Chapter 5 speaks of the peace we receive when we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Peace doesn't mean that you will no longer have problems or stress. Rather it is a security in knowing that God is there for you, and an assurance that one day you will spend eternity with Him. Paul says to rejoice in hope and also in suffering. He claims, "...suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." And if anyone had a right to complain about circumstances, it would be Paul. (Well, Job had a rough time too.) Too often we question God when bad things happen. Our suffering should not lead us to doubt, but instead to hope. I love this quote from my study guide on Romans, "Just as a resistance to a muscle strengthens it, so challenges to our hope can strengthen it."
When you accept Christ, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. That is, God dwelling inside you! He set it up long before you even thought about loving Him. While I might not understand all of His ways, I know that He loves me. That I can get through anything because I have His power to rely on. Many times I've heard people misquote this verse, "God will not give me more than I can handle." Wrong!! Often He gives you more than you can take on, so that you have to lean on Him. His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. Just look at the rag-tag group of disciples Jesus gathered. They were just ordinary people who said yes. And when they received the Holy Spirit (the same one that resides in you and me), then they were able to do extraordinary things.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Romans Ch.5
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Romans Ch.3 & 4
Who is better, the Jews or the Gentiles? Answer: We are all under sin and fall short of the glory of God. Whether we are under the law or not, we will all be held accountable to Him. No Jew or Gentile can become righteous from obeying the law. Rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
What does that mean? I'll put it in 3rd grade terms. When students come at the beginning of the year, many are still nose-pickers. They don't know that they shouldn't do it until someone tells them (either me or a rude peer). When they are aware that it's wrong, they will begin to hide it better. Some pickers cover their noses with their other hand, or the smarter ones will even put a book in front of their faces.
Because we were all nose-pickers (or sinners), we had to be made right somehow. This righteous from God (that is, Jesus) was sent as the ultimate sacrifice for our wrongs. There is no boasting. Some might say, "Well, I don't pick my nose anymore." But your nosepicking in the past has to be made right. Still others use the argument, "Well, I'm forgiven so I can continue picking my nose because my wrongs enhance God's righteousness." To which I would say, Stop picking your nose!
In Chapter 4 Paul spends the whole chapter describing Abraham. Abe wasn't considered righteous based on his actions, but only because of his strong faith.
For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. But where there is no law there is no transgression. ~Romans 4:14-15Because Jesus died for our sins, we're are no longer bound under the law. Our sins are wiped clean and there is no wrath. We are now called to live by faith in a God who loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. And if we are truly living by faith, why would we ever want to continue messing around with our former sins?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Romans Ch.1 & 2
Throughout Romans we see the word righteousness. Paul tells us that a righteousness from God is revealed by faith. He is referring to Christ. He also states that the righteous will live by their faith, not through obedience. However, let's not forget that faith without works is dead. We can't work our way into Heaven. It's a free gift. But God also reminds us that it's not a license to do as we please.
Next Paul discusses the wrath of God and the actions of those deserving of it. It's interesting that gossipers are included in the same boat as murderers and God-haters. As Christians we sometimes look down on others because their sins are "worse" than ours. But God cannot tolerate any sin. None. It's not that He's waiting to punish evil sinners. He wants all of us to return to Him. In fact it's God's kindness, not a fear of punishment, that leads us to repentance.
The law is also a common theme in Romans. The law is inherent. Jesus summed it up with 2 commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. When a person (even an unbeliever) follows one of these out of instinct, it confirms God's truth. As Christians, we are not judged based on the law. Rather, our salvation comes only from the Righteousness of God that we talked about earlier.
Paul talks about the Jews and the Gentiles regarding the law. To the Jews who were bragging about their relationship to God, Paul gave them a sobering reminder which came straight from the OT, "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." And as I read it, the word Gentiles just didn't quite seem right. We could easily replace it with the word outsiders. Like the Jews, we can get caught up in our oh-so-fake image meanwhile we are dying on the inside. Paul compares it to the act of circumcision. It means nothing if is only done outwardly. There has to be a circumcision of the heart.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Waking Up to Romans
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