ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monday January 16, 2017

“How do you plea”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. – Romans 3:19-20

God’s Broken Image

I.  The Image of God defaced

II.  Man under the dominion of sin and death

III. Man guilty before God

The effects of sin in man; God’s image is distorted and sin rules over him. The biggest effect is how his relationship with God is distorted by sin. Man is guilty. He is condemned before God!

How does God arrive at this verdict? Romans 2:1-16, Paul outlines the principles God uses to judge mankind. The basis for God’s judgement is TRUTH (Rom 2:2); according to our works (deeds) v.6 - but with the consideration of the light we receive (v. 12-15). Christ will carry out the judgement (v. 16) dealing with the secrets of men’s hearts.

The measuring stick of truth is Jesus Christ. When mankind is measured to Christ, we ALL FAIL! We have no works to justify us. We have failed to live according to the light God has given us. By the standard of Christ’s life, we are guilty sinners.

Paul does not mean that men feel a great sense of guilt. Whether they do or not is beside the point. He is describing the divine verdict, not the human psychology. But something yet more terrible accompanies this verdict, for on its shoulders comes the wrath of God revealed from heaven against godlessness and wickedness (Romans 1:18). Apart from Christ, says the apostle, the wrath of God remains (John 3:36).

Challenge: Do you ever compare yourself to others? I’m sure we all have. To some, we may be “okay”. But God doesn’t want us looking at so and so and feel good about ourselves. True self comes from God’s standard, not man’s.

This Day in Christian History:

Jan 16, 1890 – dedication of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. 

Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 15)

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren – Romans 8:29

He ko kinautolu na‘a ne toka mea‘i, na‘a ne toka tu‘utu‘uni foki ke nau hokosi ‘a e ‘īmisi ‘o hono ‘Alo; koe‘uhi ke ne ta‘okete ki he tehina tokolahi – Loma 8:29

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 3 – Gen 30-31; Psalm 11; Mark 12