Green Meadow Drive

06/03/2026

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟵 - 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲
Turning the page from the end of chapter 8 and beginning our reading of chapter 9, we don’t forget all that we have already learned! Chapter 9 is about God’s sovereignty to choose. But the debate among people is WHO did God choose? WHAT purpose did He choose them for? So, Robert Turner reminds us that the teachings of the rest of Romans act as our ‘safety rope’ for reading Romans 9. In particular,
Whoever – All who believe – Everyone who believes
· The gospel is God’s power to save ALL who trust in Jesus (1:16).
· God’s wrath is displayed against ALL who sin (1:17-18).
· God’s judgment is always just and fair and according to truth (2:2).
· God’s judgment is righteous 2:5)
· God will render to EACH PERSON according to his deeds (2:6)
· God is NO RESPECTOR of Persons (2:11-12).
· The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus is for ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE, FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION (3:22)
· All have sinned – (3:23)
· God is the justifier of THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH in Jesus (3:26)
· Abraham is the father of ALL WHO BELIEVE.. that righteousness might be credited to them (4:11)
· Abraham is the father of those who “follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham’ (4:12)
· The promise is TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE FAITH of Abraham (4:16)
· Righteousness will be credited to ‘THOSE WHO BELIEVE in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead’ (4:24)
· Christ died for THE UNGODLY (5:6) [NOT ‘some of’ – but ‘the ungodly’]
· ALL who have been baptized have been baptized into His death (6:4)
· This concept continues AFTER chapter 9:
· The conclusion of chapter 9: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM will not be disappointed’ (9:33)
· Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES (10:4).
· The Scriptures says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM will not be disappointed (10:11)
· It is ‘the same LORD who is “LORD of all, abounding in riches for ALL WHO CALL ON HIM” (10:12)
· WHOEVER will call on the name of the Lord will be saved (10:13)
· THEN, this great section (chapters 1-11) ends: For God has shut up ALL in disobedience so that He may show mercy TO ALL (11:32).
IN such salvation story, God used people (individual and national) to accomplish this eternal purpose (cp. Eph. 3: 11 – Jew and Gentile reconciled through Jesus in ONE BODY.) Whether Jew (ethnic) or Gentile (also ethnic), YOU can be saved in relationship to Jesus, and ONLY in Jesus: (6) Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)
And again: “11) "He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. (12) "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12).
Such is the simple thrust of the great commission: “(15) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (16) "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)
Hugh DeLong

06/02/2026

𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵
This article is from a post by a friend, Doy Moyer. I like his insight and wanted to share his wisdom. Hugh
I fear at times that faith today is seen as a weak contingency. We’re fine as long as we are convinced, kind of, but we are open to changing allegiances if the timing works. Faith may be seen as just what’s best for now, but we are really hoping for something more secure that doesn’t require such faith (good luck). God, then, is simply our best option for now, but since it is faith, then we are open to making the switch when it is convenient. This is similar to the attitude of those who marry by saying, “until the love between us dies.” We’ve opened the door wide to failure. This is not true faith. You don’t just “try out” Jesus.
Faith is a commitment that gives us assurance of hope, and in this we have an anchor of the soul (Heb 11:1; 6:18-19). Having real faith doesn’t mean we are giving it a good try “just in case.” It does not mean we use it as a placeholder until something more solid comes along. Faith is about a lifetime of dedicated service, not subject to the whims of the world. The one driven and tossed about by every wind of doctrine is not commended (Eph 4:13-14). We aren’t children looking for the next craze.
Am I saying that we don’t have open minds? We do. We listen. We judge content. Yet we do so with faith in God. We need not lay aside faith to judge ideas and doctrines. Neither am I saying that there is no room for questions. When we claim faith, we are thereby recognizing that we do not have all the answers. We do not know it all. We have space for questions and know that we won’t figure everything out so that it’s a neat, tidy package of theology. Yet even forms of doubt can be approached in faith. I don’t need to lay faith aside to try to better understand God or Scripture. The doubting of James 1 is about inconsistency, wrong motives, and straddling the worldly line. Faith bears the questions and continues to trust God even when we don’t know or understand the answers. Faith doesn’t just give up because it’s tired.
Does this make faith weak? Not at all, for faith is made stronger the more we rely on God and less on ourselves. In truth, everyone relies on something; all have faith in something. We need to choose who and what we will have faith in. Once we choose the Lord, we need to resolve ourselves to a lifetime of faithfulness in spite of the various philosophies that wage war on our souls. The commitment we make is for life.
Faith is not for sale. Let’s not act like it is.
“Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints” (Rev 13:10).

06/02/2026

Romans 8 in charts
If you are a more ‘visual learner’ than a ‘reader’, the study of Romans 8 is highly instructive when you create a parallel chart to display the differing ideas. I understand these contrasts as a contrast between two lifestyles. They will again be addressed later (although slightly different phrasing), when Paul writes:
(1) Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
(2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Many before you or me, have made such a chart. Rather than making and showing you one, let me challenge you to maker your own. Here is a starting idea:

Hugh

06/01/2026

05/29/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 - 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟲
In chapter 5 we learned of many aspects of the gospel and its effects upon our lives, particularly us that were headed down the wrong path of life. Through our encounter with this gospel message, we, as ungodly as we knew we were, were justified, saved from the wrath of God, and reconciled unto God.
Now in chapter 6, we are told that when we believed and were baptized for the remission of our sins as per Acts 2:38, we were raised to walk in newness of life! There was something more than just the above benefits. This newness of life, though, involves a major change in HOW we live.
Romans 6:11 (11) Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
In chapter 8 we will learn that God has a greater goal for our conversion, and that we would become “conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). This conformity involves NOT being conformed to the world, but being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:1-2). This idea is a recurring theme in the New Testament.
We crucify the OLD MAN (Gal. 2:20, 6:14). This Paul states involves our having crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24). He speaks of this transformation in Eph 4:17ff where we are to have put off the old man and put on the new man, being renewed in the spirit of our minds (cp. 4:23-24). Again in Colossians 3:10: “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—.” Then yet again in Phil. 2:5, we are to now have the mind of Christ.
This list goes on, but it always speaks of us as disciples being transformed, changed, walking in a different lifestyle. How are you walking and thinking differently than before you were converted? How has the gospel changed you? Can we, like Paul, honestly say: “For me to live is Christ”?
Hugh DeLong

05/28/2026

𝗜𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘂𝗹𝘁 - 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱
Romans 5:1-3 (1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;… (11) And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Here in Romans 5, we encounter the word ‘exult’ (NASB95/ESV) or ‘rejoice’ (NKJV/CSB). The Greek word denotes a high degree of confidence that expresses itself vocally. It is not an internal, quiet happiness; it is a loud, triumphal declaration. Our English translations use some more ‘polite’ words to translate this, but in the first-century Greco-Roman culture is much more raw: to boast, to brag, or to glory in something.
All such is not about SELF or our accomplishments and abilities, but about Jesus! Hence we ‘exult’ in the ‘hope of the glory of God’, in our ‘tribulations’, and ‘in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Having learned who we WERE in our relationship to God and WHERE that would have ended, we now have been justified, saved, reconciled and in Jesus have the hope of eternal life with the Father. Oh that will be, glory for me… Let us then exult, praise, and give glory to God who has provided such a gracious response to our sinful ways. Hugh DeLong

05/27/2026

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 – 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟰
Faith has different focuses. It can mean the belief of a fact. It can mean the trust of such facts. Concerning people it involves trust of character. Of course, it is easier to learn facts and thus to believe such facts are true than it is to learn to trust someone's character. The foundation of our relationship with God is based upon such trust.
We of course begin with facts. All evidence for the existence of God comes from reasoning from facts. The existence of the universe, the existence of life, etc., these are the facts / data that we begin with. In coming to an understanding of why and how such facts exist, we reason to the existence of God.
The Bible teaches that "whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists AND that He rewards those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). The belief in His existence is concluded from the data that we have. The trust in His character (that He rewards those who seek Him), is more difficult for most people. It is this trust in God's character that separates the 'belief of demons' (James 2:19) and the faith of such people of God in Hebrews 11.
This trust can be built on several different foundations. Testimony / examples of those who have experienced God provides one such foundation. Many of the stories of the Bible involve people learning to trust upon the promises that God made to them. Some failed in their faith, but many learned through difficulties in life that God is faithful to His promises. (Read Hebrews chapter 11 for a short synopsis of such people of faith.)
Reading about other people's struggles with God is instructive, but it must yet become personal. I will have to deal with both the joys of life and the tribulations that also come into MY life. I will have times (many of them) when I don't understand. I will cry out 'WHY' only to be met with silence. I have God's instructions on what I am to be doing – it is my trust in God that will keep me doing when I don't understand why.
Probably the biggest danger I have seen is when people have a mistaken concept of what God has promised for them. Such mistaken concepts cause people to give up on God when things don't work out the way that THEY think it should. They begin accusing God of being unfaithful when in fact God never promised such.
We must fill our minds with the history of God's faithful dealings with His people. We then must each day walk by faith: learn what God wants us to do and then obey to the best of our ability. Faith will grow as we continue to walk with God. Hugh DeLong

05/26/2026

𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟯 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲
WAS there an advantage to being a Jew versus being a Gentile? The question here is asked in regard to the Old Testament period, and the answer is YES. The Gentile world did NOT have the revelation of God in a written, codified form. That meant that the Gentile world, as we read in chapter 1, had to rely upon their own figuring things out. As Dr. Phil would often ask: “How’s that working for you?” Answer: not very well. For the simple matter that God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts. What man thinks falls short of and is different from the mind of God.
The Jewish revelation was God telling them what He specifically wanted. So, the biggest advantage is simply that THEY (as a people, a collectivity) were entrusted with the oracles of God.
BUT, with greater privilege and advantage comes greater responsibility! THIS is where the Jews failed. The rest of chapter 3 will show how many ways they failed to live up to this revealed knowledge. The conclusion then becomes “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23).
Thus, the need for Jesus and Gospel message that explains how we can find forgiveness through Jesus.
We have been blessed with the gospel! With that comes the responsibility and obligation to KNOW its message and conform our thinking to its teaching. As it was stated in the Great Commission: ‘teach them to observe all that I commanded you…’ (Matt. 28:20).
As we follow Jesus, there remains the openness of forgiveness as John wrote: “(7) but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9).
Such walking in the light is not being perfect, but it does involve recognizing when we sin and repenting/confessing such to God. In this we find forgiveness. Are you walking in the light? Hugh DeLong

05/25/2026

𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀
In Romans 1 - 3, Paul outlines the problem and solution of mankind: sin and the gospel. Most people think of the book of Romans as the great treatise on salvation yet most never stop to ask ‘saved from WHAT”. Paul is rather prolific in this book concerning that very subject.
The gospel is God’s power to save people from the wrath of God, which He exercises against unrighteousness and ungodliness (1:18). In fact Paul uses the word 12 times in this book. Paul uniformly teaches that such wrath is against sin. One expression that I have picked up in my reading that I like: God’s wrath is ALWAYS and ONLY directed toward sin. This is the point of the first three chapters of Romans and specifically, chapter 2.
In chapter one, Paul has shown that the gentile world has forsaken God and chosen the way of ungodliness. Before Paul addresses the situation of the Jewish people (chapter 3), he sets up the basis of God’s judgment in chapter 2.
Paul speaks of the judgment of God five times, 2:2,3, 5, 12, and 16. Paul adds to the fact of God’s judgment some principles concerning God’s judgment.
It is against sin (12), unrighteousness (8), and evil (9).
It is RIGHTEOUS (2, 5 and 1:32). God makes no mistakes; God is not unjust in such judgment.
It will be a judgment of ALL people - Jew and Gentile (9).
It will be according to each man’s life - (6).
It is without partiality (11).
It will be complete as it judges not only their actions but their thoughts and secrets (16).
It will result in wrath, fury, tribulation, and distress for those who have done evil (8-9).
It will result in glory, honor, immortality, eternal, and peace for those who do good. (7,10).
This is not trying to tell people how to be saved, for the problem stands and will be concluded that ALL have sinned and therefore ALL are under the penalty of sin. Paul returns to the gospel story in 3:21-31. In this chapter his point is that God’s righteous judgment is upon all that do evil. There is no escape based upon genealogy, political position, or wealth.
With this foundation concerning God’s dealing with mankind, Paul proceeds in chapter three to show that that Jew sinned and is facing the wrath of God in judgment UNLESS he is forgiven through Jesus Christ. Hugh DeLong