Romans 13:8-14
Observe:
Key words: Love, commandments/law
There is a list of behaviour that belongs to the sinful nature and not to the child of God. Paul contrasts the sinful nature to the new nature using imagery like light and dark, day and night. He also uses a word picture: he likens putting off the things of the sinful nature to getting rid of bad armour. It is implied that a Christian would then put on new clothes or armour.
Paul also uses a word picture to depict Christians as sleeping and calls them to wake up because the dawn is approaching.
Interpret:
The word debt connects to the previous section where Paul admonishes us to give what we owe to whomever we owe it. Here, he says that the only debt that should remain outstanding is our debt of love. Paul argues that love fulfills the law for when I do not covet nor murder nor steal I am loving my neighbour which is the summary of that section of the law.
We need to make urgent payments on our debt of love because the end is coming very quickly. Not only should this motivate us to love our neighbour but to live holy lives.
Apply:
I know that God hates the deeds of darkness and if pleasing God and being like Jesus really is important to me, I'm going to put those things out of my life. Earlier, Paul implies that no one can change their life unless God changes for them but here he implies that there is some effort that is necessary on our part. I think that if we put those two ideas together, this means that I need to put a lot of effort into creating space for God to change me.
I am getting a little bit tired of people who are willing to compromise in the physical relationships, in their honesty and integrity, in the way that they treat other people (especially gossip and manipulation) and not see it as a huge deal. When I look at Matt 5, Jesus says that engaging in these behaviours puts a person in danger of hell. I'd say that's pretty serious. I'm afraid that a lot of "Christians" are going to be very surprised when they stand before God because they were relying on some prayer said when they were 3 or 4 to save them.
I want to be really clear - I do not believe that salvation is by works. It is only by the grace of God. However, the life of Christ in someone will always result in evidence in the way that they live and act, won't it? If there is no evidence, shouldn't that indicate that there is no life? I know that it is a journey and at times it is a battle (believe me, I know that - the battle continues for me!) but I am getting a little bit tired of everyone (including myself) taking sin so casually. Paul calls it the armour of darkness. Maybe it's like the venom suit in Spider Man 3 - it completely takes over and we have to fight to get rid of it. I really believe eternity is at stake if we don't.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
governing on behalf of God
Romans 13:1-7
Observe:
Key words: authorities, God's servant, wrong, right, fear, give
It is important to remember that Paul is writing to Christians in Rome who were under the governmental authority of the emporer at this time - likely Nero - and were quite likely facing persecution.
The passage contains a list of things we may owe to people that we ought to pay.
Interpret:
Because of the paganism of the rulers and their persecution of the Christians, it would have been quite tempting to teach that the Christian owed allegiance to no one but Christ. Paul teaches just the opposite: the authorities have been established by God to act as his servants in establishing an doling out justice in the civle realm.
Apply:
Even though I may not agree with the governments policies and decisions, I must respect them as the agents of God. Paul makes it clear that Christians, as much as possible, ought to be tax paying, law abiding citizens who respectfully might disagree with their leaders but will honour them as agents or servants of God. This does not call for blind obedience to leaders but that our default should not be blind disobedience either.
Observe:
Key words: authorities, God's servant, wrong, right, fear, give
It is important to remember that Paul is writing to Christians in Rome who were under the governmental authority of the emporer at this time - likely Nero - and were quite likely facing persecution.
The passage contains a list of things we may owe to people that we ought to pay.
Interpret:
Because of the paganism of the rulers and their persecution of the Christians, it would have been quite tempting to teach that the Christian owed allegiance to no one but Christ. Paul teaches just the opposite: the authorities have been established by God to act as his servants in establishing an doling out justice in the civle realm.
Apply:
Even though I may not agree with the governments policies and decisions, I must respect them as the agents of God. Paul makes it clear that Christians, as much as possible, ought to be tax paying, law abiding citizens who respectfully might disagree with their leaders but will honour them as agents or servants of God. This does not call for blind obedience to leaders but that our default should not be blind disobedience either.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
what if we lived this way?
Romans 12:17-21
There's a group of Christians out there who call themselves the "red letter Christians" meaning that they emphasize the teachings of Jesus. These Christians would usually be called proponents of the social gospel by those who call themselves fundamentalist Christians because they teach that it is not just what you believe but how you act on that belief. They also tend to emphasize social justice as part of evangelism and the cost of discipleship as part of salvation. I have to say that I am attracted to the red letter Christians - I think what they say makes a lot of sense and I am personally challenged by them in regard to my lifestyle and what I emphasize in my teaching. My problem is that their very name tends to de-emphasize the rest of the Bible (as if all we needed to be "good" disciples of Christ is the gospels).
The truth is that the teaching of "red letter Christians" is found throughout the Bible and this passage is an excellent example.
Can you imagine if followers of Jesus started living out what Paul calls us to here? To not take revenge, to feed our enemies and to not retaliate with force but to overwhelm evil with good. What would our world look like? What if we did whatever we could to live at peace with people? What if we weren't so concerned with us being treated fairly and were more concerned about others being treated fairly? I think that we would really stand out! Maybe then we'd be the "light of the world" that Jesus said we were.
There's a group of Christians out there who call themselves the "red letter Christians" meaning that they emphasize the teachings of Jesus. These Christians would usually be called proponents of the social gospel by those who call themselves fundamentalist Christians because they teach that it is not just what you believe but how you act on that belief. They also tend to emphasize social justice as part of evangelism and the cost of discipleship as part of salvation. I have to say that I am attracted to the red letter Christians - I think what they say makes a lot of sense and I am personally challenged by them in regard to my lifestyle and what I emphasize in my teaching. My problem is that their very name tends to de-emphasize the rest of the Bible (as if all we needed to be "good" disciples of Christ is the gospels).
The truth is that the teaching of "red letter Christians" is found throughout the Bible and this passage is an excellent example.
Can you imagine if followers of Jesus started living out what Paul calls us to here? To not take revenge, to feed our enemies and to not retaliate with force but to overwhelm evil with good. What would our world look like? What if we did whatever we could to live at peace with people? What if we weren't so concerned with us being treated fairly and were more concerned about others being treated fairly? I think that we would really stand out! Maybe then we'd be the "light of the world" that Jesus said we were.
Friday, September 21, 2007
rules for living in community
Romans 12:9-16
Observe:
This section is entirely made up of imperative commands. The key word is love since most of the other commands are about how to practically live out that love. There are some contrasting imperatives but they mostly serve to clarify each other.
Interpret:
Paul is explaining how to live in community. He just finished saying that we are all one in Christ even though we have different gifts. We should use those gifts for the good of the Body and, judging from the flow of the passage, the way we do that is in love that is active. He then tells the reader what active love looks like.
In light of the whole book, Paul would say that it was impossible to live this love out in community without faith (we are justified by faith and live by faith). This is consistent with the message of the whole Bible - yes, we bear responsibility to act out what we believe but it is impossible unless Christ is living in us through faith (John 15). If this is true, then Paul is really shaping the growth (or fruit) that one should see in Christian community by providing some parameters or markers for it.
Application:
If I don't see this kind of fruit in my life, it is evidence that I do not have Christ living through me in faith. I know that I try so hard to be perfect: the perfect youth pastor, the perfect husband, the perfect Christian, the perfect driver. Just yesterday, upon running into the back of the car in front of me, I got really frustrated and angry. I want to blame someone or something else (and, honestly, her tail lights were not working properly) so that I can maintain my perfect driving record. There is a car currently sitting in the parking lot with a bashed in hood to remind me that I am not perfect. Hopefully I can learn that lesson in my spiritual life as well: I need the life of Christ living in me to produce fruit. I can do nothing apart from him (I think there's a verse that says something about that...)
Observe:
This section is entirely made up of imperative commands. The key word is love since most of the other commands are about how to practically live out that love. There are some contrasting imperatives but they mostly serve to clarify each other.
Interpret:
Paul is explaining how to live in community. He just finished saying that we are all one in Christ even though we have different gifts. We should use those gifts for the good of the Body and, judging from the flow of the passage, the way we do that is in love that is active. He then tells the reader what active love looks like.
In light of the whole book, Paul would say that it was impossible to live this love out in community without faith (we are justified by faith and live by faith). This is consistent with the message of the whole Bible - yes, we bear responsibility to act out what we believe but it is impossible unless Christ is living in us through faith (John 15). If this is true, then Paul is really shaping the growth (or fruit) that one should see in Christian community by providing some parameters or markers for it.
Application:
If I don't see this kind of fruit in my life, it is evidence that I do not have Christ living through me in faith. I know that I try so hard to be perfect: the perfect youth pastor, the perfect husband, the perfect Christian, the perfect driver. Just yesterday, upon running into the back of the car in front of me, I got really frustrated and angry. I want to blame someone or something else (and, honestly, her tail lights were not working properly) so that I can maintain my perfect driving record. There is a car currently sitting in the parking lot with a bashed in hood to remind me that I am not perfect. Hopefully I can learn that lesson in my spiritual life as well: I need the life of Christ living in me to produce fruit. I can do nothing apart from him (I think there's a verse that says something about that...)
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
i'm a transformer...
Romans 12:1-8
Observe:
Key words: mercy, living sacrifices, one body, gifts.
Paul contrasts conforming to this world with being transformed and he compares a physical body with the spiritual body of Christ. This is very vivid word picture where the one body with many members compares to the one church with many unique individuals. This passage contains a list of spiritual gifts: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy.
I also notice that when Paul talks about the gifts, he adds some qualifiers to the last three: give generously, lead diligently, show mercy cheerfully.
Interpret:
Connecting words: Therefore (v. 1) connecting back to 11:29-32 which is a discussion on God's mercy (Paul makes sure we get this connecting by reinforcing it: "in view of God's mercy..."). Then (v.2) indicates that the logical flow is: after your spiritual transformation you will be able to know the will of God.
In my own words:
Because God has had mercy on us we should respond by offering our whole lives to him. This involves not conforming to the world's ideas but being completely transformed by a new way of thinking. One of the new ways we'll have to think is about ourselves: we shouldn't be involved in self-promotion but recognize that the gifts we have been given have been given to us by God and they don't make us any better or worse than anyone else and that we are all part of the same Body, working for the same goal; the glory of God. We shouldn't be concerned about the gifts that we don't have but use our gifts in accordance with the faith God has given us.
Apply:
I know that I am still trapped in a worldly way of thinking and that I need my mind to be renewed daily and more completely. I still am intrigued by all the things I may have missed out on because of my decision to follow Jesus: drinking, sex, parties, etc. I need to focus instead on all the things I have in Christ.
I also still struggle with how to think about myself. I know that God has given me some good gifts and I love to use them but the sinful side of me loves to get noticed using them. I need to remember that my gift of teaching does not make me any better than anyone else. I need to remember that I am to use my gift not for my own glory but for the benefit of the Body and for the glory of God.
This passage tells me that God is very just and the master planner - he knew what each person needs in the time period in which they live to accomplish his plan for this world and so he gave each person the gift necessary to fulfill the purpose for which he created them and to do the job that he has assigned to them. This is an incredible mind!
Observe:
Key words: mercy, living sacrifices, one body, gifts.
Paul contrasts conforming to this world with being transformed and he compares a physical body with the spiritual body of Christ. This is very vivid word picture where the one body with many members compares to the one church with many unique individuals. This passage contains a list of spiritual gifts: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy.
I also notice that when Paul talks about the gifts, he adds some qualifiers to the last three: give generously, lead diligently, show mercy cheerfully.
Interpret:
Connecting words: Therefore (v. 1) connecting back to 11:29-32 which is a discussion on God's mercy (Paul makes sure we get this connecting by reinforcing it: "in view of God's mercy..."). Then (v.2) indicates that the logical flow is: after your spiritual transformation you will be able to know the will of God.
In my own words:
Because God has had mercy on us we should respond by offering our whole lives to him. This involves not conforming to the world's ideas but being completely transformed by a new way of thinking. One of the new ways we'll have to think is about ourselves: we shouldn't be involved in self-promotion but recognize that the gifts we have been given have been given to us by God and they don't make us any better or worse than anyone else and that we are all part of the same Body, working for the same goal; the glory of God. We shouldn't be concerned about the gifts that we don't have but use our gifts in accordance with the faith God has given us.
Apply:
I know that I am still trapped in a worldly way of thinking and that I need my mind to be renewed daily and more completely. I still am intrigued by all the things I may have missed out on because of my decision to follow Jesus: drinking, sex, parties, etc. I need to focus instead on all the things I have in Christ.
I also still struggle with how to think about myself. I know that God has given me some good gifts and I love to use them but the sinful side of me loves to get noticed using them. I need to remember that my gift of teaching does not make me any better than anyone else. I need to remember that I am to use my gift not for my own glory but for the benefit of the Body and for the glory of God.
This passage tells me that God is very just and the master planner - he knew what each person needs in the time period in which they live to accomplish his plan for this world and so he gave each person the gift necessary to fulfill the purpose for which he created them and to do the job that he has assigned to them. This is an incredible mind!
Friday, September 14, 2007
deep
Romans 11:33-36
Paul ends this section with an outpouring of spontaneous praise. This could be a hymn that the early church sang or it could be a Paul original. In any case, what Paul sings about is the incredible depths to the mind of God. He is entirely beyond figuring out - not because he is inconsistent (although from a human perspective he can seem that way) but because he is so completely different than we are and anything else that we've ever experienced is. Paul also sings about the fact that God does not owe anyone anything. No one has ever given to God what God hasn't given to him in the first place. No one holds God in his debt. He is the source of all things and the giver of all things.
My heart bursts to sing of God's greatness! Even though I can't understand him and even when he seems dangerous and untame I know that he is good and he is great. Sing with me?
Paul ends this section with an outpouring of spontaneous praise. This could be a hymn that the early church sang or it could be a Paul original. In any case, what Paul sings about is the incredible depths to the mind of God. He is entirely beyond figuring out - not because he is inconsistent (although from a human perspective he can seem that way) but because he is so completely different than we are and anything else that we've ever experienced is. Paul also sings about the fact that God does not owe anyone anything. No one has ever given to God what God hasn't given to him in the first place. No one holds God in his debt. He is the source of all things and the giver of all things.
My heart bursts to sing of God's greatness! Even though I can't understand him and even when he seems dangerous and untame I know that he is good and he is great. Sing with me?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
benefitting from disobedience
Romans 11:25-32
Paul connects disobedience and mercy in this passage. He quotes from Isaiah and Jeremiah to support his point that all Israel will be saved. His main argument is that the hardening of Israel is not a complete and total hardening but that one day they will return to God. I, as a Gentile, benefit from Israel's disobedience. His logic is: Israel disobeyed God so God turned his attention to the Gentiles; this pouring out of mercy on the Gentiles will stir up envy in the heart of Israel and they will repent and receive God's mercy. Because God is in control, it means that he turned us all (Jew and Gentile) over to the disobedience so he could have mercy on is. Our sinfulness was predetermined by God in order to bring him glory.
This does not excuse me (Paul makes that clear - at some level it was still my choice to be disobedient). It does speak of the incredible sovereignty of God and how far he will go to bring himself glory. In a human this would be incredeibly selfish but because there is no one higher than God that he should be seeking glory for, it is right and good (and hard to understand).
Paul connects disobedience and mercy in this passage. He quotes from Isaiah and Jeremiah to support his point that all Israel will be saved. His main argument is that the hardening of Israel is not a complete and total hardening but that one day they will return to God. I, as a Gentile, benefit from Israel's disobedience. His logic is: Israel disobeyed God so God turned his attention to the Gentiles; this pouring out of mercy on the Gentiles will stir up envy in the heart of Israel and they will repent and receive God's mercy. Because God is in control, it means that he turned us all (Jew and Gentile) over to the disobedience so he could have mercy on is. Our sinfulness was predetermined by God in order to bring him glory.
This does not excuse me (Paul makes that clear - at some level it was still my choice to be disobedient). It does speak of the incredible sovereignty of God and how far he will go to bring himself glory. In a human this would be incredeibly selfish but because there is no one higher than God that he should be seeking glory for, it is right and good (and hard to understand).
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
rooted
Romans 11:17-24
Paul describes a tree where certain branches have been cut off and other branches have been grafted in. The grafted in branches become part of the main tree.
Paul warns the Gentiles, as grafted in branches, not to be arrogant about their new position because a) they do not bring life to the root but are brought to life by the root and b) it would be easy for God to break them off and graft the original branches back in. Paul's point is that the nation of Israel was cut off because of unbelief and we were grafted in by faith - not by any merit in ourselves. If we lose faith and become arrogant (thinking, like Israel did, that we somehow merited our position), we are in danger of being cut off.
This is not the picture of God that we generally hold to. Paul actually points this out: we see both the kindness and the sterness of God in this. He is so kind and gracious and merciful that he grafted me in but he is stern - he is not soft. This is a God that I can worship because he is strong and fills me with wonder (and, at times, fear - not in the sense that he is a boogey man but in the sense that he is an incredibly powerful and wild king).
On a side note, I am incredibly frustrated with the NIV study bible since they never have notes on the interesting verses. For example, they remain strangely silent on v. 21 and the end of v. 22. Have some balls!!
Paul describes a tree where certain branches have been cut off and other branches have been grafted in. The grafted in branches become part of the main tree.
Paul warns the Gentiles, as grafted in branches, not to be arrogant about their new position because a) they do not bring life to the root but are brought to life by the root and b) it would be easy for God to break them off and graft the original branches back in. Paul's point is that the nation of Israel was cut off because of unbelief and we were grafted in by faith - not by any merit in ourselves. If we lose faith and become arrogant (thinking, like Israel did, that we somehow merited our position), we are in danger of being cut off.
This is not the picture of God that we generally hold to. Paul actually points this out: we see both the kindness and the sterness of God in this. He is so kind and gracious and merciful that he grafted me in but he is stern - he is not soft. This is a God that I can worship because he is strong and fills me with wonder (and, at times, fear - not in the sense that he is a boogey man but in the sense that he is an incredibly powerful and wild king).
On a side note, I am incredibly frustrated with the NIV study bible since they never have notes on the interesting verses. For example, they remain strangely silent on v. 21 and the end of v. 22. Have some balls!!
Monday, September 10, 2007
I make Jews envious?
Romans 11:11-6
The key words here are: trangression, envy, riches. Paul contrasts the loss of for the Jews to the riches of the Gentiles, the benefits the Gentiles received from the rejection and hardening of the Jews to the benefits the world will receive from their awakening and acceptance.
Paul is arguing that God still has a purpose for the Jews - that his rejection of them (based on their rejection of him) is not final but that by opening the door to the Gentiles, God is hoping to arouse the envy of the Jews. I understand his argument but it seems a bit contradictory: God knows that the Gentiles being brought into the covenant will not make the Jews envious because it is God himself, according to Paul in the previous verses, who has hardened and blinded the Jews.
In this passage I see the sovereignty of God again: he is orchestrating the events of this world, including the (according to Paul, temporary) hardening of the hearts of the nation of Israel for his ultimate glory. God is at work. As far as what I should be doing because of this passage, I am humbled because I am made aware again that my being adopted in the family of God had so little to do with me and so much to do with God and his character.
The key words here are: trangression, envy, riches. Paul contrasts the loss of for the Jews to the riches of the Gentiles, the benefits the Gentiles received from the rejection and hardening of the Jews to the benefits the world will receive from their awakening and acceptance.
Paul is arguing that God still has a purpose for the Jews - that his rejection of them (based on their rejection of him) is not final but that by opening the door to the Gentiles, God is hoping to arouse the envy of the Jews. I understand his argument but it seems a bit contradictory: God knows that the Gentiles being brought into the covenant will not make the Jews envious because it is God himself, according to Paul in the previous verses, who has hardened and blinded the Jews.
In this passage I see the sovereignty of God again: he is orchestrating the events of this world, including the (according to Paul, temporary) hardening of the hearts of the nation of Israel for his ultimate glory. God is at work. As far as what I should be doing because of this passage, I am humbled because I am made aware again that my being adopted in the family of God had so little to do with me and so much to do with God and his character.
Friday, September 7, 2007
bad hermeneutics and a mystery God
Romans 11:7-10
The key word of this passage is "hardened". Paul is saying that even among God's chosen people, he has still chosen to harden and blind some to the truth. He is basically continuing his argument from chapter 10: even among the nation who rejected the Messiah there remains a remnant of those who accept him.
Paul proves his point by quoting two passages of Scripture. One, from Isaiah, is used mainly within the context that Isaiah intended. The other would receive a failing grade from any bible college professor worth his salt. When I went to college, there were all kinds of rules about interpreting and using Scripture: consider the genre, the context, the original intent of the author, etc. Here, Paul takes poetry written by David against his enemies and uses it to describe those of the nation of Israel whose hearts God has chosen to harden. He breaks all the rules!
I don't understand God. First he chooses the children of Jacob as his special nation and then he chooses some (actually the vast majority) within that nation to be hardened and blinded to the truth. I don't understand how this brings God glory. It also puts some fear into my heart: if God would choose a people and then reject the majority of them, how secure am I? I think Paul tells me in the rest of this chapter that I am not very secure.
The key word of this passage is "hardened". Paul is saying that even among God's chosen people, he has still chosen to harden and blind some to the truth. He is basically continuing his argument from chapter 10: even among the nation who rejected the Messiah there remains a remnant of those who accept him.
Paul proves his point by quoting two passages of Scripture. One, from Isaiah, is used mainly within the context that Isaiah intended. The other would receive a failing grade from any bible college professor worth his salt. When I went to college, there were all kinds of rules about interpreting and using Scripture: consider the genre, the context, the original intent of the author, etc. Here, Paul takes poetry written by David against his enemies and uses it to describe those of the nation of Israel whose hearts God has chosen to harden. He breaks all the rules!
I don't understand God. First he chooses the children of Jacob as his special nation and then he chooses some (actually the vast majority) within that nation to be hardened and blinded to the truth. I don't understand how this brings God glory. It also puts some fear into my heart: if God would choose a people and then reject the majority of them, how secure am I? I think Paul tells me in the rest of this chapter that I am not very secure.
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