The promise, that he should be the heir of the world - Is the same as that he should be "the father of all nations," namely, of those in all nations who receive the blessing.  The whole world was promised to him and them conjointly.  Christ is the heir of the world, and of all things; and so are all Abraham's seed, all that believe in him with the faith of Abraham (John Wesley)

The nature of sacraments in general: they are signs and seals - signs to represent and instruct, seals to ratify and confirm.  Matthew Henry

I find that when I think I am asking God to forgive me I am often in reality (unless I watch myself very carefully) asking Him to do something very different.  (C. S. Lewis, Virtue and Vice)

 

We often needlessly wander through the darkened fortress of discouragement and despair.  The high hardened ramparts of our own building.  Brick by brick did they rise from the hardness of our own heart.  Cemented indestructible by the piteous mortar of our ever bleeding heart.  We are powerless to extricate ourselves from this fallen estate because of our self-deception.

Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse, after all allowances have been made, and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness, and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it.... (C. S. Lewis, Virtue and Vice)

Faith was reckoned to Abraham for justification, as we read Genesis 15:6, (see the note on Genesis 15:6); but circumcision was not instituted till about fourteen or fifteen years after, Genesis 17:1, etc.; for faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness or justification at least one year before Ishmael was born; compare Genesis 15, and 16. At Ishmael’s birth he was eighty-six years of age, Genesis 16:16; and, at the institution of circumcision, Ishmael was thirteen, and Abraham ninety-nine years old. Dr. Adam Clark

This blessedness - This happy state or condition. This state of being justified by God, and of being regarded as his friends. This is the sum of all blessedness; the only state that can be truly pronounced happy.  Dr. Albert Barnes

To be makários, blessed, is equivalent to having God's kingdom within one's heart...Makários is the one who is in the world yet independent of the world. His satisfaction comes from God and not from favorable circumstances. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.)

The Demon Screwtape: "Whatever men expect they soon come to think they have a right to: the sense of disappointment can, with very little skill on our part, be turned into a sense of injury." C. S. Lewis

"Salvation as an accomplished fact, as a present process, and as a future prospect." Arthur W. Pink, A Fourfold Salvation

The new diet plan, More of Jesus and Less of Me!

Sola Fide - Salvation comes only through faith in Jesus and not good works (in particular the belief in atonement for sins at the cross and the resurrection of Christ)

“’Twas for my sins my dearest Lord.
Hung on the cursed tree.
And groan’d away his dying life,
For thee, my soul, for thee.
“O how I hate those lusts of mine.
That crucified my Lord;
Those sins that pierc’d and nail’d his flesh.
Fast to the fatal wood.
“Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,
My heart hath so decreed;
Nor will I spare the guilty things.
That made my Saviour bleed.”

So we see then that our faith is unfurled and waves brightly in the wind of Christ's good pleasure.  It is Him alone who gives us strength.  It is Him alone who is worthy of our praise.  It is Him alone who is the author and finisher of this faith unfurled.  Sola de Christos!

Paul again anticipates and refutes the absurd argument.  If justification depended upon the Law of Moses, then God could be the savior of the Jews only.

Nothing is more maligned today than the meaning of these few words!  All manner of confusion, deception, error and even heresy have been born from wrongly dividing these words of truth….The idea that salvation is a wonderful gift and yet cost us everything that we are remains a paradox but like God and country are not mutually exclusive concepts.

The law of faith is that divine constitution which makes faith, not works, the condition of acceptance.  John Wesley

Must guilty man remain under wrath?  Is the wound for ever incurable?  Matthew Henry

"And are justified — Pardoned and accepted.  Freely — Without any merit of their own.  By his grace — Not their own righteousness or works.  Through the redemption — The price Christ has paid.  Freely by his grace — One of these expressions might have served to convey the apostle's meaning; but he doubles his assertion, in order to give us the fullest conviction of the truth, and to impress us with a sense of its peculiar importance.  It is not possible to find words that should more absolutely exclude all consideration of our own works and obedience, or more emphatically ascribe the whole of our justification to free, unmerited goodness."  John Wesley

"It is not possible to find words that should more absolutely exclude all consideration of our own works and obedience, or more emphatically ascribe the whole of our justification to free, unmerited goodness." (John Wesley)

"For all have sinned: - And consequently are equally helpless and guilty; and, as God is no respecter of persons, all human creatures being equally his offspring, and there being no reason why one should be preferred before another, therefore his endless mercy has embraced All."  (Dr. Adam Clarke)

Even the righteousness of God - That method of saving sinners which is not of works, but by faith in Christ Jesus; and it is not restrained to any particular people, as the law and its privileges were, but is unto all mankind in its intention and offer, and becomes effectual to them that believe; for God hath now made no difference between the Jews and the Gentiles. (Dr. Adam Clarke)

Νυνὶ δέ (Nuni de, "But now") could be understood as either (1) logical or (2) temporal in force, but most recent interpreters take it as temporal, referring to a new phase in salvation history. (NET Bible Notes)

"It is in vain to seek for justification by the works of the law. All must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word; but no man can be justified by a law which condemns him for breaking it. The corruption in our nature, will for ever stop any justification by our own works." Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

THE SINNER IS UNQUESTIONABLY GUILTY. It is not merely that he has infirmities or that he is not as good as he ought to be: he has set at nought God’s authority, violated His commandments, trodden His Laws under foot.  And this is true not only of a certain class of offenders, but “all the world” is “guilty before God” Arthur W. Pink, Doctrine of Justification

"There is no fear of God before their eyes - This completes their bad character; they are downright atheists, at least practically such. They fear not God’s judgments, although his eye is upon them in their evil ways." Dr Adam Clarke

And the way of peace have they not known - They neither have peace in themselves, nor do they suffer others to live in quiet: they are brooders and fomenters of discord.  Dr. Adam Clarke

Destruction and misery are in their ways - destruction is their work, and Misery to themselves and to the objects of their malice is the consequence of their impious and murderous conduct. (Dr. Adam Clarke)

"Their feet are swift to shed blood - They make use of every means in their power to destroy the reputation and lives of the innocent." (Dr. Adam Clarke)

Cursing - Against God. Bitterness - Against their neighbour. Psaalm 10:7. (John Wesley)

"Their throat - Is noisome and dangerous as an open sepulchre.  Observe the progress of evil discourse, proceeding out of the heart, through the throat, tongue, lips, till the whole mouth is filled therewith.  The poison of asps - Infectious, deadly backbiting, tale - bearing, evil - speaking, is under (for honey is on) their lips. An asp is a venomous kind of serpent." John Wesley

They have all turned aside - From the good way.  They are become unprofitable - Helpless impotent, unable to profit either themselves or others. (John Wesley)

This becomes the logical result of having a reprobate mind. We cannot know or understand the depth of our own depravity. We cannot seek after God because we are still His enemy. Every fiber of our being is diametrically opposed to the Will of God.

All the BRASSO in the world won't make this one shine!

The dominion of sin consists in being willingly slaves thereto, not in being harassed by it as a hated power, struggling for victory.

"In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you, they would have not been at all." St. Augustine

Brevity: Shortness; conciseness; contraction into few words; applied to discourses or writings.

"I like the word protest; it is the good old root from which came our good old title of Protestant. But our forefathers protested against error and darkness ; your protest bears against truth and light." Earnest Christianity Illustrated, the Rev. James Caughey

Krino - To judge, to form and express a judgment or opinion as to any person or thing, more commonly unfavorable.

The object of Salvation rails against the benafactor!

God's truth is a place of rest for those who belong to Jesus Christ. It is a place of judgement for those who reject His Gospel.

Is unbelief a nullification of the faithfulness of God?

Does the Bible teach that we are to forgive under all circumstances?  I answer categorically, vigorously, ardently, insistently that it DOES NOT!

The Bible remains the best seller and least read! Blessed insurance, State Farm is mine, oh what a joy from actuarial divine. Heir of deductible, all is at rest, I keep my adjuster's name in my vest.

What value is there in the Excellency of the Christian faith? There must be value since Noah Webster wrote a book entitled, "Value of the Bible and Excellence of the Christian Religion."

"How strikingly this also brings out what so breaks everywhere through the doctrine of this epistle that everything is according to its reality before God, God being revealed through Christ and the cross.  All must take its true character and result according to what He was. Note moreover that the terms suppose gospel knowledge — 'seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility.' These are known by Christianity."  Dr. John Darby

"This he knows is the way to bring all religion to a mere lifeless formality, and effectually shut out the power of godliness, and every thing which is spiritual, and to have all true Christianity turned out of doors" Dr. Jonathan Edwards

"If the Gentile be found to act according to the spirit and design of the law, his acting thus uprightly, according to the light which God has afforded him, will be reckoned to him as if he were circumcised and walked agreeably to the law." Dr. Adam Clarke

The rite of circumcision was the emblem by which the Jews relationship with Abrahamic covenant was recognized. However, to wear the emblem does not necessarily make you an heir to the promise!

 The soul must solemnly remind itself of Who it is that is to be approached, even the Most High, before whom the very seraphim veil their faces (Isaiah 6:2).  Though Divine grace has made the Christian a son, nevertheles

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I would suggest that the same is true with regard to much of what is called modern Christianity.

Or are we clinging to the notion that we have some kind of claim to prerogatives and perquisites?

If we look toward history we will find that Adultery was a most common crime in Israel.

How often do we tell others how to live their lives while standing in the same ditch?

By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact, but I am prouder to be a father.  General Douglas MacArthur

Our hope is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that sets us free lest we too become the hypocrites of the faith putting the Bible under our arm to use as a seven-day deodorant pad.

Like the Jew, we too let our opinion of ourselves wax great!

Ignorance of the law is no excuse!

We can see here that Paul argues that the very privileges that the Jews boast of will hold them to a stricter standard. If we extend this to all of God's people we could say that those who have grown up in Christian families may have learned what God's word says. However, if our lives to not reflect this we are no better than the heathen.

The secrets of men. The majority of our human lives lies hidden from our fellow-men, but when the judgment comes every secret shall be made known to all.

Medical science finds in our chromosomes various codes that sometimes bring with it a weakness toward specific diseases, maladies or the like.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.  Dr. Benjamin Franklin, at the Continental Congress

So even though the Gentiles were not the possessors of the law (didn't have a God's written word) they knew in their innermost being its very precepts.

Bless to us our extraordinary mercies; if the day come when these must be taken, brace us to play the man under affliction.  Robert Louis Stevenson - Vailima Prayers and Sabbath Morn

I suspect that we, like Israel, become fooled into thinking that because we own a Bible, read it, and perhaps even study it, that we have somehow become something!

The sea around us, which this rain recruits, teems with the race of fish; teach us, Lord, the meaning of the fishes.  Let us see ourselves for what we are, one out of the countless number of the clans of thy handiwork.  Robert Louis Stevenson-Vailima Prayers and Sabbath Morn

This verse becomes the logical extension of the previous verse referring to God's impartiality. There is much debate by the Biblical scholars as to the exact intention of the word "law."

There is every consolation and encouragement from belonging to Christ! One is that we married men have a new heart!  It is composed of half of Jesus' heart and half of my beloved wife's heart.

What a stark contrast to the previous verse. From affliction and distress to blessing. Peace as opposed to tribulation. Approbation to honor.

"Aid us, if it be thy will, in our concerns.  Have mercy on this land and innocent people."  Robert Louis Stevenson - Vailima Prayers and Sabbath Morn

The recompense for sin is clearly given upon everyone. Sin has and effect that cannot be thwarted just like gravity. We might think we have eluded its effects but nevertheless it holds us fast. The first instance of the Jew mentioned in this chapter heads the list since they were blessed with greater privileges by knowing God's law having abused greater mercies.

For our absent loved ones we implore thy loving-kindness.  Keep them in life, keep them in growing honor; and for us, grant that we remain worthy of their love....Robert Louis Stevenson—Vailima Prayers and Sabbath Morn

“These mercies were kept back from them in order to humble them, and to bring them to a sense of their sins, and an acknowledgement of them.”  Dr. John Gill

Before we show how that possibility may be realized, let us solemnly ponder what brought that poor soul into such a sorry plight a plight into which both writer and reader will certainly fall unless we are ever on our prayerful guard.  Arthur W. Pink, Practical Christianity

And now, when the clouds gather and the rain impends over the forest and our house, permit us not to be cast down; let us not lose the savour of past mercies and past pleasures; but, like the voice of a bird singing in the rain, let grateful memory survive in the hour of darkness....Robert Lewis Stevenson

Grant that we here before Thee may be set free from the fear of vicissitude and the fear of death, may finish what remains before us of our course without dishonor to ourselves or hurt to others, and, when the day comes, may die in peace....  Robert Lewis Stevenson

The day returns and brings us the petty round of irritating concerns and duties.  Help us to play the man, help us to perform them with laughter and kind faces, let cheerfulness abound with industry....Robert Lewis Stevenson—Vailima Prayers and Sabbath Morn

The word repentance occurs 24 times in the New Testament!  How many times does it appear in our hearts?

"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do."  Andrew Murray

Don't do as I do, do as I say! Sound familiar?  Is this not the real grist of our fallen nature that began with Adam, "the woman you gave me made me do it."  We are quick to neener, neener, neener everyone else while hiding that secret deep in our heart that will one day be brought into the light for everyone to see.

Do we really believe that the judgment of God really falls upon us?  We tend to have a greater respect for gravity than for God Himself.  Is the law of gravity more real than the "Law of Sin and Death" because scientist can see demonstrations of its existence?  Yet the same God created both! The problem is we tend to ignore the evidence of the damage that our own sin brings into our lives. Yet Christ stands ready to mightily forgive! 

We as men are responsible for our marriage.  Even if its demise would be totally the wife's fault (we would remain responsible!). 

"The first Divine movement for the salvation of an individual, after the prayer of intercession by the Spirit, is illumination by the Spirit." (Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, Satan)