Romans 6:11-14
Observe:
Death and life are key words in this section. There are also a lot of imperatives: count yourself dead to sin, do not let sin reign, do not offer yourself to sin. This is a list of commands that will enable someone to find the true life that faith offers.
Another key phrase is "in Christ." Paul uses this phrase a lot (not so far in Romans but in his other letters).
Interpret:
Paul is calling the believer to live out what has already taken place: they are dead to sin and Paul calls the believer to count themselves dead to sin. There is a progression to victory over sin: count yourself dead to it, refuse to let sin reign and offer the parts of your body to God for his use and glory.
Paul uses what seems like an oxymoron: in order to live by faith, you first must die. The just will live by faith by dying to themselves and to sin and living to God.
Apply:
The reality of my situation is that I am no longer enslaved to sin. Paul is calling me to live out that reality in my life. It is true that it is a work of God everytime that I don't sin but it is also true that I need to recognize that the work of God is not just one particular sin in one particular time but that his work has freed me from all sin for all time. I need to "count myself" dead to sin and refuse to recognize its rule - it has no right to rule my life. The reality is that I have died to sin but, like some kind of zombie, I keep on coming back to live to sin. This is where the miracle comes in: I have been so conditioned by sin to obey it and my soul has preferred sin for so long that it is going to take a miracle for me to live the reality of being released from its mastery over me. Like a prisoner who's been set free after a virtual lifetime of incarceration, it is going to take me a while to get used to my new freedom. God not only frees me but he helps me to live (really live!) in that freedom. This shows me just how weak and incapable I am apart from him.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
mastering death
Romans 6:8-10
Observe:
Repeated (key) words: die (in its various forms), live (in its various forms).
There is a word picture that involves death and slavery in the sense that the dead slave is no longer bound by obedience to his master. Paul compares the physical death and resurrection of Christ to the spiritual/moral death and resurrection of the believer.
Interpret:
Paul is arguing in this whole section (chapter 5 onward) that we live by faith. Here, he argues that we identify (by faith) with the death and resurrection of Christ which allows us to escape the mastery of sin and live the life that God expects us to. The other benefit is that Christ's death broke the "judicial link" (from the study notes) between sin and death, moving Christ beyond the reign of sin. As we identify with Christ's death and resurrection we also move beyond the reign of sin and escape death.
Apply:
I live by faith. All of this (life, escaping the judgement, etc.) is only possible through Christ. It is only possible to live the life God expects me to by identifying myself with Christ. It's like Korey and I talked about this morning: it's a miracle when I don't sin in the sense that it is truly only by the power/work of the Holy Spirit in me that I don't give in to my sinful desires. This raises the question: if I don't want to sin, do I work hard at not sinning or do I work hard at surrendering to the Holy Spirit? The answer is pretty obvious. Just as I can only be saved (or as Paul puts it, justified) by faith in the work of Christ on the cross, I can only live the life God desires by faith in the work of Christ in me.
Observe:
Repeated (key) words: die (in its various forms), live (in its various forms).
There is a word picture that involves death and slavery in the sense that the dead slave is no longer bound by obedience to his master. Paul compares the physical death and resurrection of Christ to the spiritual/moral death and resurrection of the believer.
Interpret:
Paul is arguing in this whole section (chapter 5 onward) that we live by faith. Here, he argues that we identify (by faith) with the death and resurrection of Christ which allows us to escape the mastery of sin and live the life that God expects us to. The other benefit is that Christ's death broke the "judicial link" (from the study notes) between sin and death, moving Christ beyond the reign of sin. As we identify with Christ's death and resurrection we also move beyond the reign of sin and escape death.
Apply:
I live by faith. All of this (life, escaping the judgement, etc.) is only possible through Christ. It is only possible to live the life God expects me to by identifying myself with Christ. It's like Korey and I talked about this morning: it's a miracle when I don't sin in the sense that it is truly only by the power/work of the Holy Spirit in me that I don't give in to my sinful desires. This raises the question: if I don't want to sin, do I work hard at not sinning or do I work hard at surrendering to the Holy Spirit? The answer is pretty obvious. Just as I can only be saved (or as Paul puts it, justified) by faith in the work of Christ on the cross, I can only live the life God desires by faith in the work of Christ in me.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Freedom!
Romans 6:1-7
Observe:
Paul uses a word picture of death and burial. He actually identifies believers in Jesus as being united in Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Those are key words in this passage. Sin is also a key word (and one that is repeated through the paragraph). The section starts off with some rhetorical questions, which seems to be a common device that Paul uses. Paul also uses another word picture of the slave market.
Interpret:
Paul is following through on his thought in the previous chapter: the law "increased" the trespass and grace "increased all the more." Paul anticipates the question: then shouldn't we sin so that grace could keep increasing? The obvious answer: No! Paul argues that, through faith in Christ, we have died to sin. We don't just live, continuing on in our old ways (because that was death). We have died to that way of living and been given a new life. Paul says that we are no longer slaves to sin, not just because we have been redeemed but because we are actually dead. A dead slave cannot be made to obey and therefore is no longer a slave.
Apply:
I don't have to sin - sin cannot control me because I am dead, no longer its slave. When I sin, it is because I prefer sin and choose sin over the glory of God. This is somewhat simplistic (and even Paul seems to acknowledge that later on) but it is also mysteriously true. What is also true is that, like a man released from years of imprisonment, it is taking me a long time to learn this new way of living. I need to remember that it is by faith in Christ that I live - not by my own efforts to defeat sin but by identification and unification with Christ in his death and resurrection.
Observe:
Paul uses a word picture of death and burial. He actually identifies believers in Jesus as being united in Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Those are key words in this passage. Sin is also a key word (and one that is repeated through the paragraph). The section starts off with some rhetorical questions, which seems to be a common device that Paul uses. Paul also uses another word picture of the slave market.
Interpret:
Paul is following through on his thought in the previous chapter: the law "increased" the trespass and grace "increased all the more." Paul anticipates the question: then shouldn't we sin so that grace could keep increasing? The obvious answer: No! Paul argues that, through faith in Christ, we have died to sin. We don't just live, continuing on in our old ways (because that was death). We have died to that way of living and been given a new life. Paul says that we are no longer slaves to sin, not just because we have been redeemed but because we are actually dead. A dead slave cannot be made to obey and therefore is no longer a slave.
Apply:
I don't have to sin - sin cannot control me because I am dead, no longer its slave. When I sin, it is because I prefer sin and choose sin over the glory of God. This is somewhat simplistic (and even Paul seems to acknowledge that later on) but it is also mysteriously true. What is also true is that, like a man released from years of imprisonment, it is taking me a long time to learn this new way of living. I need to remember that it is by faith in Christ that I live - not by my own efforts to defeat sin but by identification and unification with Christ in his death and resurrection.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Tonight's the night the world begins again...
Romans 5:18-21
So, I have good news - my wife and I adopted a baby boy and we just got to bring him home on Saturday night. We were so excited! My wife travelled in the back of the car just so she could sit beside him all the way home - even though all he does is sleep. When we brought him into church, everyone was gathered around to see and in the service I got to introduce him to everyone (I held him up over my head like a trophy! I certainly felt like I had won a championship!). It such exciting news that I find myself sharing it with everyone - I just got off the phone with Canadian Blood Services (I missed my appointment last week in all the excitement) and I told the wonderful lady on the phone my good news. I couldn't help it! It just spills out of me.
Paul is announcing some incredible news here: the human race, living under the condemnation of God as a result of one man's trespass, has hope for life because of one man's act of righteousness. Incredible! Even more incredible than our little son (as hard as that might be to imagine). This is simply wonderful news - I, and the rest of humanity, don't have to live under the cloud and weight of God's judgement and wrath any longer because one man (Jesus - in case you hadn't figured that out yet) acted in righteousness and provided justification, available for us all. If the result of disobeying God is death, the result of this man's obedience means life!
This fits into the rest of Paul's argument: not only are we saved from judgement but we are made alive through faith in Jesus Christ. The law doesn't save us from judgement - it doesn't even bring life. The law, according to Paul, is meant to highlight the need we have for redemption. It causes our way of living to stand out in stark contrast to the holiness of God. It is the act of Jesus that brings us life!
Great news! I wonder why it doesn't burst out of me like the news about my son does?
So, I have good news - my wife and I adopted a baby boy and we just got to bring him home on Saturday night. We were so excited! My wife travelled in the back of the car just so she could sit beside him all the way home - even though all he does is sleep. When we brought him into church, everyone was gathered around to see and in the service I got to introduce him to everyone (I held him up over my head like a trophy! I certainly felt like I had won a championship!). It such exciting news that I find myself sharing it with everyone - I just got off the phone with Canadian Blood Services (I missed my appointment last week in all the excitement) and I told the wonderful lady on the phone my good news. I couldn't help it! It just spills out of me.
Paul is announcing some incredible news here: the human race, living under the condemnation of God as a result of one man's trespass, has hope for life because of one man's act of righteousness. Incredible! Even more incredible than our little son (as hard as that might be to imagine). This is simply wonderful news - I, and the rest of humanity, don't have to live under the cloud and weight of God's judgement and wrath any longer because one man (Jesus - in case you hadn't figured that out yet) acted in righteousness and provided justification, available for us all. If the result of disobeying God is death, the result of this man's obedience means life!
This fits into the rest of Paul's argument: not only are we saved from judgement but we are made alive through faith in Jesus Christ. The law doesn't save us from judgement - it doesn't even bring life. The law, according to Paul, is meant to highlight the need we have for redemption. It causes our way of living to stand out in stark contrast to the holiness of God. It is the act of Jesus that brings us life!
Great news! I wonder why it doesn't burst out of me like the news about my son does?
Monday, July 23, 2007
How much more...
Romans 5:15-17
Observe:
The phrase "how much more" is repeated and key to Paul's point. Also, "through", "one man" and "righteousness" are key. Paul contrasts grace with trespass, Adam with Christ, the results of the trespass (condemnation and death) with the results of the grace (justification and life).
Interpret:
This continues Paul's comparison/contrast between Christ and Adam. Paul's point is that the effects of Adam's trespass were devestating and far reaching but the grace of God through Christ has an even greater impact on the world. This is hard to understand since the world was completely changed through Adam - death came to all humans, relationships were altered between humans and between humans and God, the way we work was changed, the way we have kids was changed. As great as the effects of sin, according to the Holy Spirit as he writes it in this passage, the effects of grace are even greater!
Apply:
Your grace is enough! I am sometimes guilty of a cheap view of God's grace - as if his grace might run out, or barely be enough to cover over my sin. His grace is more than sufficient. I don't need to live in scarcity but in the abundance of God's grace. I can enjoy life to the full because I know that when I fall I will fall on the grace that first brought me to Him!
Observe:
The phrase "how much more" is repeated and key to Paul's point. Also, "through", "one man" and "righteousness" are key. Paul contrasts grace with trespass, Adam with Christ, the results of the trespass (condemnation and death) with the results of the grace (justification and life).
Interpret:
This continues Paul's comparison/contrast between Christ and Adam. Paul's point is that the effects of Adam's trespass were devestating and far reaching but the grace of God through Christ has an even greater impact on the world. This is hard to understand since the world was completely changed through Adam - death came to all humans, relationships were altered between humans and between humans and God, the way we work was changed, the way we have kids was changed. As great as the effects of sin, according to the Holy Spirit as he writes it in this passage, the effects of grace are even greater!
Apply:
Your grace is enough! I am sometimes guilty of a cheap view of God's grace - as if his grace might run out, or barely be enough to cover over my sin. His grace is more than sufficient. I don't need to live in scarcity but in the abundance of God's grace. I can enjoy life to the full because I know that when I fall I will fall on the grace that first brought me to Him!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Reconciled!
Romans 5:9-14
Observe:
There is a lot of comparisons and contrasts in this section. Justified by Christ's blood compared to being saved from God's wrath through Christ; being reconciled through Christ's death compared to being saved through Christ's life; the condemnation spreading to the human race from Adam's act of rebellion contrasted to the grace that spreads to the human race from Christ's sacrificial act (this comparison gets interrupted because Paul realizes how the two acts, while able to be contrasted, are on two completely different levels).
The key words are "through Christ" (saved from God's wrath, rejoice, receive reconciliation) and "how much more".
The word picture is that of condemnation spreading to all humans from Adam like an insiduous disease spreading around the world from one source of rotteness and corruption.
Interpret:
It is clear that Paul has moved on to his second argument believing that he has already proven that we are justified by faith: v. 9 "Since (a foregone conlcusion) we have been justified..." The main argument is that now that we have been reconciled to God (declared just or righteous) through Christ's death and life, we will now also live free from God's wrath/judgement. Paul begins to argue that just as sin and death entered through one man, righteousness and life entered through the ONE! He is beginning to build his argument that we are not only declared righteous by faith but that we also live by faith.
Application:
I often live with the proverbial sword of judgment and condemnation hanging over my head. God no longer holds that over me because I have not only been declared just (not guilty) through Christ's death, I have been given life (free from condemnation) through Christ's resurrection. I know longer should be living my life out of fear (although there is still an aspect of fearing the Lord) but out of love and joy. It is my joy to honour you!
Observe:
There is a lot of comparisons and contrasts in this section. Justified by Christ's blood compared to being saved from God's wrath through Christ; being reconciled through Christ's death compared to being saved through Christ's life; the condemnation spreading to the human race from Adam's act of rebellion contrasted to the grace that spreads to the human race from Christ's sacrificial act (this comparison gets interrupted because Paul realizes how the two acts, while able to be contrasted, are on two completely different levels).
The key words are "through Christ" (saved from God's wrath, rejoice, receive reconciliation) and "how much more".
The word picture is that of condemnation spreading to all humans from Adam like an insiduous disease spreading around the world from one source of rotteness and corruption.
Interpret:
It is clear that Paul has moved on to his second argument believing that he has already proven that we are justified by faith: v. 9 "Since (a foregone conlcusion) we have been justified..." The main argument is that now that we have been reconciled to God (declared just or righteous) through Christ's death and life, we will now also live free from God's wrath/judgement. Paul begins to argue that just as sin and death entered through one man, righteousness and life entered through the ONE! He is beginning to build his argument that we are not only declared righteous by faith but that we also live by faith.
Application:
I often live with the proverbial sword of judgment and condemnation hanging over my head. God no longer holds that over me because I have not only been declared just (not guilty) through Christ's death, I have been given life (free from condemnation) through Christ's resurrection. I know longer should be living my life out of fear (although there is still an aspect of fearing the Lord) but out of love and joy. It is my joy to honour you!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
A Demonstrated Love
Romans 5:1-8
Observe:
The repeated words are: faith, through (Christ), rejoice, die. There is a logical progression: suffering leads to perseverance which leads to character which leads to hope which does not disappoint because it is founded in God's character. There is the theme of God's love poured into us and demonstrated at the cross of Christ and the theme of Christ's death.
Paul contrasts humans, who might be willing to die for a good person, to God who died for us when we were sinners (i.e. not good people).
Interpret:
The connecting word is "therefore" indicating that what comes next is because we have been justified by faith. Paul's argument is that because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Not only is our legal standing changed (from guilty to justified) our relational standing has changed (from enemy to friend) before God.
If Paul's thesis is "the just will live by faith" and he has proven that we are made just by faith, this passage is the connection to the part where he proves that we will live by faith as well.
Apply:
The part that really stands out is rejoicing in suffering because suffering produces hope (taken to its final conclusion). I don't rejoice in suffering. I hate suffering. The idea of suffering makes me suffer. I think it is because I don't see the point of suffering - to produce perserverance, etc. in me. I just see it as an inconvenience. I also don't really trust God - if I am suffering it must be because either God is not in control, or he is not good, or he doesn't really love me. This is a very selfish view of suffering. Don't get me wrong - I think it is totally appropriate to ask God all sorts of questions but I can't lose sight of who God is in the midst of it all.
The second part of this is that I don't like suffering because I've lost sight of the hope. If I truly understood the hope I have in Jesus Christ (which is not blind optimism like "I hope I win a million bucks" but is secure because has given us the Holy Spirit and poured his love into our hearts through him) then I could truly rejoice in my suffering. No matter what I go through here in this life, there is something far better (unimaginably better) waiting for me! I think that I have lost sight of the fact that heaven is waiting and it may not wait until I die (that sends shivers down my spine!).
Observe:
The repeated words are: faith, through (Christ), rejoice, die. There is a logical progression: suffering leads to perseverance which leads to character which leads to hope which does not disappoint because it is founded in God's character. There is the theme of God's love poured into us and demonstrated at the cross of Christ and the theme of Christ's death.
Paul contrasts humans, who might be willing to die for a good person, to God who died for us when we were sinners (i.e. not good people).
Interpret:
The connecting word is "therefore" indicating that what comes next is because we have been justified by faith. Paul's argument is that because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Not only is our legal standing changed (from guilty to justified) our relational standing has changed (from enemy to friend) before God.
If Paul's thesis is "the just will live by faith" and he has proven that we are made just by faith, this passage is the connection to the part where he proves that we will live by faith as well.
Apply:
The part that really stands out is rejoicing in suffering because suffering produces hope (taken to its final conclusion). I don't rejoice in suffering. I hate suffering. The idea of suffering makes me suffer. I think it is because I don't see the point of suffering - to produce perserverance, etc. in me. I just see it as an inconvenience. I also don't really trust God - if I am suffering it must be because either God is not in control, or he is not good, or he doesn't really love me. This is a very selfish view of suffering. Don't get me wrong - I think it is totally appropriate to ask God all sorts of questions but I can't lose sight of who God is in the midst of it all.
The second part of this is that I don't like suffering because I've lost sight of the hope. If I truly understood the hope I have in Jesus Christ (which is not blind optimism like "I hope I win a million bucks" but is secure because has given us the Holy Spirit and poured his love into our hearts through him) then I could truly rejoice in my suffering. No matter what I go through here in this life, there is something far better (unimaginably better) waiting for me! I think that I have lost sight of the fact that heaven is waiting and it may not wait until I die (that sends shivers down my spine!).
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
declared righteous (or just) by faith
Romans 4:16-25
Observe:
"Faith" is a key word in this passage again. It is contrasted with "law" a little bit (not as much as in previous passages). Abraham continues to be a key person - he is the father of us all in that he had faith and was given righteousness just as we have faith and are given righteousness by God. "Credited" and "righteousness" are key words as well, especially at the end of the passage.
I also notice a bit of an idealistic picture when it comes to Abraham: he never wavered in his faith in regard to the promise of God that he would be the father of many nations. However, the story of Abraham shows that he did have a few crises of faith: he lied about Sarah being his wife and he tried to make God's promise come through human measures like having sex with his wife's maid. Obviously Paul is using a bit of hyperbole to prove his point.
There is a great image of hopelessness in this passage: Abraham was as good as dead and Sarah's womb was old and barren and yet Abraham still had faith. This shows me that God's work depends on God's ability not on my (or anyone else's) perceived ability.
Interpret:
Paul is summing up the first part of his argument or thesis: The just will live by faith. Here, Paul has proved, using the example of Abraham, that righteousness (be declared just) comes from God through faith, not through works. He has shown that no one can be declared righteous by works (Romans 3) because there is no one who does good, that no one can be declared righteous through the law because the law brings condemnation (Romans 3:20) and that all are guilty of breaking God's standards whether they have the written law or not (Romans 1-2; 3:23). Abraham is his final witness in this part of his argument: he was declared righteous not because he was circumcised or because he followed the law but because he believed God. Therefore, righteousness is by faith and we are declared just by faith in God who raised Jesus (who was delivered to death for our sins and raised again for our justification) from the dead. From here, Paul will talk about how we have life and how we should live in light of this amazing truth.
Apply:
There is not a tonne of practical application to this teaching - it is very philosophical and theological. However, it does speak to an attitude adjustment that I need to continue to make: I have been declared righteous and just, not by any merit of my own but by the merit of God. My righteousness speaks of God's character and ability. The fact that I have been made just speaks to the fact that I am helpless and hopeless apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the grace of God.
Observe:
"Faith" is a key word in this passage again. It is contrasted with "law" a little bit (not as much as in previous passages). Abraham continues to be a key person - he is the father of us all in that he had faith and was given righteousness just as we have faith and are given righteousness by God. "Credited" and "righteousness" are key words as well, especially at the end of the passage.
I also notice a bit of an idealistic picture when it comes to Abraham: he never wavered in his faith in regard to the promise of God that he would be the father of many nations. However, the story of Abraham shows that he did have a few crises of faith: he lied about Sarah being his wife and he tried to make God's promise come through human measures like having sex with his wife's maid. Obviously Paul is using a bit of hyperbole to prove his point.
There is a great image of hopelessness in this passage: Abraham was as good as dead and Sarah's womb was old and barren and yet Abraham still had faith. This shows me that God's work depends on God's ability not on my (or anyone else's) perceived ability.
Interpret:
Paul is summing up the first part of his argument or thesis: The just will live by faith. Here, Paul has proved, using the example of Abraham, that righteousness (be declared just) comes from God through faith, not through works. He has shown that no one can be declared righteous by works (Romans 3) because there is no one who does good, that no one can be declared righteous through the law because the law brings condemnation (Romans 3:20) and that all are guilty of breaking God's standards whether they have the written law or not (Romans 1-2; 3:23). Abraham is his final witness in this part of his argument: he was declared righteous not because he was circumcised or because he followed the law but because he believed God. Therefore, righteousness is by faith and we are declared just by faith in God who raised Jesus (who was delivered to death for our sins and raised again for our justification) from the dead. From here, Paul will talk about how we have life and how we should live in light of this amazing truth.
Apply:
There is not a tonne of practical application to this teaching - it is very philosophical and theological. However, it does speak to an attitude adjustment that I need to continue to make: I have been declared righteous and just, not by any merit of my own but by the merit of God. My righteousness speaks of God's character and ability. The fact that I have been made just speaks to the fact that I am helpless and hopeless apart from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the grace of God.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Father Abraham had many sons... and I am one of them
Romans 4:9-15
Observations:
The words that are repeated are: circumcised, uncircumcised, faith, credited, righteousness, father. The ideas that are contrasted and compared are circumcised/uncircumcised and faith/law. The people mentioned are Abraham and his offspring - Paul argues that everyone who has faith in God is Abraham's offspring whether they are circumcised (Jews) or not (Gentiles).
Interpretation:
"This blessedness" (v. 9) refers to the quote in v. 7-8: blessed are those who have been forgiven. Paul argues that this blessedness (and, therefore, forgiveness) is not just of the circumcised. The argument goes like this: Abraham was credited righteousness because of his faith (not because of his works) and this credit was given to him before he was circumcised. Therefore, circumcision is not necessary for righteousness to be credited to our account (in other words, Gentiles don't need to convert to Judaism to become believers in Christ) and Abraham, in his example of faith, is the spiritual father of both the Jewish and Gentile-ish(?) believer.
Paul is referring back to the blessing that Abraham received: many offspring (like the dust of the earth), possession of the land of Canaan and that all nations would be blessed through him. Ultimately, all nations are blessed because Abraham was the ancestor of the Messiah but also because we are the spiritual offspring of Abraham.
It is interesting that James uses this same example to prove that faith without works is dead. He says that Abraham was credited righteousness because he acted on his belief and until he acted on that faith, there was no righteousness credited to his account.
Application:
I am really struck by the logical flow of Paul's arguments. I really enjoy the balance of emotion and reason that Paul achieves. I personally tend to lean on the law which doesn't make sense. I don't even live up to my own standards and I try to impose those standards on others. I know that as a follower of Christ there are standards for me to live up to but I can't achieve those standards without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. This means that my role as youth pastor is not to impose standards on people but to use those standards, and our failure to reach them, to point out our need for Christ, then to teach students how to depend on Christ.
Observations:
The words that are repeated are: circumcised, uncircumcised, faith, credited, righteousness, father. The ideas that are contrasted and compared are circumcised/uncircumcised and faith/law. The people mentioned are Abraham and his offspring - Paul argues that everyone who has faith in God is Abraham's offspring whether they are circumcised (Jews) or not (Gentiles).
Interpretation:
"This blessedness" (v. 9) refers to the quote in v. 7-8: blessed are those who have been forgiven. Paul argues that this blessedness (and, therefore, forgiveness) is not just of the circumcised. The argument goes like this: Abraham was credited righteousness because of his faith (not because of his works) and this credit was given to him before he was circumcised. Therefore, circumcision is not necessary for righteousness to be credited to our account (in other words, Gentiles don't need to convert to Judaism to become believers in Christ) and Abraham, in his example of faith, is the spiritual father of both the Jewish and Gentile-ish(?) believer.
Paul is referring back to the blessing that Abraham received: many offspring (like the dust of the earth), possession of the land of Canaan and that all nations would be blessed through him. Ultimately, all nations are blessed because Abraham was the ancestor of the Messiah but also because we are the spiritual offspring of Abraham.
It is interesting that James uses this same example to prove that faith without works is dead. He says that Abraham was credited righteousness because he acted on his belief and until he acted on that faith, there was no righteousness credited to his account.
Application:
I am really struck by the logical flow of Paul's arguments. I really enjoy the balance of emotion and reason that Paul achieves. I personally tend to lean on the law which doesn't make sense. I don't even live up to my own standards and I try to impose those standards on others. I know that as a follower of Christ there are standards for me to live up to but I can't achieve those standards without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. This means that my role as youth pastor is not to impose standards on people but to use those standards, and our failure to reach them, to point out our need for Christ, then to teach students how to depend on Christ.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
I want that kind of credit card...
Romans 4:1-8
Observe:
Two people's lives and words are used as examples to prove Paul's point that the just will live by faith: Abraham and David.
Paul contrasts the ideas of works and faith or belief. Other key words are righteousness, credit, justified. He also compares the spiritual transaction between Abraham and God to a financial transaction: when a person works, he is credited with wages (the employer owes the employee). However, Abraham did not work, he believed and God credited him with righteousness (it is not that God now owes Abraham anything but as a gift he credits it to Abrahams account).
Interpret:
Paul uses Abraham because he was considered the father of the Jewish faith. If the father of Judaism was credited righteousness because of what he believed as opposed to what he did, then all the rest of humanity cannot earn God's righteousness through works either. Paul also uses David because he was THE king that everyone looked back on. Paul uses these two important figures to add authority to his argument: "Look, I'm not making this up. Even Abraham and David talked about this."
The main argument here is summed up in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." If it was about earning anything, all that humanity would earn is death because they have sinned. Apart from faith in God, death was being credited to our account. But, when a person puts their faith in God and his promises, God does not count their sins against them anymore ("The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord") - like that bank account is wiped out - and instead credits righteousness to their account.
Apply:
God is gracious and merciful. He could have made me (and the rest of humanity) to draw from the account of death that I had built up but, simply because I trusted him, he cancelled that account and credited my account with righteousness.
Again, there is no cause for arrogance - I have nothing to boast about. As Paul says, "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about..." But he wasn't so he doesn't and neither do I. Why am I righteous? Because God chose to credit my account. Not because I had any merit -I didn't (couldn't) finally bank up enough righteousness to get chosen. The fact that he chose me is nothing to boast about - he chose weasels like Jacob so all I'm saying when I get arrogant about God choosing me is that I am in the company of weasels (and properly so).
Finally, this righteousness that was credited to my account means that I should not take it for granted. I don't believe that God will take it away from me but he would be entirely justified to do so because it is his righteousness in the first place. I know that if I had given someone something so valuable and they took it for granted and abused it the way that I abuse God's righteousness, I would want to take it back. O, God, please forgive me for the way that I have abused your amazing gift!
Observe:
Two people's lives and words are used as examples to prove Paul's point that the just will live by faith: Abraham and David.
Paul contrasts the ideas of works and faith or belief. Other key words are righteousness, credit, justified. He also compares the spiritual transaction between Abraham and God to a financial transaction: when a person works, he is credited with wages (the employer owes the employee). However, Abraham did not work, he believed and God credited him with righteousness (it is not that God now owes Abraham anything but as a gift he credits it to Abrahams account).
Interpret:
Paul uses Abraham because he was considered the father of the Jewish faith. If the father of Judaism was credited righteousness because of what he believed as opposed to what he did, then all the rest of humanity cannot earn God's righteousness through works either. Paul also uses David because he was THE king that everyone looked back on. Paul uses these two important figures to add authority to his argument: "Look, I'm not making this up. Even Abraham and David talked about this."
The main argument here is summed up in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." If it was about earning anything, all that humanity would earn is death because they have sinned. Apart from faith in God, death was being credited to our account. But, when a person puts their faith in God and his promises, God does not count their sins against them anymore ("The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord") - like that bank account is wiped out - and instead credits righteousness to their account.
Apply:
God is gracious and merciful. He could have made me (and the rest of humanity) to draw from the account of death that I had built up but, simply because I trusted him, he cancelled that account and credited my account with righteousness.
Again, there is no cause for arrogance - I have nothing to boast about. As Paul says, "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about..." But he wasn't so he doesn't and neither do I. Why am I righteous? Because God chose to credit my account. Not because I had any merit -I didn't (couldn't) finally bank up enough righteousness to get chosen. The fact that he chose me is nothing to boast about - he chose weasels like Jacob so all I'm saying when I get arrogant about God choosing me is that I am in the company of weasels (and properly so).
Finally, this righteousness that was credited to my account means that I should not take it for granted. I don't believe that God will take it away from me but he would be entirely justified to do so because it is his righteousness in the first place. I know that if I had given someone something so valuable and they took it for granted and abused it the way that I abuse God's righteousness, I would want to take it back. O, God, please forgive me for the way that I have abused your amazing gift!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
boasting is out
Romans 3:27-31
Observations:
Paul uses rhetorical questions to make his point (a technique he uses frequently - especially in Romans). There is a contrast/comparison between the circumcised (or Jews) and uncircumcised (or Gentiles) as well as a contrast between justification by faith and justification by the law.
Interpretation:
Paul is saying that because there is only one God (the most important belief of Jewish faith: "The Lord our God is one...") that there is therefore only one way of salvation for both the Jew and the Gentile: through faith. This means that there is nothing to boast about because justification is not about what a person does but what a person believes or where a person places his faith. Paul is not saying that the Law is useless and should be abolished. He is saying that apart from faith, a person cannot keep the Law but after being saved, a person is empowered by God's Spirit to uphold the Law.
Application:
I remember a commercial for microwave pizza from a few years ago. Two guys were arguing about putting a personal pizza in the microwave; one guy saying that it would get soggy and the other guy insisting that it could be done. The commercial ends with the guys eating the pizza from the microwave with a nice crispy crust. The second guy has a smug attitude about it all and the first guy brings him back to earth by saying, "It's not like you invented it!"
That reminds me of the Christian faith. It is easy to get smug, to boast that I have found the right way to gain God's favour but I need to relax because it's not like I invented it. I haven't earned God's favour - it was given to me through Christ and I simply believed or had faith. There's not much to boast about there!
Observations:
Paul uses rhetorical questions to make his point (a technique he uses frequently - especially in Romans). There is a contrast/comparison between the circumcised (or Jews) and uncircumcised (or Gentiles) as well as a contrast between justification by faith and justification by the law.
Interpretation:
Paul is saying that because there is only one God (the most important belief of Jewish faith: "The Lord our God is one...") that there is therefore only one way of salvation for both the Jew and the Gentile: through faith. This means that there is nothing to boast about because justification is not about what a person does but what a person believes or where a person places his faith. Paul is not saying that the Law is useless and should be abolished. He is saying that apart from faith, a person cannot keep the Law but after being saved, a person is empowered by God's Spirit to uphold the Law.
Application:
I remember a commercial for microwave pizza from a few years ago. Two guys were arguing about putting a personal pizza in the microwave; one guy saying that it would get soggy and the other guy insisting that it could be done. The commercial ends with the guys eating the pizza from the microwave with a nice crispy crust. The second guy has a smug attitude about it all and the first guy brings him back to earth by saying, "It's not like you invented it!"
That reminds me of the Christian faith. It is easy to get smug, to boast that I have found the right way to gain God's favour but I need to relax because it's not like I invented it. I haven't earned God's favour - it was given to me through Christ and I simply believed or had faith. There's not much to boast about there!
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