Reading for November 8th

 Read Amos 2.9-16. In verses 9-12: A brief historical summary stresses Israel's stubbornness by contrasting it with God's acts of salvation on Israel's behalf. In verses 13-16: The judgement imposed for Israel's crimes will bring an end to Israel's strongest defenses: its fastest runners, its strongest warriors, its most skilled archers, and its best horsemen. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 7th

 Read Amos 2.6--8. In 2.6-16: Judgment on Israel. This judgment speech concludes the series of speeches directed against Israel's neighbors. By starting with judgments against Israel's neighbors, Amos may have intended to lure his Israelite audience into agreement with him, only to shock them with a concluding speech listing their own sins, even more numerous than those of their neighbors. In verses 6-8: Amos' indictment begins with Israel's mistreatment of its poor ( vv. 6b-7a ), in particular the sale of humans into slavery when they were unable to pay their debts (8.6). garments taken in pledge (Ex 22.26-27; Deut 24.12-13) and fines refer to objects and money taken unfairly from the poor by the rich. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 6th

 Read Amos 1.9-2.5. In verses 9-10: Tyre is a Phoenican city on the Mediterranean coast northwest of Israel. In verse 11-12: Edom is Israel's neighbor to the southeast and Teman and Bozrah are two of its major cities. Edom's brother may refer to either Israel or Judah (Ob 8-12). In verses 13-15: The Amonites, Israel's neighbors to the east, are accused, as is Damascus (1.3), of crimes against the Israelites in Gilead. In 2.1-3: Moab, located southeast of Israel, is accused of crimes against its southern neighbor Edom. In verse 4-5: Judah, like Israel to follow (2.6-16), is criticized not for crimes against its neighbors, but for crimes within its own society against God's law. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 5th

 Read Amos 1.3-8. I 1.3-2.5: Judgments on Israel's neighbors. In typical two-part judgment speeches containing indictments and sentences, Amos announces divine judgment on seven of Israel's closest neighbors. The indictments in each case involve acts of brutality against neighboring people. The repetition of the tree transgressions ... and for four in each indictments a poetic convention meaning simply "several." The image of fire in each sentence predicts the violent destruction of the cities indicted. The phrase says the Lord, which begins and  ends these speeches, identifies them as divine oracles and the prophet as a divine spokesperson. In verses 3-5: Damascus is the capital of the kingdom of Aram northeast of Israel, and Hazael and Ben-haddad are two of its kings. Gilead refers to Israelite territories east of the Jordan. The location of Kir, which Amos regarded as the original home of the Arameans (9.7), is uncertain. In verses 6-8: Gaza, Ashdod, Ash-kelon, and Ekron are major Philistine cities southwest of Israel on the Mediterranean coast. Edom, to which both Gaza and Tyre (1.9-10) deported people, is Israel's neighbor southeast of the Dead Sea. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 4th

 Read Amos 1.1-2. In 1,1-2: Introduction. Prophetic books customarily begin with data about their authors. In verse 1: Amos preached during the reigns King Uzziah of Judah (783-742 BCE) and King Jeroboam of Israel (786-746 BCE), and he owned sheep and orchards (7.14). Though from Tekoa, a town in Judah, Amos preached primarily to Judah's northern neighbor, Israel (2.6). In verse 2: Jerusalem and Zion are both names of the capital city of Judah. Carmel is a mountain range near the Mediterranean coast in Israel. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 3rd

 Read Joel 3.1-21. In 3.1-21: Judgment on the nations and the restoration of Jerusalem. In the Hebrew Bible, these verses are 4.1-21. This poem does not mention the locusts, but takes as it backdrop the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE and the exile of its people (vv. 2, 5). It follows the traditional structure of hymns, such as Ex 15.1-18 and Zech 14.1-21, which celebrate the victory of God the warrior over Israel's enemies. The threat to divine rule (vv.1-8) brings God into battle (vv. 9-14) that shakes the cosmos (vv. 15-16). Victorious, God is enthroned on his holy mountain (v. 17), making the world fertile (v. 18) and saving his people (vv.19-21). In verse 2: Jehoshaphat is symbolic-- rather than actual, geographical-- place, meaning "the Lord has judged." In verse 4: Tyre and Sidon, cities on the Mediterranean coast north of Judah, and Philista to the south are accused of participating in Judah's destruction and deporting its people. In verse 8: The Sabeans may be inhabitants of southern Arabia. In verse 10: This verse reverses the image of peace in Isa 2.4 and Mic 4.3. In verse 19: Egypt sometimes ally and sometimes enemy, and Edom, elsewhere accused of participating in Jerusalem's destruction (Ob 8-14), are both counted here among the nations judged when Jerusalem is restored. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 2nd

 Read Joel 2.28-32. In 2.28-32 The outpouring of God's spirit. In the Hebrew Bible, these verses constitute a new chapter. 3.1-5. In verses 28-29: In the future, the prophetic gift will be spread among all people. In verses 30-32: The day of the Lord is pictured with traditional images of darkness as a day of judgment on Jerusalem, which only a few will survive. Whether these few are those who survived the locusts (which are not mentioned here) or the survivors of the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE is not stated. Comments or Questions..

Reading for November 1st

 Read Joel 2.18-27. In 2.18-27: God's renewal of the land. Joel anticipates new harvests to replace those the locusts have destroyed. Each crop ruined in 1.1-2.17 is to be restored. In verse 20: The northern army in Hebrew is simply "the northerner," used for the locust here because it is a traditional designation of the enemy, since enemies invaded from the north, or because the locusts themselves came from the north, as did the first swarms in the 1915 plague in Jerusalem. the eastern sea in the Dead Sea and the western sea is the Mediterranean Sea. Comments or  Questions..

Reading for October 31st

 Read Joel 2.1-17. In 2.1-17: The call to repentance. In verses 1-3: Turning again to the priests whom he had just addressed (1.13-18), Joel direct them to blow the trumpet in Zion (a synonym for Jerusalem), assembling all the people to ask for God's forgiveness. (15-17). In verse 2: darkness and clouds are traditional images associated with the day of the Lord, but they may also refer here to the dense swarms of locusts that can obscure the sun. In verses 4-11: Joel develops in detail his comparison of the locust swarms within invading army. In verses 13: Rend your hearts and not your clothing: while not abandoning ritual--he directs the priests to lead the people in a liturgy of repentance--Joel sees genuine religion as a matter of inner renewal, as is common among the prophets. Like other prophets, Joel regards disasters like this as acts of divine judgement the at require repentance, but unlike them, he does not describe the particular sins that he believes have brought on this punishment. Gracious and merciful ... This is an adaptation of a traditional description of God (Ex 34.6-7; Jon 4.2). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 30th

 Read Joel.1.5-20. In 1.5-20: The call to mourning. Joel summons three groups into mourning: consumers of wine (vv. 5-10), farmers (vv. 11-12), and priests (vv. 13-18). then he cries out to God himself (vv. 19-20). In verse 6: A nation has invaded my land begins an extended metaphor, by which Joel compares the incoming locust swarms to an invading army (compare 2.2, 4-11, 25). In verse 7: Their branches have turned white: In this and other vivid details of decimated vegetation, Joel's description matches that of eyewitnesses of Jerusalem's last great locust plague in 1915. In verse 15: The day of the Lord is a prophetic theme that reappears throughout Joel (2.1, 11, 31; 3.14). In verse 19: Joel uses the metaphor of fire together with the metaphor of an army for the devouring locust (compare 2.3). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 29th

 Read Joel 1.1-4. In 1.1-4: The locust plague. Joel introduces the locust plague as one unparalleled in the living memory of the people (compare 2.2). In verse 4: The four terms for locust here and in 2.25 may refer to stages in the growth of the locust. The meanings of the Hebrew terms are unclear and translations, cutting locust, etc., are only suggestions. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 28th

 Read Romans 16.17-27. In verses 17-20: Warnings against troublemakers. In verse 18: Their own appetites, literally "their belly," are their own desires (Phil 3.19). Smooth talk and flattery: False teachers often have a way with words (Eph 5.6; Col 2.4). In verse 19: Paul's advice echoes Jesus' teaching (Mt 10.16). In verse 20: Paul expects God's final triumph soon (1 Cor 15.24). In verses 21-23: Paul's co-workers send greetings. In verse 21: Timothy was Paul's long-time co-worker (Acts16.1; 1 Cor 16.10-11). In verse 22: Tertius was Paul's secretary. In verse 23: Most likely, this is the Gaius of Corinth whom Paul baptized (1 Cor1.14). In verses 25-27: Benediction. How the letter originally ended is unclear. In verses 25-26: The mystery ... kept secret for long ages is God's vision of a universal community composed of both Jews and gentiles who live in obedient faith (Eph 3.1-6). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 27th

 Read Romans 16.1-16. In 16.1-23: Concluding personal greetings and exhortations.  In verse 1-2: Phoebe commended. In verse 1: Deacon (Gk., "diakonos"), or minister, is the same term used of Christ (15.8) and Paul 1 Cor 3.5). Cenchrease was a suburb of Corinth (Acts 18.18). In verses 13-16: Paul sends his greetings. In verses 3-5: Priscilla and Aqulia: Acts 18.2-3; 1 Cor 16.19. In verse 5: Asia: western Asia Minor. In verse 7; The feminine form of Junia is preferred over the masculine form Junias. She is the only woman among the apostles in the New Testament . My relatives probably means fellow Jews. In verses 8-16: All the names listed are mentioned only here in the New testament. Another Rufus is mentioned in Mk15.21. The number of people Paul knows by name in the Roman church is remarkable. In verse 16: The holy kiss possibly originated in early Christian circles (1 Cor 16.20; 2 Cor 13.12). The churches of Christ in Achaia, where Paul was writing, are ment. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 26th

 Read Romans 15.14-33. In 15.14-33: Paul's plans and anxieties. In verse 14-29: Paul reflects on his own ministry. In verse 14: Paul reaffirms his confidence in the Roman church (1.8; 1 Cor 1.5). In verses 15-16: Grace given me refers to Paul's call to be an apostle to the gentiles (1 Cor 15.10-11). Referring to his ministry as priestly service is unusual. In verse 19: Signs and wonders accompanied Paul's ministry (2 Cor 12.12). Illyricum was a Roman province across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. In verse 21: Isa 52.15. In verse 22: What hindered Paul is not known (1.13). In verse 23: These regions were probably the areas bordering the Aegean Sea. In verse 24: Hospitality would also include financial provision for his mission to Spain (see v. 28; 1 Cor 16.6). In verse 25-26: Ministry to the saints refers to the financial collection Paul had gathered for poor Christians in Jerusalem (1 Cor 16.1-4; 2 Cor 8-9). In verse 27: Paul applies the principle of reciprocity stated in Gal 6.6. In verse 30-33: Paul's anxiety about the collection. In verse 31: Unbelievers in Judea are probably non-Christian Jews (1 Thess 2.15). Acts 21.17-26 relates Paul's arrival in Jerusalem and the controversy it causes among Jews, but omits the collection. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 25th

Read Romans 15.1-13. In 15.1-6: Helping the weak. In verses 1-2:  The previous discussion is summarized well here. In verse 3: Ps 69.9. In verse 4: Whatever was written in former days refers to the previously quoted psalm, but applies to the Older Testament scripture especially (1 Cor 10.11) In verse 5: The concluding prayer for harmony echoes earlier advice (12.16; Phil 2.2). In verses 7-13: Concluding appeal. In verses7-8: Christ's example influences Christian behavior (3.26; 2 Cor 8.9). In verse 8: Servant of the circumcised indicates Christ's service to Jews (Gal 4.4-5), whose patriarchs received the promises that gentiles would receive God's blessings (4.13; 9.4). The following Old Testament quotations include gentiles in God's purpose. In verse 9: Ps 18.49; 2 Sam 22.50. In verse 10: Deut 12.43 (Hebrew text). In verse 11: Ps 117.1. In verse 12 Isa 11.10. In verse 13: Paul prays for the vision of 14.17 to be realized. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 24th

 Read Romans 14.10-23. In 14.10-23: Learning not to judge each other. In verse 10: To judge others is to assume God's unique role (2 Cor 5.10). In verse 11: Isa 49.18; Jer 22.24; Ezek 5.11 Isa 45.21. In verse 13: This conclusion follows from vv. 11-12; see Mt 18.6-7. In verse 14: In the Lord Jesus may mean fidelity to Jesus' teaching (Mt 15.11; Acts 10.15). In verse 15: Paul echoes the advice he gives in 1 Cor 8.11-15. In verse 17b: These characterize life in the Spirit (Ch. 8). In verse 19: Peace and mutual upbuilding 1 Cor 14.12, 26. In verses 20-22: Paul consistently advises placing limits on personal liberty for the sake of others (1 Cor 8.9-13). In verses 22-23: Acting from faith requires clear convictions, from from lingering doubts and feelings of self-condemnation. A right act wrongly felt is wrong. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 23rd

 Read Romans 14.1-9. In 14.1-15.13: Dealing with differences. Here Paul offers instructions about what is required when people from different backgrounds with strongly held opinions try to live together as a community of faith (1 Cor 8-10). In verses 1-6: What to eat and what holidays to observe. In verses 1-2: The weak, those with stricter views about what to eat, may be Jews or gentiles. In verse 2: Those willing to eat anything reflect Paul's more open view about food laws (14.14; 1 Cor 8.8). In verse 3: God's acceptance of weak and strong requires mutual respect from both. In verse 4; Their own Lord may be the principle they hold dear, or they wat they understand what God requires. In verses 5-6: The day may be the sabbath or other Jewish holidays gentiles did not observe God (Gal 4.10; Col 2.16). For gentiles who did not observe the sabbath, all days were alike. Every day was a workday. In verse 6; Devotion to god can produce opposite religious practices. In verses 7-9: Living for the Lord not for ourselves. Being the Lord's makes living in isolation impossible. Christ's death and resurrection is a shared realty linking all Christians together, both dead and living (1 Cor12.27). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 22nd

 Read Romans 13.1-14. In verses 1-7: Duties to governing authorities. Paul's positive view of civil authorities is paralleled in 1 pet 2.13-17. In verses 1-4: In Jewish teaching, rulers ultimately derive their authority from God (Wisdom 6.1-3). In verse 6-7: Taxes: Mt 22.15-22. In verses 8-10: Love's obligation. In verse 8: Following the Decalogue's commands expresses love (Gal 5.14). In verse 9: Deut 5.17-21; Ex 20.13-17. In 9b: Lev19.18; Mt 22.34-40. In verse 11-14: being alert. Such advice is usually given when the Lord's coming is expected soon. In verse 11: Time: 1 Cor 7.29; 1 Thess 5.6. In verse 12: In apocalyptic thought, darkness and light define types of behavior (1 Thess 5.1-5; Eph 5.8-11. In verse 13-14: Preparations for the end requires moral living. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 21st

 Read Romans 12.9-21. In verses 9-13: Building community. These pieces of moral advice sketch a profile of sincere behavior tempered by genuine concern of others , both saints and strangers (1 Thess 4.9-12). In verse 9: Am 5.15. In verse 12: Hope and suffering (5.1-5. In verse 13: Heb 13.2; 1 Peter 4.9. In verses 14-21: Controlling impulses. This advice echoes Jewish morality and Jesus' teaching. In verse 14: Mt 5.44. In verse 15: Sir 7.34. In verse 16: Living in harmony is threatened by haughty attitudes; it ultimately occurs as a gift from God (15.5). In verse 19: Deut 32.15. In verse 20: Prov 25.21-22. Mt 5.39-41. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 20th

 Read Romans 12.1-8. In 12.1-15.13: Moral exhortations: living by faith. In 12-2: Renewed Minds. In verse 1: Living Sacrifice recalls Christ's example (3.25; 8.3). In verse 2; A changed outlook makes for a clear moral vision (Col 3.3-4). In verses 3-8: Viewing ourselves properly. In verse 3: This caution against pride recalls earlier warnings (2.17; 3.27; 1 Cor 4.6). In verses 4-7: Now Paul suggests a remedy. an inflated self-image is offset by recognizing mutual need of each other's gifts (1 Cor 12.4-11). Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 19th

 Read Romans 11.25-36. In 11.25-36: How Israel shall be saved. In verse 25: Part of Israel implies the obedience of some Jews (11.5). In verse 26: The gentiles acceptance will prompt the full response of Israel. In verses 26-27: Isa 59.20-21; 27.9; Jer 31.31-34. In verse 28: Enemies: By refusing to submit to God's righteousness, Israel is at cross purposes with God (10.3-4). Beloved recalls the language of Hosea (9.25). In verse 30: Just as gentiles benefited from Israel's bad fortune, now Israel should benefit from the gentiles good fortune. In verse 32: 3.9. In verses 33-36: Concluding prayer; God's wisdom. The mystery of God's workings (11.25) prompts this exuberant prayer acknowledging the depth of God's wisdom (1 Cor 2.7). In verse 34: Isa 40.13. In verse 35: See Job 41.11, Hebrew text. In verse 36: 1 Cor 8.6; Col 1.16. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 18th

 Read Romans 11.13-24. In 11.32-32:Paul speaks to gentiles. The previous discussion has been on ongoing with Israel about Israel. In verses 13-16:Effect of Paul's ministry on Israel. In verse 13: Apostle to the Gentiles: Paul so defines himself (1.5; Gal 2.8). In verse 15: Israel's rejection can become the occasion for universal reconciliation. Israel's acceptance would show God's creative power (4.17). In verse 16: Both images emphasize the solidarity between Israel and gentiles. In verses 17-24: Lessons from the olive tree. In verse 17: Gentiles are the wild olive shoot, Israel the root. In verse 18: Jews earlier, now gentiles, are forbidden to boast (2.17-21) In verse 20: Unbelief is refusal to acknowledge Jesus as messiah. In verse 21: Both Jews and gentiles can experience God's wrath (2.9-10). In verse 22: Kindness and severity represent God's two sides (9.22-24). In verse 23: Of Israel is an acceptable expansion since Israel's unbelief is clearly in view. In verse 24: Paul holds out hope for Israel. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 17th

 Read Romans 11.1-12. In verses 1-6: A remnant chosen by grace. In verse 1: The objection of 3.1 is stated more emphatically. Paul offers himself as an example of an obedient Israelite (2 Cor 11.22). In verse 2: 1 Sam 12.22. In verse 3: 1 Kings 19.10. In verse 14: God's righteousness as gift (5.15; 11.27). In verses 7-12: Israel's refusal enables gentiles' obedience. In verse 7: The elect are the faithful remnant of responsive Jewish Christians. Inverse 8: Deut 29.4; Isa 29.9-10. In verses 9-10: Ps 69.22-23. In verse 10: Back forever bent: The blind walk stooped. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 16th

 Read Romans 10.14- 21. In verses14-17: Hearing the gospel of Christ. In verses 14-15: Being summoned is ultimately traceable to proclamation. In verse 15: Isa 42.7; Nah 1.15. Proclaimers of God's good news are like messengers announcing battle victories. In verse 16: Isa 53.1. In verse 17: Abraham may be in view of word of God is read. In verses 18-21: Israel's refusal to hear. The law, prophets and writings attest Israel's disobedience. In verse 18:Ps 19.4. In verse 19; Deut 12.21. In verse 20: Isa 65.1. In verse 21: Isa 65.2. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 15th

 Read Romans 10.1-13. In verses 1-4: Paul's prayer for Israel. In verses 1-2: Paul speaks of Israel (9.31-33). In verse 3: Righteousness that comes from God: 1.16-17. In verse 4: The end of the law: Christ either abolishes the law or is its goal, probably the later (3.21-22). In verses 5-13: Righteousness through faith. In verse 5: Lev 18.5. The emphasis here is on living by doing. In verse 6a: Deut 9.4. In 6b Deut 30.12. In verse 7: Ps 107.26; see Deut 30.13. In verse 8: Deut 30.14. Faith does not try to locate Christ "out there," but rather expresses an inner conviction; believed with the heart and expressed with your lips. In verse 10: What the heart believes, the mouth confesses. In verse 11: Isa 28.16. In verse 12: No distinction: Jews and gentiles are justified the same way (3.30). In verse 13: Joel 2.32. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 14th

 Read Romans 9.27-33. In verses 27-29: A remnant will be saved. In verse 27: Isa 10.22. In verse 28: See Isa 28.22. Inverse 29: Isa 1.9. In verses 30-33: gentiles succeeded where Israel failed. Faith, the capacity to trust God not performance is the critical difference (4.5). In verse 33: Isa 28.16; Isa 8.14. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 13th

 Read Romans 9.14-26. In 9.14-26: God's freedom to choose. In verse 14: Paul anticipates criticism of his logic ((3.3-5). In verse 15: Ex 33.19. In verse 16: God does not require human will or exertion to show mercy. In verse 17: Ex 9.26. In verse 19: Paul's imaginary dialogue partner responds. In verses 20-21: The image of the potter and clay (drawn from Isa 29.16; 45.9) emphasizes God's sovereign power. In verses 22-23: God can show wrath or mercy. In verses 25-26: From both Jews and Gentiles, God can form a newly beloved people. In verse 25: Hos 2.25. In verse 26: Hos 1.10. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 12th

 Read Romans 9.1-13. In 9.1-36: God's purpose for Israel. In 9.1-5: Blessings belonging to Israel. In verse 5: here the NRSV retains the ambiguity of the Greek (see alternate translations). Ordinarily, Paul uses such language of God rather than Christ (1.25; 2 Cor 11.31). In verses 6-13: Abraham's true descendants. In verse 6-7: This earlier distinction (2.28-29) between physical and spiritual pedigree is now stated differently In verse 7: Gen 21.12. In verse 8: Children of the promise are gentiles and Jews who, like Abraham live by faith (4.16). In verse 9: Gen 18.10. In verse 12: Gen 25.23. Like Abraham, Rebeca lived by faith. In verse 13: Mal 1.2-3. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 11th

 Read Romans 8.26-39. In verses 26-27: The Spirit as intercessor. In verse 26: Our weakness is being unable to say what we  need. Intercedes: the Spirit pleads our case before God (Heb 7.25). In verse 27: Here God knows the Spirit as thoroughly as the human heart (Ps 139.1-6). praying "in the spirit" recognizes the Spirit's mediating role (Eph 6.18; Jude 20). In verses 28-30: Being part pf God's larger purpose. The alternate readings yield significant differences. The most believable of the three is: In all things God works for good.. In verses 29-30: The people of God rather than individuals are in view. In verses 31-39: More than conquerors. Central to this triumphant finale is what God did in Christ. (vv. 32, 34, 37, 39), aptly summarized in the final line: the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In verse 32: Christ as god's sacrifice is in view (8.3). Everything else includes protective care from suffering (v. 35) and cosmic threats, present and future. (vv. 37-39). In verse 33: God's elect are God's people (8.28-30). In verse 36: Ps 44.22. Comments of Questions..

Reading for October 10th

 Read Romans 8.12-25. In verses 12-17: Living as God's children. In verses 12-13: Living according to the flesh leads to various forms of self-gratification, deeds of the body. In verse 14: This is especially true of Christ (8.3; Lk 4.1-13). In verses 15-17: The ability to cry, "abba father!" derives from the spirit of adoption. The spirit's co-testimony does not result result from the prayer, as it does in the NRSV text. The prayer preserves the Aramaic language of Jesus (Mk 14.36; Gal 4.6). In verses 18-25: present sufferings and future glory.  In verse 18: Sufferings and glory develop 8.17. Believers share both experiences with Christ. In verse 19-25: The creation is the whole created order. In verse 20: Subjected to futility: The creation story is in view, especially Gen 3.17-19. In verse 22: The whole universe is viewed as a woman in labor, giving birth to new life (Gal 4.19). In verse 23: First fruits of the Spirit: in the Old Testament, what was harvested first were the "first fruits." and indication of more to come (Ex 23.16). similarly the Spirit is understood here as a foretaste of the future glory. In verse 24: 2 Cor 4.18. Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 9th

 Read Romans 8.1-11. In verses 1.8: Life in the Spirit. In verse 1: No condemnation: Those in Christ no longer feel doomed (Jn 5.24). In verse 2: God's life-giving Spirit unleashed in Christ becomes a liberating law, replacing the Mosaic law that sin uses to produce death ( 7.5, 11). In verses 3-4: By sending Christ as a sin offering, God met the requirement of the law (Lev 4-5). Recognizing what the law  ... could not do, however, God dealt with human sin (sin in the flesh) with a human sacrifice (in the likeness of sinful flesh) with a human sacrifice (in the likeness of sinful flesh). In verses 5-8: Flesh and the Spirit represent opposing outlooks, with different lifestyles and consequences: death versus life and peace (Gal 5.16-26). In verses 9-11: God, Christ, Spirit. Paul now uses the plural form of you (8.2). His main focus may be group rather than individual identity. In verse 9; Having the Spirit of Christ becomes the distinguishing mark of Cristian identity. In verse 10; If Christ is in you; Christ's pattern of "dying and rising" becomes part of us (Gal 2.19-20). Our body may be mortal because of Adam's sin, yet our spirit lives because of God's righteousness shown through Christ (5.18). In verse 11: God's spirit living within us links our experience of the risen Christ with our hope of resurrection life. Comments or Questions..