Romans 8

Paul’s letter to the *Romans

Romans

Hilda Bright and Keith Simons

Chapter 8

The *Holy Spirit and God’s children 8:1-39

Freedom from *sinful nature 8:1-4

v1 Therefore the people who belong to *Christ Jesus are not still guilty. v2 Because of what Jesus *Christ has done, the law of his *Holy Spirit has given me life. He has freed me from the law of *sin that brings death. v3 The *written law had no power, because our human nature made it weak. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own son to be like people who have a *sinful nature. God sent Jesus to be a *sacrifice for *sin. And so God *judged *sin in *Christ’s human nature. v4 Now we can obey all that the law sets out in order to make us *righteous. We do not live by our natural desires now. The *Holy Spirit rules our lives instead.

Verse 1 Paul has explained how powerful *sin is. People might want to please God. And they might try to obey his law. But human nature is too weak to oppose the power of *sin.

God’s law explains how he wants people to live. But *sin seems like another law, which opposes God’s law. So people feel as if they are struggling against *sin. And their efforts to do the right thing seem hopeless.

But the wonderful news is that God frees people from the power of *sin. And he frees them completely. He forgives their *sin. He makes them *righteous. He does these things because of his *grace. And he does these things for everyone who belongs to *Christ Jesus. They are not guilty now. They have become God’s special, *holy people (Ephesians 2:1-9).

Verse 2 *Sin is like a law that controls people. Nobody could avoid its power. And *sin caused the most terrible troubles. People have to obey *sin, but the only result of these efforts is death (Romans 6:23).

But God made another law that would free people from the law of *sin. Paul does not mean the *written law, which told people the nature of *sin. He is writing about a new law, which tells people how to live in order to please God.

Jeremiah wrote about such a law (Jeremiah 31:33-34). It would not be like the *written law. It would be in people’s hearts and minds. It would show them how to know God and to love God. It would give them a right *relationship with God. And God would forgive their *sins.

This new *relationship with God was possible because of the death of Jesus. After Jesus’ death, God sent the *Holy Spirit. And the Spirit lives in us, if we are real Christians (John 14:16-17).

It is the *Holy Spirit that gives life. It is the *Holy Spirit who makes people able to breathe and so to live (Genesis 2:7). It is the *Holy Spirit who gives *spiritual life to Christians (Galatians 5:16). And it is the *Holy Spirit who raises dead bodies to life (verse 11).

Verse 3 The *written law showed people the nature of *sin. But it could not free people from *sin, because nobody can become *righteous by their own efforts. But God’s *grace was more powerful than *sin was. And God had a plan to rescue people from the power of *sin.

God sent his son to live in a human body. Jesus had a real human nature that could be tired, hungry and thirsty. (‘Thirsty’ means that he was sometimes desperate to drink.) Paul says, ‘like’ *sinful human nature. Paul knew that *Christ never *sinned. *Christ obeyed his Father completely. Then, on the *cross, *Christ offered himself for human *sin. So, as a perfect *sacrifice, he removed the punishment for human *sin. We can receive the benefit of his death. God will forgive us and he will make us *righteous. But first, we need to accept what God did by Jesus. God did this because of his great love for people (John 3:16).

Verse 4 We could not become *righteous by our own efforts. And we could not obey God’s *written law by our own efforts. But God has changed our situation. Now we can be free from guilty feelings and from the fear of punishment. The *Holy Spirit will guide a Christian. He will give to Christians the power to live a *holy life. ‘Live by the Spirit. Then you will not do the *sinful things that you want to do because of your human nature’ (Galatians 5:16).

Two kinds of life 8:5-11

v5 Some people live under the control of their human nature. Their natural desires control their minds. Other people live under the control of the *Holy Spirit. The Spirit guides their minds. v6 The result of our natural thoughts and desires is death. But the result of the thoughts that come from the Spirit is life and *peace. v7 Our natural thoughts and desires oppose God. Such thoughts do not obey God’s law. In fact, such thoughts are not even able to obey God’s law. v8 Nobody who lives by their natural desires can ever please God.

v9 But your natural desires do not control you. The *Holy Spirit controls you if the Spirit of God lives in you. But anyone who does not have the Spirit of *Christ does not belong to *Christ. v10 *Christ lives in you. It is as if your body is dead because of *sin. But your spirit is alive, because *Christ has made you *righteous. v11 God’s Spirit lives in you. This is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from death. In the end, your bodies will die. But the Spirit, who raised *Christ Jesus from death, will also bring life to your bodies. This will happen because the Spirit lives in you.

Paul contrasts two kinds of life in these verses.

• a normal life without the power of the *Holy Spirit. Someone who lives such a life cannot please God. Instead, that person lives by their own thoughts and desires. And such a life will be *sinful, because *sin controls that person’s mind. Death is the result of such a life.

• a life that the *Holy Spirit controls. This is the kind of life that a real Christian should have. God’s Spirit guides that person’s thoughts and desires. So that person pleases God. And the results of that person’s life are good.

In verses 5-8, Paul speaks in a general manner. In verses 9-11, he speaks directly to the Christians in Rome when he says ‘you’. But these words are also true for every Christian.

Paul uses three different names for the *Holy Spirit. These are: the *Holy Spirit, the Spirit of *Christ and the Spirit of God. But Paul is not describing three different Spirits. The *Holy Spirit comes from God the Father and God the Son. So the *Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of *Christ and the Spirit of God. And the *Holy Spirit works in the life of the real Christian.

Verse 5 Paul contrasts two opposite situations. Human nature causes *sinful behaviour. But life in the *Holy Spirit pleases God.

Paul shows this difference very clearly in Galatians 5:19-21. He sets out many kinds of behaviour that people follow because of human nature. But everything in that list is *sinful. And such things cause pain or trouble. Because of human nature, people may desire power, entertainment or possessions. And they do evil acts in order to gain these things. But then, in Galatians 5:22-23, Paul sets out a very different list. This is the list of the results of the *Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life. Everything in this second list is good. And everything there helps other people. This is because the *Holy Spirit works to achieve good things for other people by the believer’s life.

Verses 6-8 The results are different. Death is the result of *sin. Life and *peace come from the *Holy Spirit. A person will have the gift of *eternal life. He will be at *peace with God. He will be at *peace with other people. He will be at *peace in himself, because he is not still afraid of death. He can now obey God. So he is no longer God’s enemy. These good things happen because that person is not still trying to please himself. Instead, the *Holy Spirit guides that person’s mind. So that person’s natural thoughts and desires seem unimportant.

A person can live in such a manner as soon as that person invites God into his life. The *Holy Spirit is God’s gift to every believer. And the *Holy Spirit gives to the believer the power to live in a manner that pleases God.

Of course, this does not mean that Christians have perfect lives. They do not. The devil continues to use their natural thoughts and desires in order to test them. Such thoughts and desires cause *sinful acts. So these thoughts and desires cannot please God. But Christians learn to depend on the *Holy Spirit. This can be a slow process. They may make many mistakes. But Christians learn that God is now controlling their lives. God will provide the things that they need.

People begin the Christian life by trust in God. Then they should continue their Christian life in the same manner.

Verses 9-10 Real Christians do not need to worry about their human nature. God has sent the *Holy Spirit to live in their lives. It is as if their human nature is not still alive. Instead, their spirits are now alive. And God’s *Holy Spirit guides and directs their lives.

Verse 11 In the end, the human body will die. But the death of the body will not be important, because the spirit will remain alive. God raised Jesus from death. Those who share *Christ’s life by the *Holy Spirit will rise again too. They will have a new body that will never die again. Paul explains this in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

God’s children 8:12-17

v12 Therefore, *brothers and *sisters, we have a duty. But this is not a duty to our human nature. So we do not live in order to please our own desires. v13 If you live to please your own desires, you will soon die. Instead, live by means of the Spirit. It is as if your body’s natural behaviour must die. Then, you will really be alive. v14 Those whom the Spirit of God leads are God’s children. v15 You did not receive a spirit that controls your life, like a slave. Such a spirit would make you afraid again. But you received the *Holy Spirit, who makes you God’s child. By the Spirit, we call God ‘Abba’ (‘Dad’), Father. v16 The Spirit joins with our spirit to declare that we are God’s children. v17 Now, the children in a family will receive their father’s wealth. And we are God’s children. So we shall share all the wonderful things that God provides for us. We shall share these things with *Christ. We suffer together with him. So we shall also share his *glory.

Verses 12-13 Christians must end all the wrong behaviour that belonged to their past life. In Galatians 5:24, Paul wrote about this matter again. People who belong to *Christ should end all *sinful behaviour. They should act as if their human nature died on the *cross. And all the desires and emotions of the human nature have ended too. When people do this, the Spirit of God gives new life to them. They will know the real freedom that God gives. And so they will really know what it means to be alive.

Verses 14-17 Paul speaks about the difference between a slave and a son. He describes someone who adopts a child. At the time when Paul wrote, a person might choose to adopt a child. That child would continue that person’s name. And that child would receive that person’s property. There was a serious ceremony in *Roman law that handed over the child to his new father. The ceremony had to happen in front of witnesses. The former life of the child did not still exist. He began a completely new life. He had the same rights as children by birth. He would receive his new father’s property.

Our old life, which the *sinful nature controlled, has gone. We have begun a new life. We are the sons and daughters whom God has adopted. The *Holy Spirit is the witness in us that we have become God’s children. We can call God ‘Abba’. ‘Abba’ is the word for ‘father’ in the language called Aramaic. This word shows the family love between father and child. Children in *Jewish families still use it today. Jesus used the word himself (Mark 14:36). It showed the close *relationship between Jesus and his Father, God. Jesus taught his *disciples to think about God as Father when they prayed. (Luke 11:2). Paul added the *Greek word for ‘father’ for *Romans who did not know the word in the Aramaic language.

Christians receive similar benefits to children whom someone has adopted. Christians have the promise of God’s property, because he is their new Father. They will share the *glory of God’s own son, Jesus *Christ. *Christ suffered before he received his *glory. So Christians must expect to suffer too. But they have the promise of future *glory. And that is a wonderful promise.

The hope of *glory 8:18-25

v18 We suffer now. But our present troubles seem very slight when we think about the *glory. In the future, God will show us that *glory. v19 Everything that God created waits eagerly for that time. Then God will show who his children are. v20 The world that God created suffered defeat. This was not the fault of the world itself. But God allowed this because there was a future hope. v21 God promised that he would rescue the world. God would free the world so it would not become bad. He would free the world so that it can share in the wonderful freedom of God’s children. v22 We know how deeply everything suffers. Everything that God created is crying in pain right up to now. It is in pain like the pain of a mother who is giving birth to a child.

Verse 18 Paul could speak about troubles and pain from his own experience. People had opposed him and punished him. Those people hated Paul because he spoke God’s message. Paul had suffered physical difficulties like cold and hunger as he travelled on land and sea. He also seems to speak about a physical problem that was a painful nuisance to him. But he was sure that he would suffer for only a short time. *Glory would last always. Present pain is very slight when we compare it with the splendid life of heaven. Verses 19-22 When people *sinned, the world itself suffered. The world lost its original purpose. And everything in the world suffered because of human *sin. People had *sinned. But often they knew that they were doing wrong deeds. Nature had no choice. Plants and animals also suffer illness and death. We know how human *sin spoils God’s earth. For example, when people cut down trees for selfish reasons, they make the land bare. Then animals that live in forests cannot continue to live there. And the crops that grow there are often weaker than the old trees. So that place becomes poorer because people were selfish. However, God promised that he would free his world. Then the world could share the freedom of God’s children (that is, the real Christians).

The *Jews were expecting a new age when the *Messiah would rule. The *prophets spoke about this time. Nations would be at peace with each other. People would make tools for war into tools for farmers (Micah 4:3-4). The land would produce plentiful fruit (Joel 3:18; Amos 9:13). Even among animals, natural enemies would not attack each other (Isaiah 11:6-9). Until God changes his world, the world will cry in pain. It is like a woman who gives birth to a child in pain. Or, it is like someone who waits (verse 19). It is waiting for the new age to begin. That age will begin when Jesus returns as king. When he returns, everybody will see his *glory. And real Christians will share his *glory. They are the children whom God adopted. And the world will have peace at last.

v23 That is not all. We ourselves already have the *Holy Spirit as a promise of future *blessing. But we are crying inside as we wait eagerly for God to adopt us completely as his children. Then he will free our bodies as he raises them to a new life. v24 God *saved us because we had this hope. This would not be hope if we had already received these things. Nobody hopes for what he has already. v25 But we hope for what we do not have already. So we wait for it patiently.

Verse 23 Paul has described how the world seems to cry in pain. It is waiting for the new age when God’s children will have complete freedom. And God’s children (the real Christians) also cry inside, because they also desire that time.

Now our bodies suffer pain. But then pain and death will end (Revelation 21:4). Now our *relationship with God seems distant. But then we shall see his face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Now our lives are not perfect. But then everything will be perfect.

The word ‘promise’ means that the *Holy Spirit is like the ‘first fruit’ of the harvest. The first fruit is the beginning of the harvest. It is like a promise that the full (complete) harvest will follow. So Christians have received the *Holy Spirit. He brings joy in the present and a promise of *blessing in the future. But we share the pain of the world that God made. We want to be free from the weakness of our physical bodies. We desire to be free from our human nature, which still *sins. God has adopted us as his children already (Romans 8:16). But we are eager for the time when God will change our human bodies. He will change them to be like *Christ’s *glorious body (Philippians 3:21).

Verses 24-25 We can be confident about God’s plans for the future. We live in the time between pain and *glory. God will do what he has promised to do. We know this. So we wait eagerly and patiently at the same time.

The *Holy Spirit and prayer 8:26-27

v26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us because we are weak. We do not know how we ought to pray. But the Spirit himself acts on our behalf. He prays with cries of pain that words cannot express. v27 God, who knows our hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit. The Spirit prays on behalf of God’s people, even as God wants him to pray.

Verses 26-27 We do not know how to pray in our present situation. We do not know what is best for other people or for ourselves. But we have the *Holy Spirit to help us. Jesus promised that the *Holy Spirit would be our advocate (someone who speaks to support another person). The *Greek word is ‘paracletos’ (John 14:16). That is, the *Holy Spirit will speak on our behalf. The Spirit knows about our pain and he knows about the pain in the world. He knows what God wants. So the Spirit prays on behalf of us. God knows our thoughts and the mind of the Spirit. So God will answer the prayer of the Spirit on behalf of us.

God’s *eternal love 8:28-39

v28 We know this. In all things, God works to help those people who love him. They are the people whom God chose because of his plan. v29 God decided long ago about the people whom he knew. He decided that they would become like his son. Then *Christ would be the first among many *brothers and *sisters. v30 God had made his decision about them long ago. So he called them. He called them, and he made them *righteous. He made them *righteous, and he gave them *glory. Verse 28 ‘We know’ means that Christians already have had this experience. God is already working in our lives. We have suffered pain and disappointment. People have opposed us. Our troubles have been great. But even at the worst times, God was working for our benefit. He was helping us. He looked after us when nobody else cared. He is our Father, who loves us.

And God promises to continue to look after the people who love him. So we should not be afraid of future problems. And we should not be angry when unpleasant things happen. Instead, we should trust him. He has a plan. He chose to adopt us as his sons and daughters. He is looking after us during our present troubles. And so he will bring us into his new age, when we shall be free from all these troubles.

Verse 29 Paul speaks about the people whom God already knew. They are God’s special people. God loves them. He has a plan for their lives.

In the *Old Testament, God chose the people from *Israel to be his special people (Amos 3:2). God looked after them in the desert (Hosea 13:5). He gave them many benefits (Romans 9:4-5). And he still cares about them today (Romans 11:1).

But God also has a plan to benefit people from every nation. Because of his love, God made this plan before the world began. He decided to *save people. He would help them to be *holy. He would do this by means of *Christ his son (2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:20). *Christ shows us the *glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). *Christ was the beginning of *creation (Colossians 1:15). By his *resurrection, *Christ is the beginning of a new *creation. God made a plan for people who trust in *Christ. God would adopt them as his children. They would become *Christ’s *brothers and *sisters. He would make them *righteous. And they would share his *glory. That is how they would become like *Christ (1 John 3:2).

Verse 30 It was God’s purpose since the beginning of the world to call people to himself. He has made them *righteous. The *glory for Christians is in the future. But Paul speaks as if they have already received that *glory from God. God decided this before the world began. So Paul is certain. God will do everything that he has promised to do. ‘When *Christ appears, you will appear with him in *glory’ (Colossians 3:4).

v31 This then is what we shall say. God is on our side so nobody can successfully oppose us. v32 God did not keep back (rescue) his own son. But he gave him up on behalf of us all. So surely God will freely give us all things, with *Christ. v33 Nobody will accuse God’s special people. It is God who makes us *righteous. v34 Nobody can declare that we are guilty. *Christ Jesus died. But God raised him to life. Now he is by God’s right hand. He too is praying on behalf of us. v35 Nothing can separate us from *Christ’s love. Trouble cannot, neither can hard times. Nor can attacks from those who oppose our *faith. Hunger or lack of clothing cannot separate us from *Christ’s love. Danger or war cannot. v36 The *scripture says:

‘Because of you, people are killing us all day long.

They considered us as sheep that they kill.’

Verses 31-32 God did not save (rescue) his son, Jesus. God’s love is so great. He gave his only son to die on the *cross. This was the greatest gift that people could ever receive. So God will certainly give us everything else that we need.

Verses 33-34 Paul thinks about a court of law. The Christian has to appear there in front of a judge. God is the judge. He has said already that the Christian is not guilty. So nobody can accuse Christians when God is on their side.

Christians also have someone to speak on their behalf, like a lawyer in court. It is *Christ. Paul uses an early form of *creed. He says that *Christ died. *Christ rose again to life. *Christ is now by God’s ‘right hand’. God’s ‘right hand’ means the place of greatest honour and authority. There *Christ is speaking on behalf of his people. So Christians have the *Holy Spirit to speak for them on earth (Romans 8:26). They also have *Christ to speak for them in heaven. He speaks to God the Father. ‘If anybody *sins, we have someone who speaks for us to the Father. Jesus *Christ, who is *righteous, speaks for us’ (1 John 2:1).

Verse 35 Paul says, ‘Nothing can separate us from *Christ’s love.’ He gives a list of 7 possible troubles. People might think that such troubles could end our *relationship with *Christ. But Paul is sure that they cannot do so. In fact, Paul had known many of these troubles himself (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). The word ‘war’ is a translation of the word ‘sword’. Paul may mean something else. People may kill Christians because of their *faith. But even this will not separate them from God’s love.

Verse 36 Paul reminds his readers that God’s people suffered in the past. He uses words from Psalms 44:22. These words describe how the people in *Israel were suffering. They were suffering because they were loyal to God. They appealed to God to help them. Like them, we may suffer terrible troubles in this world. But like them, we shall overcome because God loves us. Nothing can separate us from *Christ’s love.

v37 But in all these troubles, we shall overcome. We shall do so by means of God who loved us. v38 I am completely sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life can separate us from God’s love. Neither *angels nor rulers can do so. Neither the present age nor the age to come can do so. No powers can do so. v39 Neither height nor depth can separate us from God’s love. Nothing whatever can do so. God has shown us his love by means of *Christ Jesus our *Lord.

Verse 37 Even while we are suffering, we shall not be without hope. And that hope will not disappoint us. God is on our side. Nobody can successfully oppose us (verse 31). And so we shall overcome. We shall win a great *victory. We shall win by the power of God who loved us.

Verses 38-39 Paul thinks about everything that might try to separate us from God’s love. But nothing will be able to do that. While we are alive, *Christ is with us. If we die, we will be nearer to *Christ in heaven. So neither death nor life can separate us from God’s love.

Then Paul thinks about spirits. And he thinks about powerful rulers. Their power and authority is immense. But even they are unable to separate us from God’s love.

Then Paul tries to describe things that we can hardly imagine. He refers to the entire period of history. He refers to the future age and the new world that God will create. Then Paul thinks about vast measurements of height and depth that seem to have no end. Perhaps he is thinking about the distance between heaven and hell. Perhaps he is thinking about the battle between the *spiritual forces that rule heaven and hell.

It is difficult for us even to think about such things. But Paul is confident that God’s love is more powerful than anything else. There is nothing anywhere in time or space that can separate God’s children from their Father. God loves us and he has shown us that love by means of Jesus *Christ. When Jesus died for us, God showed us his love (John 3:16). He did this because he wanted to adopt us as his sons and daughters. He did not want *sin to control us. He wanted to forgive us. He wanted to make us *righteous. He is our Father God, who really loves his children.

And Jesus *Christ is our *Lord because we want to obey him. Jesus is God. So Jesus loves us as much as God the Father does.

Chapter s 9-11 God’s plan for *Jews and *Gentiles

In these Chapter s, Paul explains God’s future plans for the *Jews (in other words, the *Israelites). God had prepared the *Jews during their history, but most *Jews had refused to accept their *Messiah. Because Paul was a *Jew too, he felt great pain in his spirit. His own people had not accepted their *Saviour. Paul was an *apostle to the *Gentiles. So he explains how God’s plan for the *Jews agreed with his plan for the *Gentiles too.

Chapter 12 can follow Chapter s 1-8 easily. So Chapter s 9-11 may seem like an interruption. But they should not interrupt Paul’s thought. Paul had explained the *gospel in Chapter s 1-8. Now he discusses why his own people, the *Jews, did not accept the *salvation of the *gospel. Also, Paul may have wanted to explain the situation in Rome. There were now many *Gentile Christians in Rome. *Jewish and *Gentile Christians may have had wrong ideas about each other’s importance to God. Paul needed to write about this.

Roman ~ a person from the city called Rome, or a description of anything that has a relationship with Rome. Rome was the most important city in the world at the time when Paul wrote this letter. It was the capital city where the Emperor lived.
Emperor ~ ruler over many countries.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
sinful ~ sinful people do things against God or other people; they do not obey God's commands; they do not do what God wants them to do; sinful actions are actions that are against God’s commands.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.'written law ~ God’s law, which Moses wrote down for the Israelites.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
sacrifice ~ something which people offer to God, especially an animal that they killed as a gift to God. Jesus’ death was the perfect sacrifice because, by his death, he freed people from sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
judge ~ to act as a judge; to accuse other people; to pretend to be a judge.
righteous ~ good, holy.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
grace ~ God’s love that people do not deserve.
holy ~ something or someone that is special for God.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
relationship ~ a friendship; or way in which people know each other.
spiritual ~ a description of something that belongs to the spirit.
cross ~ two pieces of wood that people have fixed together in the shape of a cross. Soldiers would attach a criminal to a cross in order to kill that person.
peace ~ a calm and content attitude.
eternal ~ without end. When we use the word ‘eternal’ to describe God’s qualities, we mean ‘without beginning or end’.
glory ~ great beauty and honour. Only God (or Christ) has perfect glory.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.

'Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
disciples ~ students; people who follow another person to learn from him.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
glory ~ great beauty and honour. Only God (or Christ) has perfect glory.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.

'Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.
prophet ~ a person who told the people what God wanted.
save ~ to rescue from the power of sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
glorious ~ a description of something that has great glory.
glory ~ great beauty and honour. Only God (or Christ) has perfect glory.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.

'Old Testament ~ the first part of the Bible. The authors of the books in the Old Testament wrote their books centuries before Christ’s birth.
Christ ~ the Greek word for Messiah, that is, Jesus.
Greek ~ the language in which the authors wrote the New Testament; or a word that describes anything that came from the country called Greece; or the people who came from Greece; or anyone who followed the same culture as people from Greece.
Messiah ~ the Jews’ word for the king who would come to rescue them; the Christ (that is, Jesus).

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, about Jesus and the early church.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Israel ~ another name for Jacob, who was an ancestor of the Israelites. Israel became a name for the country where the Israelites lived. And Israel is also a name for all the Israelites.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
creation ~ the world that God made; or, God’s work when he made everything.
resurrection ~ when a dead person becomes alive again.
faith ~ trust in someone or something; the things that Christians believe about Jesus.
creed ~ a statement of belief.
angel ~ a servant from God who brings his messages.
Lord ~ God; the word that we may use for Jesus when we obey him; someone who rules or who is a master.
victory ~ success against an enemy.
Gentile ~ someone hwo is not a Jew, or, a description of anything that has a relationship to people who are not Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Israelite ~ the people that are Jews.

Jew, Jewish ~ a person whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people or members of the family or nation in the past.
Saviour ~ Jesus, who rescues people from sin.
sin ~ evil deeds against God’s law; or to do such deeds.
apostle ~ someone who goes out to preach about Jesus; one of the 12 men whom Jesus sent out.
preach ~ to tell and to explain the good news about Jesus.
gospel ~ good news.
salvation ~ rescue from evil things; when God forgives us our evil deeds.