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!).
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