Do you struggle with prayer? Maybe you don't pray often, or maybe you have trouble focusing, or maybe you feel like you don't know enough of the situation to pray well. In any of these circumstances, we have a Helper! And He doesn't just help us pray. He will faithfully bring us to faith and then to glorification! We were given the Son as a sacrifice for our sins, and we were given the Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance. The Father has already given us the greatest gift! =)
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:13-14
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:26-32
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Sugar Rush
I LOVE SUGAR!!! Obviously not the way I love my family or my friends,
but I take GREAT DELIGHT in consuming it! When I was younger my motto
with regard to sugar was "The more, the Better!" Now you may be
wondering what this has to do with Romans, since I've been blogging about it all week... =)
As my dear sister and I were discussing this last week, she commented about the part "we hope for what we do not see". We talked about how we BELIEVE what God has said about the goodness that will be in His kingdom when Christ returns, but we really have no concept of what that will be like. We talked about how our understanding of what eternity will be has changed. And I said, I cannot imagine what it will be like to eat sugar and enjoy sugar, but not WORSHIP sugar. I will eat and enjoy sugar and all the time be worshiping the MAKER of the sugar and not the sugar itself! What will that even be like?!? I don't know... but I can't wait to find out! =)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
As my dear sister and I were discussing this last week, she commented about the part "we hope for what we do not see". We talked about how we BELIEVE what God has said about the goodness that will be in His kingdom when Christ returns, but we really have no concept of what that will be like. We talked about how our understanding of what eternity will be has changed. And I said, I cannot imagine what it will be like to eat sugar and enjoy sugar, but not WORSHIP sugar. I will eat and enjoy sugar and all the time be worshiping the MAKER of the sugar and not the sugar itself! What will that even be like?!? I don't know... but I can't wait to find out! =)
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 4
Do you long for the return of the King? Jesus came somewhere around 2000 years ago. And when He ascended into heaven before the eyes of his disciples He promised that He would come back. A dear sister and I were talking recently about longing for the return of our King. We both laughed about how, when we were younger, we hoped that Christ would wait to return until we had gotten married and had children and...
And how silly that seems to us now. How our view of eternity in God's presence was severely lacking. When I was young, I saw all that this life has to offer. But the older I get (don't laugh-- I know I'm not "old" to some of my readers) the more I see the effects of sin on everything! And I LONG for the day when Christ will return and fix His world and FINALLY free His people from our sin to worship and enjoy Him FOREVER!!!
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
And how silly that seems to us now. How our view of eternity in God's presence was severely lacking. When I was young, I saw all that this life has to offer. But the older I get (don't laugh-- I know I'm not "old" to some of my readers) the more I see the effects of sin on everything! And I LONG for the day when Christ will return and fix His world and FINALLY free His people from our sin to worship and enjoy Him FOREVER!!!
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:18-25
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 3
Slaves vs. Sons
In chapter 6 we are told that we "were once slaves of sin" but are now "slaves of righteousness". The concept is a harsh and abusive master as compared to a benevolent master. Slaves obey from a fear of the consequences they will suffer for disobedience. Fear is the driving force. If they ever get the opportunity to leave the master, they will.
In chapter 8, the picture Paul uses is no longer slaves, but sons. Sons obey out of love. Sons delight to bring pleasure to their fathers. Through the work of Christ, we have the privilege of adoption into God's family. We are not simply slaves in His house, we are SONS! And because we are sons, our obedience should be driven by love and a desire to bring pleasure to our Father!
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:12-17
In chapter 6 we are told that we "were once slaves of sin" but are now "slaves of righteousness". The concept is a harsh and abusive master as compared to a benevolent master. Slaves obey from a fear of the consequences they will suffer for disobedience. Fear is the driving force. If they ever get the opportunity to leave the master, they will.
In chapter 8, the picture Paul uses is no longer slaves, but sons. Sons obey out of love. Sons delight to bring pleasure to their fathers. Through the work of Christ, we have the privilege of adoption into God's family. We are not simply slaves in His house, we are SONS! And because we are sons, our obedience should be driven by love and a desire to bring pleasure to our Father!
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:12-17
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 2
Taken by itself, this is probably the lowest point in chapter 8, because we know from the previous chapters that there is nothing "good" in anyone. After all, "No one is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." (Rom 3:10-11) So here Paul lays out what looks to me like a vicious cycle, "set your mind on the things of the flesh --> live according to the flesh" and whatever you are living you are thinking about. And so on and on it goes...
--> mind set on flesh --
| |
| |
-- live according to <--
flesh
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But Paul very quickly shifts to the language of grace with a "however", and shows us an alternate cycle. Because of the Spirit of God who dwells in believers, who has sealed us until we are fully delivered from our sin, we are able to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. We are able to pursue things that please God in a way that pleases Him! And that leads to LIFE and PEACE!!! =)
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10
--> mind set on flesh --
| |
| |
-- live according to <--
flesh
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But Paul very quickly shifts to the language of grace with a "however", and shows us an alternate cycle. Because of the Spirit of God who dwells in believers, who has sealed us until we are fully delivered from our sin, we are able to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. We are able to pursue things that please God in a way that pleases Him! And that leads to LIFE and PEACE!!! =)
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10
Monday, March 25, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 1
I have been meeting with one of my sisters from church for Bible study for a few months now-- with a break in the middle because of sickness... =(
When we started we decided to work our way through Romans. So we read a chapter a week, and then we meet and talk about our observations from that chapter. We chose Romans after reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer. He says that we should read all of Scripture through the lens of Romans. He also says in the book that you really need the book in its entirety to appreciate its parts. For the last couple of weeks, I have really felt the truth of that statement. Like I mentioned, we've been meeting for a few months (probably about 15 weeks) and we are only in chapter 8. I believe we were in chapters 4-5 for five weeks during the sickness break. Then we missed another week so we were in chapter 6 or 7 for two weeks. Let me tell you, after reading chapters 6 and 7 for three weeks, I felt like I was being crushed with the weightiness of God's standard and my sin!
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:29-31
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:18-25
But we finally made it to chapter 8 and it was like having held your breath and finally being able to breathe again!!!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
There is way too much goodness in chapter 8 to fit it all into one post-- well, the length of my posts anyway! ;)
So, more to come...
When we started we decided to work our way through Romans. So we read a chapter a week, and then we meet and talk about our observations from that chapter. We chose Romans after reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer. He says that we should read all of Scripture through the lens of Romans. He also says in the book that you really need the book in its entirety to appreciate its parts. For the last couple of weeks, I have really felt the truth of that statement. Like I mentioned, we've been meeting for a few months (probably about 15 weeks) and we are only in chapter 8. I believe we were in chapters 4-5 for five weeks during the sickness break. Then we missed another week so we were in chapter 6 or 7 for two weeks. Let me tell you, after reading chapters 6 and 7 for three weeks, I felt like I was being crushed with the weightiness of God's standard and my sin!
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:29-31
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:18-25
But we finally made it to chapter 8 and it was like having held your breath and finally being able to breathe again!!!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
There is way too much goodness in chapter 8 to fit it all into one post-- well, the length of my posts anyway! ;)
So, more to come...
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Loss
You don't have to live very long to experience loss in this world. From a favorite toy or a beloved pet as a child, to the death of loved ones as an adult. And death doesn't wait to touch us until we are adults. My Pawpaw passed away just before I turned twenty, but my children lost their Granddad before they were ten. The title of my devotional reading today was "Divestiture". I am often self-absorbed. If something doesn't impact me directly and explicitly, I don't tend to notice. I love this devotional book because it is so centered on Christ. Here are a couple of paragraphs that jolted me out of my self-absorption... at least for a minute.
"Even though we're all familiar with loss, and some losses are agonizingly grievous, we've never experienced the loss that was known in heaven when the Father sent his Son to earth (1 John 4:14). Even though we are quite familiar with separation in relationship, we can't imagine what it cost the Trinity to redeem us. Think about the Trinity: here was a relationship that was completely perfect in every way. There was an abundance of love and joy flowing in eternal reciprocity between the three members of the Godhead. Never was there a shadow of doubt about commitment, affection, honor. Complete faithfulness, complete agreement, complete self-sacrificing delight, and complete transparency forever and ever. As I said, we can't imagine what our sin cost him. We can't imagine the depth of a love that would sacrifice such joy for the good of another...
Astonishing as it was, the incarnation wasn't the most astonishing divestiture. Christ's return to the glories of heaven and enjoyment of the unhindered sight of his Father's glory was going to be delayed by another loss. On the cross, the Father would forsake the Son and pour out all his wrath upon him. We cannot imagine the horror and stripping felt by the God-man Jesus Christ when his Father poured out full wrath on him and forsook him. All he could cry was, "Why?" We cannot imagine the loss of the Father, who was "pleased" to crush the beloved one who brought him such pleasure. We've never known separation and loss like that. Thank God that we never will." ~~Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-14
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1-12
"Even though we're all familiar with loss, and some losses are agonizingly grievous, we've never experienced the loss that was known in heaven when the Father sent his Son to earth (1 John 4:14). Even though we are quite familiar with separation in relationship, we can't imagine what it cost the Trinity to redeem us. Think about the Trinity: here was a relationship that was completely perfect in every way. There was an abundance of love and joy flowing in eternal reciprocity between the three members of the Godhead. Never was there a shadow of doubt about commitment, affection, honor. Complete faithfulness, complete agreement, complete self-sacrificing delight, and complete transparency forever and ever. As I said, we can't imagine what our sin cost him. We can't imagine the depth of a love that would sacrifice such joy for the good of another...
Astonishing as it was, the incarnation wasn't the most astonishing divestiture. Christ's return to the glories of heaven and enjoyment of the unhindered sight of his Father's glory was going to be delayed by another loss. On the cross, the Father would forsake the Son and pour out all his wrath upon him. We cannot imagine the horror and stripping felt by the God-man Jesus Christ when his Father poured out full wrath on him and forsook him. All he could cry was, "Why?" We cannot imagine the loss of the Father, who was "pleased" to crush the beloved one who brought him such pleasure. We've never known separation and loss like that. Thank God that we never will." ~~Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-14
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1-12
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