21 March 2021
Two-Minute Features | 28 March 2021 | 14 March 2021

Back When Death Used to Reign (TMF:1575)

Friday, March 26, 2021
Peace to Live By: Back When Death Used to Reign (TMF:1575) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul told of his coming to faith, his believing in Jesus, his testimony to Timothy, who was a pastor, in 1 Timothy chapter 1. Let’s consider his words there. 1 Timothy chapter 1, verse 15, Paul told Pastor Timothy: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:15-17, ESV). Before Christ, death reigned. It reigned for Paul, as he just told us, and it reigned for us. Death had its way all the time. But before Christ literally came to the earth, there was no hope of becoming a new creation. No hope even existed of going to Heaven when people died.

A Law System Points Out Wrong, Part 2 (TMF:1574)

Thursday, March 25, 2021
Peace to Live By: A Law System Points Out Wrong, Part 2 (TMF:1574) - Daniel Litton
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       There is a great series of verses I want us to consider from Galatians chapter 3 in regard to this matter. Paul says, “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:21-26, ESV). I think that gives a bit clearer of a picture of what Paul is talking about here in Romans chapter 5.

A Law System Points Out Wrong, Part 1 (TMF:1573)

Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Peace to Live By: A Law System Points Out Wrong, Part 1 (TMF:1573) - Daniel Litton
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       It is certainly true that the Jewish law in the Old Testament showed people where they failed to meet God’s expectations, that they were unrighteous. So, “the law came in to increase the trespass.” Because we all as humans have a sin nature, a law system only points out to us where we are wrong, where we fail to measure up. And not only that, but it also causes our flesh to want to do more and more wrong. And Paul is going to talk about this a bit later in Romans. But thanks be to God, because even though our sin was out of control, God’s “grace abounded all the more.” It is definitely true that we need a tremendous amount of grace, both you and me. Without God’s grace, we would be nothing. With his grace, on the other hand, we can be very successful for God. As John penned for us in his Gospel: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17, ESV).

Righteous from the Moment We Believe (TMF:1572)

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Peace to Live By: Righteous from the Moment We Believe (TMF:1572) - Daniel Litton
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       And, what did the writer of Hebrews say? That Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (ESV). I understand; this is uncomfortable. But we do learn and become better people in our sufferings, as I’m sure many of you can testify. Paul said, “the many will be made righteous.” Indeed, he is going to spend the next three chapters talking about how this works—how we become righteous after believing. We gain God’s approval when we believe initially, and interestingly enough, as we continue along following Jesus, God makes us more and more righteous. So, the statement “the many will be made righteous” can have a double meaning. We are righteous from the moment we trust in Christ, and we start the process of becoming more righteous which will have its fulfillment when we actually go to meet Christ after this life. It is certainly true that the Jewish law in the Old Testament showed people where they failed to meet God’s expectations, that they were unrighteous.

Our Suffering Leads to Obedience (TMF:1571)

Monday, March 22, 2021
Peace to Live By: Our Suffering Leads to Obedience (TMF:1571) - Daniel Litton
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       Verse 19 says, “so by the one man's obedience.” We know that Christ was obedient to the Father by going to the cross. That was a tremendous act of obedience. We also are aware that throughout his life Christ was obedient to God in every way. His life was one marked by obedience. He gives us the example to follow in our lives. Christ learned obedience through what he suffered, as the writer of Hebrews points out to us (see Hebrews 5:8-10). That’s his model for us. And, we too, can and should learn to be more obedient to God when we suffer. You know, and I know that suffering leads us into obedience, or, at least it should. Remember what we talked about last week, at the beginning of this chapter? Paul said, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3-4, ESV).