Follow the Pronouns

         Since this is Easter week, let's leave the egg hunting to the kids, and play a game called
     "Follow the Pronouns."

          A pronoun is a word that substitutes for a noun or a noun phrase.  For examples, the words
     "he," "she," "it," "him," and "her" are pronouns.  Some linguists do not consider the word "our,"
     a pronoun, while some do.  I'll go with the latter group to help make my point.

          When we read or study the Bible, we need to make sure we know to whom the message
     is intended.  Much of the Bible is intended for everyone ("Repent, then, and turn to God, so that
     your sins may be wiped out," Acts 3:19a, and "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is
     Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans
     10:9).

          However, a large portion of Scripture is meant for believers only.

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          Let's examine a familiar passage, Romans 5:1-11, and play our little game of "follow the
    pronouns," to see who the receipent of this message is.

          Any time the words "we," "us," and "our" are used in these verses, they refer to BELIEVERS,
     and not to everyone in the world.

          The book of Romans is Paul's letter to "all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be
     saints," - in other words, BELIEVERS.


          "Therefore, since WE have been justified through faith, WE have peace with God through
     OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through whom WE have gained access by faith into this grace in which
     WE now stand.  And WE rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but WE also
     rejoice in OUR sufferings, because WE know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance,
     character;  and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint US because God has poured out
     HIS love into OUR hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom HE has given US."

          "YOU see, at just the right time, when WE were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
     Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly
     dare to die.  But God demonstrates HIS own love for US in this:  while WE were still sinners,
     CHRIST DIED FOR US."

          "Since WE have now been justified by HIS blood, how much more shall WE be saved from
     God's wrath through HIM! For if, when WE were God's enemies, WE were reconciled to HIM
     through the death of HIS Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall WE be saved
     through HIS life!"

           "Not only is this so, but WE also rejoice in God through OUR Lord Jesus Christ, through
     whom WE have now received reconciliation."    Romans 5:1-11

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          BELIEVERS receive many blessings from God that unbelievers do not receive, but
     BELIEVERS also suffer (for God) in ways that unbelievers do not suffer.

          *BELIEVERS are justified (declared not guilty for our sins) through faith.
          *BELIEVERS have peace with God through Jesus.
          *BELIEVERS have gained access by faith into God's grace.
          *BELIEVERS rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, and in our sufferings.
          *GOD has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom we received as
     a gift.
         
          *At God the Father's appointed time, CHRIST DIED FOR US, even though we were
     still sinners.
          *BELIEVERS have been justified by Christ's blood and saved from the Father's wrath
     through him.
          *BELIEVERS have been reconciled to God through his Son's death, and saved through
     his life!  "Since we were reconciled (an end to hostility to God, or made right with God)  when
     we were enemies of God, we will be saved because Christ lives to keep us."  NIV commentary
          *BELIEVERS rejoice in God through Jesus Christ because he has reconciled us to the Father
     through his atonement for us.

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          So, we should remember when we read our Bible, we need to stop and figure out to whom
     the message is intended, and to whom it is not intended.

          May his people never forget any of God's blessings!