"Who Will Deliver Me?

" week 3 in a study with the book of Romans Romans 3: 21-31 21But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and all are justied freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25God presented Christ as a sacrice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished 26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justies those who have faith in Jesus. 27Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28For we maintain that a person is justied by faith apart from the works of the law. 29Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

Romans 3: 21-31 - Commentary *The Apostle Paul has used the example of Abraham as a way of noting that in fact, the beginning began with the blessing of Abraham not with "works" - Abraham did not choose God - God chose Abraham. *Note: the "righteous of God" sections of this text, which is primary to it's theme - is more rightly translated "righteousness FROM God." Changing the dynamic with relation to our experience. *Again, one of the main themes is the world wide family of God composed of believing Jews, believing Gentiles alike. He identies the big problem as sin. *However, Jesus has "justied" us through his works, so we are forgiven. *The text identies that Grace and justication should create unity due to our continuing and common experiences and needs. Because we all sin, and all continue to sin, we are all alike in our human frailties and in our reception of Grace. *Unity is a desire of God - we should seek unity and understanding based on our "family" ties through Jesus Christ - which should override our differences, conicts, anger, separation and guilt. *Paul makes it very clear that justication is a present possibility and not part of any future or end times experience - it can be lived right now. *Where is the boasting refers to our need for a separate identity or feeling as though we alone know or deserve God. *This leads to the underlying issue of humility - we sin by our nature so we need not feel as though we are better than anyone or that our goodness is due to us - however we are all forgiven and justied by Jesus so we need not live in guilt and fear.

WEEK 3

Willpower challenge 1: 1. Become conscious of your thought process around decisions. Pray about it and pray for your true destiny to be revealed to you. 2. Are you justifying or balancing or putting off the sacrice until tomorrow? Find a friend to help you stay on track. Keep meditating and try for 10 minutes a day. 3. Begin to resist temptations for periods of time - an hour - then make a conscious decision about what you will do. 4. Find a less damaging reward. Discover rewards that don't hurt your goals.

Willpower challenge 2: 1. Write a letter to your "future" self - have a conversation about what changes need to be made and how they will effect the future. Put a date on the letter and put it away for later. 2. Use the website: www.futureme.org to get a letter sent to yourself in the future - re-enforce those true wants and desires.

Willpower Notes: Experiments have proven that when we do something "good" our brains have moral license to do something "not good". It's an ethical bank account. When we've made deposits of goodness, we can take them out and justify our behavior. Ministers, politicians, etc can tell themselves that they are doing good or standing up for what is right. When we can tell ourselves we are "good" for skipping candy in the afternoon - we're LESS likely to exercise in the evening. Folks on a diet are more likely to cheat on their spouse. Not only will our brain tempt us to break a diet if we've dieted yesterday and were "good" but our temptations cross each other - when we are good in one area we feel we can be not so good in another. We have to nd a reason to be "good" and moral. It's why we see people having no shame and making excuses. We are self serving! That's survival instinct. It's not logic. But that doesn't let us off the hook! We have to go deeper and nd the "want" in our moral code as well so that what we are becoming is not just to fake being good - but to truly connect to our desire to live righteously and to honor God if that is our intent. We should place priorities on our sins. Cheating on your taxes or your spouse is much worse than cheating on your diet! Prioritize what you will not do and what you will give yourself some grace about. Cookies okay sometimes - tax fraud never! Conversely, how often have you allowed yourself a treat, while promising you'll exercise tomorrow - or have a salad for dinner? Procrastination is part of this problem.

Sometimes we look at our progress and reward ourselves too quickly. We lose 5 pounds - so we feel so good about it that we lose our incentive and focus as well. Focus is essential! This is also an exercise in humility! Our scripture emphasizes the need for us all to remember that we are not so good that we don't need God's grace and guidance. How to deal with this? -Do the harder thing rst and then try to nd balance. -Avoid the "halo effect" of comparing things and choosing the less badDon't get caught in the buy one get one free logic of something you don't need at all. Make conscious decisions.

Amazing Grace Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see. T'was Grace that taught... my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear... the hour I rst believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares... we have already come. T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far... and Grace will lead us home.

Who Will Deliver Me? Will Power, Wont Power, Want Power

July 12:

I will! I won't! I want! Were you born to resist cheesecake? Too Tired? Why our will is like a muscle. Goody! Why being "good" can make us bad. Your Brain Can Lie? Why we mistake want for happiness. I Don't Care! How feeling down leads to giving up. Selling the Future Instant gratication - Now! Infected? Why willpower is contagious. The End of Our Rope! The limits of resistance and beyond.

July 19:

July 26:

August 2:

August 9:

August 16:

August 23:

August 30: