“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (Read verses 1-23)

That we are all guilty before God and stand guilty and condemned under the law of God is made clear in Romans 3:9-20.

That God provided a way for sinners to be justified and counted righteous by God through faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world is revealed and explained in Romans 3:21-28 and the following two chapters of Paul’s letter.

In the sixth chapter, the Apostle Paul addresses the errors of those who think they can continue in sin and still possess the benefits of God’s grace in Christ Jesus.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (v.1-2). We were saved for a life of purpose. We were joined, in our baptisms, to Christ in His death and resurrection in order that Christ’s death on the cross would be our death and punishment for sin and that Christ’s resurrection, after having paid the price for sin, would be our resurrection to new life in fellowship with and service to our God and Savior (v.3ff.).

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (v. 15-16).

If we willingly give ourselves back into sin – yielding ourselves to the temptations of the devil, the allurements of the world and the sinful desires of our flesh, we again become slaves of sin and reap the results, the wages of sin, which are spiritual death and eternal death and damnation! Cf. Genesis 2:16-17; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:20-22.

If we turn away from Christ and back into sin, seeking to turn God’s grace into a license to live in rebellion and enmity against God, we justly earn the penalty for our sins, which is death and the eternal wrath of God.

But if, by the grace of God, we continue trusting in Christ Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins, we are set free from the condemnation of the law and from our former servitude to sin, and God’s gracious gift to us is forgiveness for all our sins and eternal life.

If, by the grace of God, we trust in Christ our Savior and walk in fellowship with God through faith in Christ (cf. 1 John 1:5 – 2:2), we possess and receive the gracious gifts of God which Jesus won for us – forgiveness of sins and everlasting life in fellowship with our God and Maker.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dearest LORD Jesus, grant we not turn away from You and back into sin but hold fast to You and the new life You have given us by means of Your death upon the cross for our sins and Your triumphant resurrection on the third day. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Genesis

The first phrase in the Hebrew text of 1:1 is bereshith (“in [the] beginning”), which is also the Hebrew title of the book (books in ancient times customarily were named after their first word or two). The English title, Genesis, is Greek in origin and comes from the word geneseos, which appears in the pre-Christian Greek translation (Septuagint) of 2:4; 5:1. Depending on its context, the word can mean “birth,” “genealogy,” or “history of origin.” In both its Hebrew and Greek forms, then, the traditional title of Genesis appropriately describes its contents, since it is primarily a book of beginnings. — International Bible Society

What are some things which begin in the Book of Genesis?

Who wrote the Book of Genesis? See Deuteronomy 31:9-13, 24; Nehemiah 8:1; 13:1; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:29-31; Luke 24:27, 44-47; John 1:45; Acts 28:23.

Introduction to Genesis by Paul E. Kretzmann in his Popular Commentary

The Book of Genesis (beginning) is the first of five books known collectively as the Pentateuch, which the many Scriptural references in the later books of the Old Testament as well as those of the New Testament compel us to ascribe to the authorship of Moses. In the Book of Genesis the inspired author presents a record of the origin of the world, of the human race, of the institution of marriage, of the beginning of sin, of the first judgment of God upon a sinful world, of the first preaching of the Gospel, and of the beginning of the chosen race as the bearers of the Messianic prophecies.

Moses, the author of the Book of Genesis, was the son of Amram, a member of the tribe of Levi, and his wife Jochebed, as recorded in Exodus, chaps. 2 and 6. He was born in Egypt, at the time when the rise of a new dynasty had caused the deeds of Joseph to be forgotten and the new Pharaoh had laid upon the children of Israel such intolerable burdens as ever a nation was obliged to bear. By God’s dispensation, his own mother became his nurse after his parents had found it impossible to keep him at home any longer, Ex. 2, 8. 9. In this way, Moses was instructed in the history and the religion of his people, and although he afterward, as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter, was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, he remained true to Jehovah, the God of his fathers. From the land of Midian, whither Moses had fled from the wrath of Pharaoh, the Lord called him to be the deliverer and the leader of the children of Israel, and he served in this capacity for somewhat more than forty years, until he had brought the people to the boundaries of Canaan, where he appointed Joshua as his successor, went up on Mount Nebo, where God showed him the entire country which his people were to possess, died there, and was buried by the Lord Himself. Moses probably wrote the Book of Genesis sometime during the forty years’ sojourn in the wilderness, and God not only inspired him to write but also revealed to him most of the matter that is contained in the account, since tradition would, at best, have been extremely unreliable and many events could not have been known but by the special revelation of the Lord.

The Book of Genesis may be divided according to various points of view. The simplest division is that into two parts, chaps. 1–11 recording the beginnings of all history to the confusion of tongues, and chaps. 12–50 showing how God paved the way for the establishment of the theocracy as it afterward existed for a number of centuries. Some commentators prefer the division into six chief parts, chaps. 1–5 dealing mainly with Adam, chaps. 6–11 with Noah, chaps. 12–24 with Abraham, chaps. 25–27 with Isaac, chaps. 28–36 with Jacob, and chaps. 37–50 with Joseph.

The [first] period of which the Book of Genesis treats begins with the creation of man and ends with the Flood, comprising some 1,700 years. Though there is no valid reason for assuming that the art of writing had not been developed by the people of the world at that time, recent discoveries indicating, rather, that the art of writing was a common accomplishment in the East as early as the time of Abraham, in fact, that large libraries were then in existence, there was no urgent need of recording the Word of God at that time, since the patriarchs lived to a very great age and were able to pass on what God had revealed to them by word of mouth, from generation to generation. The record shows, for instance, that Adam lived for fifty-six years after Lamech, the father of Noah, had been born. This providential arrangement continued for some time after the Flood; for Abraham was born 150 years before the death of Shem and surely profited by his instruction. The period from the Flood until the death of Joseph is that of the patriarchs proper and covers a space of some six hundred years. At its close, the chosen family of Abraham had multiplied into a numerous people.

The modern student of the Bible will find in the Book of Genesis abundant evidence of the providential working of God in the destinies of mankind. Above all, however, the Christian will follow with the greatest interest the Messianic types and prophecies which appear even thus early in the Holy Scriptures; for just as the entire New Testament looks back to Christ, thus the entire Old Testament looks forward to Christ. Jesus is the center of all divine revelation.

Read Genesis 1:1-2:3

1. What is the meaning of the word “genesis”? How did this book come to be called Genesis?

2. Who gave us this book and its account of beginnings? How did He do it?

3. Who created the heavens and the earth? Cf. Genesis 1:1-2, 26; John 1:1-3, 10, 14; Colossians 1:12-16.

4. How many days did God use to create all things? See Genesis 1:31 – 2:3. How long were those days? Cf. Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31.

5. What did God create on each day? How did He do it? See Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 1:2-3, 10; 11:3.

6. How does God continue His creation? See Genesis 1:11-12, 22, 28; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 145:15-16; Nehemiah 9:6.

7. What does it mean to be created in God’s image? Cf. Genesis 1:26-27; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24.

8. What was man’s relation to all the animals? See Genesis 1:26-28. What does this mean?

9. What did God give to be food for man and all the animals at this time? See Genesis 1:29-30.

10. What did God say of His creation? Did He create evil, sin or death? See Genesis 1:31.

11. How is the creation account foundational to the Christian Faith?

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2

How do you seek the LORD? This is a question I had to ask myself after reading Psalm 119:2: “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.”

It is so easy to seek the LORD half-heartedly or, to be honest with you, with even a smaller portion of the heart than that. We want the LORD and His forgiveness and a place in His eternal kingdom, but our hearts desire and seek after other things in this world.

Thus, we spend little time in His Word, are not always eager to worship and pray, are hesitant to tell others of Christ Jesus, are not ready to submit to all that the Bible teaches, etc., etc., etc.

Upon examining my own heart, I was moved to pray the words of Psalm 51 and especially verse 10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Perhaps you too may want to examine your hearts.

Thank God that Jesus sought us out with all His heart and even gave His life upon the cross to redeem us and cleanse us from our sin! He wholeheartedly gave Himself for us that we might have forgiveness and life through faith in His name.

“Create in me a new heart, Lord, that gladly I obey Thy Word and naught but what Thou wilt, desire; with such new life my soul inspire. Grant that I only Thee may love and seek those things which are above till I behold Thee face to face, O Light eternal, through Thy grace” (The Lutheran Hymnal, #398).

“And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9

Why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, especially considering God’s warning in verses 16-17: “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”? Did you ever wonder?

The truth is that we don’t know. Some suggest it was put there as a test of man’s respect, love and trust for God since Adam and Eve were created with a free will (which was lost in the fall) rather than as robots doing what they were programmed to do. Others think it may have had another purpose in the garden.

One thing that is certain is that God did not put the tree there to be a temptation to sin for “God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (James 1:13), nor is it God’s fault that Adam and Eve sinned and brought sin into the world.

Some, of course, would like to blame God for everything, saying, “He made me like that,” and implying that God is the cause of our sinful inclinations, thoughts, words and actions. The blame, however, lies squarely upon us, and it is only of God’s undeserved love and kindness that He sent Jesus to bear our punishment and be our Savior!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I have sinned, O God, and gone astray. You sent Your Son to win my stay. Grant that I trust in Him alway. Amen.

Psalm 33

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. 2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. 3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. 4 For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. 5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. 6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. 10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. 12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. 13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. 14 From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; 15 He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. 16 No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. 22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1. Read verses 1-3. What does this psalm say about worshipping the LORD? What type of instruments are mentioned for use in praise? What kind of song was to be used in praise?

2. Who is to be worshipped and praised? What does the word “LORD” indicate?

3. Read verses 4-5. Why were God’s people to worship the LORD? Cf. Psalm 96.

4. Read verse 6. How were the hosts of heaven created? How are they sustained? Cf. Genesis 1:14-19; Nehemiah 9:6; Hebrews 1:1-3.

5. What is described in verse 7? Cf. Genesis 1:9-10.

6. Read verses 8-9. What does the psalm here enjoin? Why? Do the people of this world do so? Why or why not?

7. Read verses 10-11. What does the psalmist say about the plans of men and nations? About God’s plans? How long do God’s plans continue to be carried out and fulfilled? What is His desire and plan for us? Cf. Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9; Luke 24:46-47.

8. Read verse 12. Which nation and people are blessed of the LORD? Is it of their own will or choosing, or of the LORD’s mercy? Cf. John 1:12-13; 2 Tim. 1:9.

9. Read verses 13-15. Who made our hearts and sees all that we think and do? Is anything hidden from the eyes of the LORD? Cf. Psalm 139:1-16.

10. Read verses 16-19. Are kings (presidents and rulers) and nations saved by their great armies and military might? Will great strength or human weapons save us? Who does the LORD look upon and save in the day of trouble? How alone can we be spared in the day of judgment? Cf. Acts 4:12; John 14:6; John 3:18,36.

11. Read verses 20-21. In whom do we place our hope? Why? Cf. Psalm 130:7-8.

12. Read verse 22. For what does the psalmist pray? For what should we pray?

Look at LSB Hymns No. 816 and 717. How do these hymns echo the message of this psalm?