Labels are not important to God.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 2:25-29
God called Abraham to follow him. God promised Abraham that his descendants would be numerous and would be a blessing to the world. God gave Abraham the sign of circumcision. All of the male descendants of Abraham would be circumcised. This was the sign that they were part of the covenant community of God.
The danger for the Jews was to think that because they were part of the community of God’s people that they were ok with God. Paul’s point that he is making is that sin separates all people from God. The issue is not whether a person is circumcised or not, but whether they are sinners or not.
Paul will go on to tell us that we are all sinners and the only solution for all of us is the forgiveness of Christ.
The danger for us is to look to our church membership as evidence that we are ok with God. Or we may substitute our church activities for a relationship with God. The call is simple. Jesus said, “Follow me.”
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Friday Romans 2:17-24
Paul begins his case against the Jews in the Roman church.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 2:17-24
Paul has already shown that the Gentiles are guilty before God. Now, he turns to the Jewish people. He points out that they have been in a special relationship with God. Only the Jewish people had the special revelation of God. He gave the Law to the Jews. The prophets of God were amongst the Jews. He had set apart the Jewish people to be in a special relationship with him.
Because of this special relationship, there was a temptation to brag and feel that it was because of something special about them that set them apart. Yet they really were special. God did not set them apart because they were special. It was the setting apart by God that made them special. God called the Jewish people to be his covenant community to be a lighthouse of truth for the rest of the world. He called them to show the rest of the world how to live in relationship with him and to invite the rest of the world into that relationship. They were called to be a guide for the world and to instruct in the ways of God.
Yet, those who God had called to show others how to follow him were not really following him themselves. Their failure to follow God caused his name to be blasphemed in the Gentile world. Paul says, “As it is written …” He is referring to Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22. Israel’s fall and captivity was due to their disobedience to the Lord. Their woes brought dishonor upon the name of the Lord. God promised in Ezekiel to judge the pagan nations not for the sake of Israel but for his own honor.
To those who God has revealed himself, there is a responsibility to represent him to the rest of the world. We who know Christ have received special revelation from God. When we fail to follow Christ in the eyes of the world, we cause the Lord’s name to be blasphemed.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 2:17-24
Paul has already shown that the Gentiles are guilty before God. Now, he turns to the Jewish people. He points out that they have been in a special relationship with God. Only the Jewish people had the special revelation of God. He gave the Law to the Jews. The prophets of God were amongst the Jews. He had set apart the Jewish people to be in a special relationship with him.
Because of this special relationship, there was a temptation to brag and feel that it was because of something special about them that set them apart. Yet they really were special. God did not set them apart because they were special. It was the setting apart by God that made them special. God called the Jewish people to be his covenant community to be a lighthouse of truth for the rest of the world. He called them to show the rest of the world how to live in relationship with him and to invite the rest of the world into that relationship. They were called to be a guide for the world and to instruct in the ways of God.
Yet, those who God had called to show others how to follow him were not really following him themselves. Their failure to follow God caused his name to be blasphemed in the Gentile world. Paul says, “As it is written …” He is referring to Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:22. Israel’s fall and captivity was due to their disobedience to the Lord. Their woes brought dishonor upon the name of the Lord. God promised in Ezekiel to judge the pagan nations not for the sake of Israel but for his own honor.
To those who God has revealed himself, there is a responsibility to represent him to the rest of the world. We who know Christ have received special revelation from God. When we fail to follow Christ in the eyes of the world, we cause the Lord’s name to be blasphemed.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Thursday Romans 2:1-16
We all face the judgment of God.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 2:1-16
Paul has made the case in chapter 1 that the Gentiles are guilty before God. Even though they have not had the word of God from his prophets, they should know of God through his creation, so they have no excuse and stand guilty of sin.
He finished chapter 1 with the condemnation of those who know the wrongness of sin, but still sin and approve of those who also sin. He begins chapter 2 with the condemnation of those who judge the sin of others will sinning themselves.
Paul makes some statements in this section that sound confusing. It looks at first glance like he is making a case for salvation by works. We know from reading all of Romans that salvation by works is the furthest thing from Paul’s thinking. He is not talking about salvation here. He is talking about judgment. Everyone will be judged by God – Jews and Gentiles. He will judge on three fronts. He judges based on truth (verses 2-4). He judges based on works (verses 5-11). He judges based on light received (verses 12-16).
Truth. God’s judgment is based on truth because he is truth. He judges all people by his truth. He does play favorites. People look down on others and pass judgment based on their own corrupt prejudices. The Jews looked down on the Gentiles as beyond God’s love yet they were as guilty before God as the Gentiles were.
Works. Remember, he is talking about judgment, not salvation. Salvation is by faith not works. But everyone will be judged based on what they have done. God will not judge the works of Jews and Gentiles differently. Judgment will be according to his truth. Verse 7 sounds like a person could receive eternal life by doing good. If a person were perfect and had no sin in their life, then they would receive eternal life. But Paul will make clear later in Romans that there is no such person. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Light received. The Jews had received the Law of God from Moses. The Law is their standard for judgment. The Gentiles are judged by the law written on their hearts.
Paul is laying the groundwork of salvation by grace through faith. Everyone is a sinner in need of a savior. Everyone will be judged according to the righteousness of God which we all fall short of.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 2:1-16
Paul has made the case in chapter 1 that the Gentiles are guilty before God. Even though they have not had the word of God from his prophets, they should know of God through his creation, so they have no excuse and stand guilty of sin.
He finished chapter 1 with the condemnation of those who know the wrongness of sin, but still sin and approve of those who also sin. He begins chapter 2 with the condemnation of those who judge the sin of others will sinning themselves.
Paul makes some statements in this section that sound confusing. It looks at first glance like he is making a case for salvation by works. We know from reading all of Romans that salvation by works is the furthest thing from Paul’s thinking. He is not talking about salvation here. He is talking about judgment. Everyone will be judged by God – Jews and Gentiles. He will judge on three fronts. He judges based on truth (verses 2-4). He judges based on works (verses 5-11). He judges based on light received (verses 12-16).
Truth. God’s judgment is based on truth because he is truth. He judges all people by his truth. He does play favorites. People look down on others and pass judgment based on their own corrupt prejudices. The Jews looked down on the Gentiles as beyond God’s love yet they were as guilty before God as the Gentiles were.
Works. Remember, he is talking about judgment, not salvation. Salvation is by faith not works. But everyone will be judged based on what they have done. God will not judge the works of Jews and Gentiles differently. Judgment will be according to his truth. Verse 7 sounds like a person could receive eternal life by doing good. If a person were perfect and had no sin in their life, then they would receive eternal life. But Paul will make clear later in Romans that there is no such person. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Light received. The Jews had received the Law of God from Moses. The Law is their standard for judgment. The Gentiles are judged by the law written on their hearts.
Paul is laying the groundwork of salvation by grace through faith. Everyone is a sinner in need of a savior. Everyone will be judged according to the righteousness of God which we all fall short of.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday Romans 1:26-32
Paul describes the consequences of society turning away from God.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:26-32
Paul is showing how wicked people are due to their rejection of God. He uses the word “exchanged” three times.
Vs. 23: exchanged the glory of God for idols
Vs. 25: exchanged the truth of God for a lie
Vs. 26: exchanged natural relations for unnatural relations
Similarly, he talks about God turning them over three times.
Vs. 24: God gave them over to their sinful desires resulting in sexual immorality
Vs. 26: God gave them over to shameful lusts
Vs. 28: God gave them over to depraved minds
There are two kinds of revelation from God. General revelation is what Paul is talking about in this part of Romans. Certain truths about God are plain to see by everybody. God reveals himself through his creation. Paul says that because of this general revelation, everybody can see God, so nobody is without excuse. The other type of revelation is special revelation. God reveals himself specifically to certain people in a special way. When God spoke through his prophets, it was special revelation. The Bible is special revelation.
Similarly, there are two kinds of grace from God. We use the term common grace to refer to the grace of God that all people can receive. Many blessing from God are enjoyed by believers and unbelievers alike. This is common grace. One aspect of common grace is God’s restraint on people that prevents them from being as evil as they could be. One factor in common grace is the general understanding of good and evil by all people. Saving grace is the forgiveness of sins resulting in salvation. You are saved by grace not works.
So, let’s put this together. People have rejected the general revelation of God. Rather than turning toward him, they have turned away from him. His response is to withdraw some common grace by giving them over to their sins.
Paul doesn’t state this at this point in Romans, but if people had turned toward God as a result of general revelation, and sought special revelation, then they could have experienced saving grace.
Paul lists several sins as examples of how bad things have become. He gives the example of same-sex relations as a primary illustration of the corruption of thought and action. In verse 32, he points out the absurdity of their thinking. Even though they know these actions deserve death, they not only do it, but also approve of other doing it.
We must be careful because we are products of the culture. Even though we have been redeemed and given a new birth, we still carry some corruption. We are influenced by the society which has turned away from God. We can even be guilty of these same activities which are condemned by God. We are also tempted to dumb down sin and become too comfortable in the world. We are in the world but not of the world. We love those who are trapped in sin, but we do not have to approve of their sin.
Society will not be saved by governmental action. It can only be saved by a movement of God when people turn to him.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:26-32
Paul is showing how wicked people are due to their rejection of God. He uses the word “exchanged” three times.
Vs. 23: exchanged the glory of God for idols
Vs. 25: exchanged the truth of God for a lie
Vs. 26: exchanged natural relations for unnatural relations
Similarly, he talks about God turning them over three times.
Vs. 24: God gave them over to their sinful desires resulting in sexual immorality
Vs. 26: God gave them over to shameful lusts
Vs. 28: God gave them over to depraved minds
There are two kinds of revelation from God. General revelation is what Paul is talking about in this part of Romans. Certain truths about God are plain to see by everybody. God reveals himself through his creation. Paul says that because of this general revelation, everybody can see God, so nobody is without excuse. The other type of revelation is special revelation. God reveals himself specifically to certain people in a special way. When God spoke through his prophets, it was special revelation. The Bible is special revelation.
Similarly, there are two kinds of grace from God. We use the term common grace to refer to the grace of God that all people can receive. Many blessing from God are enjoyed by believers and unbelievers alike. This is common grace. One aspect of common grace is God’s restraint on people that prevents them from being as evil as they could be. One factor in common grace is the general understanding of good and evil by all people. Saving grace is the forgiveness of sins resulting in salvation. You are saved by grace not works.
So, let’s put this together. People have rejected the general revelation of God. Rather than turning toward him, they have turned away from him. His response is to withdraw some common grace by giving them over to their sins.
Paul doesn’t state this at this point in Romans, but if people had turned toward God as a result of general revelation, and sought special revelation, then they could have experienced saving grace.
Paul lists several sins as examples of how bad things have become. He gives the example of same-sex relations as a primary illustration of the corruption of thought and action. In verse 32, he points out the absurdity of their thinking. Even though they know these actions deserve death, they not only do it, but also approve of other doing it.
We must be careful because we are products of the culture. Even though we have been redeemed and given a new birth, we still carry some corruption. We are influenced by the society which has turned away from God. We can even be guilty of these same activities which are condemned by God. We are also tempted to dumb down sin and become too comfortable in the world. We are in the world but not of the world. We love those who are trapped in sin, but we do not have to approve of their sin.
Society will not be saved by governmental action. It can only be saved by a movement of God when people turn to him.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday Romans 1:18-25
People rejected God and suffer because of it.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:18-25
Paul has just made the argument that God’s righteousness is revealed through the gospel and the righteous people live by faith. Now he is talking about those who are not righteous.
Any first century Jew would understand that he is talking here about the Gentiles. He will expand his description of the unrighteous in chapter 2 to include the Jews.
God’s wrath is understood in two ways. There is the wrath of the judgment of God against sin in the final day. But there is also the wrath of God in the here and now. This later aspect of God’s wrath is what Paul is addressing here. This wrath is being revealed now. The reason for this wrath is the suppression of the truth of God by people. We know that they really do suppress the truth of God because the reality of God is plain to see from creation. But instead of turning to God, people turn away from God. They should have given him glory and responded to him in gratitude, but because they deny him, their thinking is confused. They turn from God to idols.
God responds by turning them over to their sinful desires. The degradation of society is the result of people turning away from God. So, God’s wrath can be seen by the increasing sinfulness of the world.
What were these people guilty of? They exchanged the worship of God for the worship of things created by God. The word “worship” means “worthship”, that is, assigning worth to something or someone. To worship is to assign the highest value. Anytime that we assign a higher worth to the things of the world than we do to God, then we are guilty of idolatry. We would never say, “I value this more than God,” but our actions and attitudes are the real indicators of our hearts.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:18-25
Paul has just made the argument that God’s righteousness is revealed through the gospel and the righteous people live by faith. Now he is talking about those who are not righteous.
Any first century Jew would understand that he is talking here about the Gentiles. He will expand his description of the unrighteous in chapter 2 to include the Jews.
God’s wrath is understood in two ways. There is the wrath of the judgment of God against sin in the final day. But there is also the wrath of God in the here and now. This later aspect of God’s wrath is what Paul is addressing here. This wrath is being revealed now. The reason for this wrath is the suppression of the truth of God by people. We know that they really do suppress the truth of God because the reality of God is plain to see from creation. But instead of turning to God, people turn away from God. They should have given him glory and responded to him in gratitude, but because they deny him, their thinking is confused. They turn from God to idols.
God responds by turning them over to their sinful desires. The degradation of society is the result of people turning away from God. So, God’s wrath can be seen by the increasing sinfulness of the world.
What were these people guilty of? They exchanged the worship of God for the worship of things created by God. The word “worship” means “worthship”, that is, assigning worth to something or someone. To worship is to assign the highest value. Anytime that we assign a higher worth to the things of the world than we do to God, then we are guilty of idolatry. We would never say, “I value this more than God,” but our actions and attitudes are the real indicators of our hearts.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday Romans 1:8-17
Paul tells the Romans that he is eager to visit them.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:8-17
Paul commended that people of the church in Rome about their faith. He said that the news of their faith is being reported all over the world. Don’t get wound up about the phrase “all over the world.” He is just using a figure of speech. Their faith is being reported far and wide. Paul also says that he mentions them wherever he goes. I don’t know what it is about them that warrants such notoriety, but apparently they were doing something right.
It makes you stop and think for a minute. Is our faith being reported far and wide? Is it even commented on near and narrow? Are we noted for our faith? Are we noted for anything? If we disappeared, would anybody notice? This is an applicable question for us as individuals and for whole churches. Are we blessings to others that makes a difference is people’s lives?
Paul says that he wants to come to Rome and preach the gospel. He wants to preach to the people of the church and everyone else in Rome. If the Roman church is doing so well, why does he need to come and preach the gospel to them? Proclaiming the gospel is more that just telling someone how to be saved it is calling people to follow Jesus.
As Paul says in verses 16 and 17, the gospel is God’s power for salvation. The result of coming to Christ in faith is living by faith. Living by faith is the evidence of faith. We are never just called to accept Christ; we are called to follow Christ. There are no spectator Christians. Maybe that is why our faith is not famous. We are not really following Christ.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:8-17
Paul commended that people of the church in Rome about their faith. He said that the news of their faith is being reported all over the world. Don’t get wound up about the phrase “all over the world.” He is just using a figure of speech. Their faith is being reported far and wide. Paul also says that he mentions them wherever he goes. I don’t know what it is about them that warrants such notoriety, but apparently they were doing something right.
It makes you stop and think for a minute. Is our faith being reported far and wide? Is it even commented on near and narrow? Are we noted for our faith? Are we noted for anything? If we disappeared, would anybody notice? This is an applicable question for us as individuals and for whole churches. Are we blessings to others that makes a difference is people’s lives?
Paul says that he wants to come to Rome and preach the gospel. He wants to preach to the people of the church and everyone else in Rome. If the Roman church is doing so well, why does he need to come and preach the gospel to them? Proclaiming the gospel is more that just telling someone how to be saved it is calling people to follow Jesus.
As Paul says in verses 16 and 17, the gospel is God’s power for salvation. The result of coming to Christ in faith is living by faith. Living by faith is the evidence of faith. We are never just called to accept Christ; we are called to follow Christ. There are no spectator Christians. Maybe that is why our faith is not famous. We are not really following Christ.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday Romans 1:1-7
Paul’s letter to the church in Rome
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:1-7
Paul opens his letter with the basics. He identifies who he is. He is a servant of Christ. He is also an apostle. As an apostle, he has authority. But he focuses on his responsibility. He has been set apart for the gospel of Christ.
This gospel is God’s plan. It was not something that just happened. It is not God’s plan B. God did not try other plans and when he found that they didn’t work he came up with the idea of a savior. The gospel has been God’s plan from the beginning. As Paul said, it was promised beforehand by the prophets.
The gospel is about Jesus. He is the human descendant of David, the king of God’s people. He is also the Son of God, the king of the universe. Jesus proved his status as the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.
As an apostle, Paul was called to spread the gospel. He was called to call others to respond to the offer of forgiveness and salvation. Paul told the people of the church in Rome that they had been called to respond to the gospel. They were called to be saints.
Some people get stressed by the term “saints.” Biblically, all Christians are saints. The term never occurs as a noun in the singular in the Bible. In its singular, it is always an adjective. It means holy. So, the word “saints” literally means “holies.” The people of Christ are made holy because of the forgiveness of sin by Christ.
Paul’s letter is from an apostle of Christ to the saints of Christ. It is specifically to a particular group at a particular time, but as fellow saints of Christ, it is to us too. So, as we read through this letter, we should pay attention. It is to us.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 1:1-7
Paul opens his letter with the basics. He identifies who he is. He is a servant of Christ. He is also an apostle. As an apostle, he has authority. But he focuses on his responsibility. He has been set apart for the gospel of Christ.
This gospel is God’s plan. It was not something that just happened. It is not God’s plan B. God did not try other plans and when he found that they didn’t work he came up with the idea of a savior. The gospel has been God’s plan from the beginning. As Paul said, it was promised beforehand by the prophets.
The gospel is about Jesus. He is the human descendant of David, the king of God’s people. He is also the Son of God, the king of the universe. Jesus proved his status as the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.
As an apostle, Paul was called to spread the gospel. He was called to call others to respond to the offer of forgiveness and salvation. Paul told the people of the church in Rome that they had been called to respond to the gospel. They were called to be saints.
Some people get stressed by the term “saints.” Biblically, all Christians are saints. The term never occurs as a noun in the singular in the Bible. In its singular, it is always an adjective. It means holy. So, the word “saints” literally means “holies.” The people of Christ are made holy because of the forgiveness of sin by Christ.
Paul’s letter is from an apostle of Christ to the saints of Christ. It is specifically to a particular group at a particular time, but as fellow saints of Christ, it is to us too. So, as we read through this letter, we should pay attention. It is to us.
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