Month: June 2020

1.  Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph  was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.            41:50-52                                                                                                                                                    2.  And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat upon the bed.

  Seventeen years have now passed since Jacob first came into the land of Egypt, and he is now one hundred and forty seven years old. Joseph is the first son to appear before Jacob, and he brings his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him so they could be blessed by him before his death. “And the old man Jacob, before his name was changed, is used here in the beginning of verse two, to distinguish between what he once was: supplanter, deceiver (H3290), to how far he has come now. to be called Israel (H3478), the one who wrestled with both man and God and prevailed to become the spiritual man he is this day, who strengthens himself on his staff to bless the sons of Joseph’s in worship of the one true God (Heb. 11:21), we in the church upon our baptism kill the old man of the flesh, as we rise out of the water we put on the new man, the spiritual man, and walk in the newness of life, (Rom. 6:4). the days of the life of Jacob and his pilgrimage have been one hundred and forty seven years, and now upon his death bed, the old man, sown in corruption will be raised up incorruptible ( 1 Cor. 15:42),and his name… is Israel.

3.  Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.                                                                                                                4.  “and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’                                                     28:13; 35:6-12           

  Leaning upon the top of his staff in worship (Heb. 1:27), he reflects back upon the dream he had as he was running from his brother, where the Lord first appeared to him as he saw angels ascending and descending upon a ladder that was set on the earth, it’s top reached heaven, and the Lord stood above it (Gen. 28:10-14), it was at this moment that God told him he would be fruitful and multiply, and give the land of Canaan to his descendants. 

5.  “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.                                                      Josh.14:4   

  Jacob in essence adopts Joseph’s sons Manasseh and Ephraim. They are to be sons to Jacob just as Rueben and Simeon are his sons, and therefore they each will be included as heads of their own tribe in the nation of Israel. by this adoption Joseph is given a double portion of the inheritance than his brothers, meaning that Joseph is receiving the birthright blessing from Jacob, by tradition it is the firstborn to whom the birthright blessing is given, and part of the birthright blessing is that  the firstborn gets a double portion of the fathers inheritance as well as also having authority and superiority over the family, this according to Adam Clarke’s commentary. Typically with this birthright also comes the listing of the genealogy of the promised seed in which all nations of the earth would be blessed. However as it is explained in 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 that the genealogy is not to be counted in the birthright blessing given to Joseph, but instead to be passed down to Judah because he prevailed over his other brothers, so the promised seed will be handed down to Judah, yet Joseph gets all the other blessings that go with the birthright as explained in Adam Clarke’s commentary above. (1 Chr. 5:1-2). I would like to add my opinion as to why  Joseph was given the birthright blessing that was not explained in 1 Chronicles. 5:1,2: or anywhere else in the scriptures. Jacob had four wives, but it was Rachel who he loved the most, and Joseph was the firstborn son of Rachel and Jacob, just as Isaac was the firstborn and only son of Abraham and Sarah. And I believe that God honored Jacob in his love of Rachel in this way, by given Joseph the birthright blessings of everything but the promised seed in which all nations of the earth will be blessed. Notice to that Jacob identifies Manasseh and Ephraim as being like his two firstborn sons Reuben and Simeon. In the following verses we will see that the blessings Jacob gives to Manasseh and Ephraim are the blessings of the first and second born sons traditionally. 

6.  “Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

  There is no mention in the bible that Joseph had any other sons than Manasseh and Ephraim, but Jacob, supposing if he did, then those sons would be Josephs, and their names, as far as any inheritance is considered will be included in the names of Manasseh and Ephraim.

7.  “But as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem).”         35:9, 16-20       

  Whose name does Jacob call out to in memory? None other than the woman he loved the most, Rachel, the woman who stole his heart over a hundred years ago, she may have been dead for a long time, but she has never been far from Jacobs heart. All of Jacob’s wives have since passed, how, when, and where? The scriptures do not say. This is a testament to the legacy of Rachel, not only in the heart of Jacob but also of God, who I believe honors Jacob by honoring his wife: memorializing  her passing at the time of her death (Gen. 35: 16-20), over the deaths of all of Jacob’s other wives, and then again now at the end of Jacob’s life.  Rachel is also honored thru the sons she bare to Jacob (Mainly Joseph), by the blessings Jacob gives to the sons of Joseph. In the book of Jeremiah God calls Ephraim his firstborn son  (Jer. 31:9), Rachel died in what is believed to be on the outskirts of Bethlehem. she died giving birth to Benjamin (Jacobs last son). In this honor God has bestowed to Rachel we see that the land inheritance given to the  descendants of Benjamin are in the same area in which Rachel died and was buried. It is also in the area of Israel where the Lord Messiah was born of a virgin mother. These two mothers are blessed women in the scriptures, who both bore sons that became the salvation to the world, one..(Joseph), the type of the One to come, saved the then known world from a great famine, and the other who also saves the whole world from eternal death through His sacrifice, from the famine of the Holy Spirit. By his death the spirit is now offered to all who believe and accept Jesus as Saviour thru His precious blood. Rachel is honored to this day by two of the three major religions: Christianity and  Judaism, her tomb is carefully guarded to this day. Joseph like Jesus was born almost miraculously himself, for Rachel was barren for years before she finally gave birth, and then of course the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ born of a virgin. 

8.  Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”                                      9.  And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”   And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.”                                                                                                                                      27:4                                   10.  Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.                                                                                                                                            27:1                               11.  And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”                                                                                  12  So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.     37: 9-11                                                                                                             

  Joseph has brought his sons to see Jacob and to receive the blessings of Israel. In previous verses Jacob has already declared the Manasseh and Ephraim have been adopted by him equal to all his other sons. Jacob is one hundred and forty seven years of age now and his eyesight has become so poor that he doesn’t recognize Josephs s sons in front of him. Undoubtedly this isn’t the first time Jacob has seen Manasseh and Ephraim, because he has been living in Egypt for seventeen years now. these sons of Jacob were born before the famine during the times of plenty (Gen. 41:50-53), by the time that Jacob and his family entered the land Joseph’s sons were between the ages of one to six years old. Jacob was one hundred and forty years of age when he entered into Egypt, and he is now one hundred and forty seven years old. This would make Ephraim and Manasseh between the ages of eight and fourteen years of age. Joseph presents his sons to his father, and Jacob embraces his adopted sons and gives them a kiss, during this time Jacob reflects back to the past and remembers when he mourned for his son Joseph, thinking he was dead and unable to look upon his face in this lifetime ever again. But now his sorrow has turned to gladness, for not only was he able to once again see Joseph and embrace him, but he acknowledges to both Joseph and his sons that it is the most High God who has also blessed him to also see the children of Joseph before he die. Joseph in turn backs away from his sons and father just far enough to bow himself before his father out of reverence towards him.

13.  And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand towards Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.

  Manasseh is the eldest of the two sons, and it is customary that the eldest son get the higher degree of blessing from the father. as we read in verse five Jacob has declared that Joseph’s sons Manasseh and Ephraim  are as his firstborn sons Reuben and Simeon. In my opinion: because of Reuben and Simeon s past sins they have lost the blessings of the first and second born sons of Israel, to the sons of Joseph. However there is one blessing that is not handed down to Manasseh and Ephraim, and that is the birthright blessing of the promised seed in which all nations of the earth are blessed. As we will see in the following chapter this birthright blessing belongs, and is given to Judah. 

14.  Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s  head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was firstborn.                                                    v.19                       

  Israel may be of old age and his eyes dim, but it is the Spirit of the Almighty One who guides his hands, and gives him sight that he may see what the future holds for the sons of Joseph and their descendants. For prophecy does not come to man by their own thoughts, or interpretations, but given to holy men of God who spoke being borne along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Pet. 1: 20-21), Jacob, once the supplanter, deceiver, Whose name was changed to Israel has God’s name (El), included in his new name given by God Himself, and with this name bares witness of the Holy Spirit in Israel. The Spirit of God who has guided him all his life now guides him in the blessings of Joseph and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim.

15.  And he blessed Joseph, and said:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     “God, before whom my fathers                                                                                                      Abraham and Isaac walked,                                                                                                              The God who has fed me all                                                                                                                   my life long to this day,                                                                                                      16.  The Angel who has redeemed                                                                                                          me from all evil,                                                                                                                                    Bless the lads;                                                                                                                                        Let my name be named upon them,                                                                                            And the name of my fathers                                                                                                            Abraham and Isaac;                                                                                                                              And let them grow into a                                                                                                                 multitude in the midst of                                                                                                                    the earth.”                                                                                                                                                            13:16; 26:24            

  In blessing Manasseh and Ephraim Jacob is also blessing Joseph by proxy. In the next chapter the blessings given in this chapter to the sons of Joseph are expounded in greater detail. Jacob calls out to the God of his fathers Abraham and Isaac, acknowledging that their God is his God, just as he promised many years ago to the Lord; that if He would be with him, clothe him, feed him, and protect him,   then the God of his fathers would be his God (Gen. 28:13; 20-21),
I have to go out of the box for a minute and share God’s presence here, right now this very moment: As I meditate on the verses above and the words from Genesis 28 20-21, Lauren Daigle’s song “Everything” is playing in the background, and it is so fitting, so much so that I felt God’s presence with me at this very moment, talking to me as only He can.   But I digress.                                   The Angel that redeemed Israel from all evil is none other than Jesus Christ. For God is the Almighty God, and not to ever be spoken of as anything lower than His divinity. even though the Father and the son are one, or as one if you will, Jesus always submitted to the will of God and pointed to the Father above him    ( Matt. 19:16-17; Luke. 22: 41-42).                                                                                                    “Let my name be named upon them,                                                                                            And the name of my fathers                                                                                                            Abraham and Isaac;”                                                                                                                   

  In this blessing to the the sons of Joseph (Guided by the Spirit), Israel declares that these sons would inherit all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when it comes to the birthright blessings of great wealth, the fruits of the land inheritance of milk and honey, protection from all enemies, blessings of the womb of many descendants numbering as the sands of the sea, authority over all the other nations of the world who will serve and bow down to them. These are the blessings that God promised to Abraham Isaac and Jacob, (Gen. 22:17; 26: 3-4, 24; 27: 28-29;  28: 3-4, 14), Which Israel declares let my name be named upon them and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.” The only blessing that is not given to Manasseh and Ephraim is that of the promised seed in which all nations would be blessed. That promise is reserved to Judah (Israel’s fourth born son of Jacob and Leah), as we will see in the blessings of Judah, and the rest of Israel’s sons in chapter forty nine. If we follow the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim, as recorded in the bible, we will see that they do in fact become greater than all the other sons of Israel, but they never reached their full blessings while living in the land of Canaan, (or Israel if you will). Neither sons descendants ever multiplied their seed throughout the midst of the earth, nor did all nations bow down to them or serve them, or did they possess all the gates of their enemies. This said, these blessings are meant not only for the time that they lived in the land of Canaan, and on the other side of the Jordan river, but also a much later fulfillment a few thousand years later up until the end of the age, and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we follow the history of the descendants of the sons of Joseph we can see that this blessing has also been fulfilled through the two greatest countries the world has ever known: Great Britain, and the United States (which are the descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim). I will discuss this history of the two sons of Joseph, and all sons of Israel in greater detail in my prophecy section of my web page (Which is a work in progress).

17.  Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head the Manasseh’s head.                                                                            18.  And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”                                                          v.14       

  Joseph had placed Manasseh to Jacobs right arm so that Israel would bless him with his right hand, and Ephraim being the younger son would be blessed with Israel s left hand. When blessings are given, it is the right hand which is used. the use of the right hand signifies the greater blessing when there are more than one person who is being blessed. This person will be blessed in riches, authority, the fruit of the womb, and of power and strength over the other. The right hand also represents strength and power.  (Gen. 48: 19-20; Exo. 15:6, 12; 1 kings. 2:19; Psalms. 16:8; 17:7; 18:35; 1 Pet. 3:21-22), Even as our Lord and savior sits at the right hand of God to this day. Seeing that his father placed his right hand on the younger son Joseph went to correct him, thinking that Israel was to blind to see where his hands were laid.

19.  But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”                                                                                                                                               25:23                   Israel was being guided by the Spirit of God who was showing him what would become of these two sons descendants, and by faith he blessed the lads according to the Spirit (Heb. 11: 21). The younger son Ephraim will one day become Great Britain who colonized most of the world and thus became a  multitude of nations. Manasseh’s descendants would become the United States, which has become a great people, founded on the Judeo Christian values. See The United States and Britain in bible Prophecy  published by the United church of God. for more understanding on how these two countries are the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh.

20.  So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.                                                                                                                                               

  In the beginning of this chapter the sons of Joseph were listed in order of the oldest first then the younger. But in the blessings Israel gave to the two lads he puts the younger (Ephraim), before his older brother Manasseh. 

21.  Then Israel said to Joseph, :Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.                                        28:15; 46:4                   

 In chapter forty seven Jacob makes Joseph swear to him that when he (Jacob), dies that Joseph will take him back to the land of Canaan and bury him with his fathers Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 47: 30-31), in Hebrews we are told that after Israel blesses the lads he leaned his head upon the top of his staff and he worshiped. In this worship (while still guided by the Spirit), Israel tells Joseph that God will be with him, and that one day he will be reunited with his fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In my opinion this is done to help comfort Joseph that he will one day be with his fathers, in the land of promise. Upon his own death bed, by faith, Joseph brought the descendants of Israel and took an oath to them saying,”  God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”(Gen. 50: 25; Exo. 13:19). In my humble opinion I believe this blessing of Joseph is a duel prophecy: In the resurrection the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, will be resurrected in the land of promise, and Joseph will be reunited with his fathers, what a glorious! day that will be. 

22.  “Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of of the Amorite with my sword and bow.”

  Joseph received his land inheritance through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim, this is the double portion above his brothers that Israel spoke of. Ephraim would be the son that would inherit the land in which Jacob describes as being taken “from the hand of the Amorite.” Most Scholars agree the land Jacob is referring to is the parcel of land that Jacob purchased from Shechem (Gen. 33: 18-19) upon returning from Padan Aram after meeting his brother Esau and reconciling with him. However the full sentence, ” Took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and bow,” is not as conclusive amongst the commentators and scholars. Some say this is referring to the two sons of Jacob (Simeon, and Levi), when they killed all the males of Shechem and took all the cattle, and wealth, took captive the little ones and women with the sword by deception after their sister dinah was defiled by Shechem, son of Hamor (Gen. 34:26-29), but Jacob said it was taken by his sword and bow, not that of his sons. Another conjecture is that after Simeon and Levi killed the people of Shechem, all the people from around the country took the land back from Israel, and Jacob had to fight them off. However this cannot be so either because it is written that the terror of God fell upon all the land around the area and they did not pursue Jacob (Gen. 35:5). I myself lean towards the argument that Israel is speaking about the time his two sons Levi and Simeon killed all the male and their cattle, and took the women captive. Even though Israel had no part in the slaughter, it’s as if he did because it was his flesh and blood who committed this act, Israel being the patriarch is responsible for the acts of his sons and therefore is to blame as well. I would venture to guess that all the surrounding peoples and cities looked towards Israel and not his sons as the aggressor. 

1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. v. 34; 4

Anyone who walks after the Spirit and not of the flesh, Jesus(God) finds no guilt in them. Because We no longer want to walk in the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:19-23).

2. But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Spirit of Jesus that dwells inside me, sets me free from penalty of death for my sins (According to the law).

3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; Acts. 13:39

The law could not bring eternal life because of the weakness of flesh and it’s lusts. However God sent His only son (Who was spirit), in the flesh with all it’s sin, but not in the sinful nature like we are. He took our place for the penalty of sin (Which is death), therefore sin cannot kill us according to the law of the Spirit.

4. That the righteousness requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The righteous part of the law; that is, the law that gives us eternal life when we live our lives according to the Spirit and not the flesh, is fulfilled in us, because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Gal. 5:22-25

Those that seek the flesh (Sin), obey that which is of the flesh. Those that seek the Spirit obey that which is of the Spirit. (Gal 5:10-21).

6. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Gal. 6:8

Those that are of the flesh and are worldly, will surely die. If the Spirit dwells in you, You will have everlasting life of serenity and harmony.

7. because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be. 1 Cor. 2:14; James 4:4

Because the carnal mind is an enemy of God, and hostile towards Him, for it is not under the authority of God’s law, and cannot be under His authority.

8. So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God. Heb. 11:6

God is not happy with those who live a life in sin. (Flesh equals sin), And they cannot please God.

9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.

If you truly have the Spirit of God dwelling in you then you cannot have the sinful flesh dwelling in you. If you don’t have the Spirit of Jesus Christ in you then the Spirit of God does not dwell in you. God’s spirit and Jesus’s Spirit are one in the same.

10. And if Christ is in you, indeed the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If Christ is in you then you are without sin. This means the sinful lusts of the flesh no longer lives in you. If you are living in a just and holy manner, then the Spirit exist inside you, and you will have eternal life.

11. But if the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised up Christ from the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive by His Spirit who dwells in you. 1 Cor. 6:14

If the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then the Spirit of God who raised Jesus up from the dead, He will also raise you up from the dead, through the Spirit of God that is inside of you.

12. Therefore, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 6:7, 14

Therefore we don’t owe anything to the sinful flesh, because we don’t live our lives according to the sinful flesh. But according to the Spirit.

13. For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die. But if you through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. Gal. 6:8

If you live in sin you will surely die. But if you live according to the Spirit, then you cease to do the things of the sinful flesh, and will have everlasting life.

14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Those who are influenced by and follow God’s Spirit are the children of God, and He becomes our Father Just as Jesus Christ is also His child.

15. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:5

The Spirit you received is not one that you should be afraid of. You received the Spirit of acceptance into God’s family, who now I can call Him Father (Dad, Daddy).

16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. Eph. 1:13

God’s Spirit is a testimony that our Spirit comes from God, making us His children.

17. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. Eph. 1:14; Phil. 1:29

Since we are God’s children we will inherit everything from God just like Jesus has. So if we grieve with Jesus Christ, we can also be glorified together with Jesus.

18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us.

The pain that I will experience in this life are minuscule compared to how I will be glorified.

19. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

We that were created are anxiously awaiting for the sons of God to be revealed.

20. For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope

21. that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 2 Cor. 3:17

God would not make the world subject to be cursed forever because of the sin of man, but gave it hope that it would be restored.

That we would overcome our slavery to the sinful flesh, and become glorified children of God.

22. And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

Everything that God created moans, and is physically worn as a woman who is going through childbirth. We do this as if we are one with each other until this present time.

23. And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body.

Not only does the whole world moan with great expectations, of what they will become after death, but us who have the Spirit of God, groan quietly, anxiously awaiting within ourselves to be delivered from this sinful body of the flesh after death, to become children of God as Spirit bodies (1 Co 15:42-49).

24. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope for it? Heb. 11:1

25. But if we hope for that which we do not see, then we wait for it with patience. 5:2, 3

Hope and faith go hand in hand, We have faith in God’s word that we are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ, and therefore we hope for a better future of a life eternal, without the pains and struggles we go through in the present age. If we were already in this present stage then there would be no need for hope, why should we hope for something we already have? So we patiently wait for the kingdom of God to come, and the better days that lie ahead.

26. Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

In the same manner we are saved in the same hope and faith that the Holy Spirit will strengthen us in our weakness. when we pray to God and don’t know what to say, or how we should talk to God, The Spirit takes over and speaks for us. The Spirit will put it in our minds what we should say, when we have no words to describe what is on our minds.

27. And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. v. 34; Heb. 7:25

God knows the hearts of men, and what is on our minds. Because the Spirit is of God, they are in agreement with each other. when the Spirit speaks on our behalf in our prayers, we are actually praying the Way God wants us to pray and we to are in agreement with God. Therefore it is God who is helping us to pray (Making intercession).

28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

We know that everything that happens to us (Good and bad), are working together for our good if we truly love God, and have answered God’s calling through our commitment we make at baptism. This has been Gods plan all along.

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be the First-born among many brothers. 11:2; Eph. 1:4, 5

God knew Jesus before He came to the earth in the flesh. God had determined at creation that Jesus would come to earth in the flesh to become his firstborn son of the flesh, to overcome sin in the flesh, and be a big brother to all of us who symbolically joined Him in likeness in our baptism (John. 1:1-14).

30. But whom He predestinated, these He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified. And whom He justified, these He also glorified. 1 Pt. 2:9; 3:9

Us who were created in His likeness and in His image, God determined that we who answered his calling (The gospel message), and believe in Jesus for salvation, would be justified (Forgiven), from our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and we who are justified (Forgiven), thru His blood would also be glorified just as Jesus was glorified and sits at His right hand to the day, we to will be with God the Father in heaven forever.

31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Num. 14:9

So what conclusion should we draw to all that we just read? With God forgiven us for all our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who can condemn us? No one!

32. Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 4:25

God who did not hold back His only son, yet sacrificed Him on the cross to free us from our sins, and the death penalty of sin according to Gods law. how can we conceive that He should not give us all things freely through Jesus Christ?

33. Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 11:5; 1 Thess. 1:4

Who can condemn us who believe? No one! It is God, and God alone who forgives us for our sins.

34. Who is he condemning? It is Christ who has died, but rather also who is raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Heb. 1:3; 7:25

Who is God condemning then? God condemns sin through Jesus Christ in His death. Sin was symbolically put to death when Christ died for our sins. Yet God also raised him from death, conquering death, and the penalty for sin.

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36. As it is written: Ps. 44:22

“For Your sake we are killed all

day long: We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Nothing of the flesh, or of this world can separate us from the love of Christ. Just as Christ was persecuted to, so we, who are followers of Christ will be persecuted for our belief in Him.

37. But in all these things we more than conquer through Him who loved us. 1 Cor. 15:57

38. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39. nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In addition to overcoming all things of the flesh and of the world, through His spirit, there is nothing that has ever been created, or will be created that can keep us from the love that God has for us. God revealed His love for us by sacrificing His only son on the cross for our sins (John 3:16-18).

1. Or are you ignorant, brothers; for I speak to those who know the Law; that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?                                               

 Paul is speaking to the church, and also to those who know the law (Jews),       

2. For the married woman was bound by law to the living husband. But if the husband is dead, she is set free from the law of her husband. 1 Cor. 7:39             

  The term law shows that it offers condition for binding (chained to), A woman cannot marry another man as long as her husband is alive (According to the law). When her husband does she is no longer bound to the marriage covenant with her husband                                                                                                               

3. So then if, while her husband lives, she is married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress by becoming another man’s wife. Matt. 5:32; 19:3-9; 1 Cor. 7:39

  There were women who would go around and marry other men while she is still married to her real husband, this makes her an adulteress. When her husband dies she is set free from the law and is no longer an adulteress if she marries another man. Death is taken here in the literal sense (Not meaning dead in Christ, but physically dead), this being the case; in order to not be considered an adulteress she must wait for her husband to die before she can re-marry.                                                                                                                             

4. So, my brothers, you also have become dead to the law by the body of Christ so that you should be married to Another, even to Him raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God. 4:25

  We are dead to the law because Christ has come and died. He has taken the penalty of death for all of us. Thru Jesus’s death and resurrection we are now free from being accused of adultery if we re-marry. And if we are baptized we now have the fruit of everlasting life instead of death. Paul uses an example of a married woman’s release from any lawful claim to her by her husband once he is dead. His death releases her from that marriage. By comparison, he explains that “you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ …” (Romans 7:4). Notice that Paul does not say that the law is dead. Rather, we become dead to the law (the penalty for sin is death according to the law), on repentance. That is, the law’s claim on our life as the penalty for breaking it is considered met through Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death in our place. Paul’s point is that, like the woman released from the specific law binding her to her former husband, we through Jesus’ death may be released from the law’s specific requirement of death for past sins. As a response to our baptism “we should bear fruit to God,” in contrast to bearing “fruit to death” (Romans 7:4-5).

5. For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sin worked in our members through the law to bring forth fruit to death.

  The relationship you have with the world ends with death, the law provides a path for understanding the law is not was causes death, it is giving you guidance so that you can have life. When we were dead in Christ, (Meaning we didn’t have Christ Jesus living in us, or the Spirit), the law revealed to us the sinful nature of the flesh, which brought forth bad fruit that we may die.

6. But now we having been set free from the Law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of the letter. 2:29; 2 Cor. 3:6

  The old us verses the new us, free from the penalty of law, because that penalty leads to death. Now that the Spirit dwells in us we are no longer held captive by the flesh, and from it’s condemnation of death for our past sins. for the flesh is now dead in us, and the Spirit now lives in us, so we can now resist the temptation to sin, and overpower the weakness of our fleshly nature through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Let it not be said! But I did not know sin except through the law. For also I did not know lust except the law said, You shall not lust. 3:20; Ex. 20:17

The law itself is sinless. If it weren’t for the law we would not know good from evil. The law is a guide of right from wrong. Without the law we would not know sin. The penalty for sin is death.

8. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, worked in me all kinds of lust. For apart from law, sin was dead. 4:15

  I didn’t understand what I was doing was bad, until the law revealed sin was bad. the law didn’t kill me, it showed what did kill me (SIN). The commandment made it possible for sin to reveal itself to me, and manifest the evil desires of the flesh, The law defines sin, for without the law there is no sin.

9. For I was alive without the law once. But when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

  Paul is saying I learned that if I keep sinning that only death would come. Before there was the law I was alive, because I didn’t know sin. Once I was told, “Thou shalt not” sin came into being and I was dead (The penalty for sin is death), in the flesh, or if you will? The carnal mind.

10. And the commandment, which was to life, was found to be death to me.                18:5

  And thus. the commandment, which was, designed to give life through the keeping of it. I found to be unto death through breaking it.

11. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.

  The law gives me an understanding of what I am to keep, despite the fact that I’m heading to death, but Christ took that penalty of death to Him. Before the commandment (The law), came, my sinful nature thought sin wasn’t bad (I was deceived),I had no conscience of good and bad. Therefore I was dead because The penalty for sin is death.

12. So indeed the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. Ps. 19:8

  The law and the commandment are both sacred, deserving deep respect. And the commandment is fair, Righteous, pure and honorable. The law is just and good.

Rom 7:13 Then has that which is good become death to me? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear to be sin, working death in me by that which is good; in order that sin might become exceedingly sinful by the commandment.

That what is good does not bring about death. Whereas the commandment makes sin more sinful. The more I look into Gods law I understand, the more I understand it the more I am able to do what is right, the better life I have.

14. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 6:16

The word law means the Mosaic law (Gods law), Paul describes it as a downward pull (That which holds us prisoner), the law is spiritual. The law is of the Spirit, and we are of the flesh, subject to sin.

15. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do. Gal. 5:17

  Our human tendencies never go away even after baptism, this will go on until we die.The things that I do The carnal mind does not comprehend, the things that I want to do, I do not do, The things that I hate to do (according to the Spirit), are the things that I do.

16. If then I do that which I do not desire, I consent to the law that it is good.

  When I do the things I do not desire to do, it is the law that gives me the desire to not do these things.

17. But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.

  It is not the Spirit that makes me do wrong, but the flesh (Carnal mind), inside me.

18. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. Gen. 6:5; 8:21

  For if you are led by the spirit you are not under the penalty of the law, which is death. Nothing good can come from my flesh that is inside me, the flesh does not recognize what is good, or knows how to do good. The sinful things I desire are inside me.

Gal 5:19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things,                                         Gal 5:20 worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups,                                                                                            Gal 5:21 being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom.

19. For the good things I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I do. v. 15

  The good things that I want to do (According to the Spirit) I do not do them, but all the evil things I do not want to do, are the things I do.

20. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. v. 17

  If I do the things that I know I shouldn’t do (According to the Spirit), it is because of the sin nature (The Flesh) that dwells inside me. And not the Spirit.

21. I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me.

  When I want to do good, there is this law that says to do good. but evil is there with me (in the flesh), at the same time.

22. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; Ps. 1:2

  I am pleased in my inner self that wants to do good according to the law of God.

23. but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members. 6:13; 19; Gal. 5:17

  There is also another law of the flesh that is at war with my spirit. This law is leading me to be a prisoner of sin, which is of the flesh and not the spirit.

24. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 1 Cor. 15:51, 52

  I am one miserable person, because I am giving it everything that I have but I am still succumbing to the sinful desires. I am so afflicted with these thoughts it brings me pain, whom can I turn to, to release me from this sinful body that leads to death? It is through the blood of Jesus Christ that saves me from my wretched self.

Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

I thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ. I consciously serve Gods law through His spirit, but my flesh still serves the law of sin. It is through the blood of Jesus Christ that saves me from my wretched self.

1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? V. 15; 3:8

Since, the more we sin the more God’s grace grows, does this mean that we should sin even more and more so that Grace can grow in us?

2. God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

God would not allow such thoughts. How can we keep living a sinful life if we symbolically put to death the old man of sin in our baptism.

3. Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Gal. 3:27, Col. 2:12

When we are fully submerged in the water in our baptism, we are symbolically dying with Christ at His crucifixion, who also killed sin in His death.

4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

In conclusion, we symbolically put the old man of sin in the grave. And Just as God raised up Jesus from the dead into His glorified spiritual body, then we who died with Christ in our baptism should also walk in the spirit of obedience to God’s law of righteousness.

5.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Phil. 3:10

As we were symbolically buried together with Christ like He was, then just as He rose from the dead, we should to will one day be raised from the dead in a spiritual body as Christ was.

6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Gal. 2:20; 5:24; 6:14

Having this knowledge that the old man of sin was put to death just as Christ was killed on the cross. Our fleshly body of sin could be killed. Then we should no longer be a slave to sin.

7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 1 Pet. 4:1

We, who symbolically died with Christ at our baptism were freed from the death penalty (According to God’s law), of sin.

8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 2 Tim. 2:11

9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. Rev. 1:18

When we get baptized we believe that just as the old man of sin was symbolically put to death (As Christ killed sin in the flesh), we know also that as Christ was raised from death (Defeating sin), That we to are free from the death penalty of sin according to the law of God. And we to will be raised from the dead at the resurrection.

10. For the death that he died, he die to sin once for all; but the life that he lives he lives to God.

When Jesus died He died only once for sin, but now He lives with God, and sits at His right hand to this day and forever more.

11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. v. 2; 7:4,6

So to we should consider ourselves to be dead to the sin nature in
Spirit, but alive to God s Spirit through the death of Jesus Christ.

12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Ps. 19:13

Do not let sin rule over your fleshly body so much so, that you become a slave to sin, and all the lustful desires of the flesh.

13. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 7:5; 12:1

Do not let your fleshly body be used to commit everything that goes against the will of God and His righteousness, but offer up your body to God as a person who is alive from the death penalty of sin, and live your life according to the will of God.

14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 10:4; Gal. 3:13; 5:18

You are not under the death penalty for your sins, according to the law of God, because, Through the kindness of God, who sent His only son to take my place for my sins, and died for my sins.

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. v.1; 7:7

Just because God showed His kindness to us by sacrificing His only son for me, does not give me the liberty (Freedom) to keep on sinning.

16. 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. 2 Pet. 2:19

If you decide to obey the lusts of the flesh, and willfully keep sinning, then you are in essence a slave to sin, which will only bring death to you, but if you obey God’s the Laws of God then you become a slave to righteousness (Obeying God s law), and this gives you eternal life.

17. But God be thanked that though you were the slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 2 Tim. 1:13

–Even though I was once a slave to sin and the death penalty that it brought, I thank God that through His Spirit I now obey His laws, and I am now free from the penalty of death through my sins, past, present and future.

18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. John. 8:32

Since I am free from the penalty of death for my sins (According to God’s law), I am now obedient to the law of God and His righteousness.

19. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as have presented your members servants as slaves of uncleanness and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Because of the weakness of my flesh, I had given my body to practice all that is unclean and sinful. In the same way I gave myself to sin, I should now give my life over to doing what is right according to the law of God, and become Holy; as God is holy.

20. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. v. 11; John 8:34

When I obeyed the lust of the flesh to sin, I was unable to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

21. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now

ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 1:32; 7:5

Did any good come from being slaves to sin which made me ashamed of doing those things? For all those sinful things only brought me eternal death according to the law of God.

22. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Now that I am free from the death penalty of being sinful, and have become obedient servants to God, I am bearing good fruit which produces holiness and in turn gives me everlasting life.

23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eph. 2:8,9

According to the law of God; the penalty for sin is death eternal, but through God’s grace I have eternal life through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.