Remnant: A Daily Verse-by-Verse Devotional

Paul writes that those outside the covenant are viewed as inside the covenant if they keep the precepts of the law. We unpack that concept and talk about how God loves everyone in ways we cannot fathom.

Paul pivots his message to the Jewish audience in Rome here to talking about the Jewish covenant with God, and how that too has been voided by their unwillingness to keep the law. We talk about how this applies to us today.

Paul finishes his dressing down of the Jewish leaders of the church in Rome by quoting a verse from Isaiah about how God's name is blasphemed because of their acts. We talk about how our churches today may be blaspheming God's name through our acts.

Paul writes that a lot of those who are boasting in the law are actually breaking the law. We talk about hypocrisy and how it pairs with what Jesus said in Matthew, Chapter 6.

Paul asks the church in Rome if they, after preaching against idol worship, rob temples. What does that mean? We talk about how this may be similar to Jesus's extension of adultery to lust, and how this applies to us.

Paul arrives at the moment when he reveals the hypocrisy of the leaders of the church in Rome. Those who are so caught up teaching others like children are revealed to not practice what they preach. We're guilty of the same today, and we talk about that.

Paul notes how the Jewish members of the church in Rome prided themselves on teaching the Gentiles, who they reduced to children-level in terms of their knowledge of the law. We compare that with Jesus's comments on children, joined by two children to opine on the matter.

Paul writes about those who consider themselves to be guides to the blind and lights to those in darkness, but challenges them to think of their own hearts. What can we take from this about our own faith?

Paul continues listing all of the ways that the Jewish members of the church in Rome were overextending good things in a way that led to their perceived superiority. What does that mean for us today?

Building off of the theme of God judging our secrets, Paul begins a sentence pointing out the hypocrisy of the church leaders in Rome. We talk about how this applies to us today.

Paul writes that we will be judged by the secrets we have. We are joined today by Rev. David Donnan, the pastor of Glennville Methodist Church, to talk about what that means. For more of Rev. Donnan, check out www.daviddonnan.com, which has links to his podcast and his social media platforms. Or visit www.glennvillemc.com for information about Glennville Methodist Church and to watch Rev. Donnan S...

Paul is addressing how the Jewish converts to the faith are not superior to the Gentiles within the church by noting how the Gentiles sensed the basics of the law and obeyed them, which is something the Jewish converts were failing to do because they caused strife. We talk about what it means to have the Word written on your heart.

Paul continues in this section intended for the Jewish converts to Christianity by further explaining why all will be judged, and that there's no real distinction between those from particular backgrounds.

Paul writes that hearing His Word is not enough to be justified. God wants us to hear and then "do." How do we go from hearing to doing?

Paul starts his next section by making clear that regardless of whether you had the law of Moses or not, all have sinned and all will be judged by God. We talk about some historical context to understand why Paul had to spend so much time making this point.

Paul closes this section on God's just judgment by telling us that God shows no partiality. We talk about how humans are partial even when we try not to be, but how God's impartiality is perfect.

The flip side of verse 9 (trial and tribulation for the evil) is found in verse 10 (glory and honor and peace for those who do good). 

Paul writes that for those who do evil, God brings tribulation and distress. We talk about what that means and how we can avoid that fate.

After writing about the destination of those who seek God's glory, Paul then writes about what happens to those who choose the other path--those who are self-seeking are bound to suffer God's wrath. 

Paul tells the church in Rome how they can receive from God eternal life, and it harkens back to the parable of the talents told by Jesus in Matthew 25. We talk about how to live a life that results in hearing "well done, good and faithful servant."

Paul writes that on judgment day, we will be judged. How we'll be judged, as we'll read in coming verses, is according to our works. We'll talk about the interplay between this verse and other parts of the Bible that say we're not saved by works but by faith alone.

Paul switches from God's kindness in verse 4 to talking about God's coming wrath in verse 5--from carrot to stick (which I boneheadedly refer to as a switch for some reason). We talk about how we store up wrath by not being honest with God.

Paul writes about the presumption that so many of us make when we experience God's blessings--that the blessings are the end-point of God's love. But really those blessings are meant to drive us closer to God and to repent.

Paul writes in verse 3 perhaps his most pointed attack on the hypocrisy of the Jewish members of the church in Rome, noting that hypocrites will not escape the judgment of God.

Paul continues his flipped script by noting that God's judgment will come on those who judge others. We talk about the parallel between this verse and Matthew chapter 7.