Oct 19

  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution Past Tense
    As you read these next several verses, pay close attention to the tense of the verbs used by Paul. Much of the actions he describes have already happened. Some is happening right now and some will happen in the future. Make a list of what has already happened, what is happening and what will happen. Unless you know what has already happened to you and for you, you’ll keep living like you lived... Read more »

Oct 16

  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution Mercy & Grace
    God is rich or full of mercy, as mention earlier. But God is also rich or full of grace as well (see verse 7). His mercy moved Him to make us alive with Christ. Then His grace took over and saved us. Mercy withholds what is due us. A court can show mercy by not throwing the full weight of the law on you. Grace on the other hand gives you what you don't deserve. God's grace gave us a righteousness... Read more »
  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution Death Rather Than Life?
    Why would anyone want to stay in death? Not everyone allows God to bring them to life. Not all dead know they are dead. Cut a branch off a tree. The moment it is removed from its source of life it dies. It may live for a while, but it’s already dead. We were born cut off from the source of life. Therefore we were dead even though we seem to be alive. We think we’re alive. We act like we’re... Read more »

Oct 15

  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution The Living Dead
    “Even when we were dead” has many implications. What can the dead do? Do the dead have any inherent value? Are the dead worthy in any way? Is there any beauty in a corpse? Is there any reason not to dispose of the dead? The answer for all these questions isn’t very good for us. We can’t do anything in our state of death. Everything we do is death from God perspective. There is no inherent... Read more »

Oct 14

  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution God's But
    Normally when we use the word "but" look out, because here it comes. The bad news, some critical remark, or something negative usually follows our "but". Not with God thought. More often than not God moves us from the bad news to the good news. In this case, He interrupts our bad with His good. It's as if He is awakening us from a nightmare. However, this wasn't a bad dream it was a bad reality. Here... Read more »

Oct 13

  • charliel
    charliel added a text contribution The Worst of the Worst
    "Even as the rest." We have too high an opinion of ourselves. We can always find others who are much much worse than us. There are so many examples of vile, wicked, evil people in the news these days that we must be ok by comparison. God has to be pleased with us or at least somewhat pleased because we are not like them. We couldn't possibly be under the same judgment and wrath as them. After all,... Read more »

Oct 12