel.  We need to stop trusting only on our "leaders" to provide us the message.  We need to read and study the Word to find the truth.  By doing so, you will find for yourself that MOST of the traditions that the world do today is against what God wants from us.  From idolatry, to repeating memorized prayers over and over just like the pagans (⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.- Matthew 6:7), and to pray to dead and alive people (Mary, saints, the pope), and self flagellation (done because people do not trust in Jesus and what he has done for us.  Jesus died in the cross for our sins so we don't have to do all this).  We should only put our trust in God and not in mortal men for God is the only One who can give us salvation and eternal life.

"Pride has kept many people from accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. Admitting sin and acknowledging that in our own strength we can do nothing to inherit eternal life is a constant stumbling block for prideful people. We are not to boast about ourselves; if we want to boast, then we are to proclaim the glories of God. What we say about ourselves means nothing in God’s work. It is what God says about us that makes the difference (2 Corinthians 10:13)".
- http://www.gotquestions.org/pride-Bible.html

III. Proverbs for Today/1:29-33

29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

IV. Old Testament Readings:
Genesis 13:5-18, Genesis 14-15, and Psalms 6:1-10

Prayer: Father God, we thank you once again to have the opportunity to learn together as a member of your family.  Father we thank you for sending your son for we need Him and his gospel for our salvation.  We know that it is not through our works and not through traditions and laws that we will inherit your kingdom, but through faith, repentance, and through the holy spirit when we accept your Holy Son as our savior.  Father, please open our hearts that we will start reading the bible so we can learn the right message.  Please guide us so we wont be hypocrites and follow your way.  Help us to learn that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and that we don't have to say a memorized prayer twice, 3 times, or 10 times to be forgiven just as what the pagans do, and that we don't have to hurt ourselves by self flagellation or other ways because Jesus has done that for us and we now have a relationship with you through Him.  We ask all this through you son, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

5 Jan 13: John the Baptist Preaches Repentance and/ God's Judgment on Sin

5 Jan 13: John the Baptist Preaches Repentance and/ God's Judgment on Sin

**Read Matthew 3:1-12 and Romans 2:1-16

I. John the Baptist Preaches Repentance
- In Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist suddenly appeared in the scriptures.  Before we start, let us examine who he is.  John the Baptist is the son of Elizabeth and Zachariah, a priest.  Elizabeth is a close relative of Mary which makes John a cousin of Jesus. His birth was also miraculous not because Elizabeth was a virgin, but because of her very old age.  This was used by God as a sign to Mary because Elizabeth's pregnancy was impossible but ³⁷ For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1-37).

John was given a mission by God: to prepare the way of the One who will follow and establish an eternal kingdom that would stand for ever, which of course is Jesus Christ (John 1:23).  He had a message of repentance for the Kingdom of God is near.  It is the repentance for lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, revenge, abuse, pride, boasting, and sexual immorality.  Repentance is not just to be sorry for the things that you have done and then continue in same old ways, but it is a total transformation, a U-turn.  It is not just emotional outpouring of heart, but it is a sincere active commitment and change of mind.  People who repented were baptized by him in the Jordan of River.

After reading this, we should ask ourselves what the true meaning of water baptism is.  There are other religions that have babies baptized but to be baptized is to know and accept Jesus Christ as our savior.  This is one of the human traditions that is not scriptural for it is written in the Holy Bible that there are steps that one must accomplish to be baptized:

1. Before baptism, one must hear, understand, and believe the Gospel
a. Mark 16:16- ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
b.Acts 2: 41- ⁴¹ Then those who gladly^[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

2. Before baptism, one must repent
a. Acts 2: 38- ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

3. Before baptism, one must confess Christ
a. Romans 10:9-10- ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
b. Acts 8:35-39 ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶ Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” ³⁷ Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”^{[a]  38} So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹ Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

Instead of baptizing babies who do not know the Gospel and believe in Christ, we should dedicate their life to the Lord instead.  The great thing about God is that he gives us our own free will.  It is our personal choice  if we want to repent, accept the Lord and follow His ways.  We are not believers because of our families, friends, or anyone else.  Let us study the word, believe in the savior, repent our sins, confess our faith to Christ, then be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit.

II. God's Judgment on Sin

- Romans 2:1-16 talks about God's judgment on human will come in due time.  Until then, it is not our place, as fellow human beings, to judge others in God's place.  Many might think that these verses talk about God's blessing and that if the good things that you did in this world outweighs all the bad things, then you will go to heaven.  Good works by itself won't get you to God's Kingdom:

⁸ "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast". (Ephesians 2:8-9).

^{5 "}not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit," (Titus 3:5).

Romans 2:1-16 actually talks about his judgment.   God's judgment is about truth and is just and unbiased.  Everyone is held accountable and you can't say that you didn't know or learned the "Word" for the gospel is out there.  Just by having the internet, people have access to thousands of Bible sites.   It is your choice if you read and accept the Bible and live the life that God has commanded us.  Not knowing will not be an excuse to God specially to those who condemn people who sin yet he does the exact same thing, hypocrites.   It is not enough that you read and know verse by verse of the Bible, go to church, and call yourself Christians, you NEED to act like a Christian.  In Romans 2:7-8, it reads:

"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger".

All we need is to repent our sin, honor God and his covenant, accept that Jesus is our savior, and be born again of the water and spirit (John 3:5-7).    I'll end this study with a verse which is one of the first verses we had to memorize in our bible studies:

¹¹ And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. - 1 John 5:11-12

III. Proverbs for Today/1:24-28

24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
25 Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
27 When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 


IV. Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 11-12, Genesis 13:1-4, and Psalm 5:1-12

Prayer:  Father God, we want to thank you again for this opportunity to learn your word, your gospel, and your good news.  We want to thank you for using this blog to reach people so we can fill their hearts with your word and may you open our hearts so that the holy spirit can live among us and guide as to live a Christian life.  Father, we ask for your forgiveness for we are reminded in  Romans 3:23 that we all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.  Father God, we thank you again and we ask you to shower us with your blessings and grace, in Jesus' name.  Amen

4 Jan 13: Mary and Joseph Flee to Egypt and/ God's Wrath and Man's Depravity

4 Jan 13: Mary and Joseph Flee to Egypt and/ God's Wrath and Man's Depravity

**Read Matthew 2:13-23 and Romans 1:18-32

I. Mary and Joseph Flee to Egypt
-A. The Flight to Egypt: In Matthew 2:13-15, after the departure of the Magis, an angel appeared to Joseph and instructed him to go to Egypt to escape from King Herod's wrath.  He was told to stay in Egypt until God tells him to because King Herod would be looking for the messiah to kill him.  Egypt was around 60 miles from Bethlehem.   It is outside of Herod's jurisdiction so the family is safe there.  Egypt used to be a place for anguish, suffering for the Jewish  people but now flourishes with many synagogues and temples.  This will fulfill the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 which reads, "And out of Egypt I called My son".  We can see how God can change nations, once a land of oppression and now is a refuge and safety for the messiah.   A question that some might ask is how did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus survived the travel and many years in Egypt.  As you remember, when the Magis came to see the messiah, they brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Don't you just love how God works mysteriously.  He has a plan and a purpose for everything  so we need to trust God in everything we do for it is written in Proverbs 3:5-6 to

⁵ "Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

- B. Massacre of the Innocents: In Matthew 2:16-18, after the wise men did not return to report back Jesus' location, Herod became very angry and ordered his men to kill all children 2 years and under in Bethlehem and cities around it.  He chose that age group after learning from the Magis when they first saw the star to calculate the birth and probably adding extra time to ensure that he had killed the King of the Jews.  This fulfilled the prophecy in Jeremiah 31:15:

¹⁸ “ A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”

- C. The Home in Nazareth: Matthew 2:19-23, after Herod's death, an angel visited Joseph again, telling him to take Mary and Jesus and go to the land of Israel.  But after receiving a warning from God that Herod's son, Archelaus reigns over Judea, Joseph took his family to Nazareth instead.  This is where Jesus lived till he was 30 years old before he started His ministry.

King Herod was afraid that this newborn "King of the Jews" was going to take his throne.  What he didn't know was Jesus didn't want to take King Herod's place but to show him the way for eternal life.  This is the same thing about people in the present times.  We are afraid to accept Jesus us our savior because we feel like we would not be able to do all the things that we used to do as a nonbeliever.  We know that if we followed Christ, we would always have guilt in our hearts for all the sins that we commit.  We need to know that Jesus is here to save us from our sins and to give us freedom  from all these guilt, sufferings, and depression.  Let's all pick up our cross and follow Him to eternity.

II. God's Wrath and Man's Depravity
- Romans 1:18-32, was used as an argument to back up what was said in Romans 1:17.  Paul wanted to show that people were sinners and if they do not repent, they would experience the wrath of God.   People need salvation through the gospel because none is worthy to God and they were unrighteous.  They have dishonored God from superstitions to idolatry, which is widely practiced today (praying to statues of saints, Mary, a supposedly baby Jesus (Sto Nino), the black Nazarene-which came about when an image was burned in a ship from Spain which was then preserved and honored, and other idols).  These are all traditions and clearly against the the second commandment of God (Exodus 20:3):

⁴“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, ⁶ but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

III. Proverbs for Today/1:20-23

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “ How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

IV. Old Testament Readings
Genesis 8-10 and Psalm 4:1-8

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are the God Allmighty, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient.  Thank you for guiding us for we know that you have a purpose for everything that is happening in our life.  Father God, we praise you and honor you, and ask for forgiveness because we know that we are sinners and we are unworthy of your mercy, but because of your love for us, you have saved us and accepted us in your family.  Continue to bless us, our families, and our friends, and guide us to live the life as Christ did, In Jesus' name.  Amen

3 Jan 13: The Visit of the Magi and Paul Declares the Power of the Gospel

3 Jan 13: The Visit of the Magi and Paul Declares the Power of the Gospel

**Read Matthew 2:1-12 and Romans 1:16-17
Prayer: Father God, bless us Lord and send your Holy Spirit upon us to guide us in our studies.  Bless those who seek your word and open the hearts of others who are lost.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

I. The Visit of the Magi

-Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of the Magi's visit of Jesus Christ more known as the "three Kings".   These "kings" were not really royalty but wise men who study the heavens and the stars.  It is also not written in the scriptures that there were three of them but it is through tradition that was passed around that the Magi's were Melchior, Caspar  and Balthazar.  When they reached Judeah, they went to King Herod to ask for this "King of the Jews".  They had followed the star all the way from the east to give praise and gifts to the messiah.  King Herod was alarmed and troubled so he consulted with his religious leaders and scribes about the prophecy.  He learned that it is written in Micah 5:2 that a ruler of Israel will come from Bethlehem.  After learning this, he instructed the Magis to look for this "King" and report to him once they find him.  In 2:9-11, the Magis found Jesus and presented him with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When we think of this event, we always see the "Nativity Scene" where the baby Jesus is lying on the manger beside Joseph and Mary with the "Three Kings" presenting him gifts.  Contrary to popular belief, Jesus probably was 1-2 years old already when they saw him because of the time it takes to travel in those days.  He was probably walking already and running around just like any other kid.  After the visit, the Magis returned home by taking a different route because of the warning they received in their dream not to tell Herod because of his wicked plans.  We can see the faith that the Magi's had in the "King".  They traveled thousands of miles just by following a star without knowing where they'll be going and when they'll get there.  When they found him, they responded with joy, worship, and gifts.  Nowadays, it is God that is searching for us.  We wait for God to give us proof of His existence and to present us with gifts for us to accept him.  If we are wise just like the Magis, we would look for Him and put our trust in Him for if you seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, you will be blessed.

II. Paul Declares the Power of the Gospel

- In Romans 1:16-17  Paul continues his letter to Rome by telling them that he is not ashamed of the gospel or "good news" of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  This was said because the Jews did not accept Jesus as their messiah and they were ashamed of their confidence and were still waiting for the another messiah to come.  Paul then wrote about God's power to forgive people and to deliver them from sin and death.  He mentioned salvation to the Jew first because of them being God's people, Jesus came from them, they had God's law and his temple.  And next, the gospel will be delivered to the Greek which meant to every one that were not Jews or simply the world.  1:17 reminded us that God is just and holy and the only method of deliverance from condemnation or sin, is by faith in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ; and not by any works or good deeds of men (Ephesians 2:8-9).  We just need to have faith in God and accept that Jesus Christ is our savior and he was born, he died, and was risen to save us from our sins.

III. Proverbs for Today/1;10-19

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait to shed blood;
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;
12 Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,[a]
And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
13 We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse”—
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;
16 For their feet run to evil,
And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread
In the sight of any bird;
18 But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners.

IV. Old Testament Readings:
Genesis 5-7 and Psalm 3:1-8

Prayer: Father God, we thank you for giving us hope and your love.  We know that we don't deserve all the blessing but because you are a loving Father, you have fulfilled your promises to us.  Father, we ask that you continue to bless us and give us the drive that we will seek your Word so we may have a relationship with you.  Continue to provide for us, heal us, prosper us, and forgive our sins.  We love you, we honor, you, and we worship you.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

2 Jan 13: Christ Born of Mary and Paul's Desire to Visit Rome

(2 Jan 13) Christ Born of Mary and Paul's Desire to Visit Rome

**Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Romans 1:8-15

Prayer: Father God, we ask for your Holy Spirit to guide us with this Bible study.  Give us guidance so we can discern the true meaning of your Word. in Jesus' Name.  Amen.

I. Christ Born of Mary
- Matthew 1:18-25 tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.  Mary's immaculate conception of the Holy Spirit was a suprise for Joseph and he struggled to accept her.  In early Israel, if you were found to be pregnant by someone other than your husband, you will be sentenced to death by stoning.  Because of this, Joseph was scared and actually was thinking of divorcing Mary quietly and going far away.  The law of Moses actually gave husbands the power of divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1) but it is only if they find their wife "unclean" thus by committing adultery.  But after considering this, an angel appeared in his dream to give him a message.  The word angel literally means "messenger" of God.  Dreams were also a common way of getting the message of God to the ancient prophets (Genesis 20:3; Genesis 30:1, Genesis 30:11, Genesis 30:24; Genesis 37:5; Genesis 41:1; 1 Kings 3:5; Daniel 7:1; Job 4:13-15) .  In 1:20, the angel called Joseph, "son of David" to remind him that he was a descendant of David and to prepare him for the birth of the messiah.  The angel continued by telling Joseph that "what is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit".  This is to encourage Joseph that Mary has not committed and wrongdoing but she is carrying the son of God (Isiah 7:14) who will deliver us from our sins.

II.  Paul's Desire to Visit Rome
-Romans 1:8-15; God works in His own mysterious way.  Paul had prayed to God to go to Rome.  He wanted to share the Gospel to the non-Jews and his prayers were answered.  What people might not know is how he got to Rome.  He was persecuted, jailed, carried in a ship chained as a prisoner, shipwrecked, landed on an island then bit by a poisonous snake, and survived all with the protection of God to complete his mission and share the gospel.  In 1:14, he mentioned that he is a debtor to both Greeks and Non-Greeks.  This is just to say that he has an obligation to preach the gospel and minister to all to whom it was possible, to the wise or unwise (believers or non-believers), etc.  This ended with Paul sharing that he is not ashamed of the gospel or the "good news" even after the Jews casting him out and and persecuting him because of his faith and Paul is ready to minister to to share the message of Salvation.  Sometimes we as Christians are ashamed and we hide our Christianity.  People make fun of us, ridicule us, and persecute us but it is said in the Holy Bible that if you are true Christians, you will be persecuted because of your faith (1 Peter 4:12-19).  Jesus also mentioned this in John 15:18-20 ¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also".

But do not worry, because we are God's people and He promised that “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Jeremiah 20:11)

III. Proverbs for Today/1:7-9

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,
And chains about your neck.

IV. Old Testament Readings:
Genesis 3-4 and Psalm 2:1-12

Prayer: Father God, we thank you for sending your only begotten Son to us for eventhough we were sinners, you sacrficed your Son for our sins.  We pray that you give us  encouragement for we our in a world where being a Christian is frowned upon.  Give us strength that we can overcome all the persecution that is thrown against us.  Bless us Lord and forgive our sins.  In Jesus' Name. Amen

1 Jan 13: The Genealogy of Jesus and The Good News About Jesus Christ

(1 Jan 13) The Genealogy of Jesus and The Good News About Jesus Christ

Prayer:  Father God, as we start this new year, we proclaim that we our a new creation in Christ, Jesus.  May you bless us and continue to provide for us.  Guide us through your Holy Spirit and provide us the way to be your follower.  Forgive our sins and cleanse our souls.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

 **Read Matthew 1:1-17 and Romans 1:1-7

I. The Geneology of Jesus
- Matthew 1:1-17 lists the ancestors of Jesus naming 46 people who lived in a lifespan of 2000 years.  From Abraham to King David, Josiah to Jacob, and Joseph to Jesus Christ.  Many probably skipped this chapter because they think it is "useless" or "boring" but we have to see what is written here.  Matthew wrote Jesus' descendants as a proof of Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies below:

A. Jeremiah 23:5
⁽⁵“ Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,
“ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
A King shall reign and prosper,
And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. )

- The messiah would be a descendant of King David

B. Genesis 49:10
(¹⁰ The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes;
And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

- Jacob told his son, Judah, that his descendants would be rulers and that one of his descendants will be an ultimate ruler.  This is a reference to Jesus Christ who is King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords.

II.  The Good News About Jesus Christ
Romans 1:1-7 is the salutation of a letter from the apostle Paul to the Romans.  In 1:1, Paul talks about him being a bondservant, apostle, and separated to the gospel of God.  He did this to show his  devotion and commitment to Jesus Christ and God.  Paul also mentioned himself as an "apostle" to clarify his position written in Galatians 1:1 (¹ "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),").  Apostles are chosen by God and was given a gift to share the gospel, minister; and together formed the foundation of the church with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20).   1:2-6 speaks of the promise of God to send his son Jesus Christ who will die for our sins and rise again and will give all nations grace and salvation.  Finally, 1:7 shows who this letter is for (God's people of Rome and all the saints-all Christians were called Saints in the New Testament) and his prayer for grace for them from God and Jesus Christ. The grace signifies all blessings and gifts that Jesus has purchased by dying on the cross.

III. Proverbs for Today/1:1-6

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.

IV. Old Testament Reading:
Genesis 1-2 and Psalm 1:1-6

Prayer: Father God, you are truly The Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth.  We thank you for this new year, this new day, and new life.  We honor you, praise you, and worship you.  We pray for blessings and forgiveness of our sins.  Open our eyes, ears, and hearts so we can see, hear, and feel your promises and love.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.
Amen.

Knowing God and Salvation

Christianity is not a religion, it is a direct relationship with God.  There is a wrong misconception in the world that as long as we are good citizens and we do good things to other people that we will be saved and will inherit the kingdom of God but it is actually only by the grace of God through faith that we are saved  ("8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9).

God loved us even though we were sinners and we were unworthy of his love and mercy ("For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God-Rom 3:23 ); that he sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins ("16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3;16)

Jesus died for you and you can be saved just by asking Him for forgiveness from your sins and accepting him as your savior.  It does not matter what you have done in the past, just repent and He will forgive you.  (“17Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." -Mark 2:17)

You can start by saying this prayer:
"Jesus, I know that I have sinned against you. I know the truth is that I have sinned by my own choice, and I am the one responsible for it. I know that I have earned punishment from You, and that the fair punishment would be death. Jesus, I believe that You died in my place. Forgive me for my sin. I cannot cover or take my sin away, I am relying totally and only on You. You are the only one who can save me. I reject my sin, I turn away from it, I repent. Come into my life, take away my sin, and show me how to live my life in a way that is right and pleasing to You." (http://www.calvaryaurora.org/how-to-know-god/)