God uses a holy thing (law) to reveal an evil thing (sin) so that a necessary thing (death) might result in the most important thing (life).
Click here for an online Bible Romans 7:7-12
Paul said that when we came to faith in Christ, we died to sin and we also died to the Law. Now, he poses a potential question. Since he tied sin and the Law together, is the Law sin? His answer is, “NO.” The Law is not sin; the Law reveals sin. We understand general right and wrong from our conscience and the general moral understanding from society. But the Law gives more specific instructions with a finer understanding of sin.
So, the Law actually shows more sin that a general understanding of right and wrong. Thus the Law brings death because it shows more sin. The Law is like a bright light that shows the dirt that was not noticed in the dim light.
Since the Law shows how bad I really am, is it bad? No, it is good and holy because it shows the true condition of my heart and my need for Christ.
So, how do we interact with the Law today? We don’t ignore it, but we read it in light of the New Testament. The Law provides a lot of instruction from God on how to live. But we live in a relationship with Christ rather than under a list of rules. The Sermon on the Mount shows that the standards of following Christ are higher than the standards of the Law.
Under Law the motivation is to avoid the consequences of disobeying God. Under grace the motivation is to please God out of love and devotion.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday Romans 7:1-6
We are not only free from sin, but also the Law.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 7:1-6
In chapter six, Paul explained that we were formerly slaves to sin. But, in coming to faith in Christ, we die to sin and are freed from bondage to sin. Now, Paul turns to the Law. By coming to Christ in faith, we are free from bondage to the Law. Just as we have died to sin, we also have died to the Law. So, we are not bound to the rules of the Law of Moses.
So, does this mean we can live any old way in which we please? Of course not. The purpose of the Law was to provide limits and controls on people who were slaves to sin. The purpose of the Law is to show sin. Now as slaves to righteousness, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than the Law.
God has delivered us from the Law to bear fruit for Him.
So, how do we live free from the Law? We live for Christ out of love and devotion rather than by following a list of rules. Under the Law, we ask, “What can I get away with?” We look for the limits and boundaries. We want a line to know just how far from God we can be. Under grace, we want to get closer to God.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 7:1-6
In chapter six, Paul explained that we were formerly slaves to sin. But, in coming to faith in Christ, we die to sin and are freed from bondage to sin. Now, Paul turns to the Law. By coming to Christ in faith, we are free from bondage to the Law. Just as we have died to sin, we also have died to the Law. So, we are not bound to the rules of the Law of Moses.
So, does this mean we can live any old way in which we please? Of course not. The purpose of the Law was to provide limits and controls on people who were slaves to sin. The purpose of the Law is to show sin. Now as slaves to righteousness, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit rather than the Law.
God has delivered us from the Law to bear fruit for Him.
So, how do we live free from the Law? We live for Christ out of love and devotion rather than by following a list of rules. Under the Law, we ask, “What can I get away with?” We look for the limits and boundaries. We want a line to know just how far from God we can be. Under grace, we want to get closer to God.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday Romans 6:15-23
In Christ we can be freed from sin and bound to God.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 6:15-23
Paul asks another question. Since we are not under the Law with all of its rules, can we sin all that we want to because we have the forgiveness of grace? Paul answers his question, “By no means!”
We were slaves to sin before. We have been freed from that slavery, not for more sinning, but for righteousness.
Paul uses the imagery of slavery to explain his thinking. In Rome at that time, slavery was common. A significant portion of the population of Rome was slaves. Perhaps as many as 50% of the people were slaves. There were most likely many slaves that were part of the church of Rome. There were two kinds of slaves in Rome. Some were put into slavery involuntarily. They might have been prisoners captured by the Roman army. Others were voluntarily slaves. Another term for this would be indentured servants. They basically sold themselves into slavery as means of survival.
Paul’s argument is that all people are born as slaves to sin. They are involuntarily enslaved. Christ offers the chance to be set free from this slavery to sin and to voluntarily offer yourself to God. Thus, you become a slave to righteousness.
Some might read this and think, “I don’t want to be a slave to anything or anybody.” Paul is saying that anyone who does not know Christ already is a slave to sin. There is nothing that you can do to free yourself. Only God can free you.
Some people think that they can accept the forgiveness of sin and be free from bondage to sin and still not make Christ the Lord of their life. They are mistaken. Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not say, “Let me die for you so that you can do your own thing.” If you think that you can be in charge of your own life, then you are still in slavery to sin. That’s the big lie of the Garden of Eden. “You can be like God.” It was a lie then, and it is still a lie. You can follow Him or follow self.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 6:15-23
Paul asks another question. Since we are not under the Law with all of its rules, can we sin all that we want to because we have the forgiveness of grace? Paul answers his question, “By no means!”
We were slaves to sin before. We have been freed from that slavery, not for more sinning, but for righteousness.
Paul uses the imagery of slavery to explain his thinking. In Rome at that time, slavery was common. A significant portion of the population of Rome was slaves. Perhaps as many as 50% of the people were slaves. There were most likely many slaves that were part of the church of Rome. There were two kinds of slaves in Rome. Some were put into slavery involuntarily. They might have been prisoners captured by the Roman army. Others were voluntarily slaves. Another term for this would be indentured servants. They basically sold themselves into slavery as means of survival.
Paul’s argument is that all people are born as slaves to sin. They are involuntarily enslaved. Christ offers the chance to be set free from this slavery to sin and to voluntarily offer yourself to God. Thus, you become a slave to righteousness.
Some might read this and think, “I don’t want to be a slave to anything or anybody.” Paul is saying that anyone who does not know Christ already is a slave to sin. There is nothing that you can do to free yourself. Only God can free you.
Some people think that they can accept the forgiveness of sin and be free from bondage to sin and still not make Christ the Lord of their life. They are mistaken. Jesus said, “Follow me.” He did not say, “Let me die for you so that you can do your own thing.” If you think that you can be in charge of your own life, then you are still in slavery to sin. That’s the big lie of the Garden of Eden. “You can be like God.” It was a lie then, and it is still a lie. You can follow Him or follow self.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday Romans 6:1-14
We are new creations in Christ.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 6:1-14
God’s grace is a good thing. When we are forgiven of our sin by God, it is by grace. So, would it not be a good thing to sin more so that there can be more grace. Paul says, “By no means!” Sin brings about separation from God. There can be no good to sin. When we come to faith in Christ, we die to sin. We can’t stay in sin.
Paul talks about our unity with Christ and his death, burial and resurrection. He uses the imagery of baptism to explain. In the New Testament, baptism is performed quickly after a person comes to faith. It is never something that somebody “gets around to” or “gets ready for.” The call is “repent and be baptized.” Hence, all of the believers that Paul is talking to have been baptized. They had been baptized shortly after believing.
Baptism has meaning. It is only performed after a person comes to faith. It involves the dunking of a person under water. The Greek word “baptize” mean to immerse. The imagery of baptism is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Going under the water is symbolic of death and burial. Coming out of the water is symbolic of resurrection and new life.
Paul is reminding the people of the Roman church of their baptisms. He said that when they came to faith and were baptized, the old person died and a new person was born. They had become born again. They had died to sin, but now lived in Christ.
The old me that was a slave to sin died when I believed. The new me is no longer a slave to sin and can live for Christ. So, I turn away from sin and serve God instead.
We are not under law. Law can not prevent sin – it only shows sin. Grace drives us from sin to righteousness.
So, why do we still struggle with sin? We are new creations, but we still have the corruption of our fallen humanity. The solution is not to try harder. Paul points to our unity with Christ. The solution is to get closer to Christ.
If you are doing the daily Bible reading – great. I pray that you are getting closer to God. Add praying to your reading.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 6:1-14
God’s grace is a good thing. When we are forgiven of our sin by God, it is by grace. So, would it not be a good thing to sin more so that there can be more grace. Paul says, “By no means!” Sin brings about separation from God. There can be no good to sin. When we come to faith in Christ, we die to sin. We can’t stay in sin.
Paul talks about our unity with Christ and his death, burial and resurrection. He uses the imagery of baptism to explain. In the New Testament, baptism is performed quickly after a person comes to faith. It is never something that somebody “gets around to” or “gets ready for.” The call is “repent and be baptized.” Hence, all of the believers that Paul is talking to have been baptized. They had been baptized shortly after believing.
Baptism has meaning. It is only performed after a person comes to faith. It involves the dunking of a person under water. The Greek word “baptize” mean to immerse. The imagery of baptism is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Going under the water is symbolic of death and burial. Coming out of the water is symbolic of resurrection and new life.
Paul is reminding the people of the Roman church of their baptisms. He said that when they came to faith and were baptized, the old person died and a new person was born. They had become born again. They had died to sin, but now lived in Christ.
The old me that was a slave to sin died when I believed. The new me is no longer a slave to sin and can live for Christ. So, I turn away from sin and serve God instead.
We are not under law. Law can not prevent sin – it only shows sin. Grace drives us from sin to righteousness.
So, why do we still struggle with sin? We are new creations, but we still have the corruption of our fallen humanity. The solution is not to try harder. Paul points to our unity with Christ. The solution is to get closer to Christ.
If you are doing the daily Bible reading – great. I pray that you are getting closer to God. Add praying to your reading.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday Romans 5:12-21
Christ has undone the damage caused by Adam for those who respond in faith.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:12-21
In the previous section, Paul said that we can now be at peace with God. In this section, he addresses how this takes place. Adam sinned when he violated God’s instructions. Adam is the head of the human race. His sin caused all of humanity to be sinners. So, in Adam, death comes to all people. Through Adam, all people are separated from God.
Christ is the head of a new spiritual race. Those who respond in faith trade Adam as the head of their family for Christ as the head. Just as all are guilty because of Adam, now all can be declared innocent because of Christ.
Earlier, Paul compared the biological descendants of Abraham with the spiritual descendants of Abraham. The biological descendants were set apart as the community of God’s people. But it was only for a period. What really matters is faith. Those who respond in faith to Christ are the spiritual descendants of Abraham. All people are born into the human race with Adam as the head of the race. All of Adam’s biological descendants are born into sin. Christ is the head of the spiritual race. Through him we have life.
Verse 13 confuses some people. It almost sounds like Paul is saying that people did not sin before the giving of the Law to Moses. People did not violate God’s rules like Adam did since there was not a set of rules. People still were sinners because they violated the natural law written upon their hearts.
This section shows how much God loves us and what he has delivered us from. What we have gained in Christ is so much greater than what we lost through Adam.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:12-21
In the previous section, Paul said that we can now be at peace with God. In this section, he addresses how this takes place. Adam sinned when he violated God’s instructions. Adam is the head of the human race. His sin caused all of humanity to be sinners. So, in Adam, death comes to all people. Through Adam, all people are separated from God.
Christ is the head of a new spiritual race. Those who respond in faith trade Adam as the head of their family for Christ as the head. Just as all are guilty because of Adam, now all can be declared innocent because of Christ.
Earlier, Paul compared the biological descendants of Abraham with the spiritual descendants of Abraham. The biological descendants were set apart as the community of God’s people. But it was only for a period. What really matters is faith. Those who respond in faith to Christ are the spiritual descendants of Abraham. All people are born into the human race with Adam as the head of the race. All of Adam’s biological descendants are born into sin. Christ is the head of the spiritual race. Through him we have life.
Verse 13 confuses some people. It almost sounds like Paul is saying that people did not sin before the giving of the Law to Moses. People did not violate God’s rules like Adam did since there was not a set of rules. People still were sinners because they violated the natural law written upon their hearts.
This section shows how much God loves us and what he has delivered us from. What we have gained in Christ is so much greater than what we lost through Adam.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Monday Romans 5:6-11
Paul marvels at the depth of Christ’s love for us.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:6-11
Paul has made the point that all people are separated from God because of sin. Nobody is right with God. Nobody is righteous. Reconciliation with God occurs because Christ died on the cross for us. Salvation is by faith, not by anything that we have done. So, Christ did not die for righteous people, he died for unrighteous people. He died for us while we were powerless to help ourselves. He died for us while we were ungodly. He died for us while we were still sinners.
Paul compares the character of God to the character of people. Christ died for people that did not deserve his help. He died for people that were wicked. They were enemies of God. People don’t act that way. A brave person might give up his life for a good person, but not for a wicked person.
This shows the depth of God’s love. He has reconciled us to him, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us. And he loved us when we were unlovable. He has delivered us from wrath and now we can celebrate life with him.
We should rejoice when we think about what Christ has done for us. We should be overwhelmed by his love. And we should respond to his love. He has given us so much. He deserves our best. He deserves all that we are and all that we have.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:6-11
Paul has made the point that all people are separated from God because of sin. Nobody is right with God. Nobody is righteous. Reconciliation with God occurs because Christ died on the cross for us. Salvation is by faith, not by anything that we have done. So, Christ did not die for righteous people, he died for unrighteous people. He died for us while we were powerless to help ourselves. He died for us while we were ungodly. He died for us while we were still sinners.
Paul compares the character of God to the character of people. Christ died for people that did not deserve his help. He died for people that were wicked. They were enemies of God. People don’t act that way. A brave person might give up his life for a good person, but not for a wicked person.
This shows the depth of God’s love. He has reconciled us to him, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us. And he loved us when we were unlovable. He has delivered us from wrath and now we can celebrate life with him.
We should rejoice when we think about what Christ has done for us. We should be overwhelmed by his love. And we should respond to his love. He has given us so much. He deserves our best. He deserves all that we are and all that we have.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunday Romans 5:1-5
Peace with God is available through faith.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:1-5
We deserve God’s wrath because of our sin, but we can experience forgiveness of sin through Christ. Justification is being declared innocent of sin by God. That occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. Because of justification, we are now at peace with God.
Instead of wrath, we now have joy because of our hope in God. By “hope” Paul means expectation. We expect God’s glory instead of God’s wrath.
We can even rejoice in “sufferings.” Most English Bible translations use “tribulation” rather than “suffering.” When we go through trials and tribulations, perseverance is produced in our lives. The New Living Translation of the Bible gives verse 3 as:
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”
We can develop the ability to do physical tasks by exercise. We develop the ability to serve God by serving God. When we encounter difficulties, we are better equipped for future service. Trials lead to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope.
When we risk serving God, we are not really risking anything. If it goes well then we can praise God. If we have trouble, we can still praise God, because the trouble builds character and gives us greater hope in God. It is not that we are looking for risky things to do for God, but we are just living our lives for God. Everything we do is done for him. So even when we have bad times, if we are living for the Lord, then those bad times only grow us in our faith.
Click here for an online Bible Romans 5:1-5
We deserve God’s wrath because of our sin, but we can experience forgiveness of sin through Christ. Justification is being declared innocent of sin by God. That occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. Because of justification, we are now at peace with God.
Instead of wrath, we now have joy because of our hope in God. By “hope” Paul means expectation. We expect God’s glory instead of God’s wrath.
We can even rejoice in “sufferings.” Most English Bible translations use “tribulation” rather than “suffering.” When we go through trials and tribulations, perseverance is produced in our lives. The New Living Translation of the Bible gives verse 3 as:
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.”
We can develop the ability to do physical tasks by exercise. We develop the ability to serve God by serving God. When we encounter difficulties, we are better equipped for future service. Trials lead to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope.
When we risk serving God, we are not really risking anything. If it goes well then we can praise God. If we have trouble, we can still praise God, because the trouble builds character and gives us greater hope in God. It is not that we are looking for risky things to do for God, but we are just living our lives for God. Everything we do is done for him. So even when we have bad times, if we are living for the Lord, then those bad times only grow us in our faith.
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