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What do we know about kingship? We may have some familiarity with it but as Americans it is not something that really affects our lives. We have read about it in books and seen it in movies, but we have not lived under a king’s rule. To us they are merely stories of long ago. Or are they?
Matthew begins his Gospel by laying out Christ's genealogy as a king. Christ is a king in the line of David. He has come to save and to rule over his people but also to bring peace to the world. If Christ is a king than what does that mean for those who follow him?
It requires undivided devotion and faithfulness to him. To follow a king requires one to solely follow and serve him. You cannot faithfully serve two masters. If we do not serve Jesus Christ in such a way that he is not truly our king. We too often forget that if we are to follow Christ than we cannot just do whatever our heart desires but most work according to God’s desire. The amazing thing is that Jesus not only requires our allegiance he also provides us the strength and grace to live it out. His saving work gives us the ability to serve him faithfully. We can love him because he first loved us. So let us then serve our king faithfully and wholly.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Luke 2: God's Promise
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God’s promises are often fulfilled in ways we do not expect. For some of us that means we are disappointed but for some of us we experience great joy. The nation of Israel expected a specific type of savior and messiah—one that would deliver them from the hand of Rome. But what they received was a savior who saved them from the tyranny of sin and death but not the hand of Rome. When Christ came some accepted him and experienced great joy while other rejected him and suffer greatly for it.
God promised that Simeon, a devout and righteous man, would see Jesus Christ before he died. When Christ came, Simeon prophesied that many would rise or fall and that Jesus would reveal what is in the hearts of many (v. 34-35). Jesus’ life and ministry polarized ancient Israel so that many rejected Christ while others accepted God’s promised savior. Jesus shows what was in their hearts by how they responded to him.
Just as Jesus was then and he still is today a polarizing figure. We react to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many different ways. We can praise and worship Jesus as our King and live it with passion and joy. We can reject it and claim “total” control over our own life or at least that is what we believe. We can also accept it but only as an intellectual belief (commonly seen in the phrase, “I believe in God”), while our lives never reflect a true and lasting change. How we respond to the Gospel Christ reveals our heart.
Jesus is a light to us (v. 32) as our guide and our king, and he is what God promised to Israel. He was not what they expected and many stumbled because of it. Let us not make the same mistake that those who stumbled did. We can trust and follow Jesus Christ our Lord with passion and joy, for it is what God requires of us. Let us not reject God’s promise.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Romans 5: Christ Versus Sin
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Does sin ever seem overwhelming to you?
In Romans 5 Paul goes to great lengths to convince us that sin has been beaten through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. From the very first verse, “through justification we have peace with God”, Paul communicates that on an individual level Jesus has removed all barriers with God.
Ever feel that you are making too many mistakes to really have Christ’s love? Verse 8 says while we were sinners, sin defined us and was our identity, is the time when Christ died for us. And as verse ten says, if his death accomplished peace between God and us then Jesus’ risen life will accomplish even more peace and salvation in our lives.
What about the sin all around us? God restores individuals but what about this deep cycle of hurt and hatred in the world that seems to continue year after year. Paul says over and over that through one normal man sin entered the world. Through one man restoration also entered the world. Sin might have had the head start but restoration was started and is being carried out by God. I think to say that sin is the underdog in this war is an understatement.
There is hope for peace, life, salvation, godliness, and restoration for the individual and for the world. It all came through one man who died while we were still sinners thus demonstrating his great love. Take so time to think about this great hope that we have through Jesus!
Posted by Danny
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=XvMBwN1u64YfvOO4KSX9ZQ_3d_3d
Does sin ever seem overwhelming to you?
In Romans 5 Paul goes to great lengths to convince us that sin has been beaten through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. From the very first verse, “through justification we have peace with God”, Paul communicates that on an individual level Jesus has removed all barriers with God.
Ever feel that you are making too many mistakes to really have Christ’s love? Verse 8 says while we were sinners, sin defined us and was our identity, is the time when Christ died for us. And as verse ten says, if his death accomplished peace between God and us then Jesus’ risen life will accomplish even more peace and salvation in our lives.
What about the sin all around us? God restores individuals but what about this deep cycle of hurt and hatred in the world that seems to continue year after year. Paul says over and over that through one normal man sin entered the world. Through one man restoration also entered the world. Sin might have had the head start but restoration was started and is being carried out by God. I think to say that sin is the underdog in this war is an understatement.
There is hope for peace, life, salvation, godliness, and restoration for the individual and for the world. It all came through one man who died while we were still sinners thus demonstrating his great love. Take so time to think about this great hope that we have through Jesus!
Posted by Danny
Thursday, December 25, 2008
John 1:1-34: The Medium is the Message
Marshall McLuhan was a 20th century scholar famous for coining the phrase, “The medium is the message.”
It’s a great line, and oh so true. Take heavy metal music, for example. Does it really matter what the lyrics are? The medium is the message. Or diamonds, which some of you might be lucky enough to receive this Christmas. There’s no need for words to explain them (that’s why men buy them!); the medium is the message.
Or consider Jesus. He is the eternal Word. He is the Creator. He is Light. He is Life. He is full of grace and truth. He is the bearer of the Holy Spirit.
And he’s as human, as approachable, as touchable and knowable as you and me! He’s God in the flesh!
The medium is the message.
I’m not trying to diminish our need for Jesus’ teachings or miracles, or his death and resurrection—of course we need these. But just the mere presence of Jesus in the flesh, “pitching his tent among us” as John 1:14 metaphorically states, almost says enough. It says God will go to all lengths to reach us. That God will condescend to all depths to reveal himself to us. That God will stop at nothing to save us.
John the Baptist saw the significance of Jesus’ mere presence. Before Christ did much of anything ministry-wise, John was already saying, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The medium is the message. Just the fact that Jesus is here is a harbinger of wonderful things to come!
Posted by Greg
It’s a great line, and oh so true. Take heavy metal music, for example. Does it really matter what the lyrics are? The medium is the message. Or diamonds, which some of you might be lucky enough to receive this Christmas. There’s no need for words to explain them (that’s why men buy them!); the medium is the message.
Or consider Jesus. He is the eternal Word. He is the Creator. He is Light. He is Life. He is full of grace and truth. He is the bearer of the Holy Spirit.
And he’s as human, as approachable, as touchable and knowable as you and me! He’s God in the flesh!
The medium is the message.
I’m not trying to diminish our need for Jesus’ teachings or miracles, or his death and resurrection—of course we need these. But just the mere presence of Jesus in the flesh, “pitching his tent among us” as John 1:14 metaphorically states, almost says enough. It says God will go to all lengths to reach us. That God will condescend to all depths to reveal himself to us. That God will stop at nothing to save us.
John the Baptist saw the significance of Jesus’ mere presence. Before Christ did much of anything ministry-wise, John was already saying, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” The medium is the message. Just the fact that Jesus is here is a harbinger of wonderful things to come!
Posted by Greg
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Hebrews 1: God speaks
Hebrews 1: He has spoken by his son
When the USA planned its initial invasion into Iraq, they wanted to communicate “shock and awe” so that the people of Iraq and the surrounding region would recognize the superior power of the American military force and the grave consequences for opposing it. When God invaded this world, there was very little “shock and awe,” barely even a shout. His invasion was closer to a whisper than it was a shout.
The only shock and awe in the story of Jesus birth came with the announcement by angels. Yet, even that seemed to go relatively unnoticed as their messages were delivered to relative nobodies. Hebrews 1 says an awful lot about angels and so does the Christmas story since Gabriel and the hosts of angels play such an involved role in the story. But Hebrews 1 isn’t about angels, just like Christmas isn’t about angels, shopping, trees, or even family. Christmas is about Jesus—and his whisper- like invasion.
Whisper is the right term for this when looking at Christmas through the eyes of Hebrews 1. That is because though a whisper is very soft and gentle, a whisper is still a spoken word. Hebrews 1 describes Jesus as the ultimate spoken word. Before Jesus came, people would read the Old Testament to understand what God is like. Now that Jesus has come, he himself has revealed to us “the exact representation of God’s being.” If we want to know what God is like, we can now look at Jesus. If we want to know what God has to say, we can listen to Jesus. If we want to know what God likes, we can look at what Jesus likes. This word came to us with no profundity, but more like a whisper—that you might miss if you are not listening.
Listen to that whisper today on Christmas eve and tomorrow. This whisper is the radiance of God’s glory and God’s word spoken to us. As you celebrate Christmas, would you look at the manger and see the gentle whisper of God for you that can be a word to you wherever you are and whatever you face. Bask in the radiance of God’s glory that is revealed in that manger for you.
Coming in the New Year:
It can be tempting to think that since Jesus came, the Old Testament isn’t as helpful to us as we seek to grow in our relationship with God. Actually, now that Jesus is here as the exact representation of God, we can look at the Old Testament in light of who he is and understand it more fully than those who read it before Jesus’ arrival. So, starting in January, we will begin a series called The Gospel in the History of Israel. We will begin with the book of Judges and we will spend January and February working through Judges-Ruth-1 and 2 Samuel.
When the USA planned its initial invasion into Iraq, they wanted to communicate “shock and awe” so that the people of Iraq and the surrounding region would recognize the superior power of the American military force and the grave consequences for opposing it. When God invaded this world, there was very little “shock and awe,” barely even a shout. His invasion was closer to a whisper than it was a shout.
The only shock and awe in the story of Jesus birth came with the announcement by angels. Yet, even that seemed to go relatively unnoticed as their messages were delivered to relative nobodies. Hebrews 1 says an awful lot about angels and so does the Christmas story since Gabriel and the hosts of angels play such an involved role in the story. But Hebrews 1 isn’t about angels, just like Christmas isn’t about angels, shopping, trees, or even family. Christmas is about Jesus—and his whisper- like invasion.
Whisper is the right term for this when looking at Christmas through the eyes of Hebrews 1. That is because though a whisper is very soft and gentle, a whisper is still a spoken word. Hebrews 1 describes Jesus as the ultimate spoken word. Before Jesus came, people would read the Old Testament to understand what God is like. Now that Jesus has come, he himself has revealed to us “the exact representation of God’s being.” If we want to know what God is like, we can now look at Jesus. If we want to know what God has to say, we can listen to Jesus. If we want to know what God likes, we can look at what Jesus likes. This word came to us with no profundity, but more like a whisper—that you might miss if you are not listening.
Listen to that whisper today on Christmas eve and tomorrow. This whisper is the radiance of God’s glory and God’s word spoken to us. As you celebrate Christmas, would you look at the manger and see the gentle whisper of God for you that can be a word to you wherever you are and whatever you face. Bask in the radiance of God’s glory that is revealed in that manger for you.
Coming in the New Year:
It can be tempting to think that since Jesus came, the Old Testament isn’t as helpful to us as we seek to grow in our relationship with God. Actually, now that Jesus is here as the exact representation of God, we can look at the Old Testament in light of who he is and understand it more fully than those who read it before Jesus’ arrival. So, starting in January, we will begin a series called The Gospel in the History of Israel. We will begin with the book of Judges and we will spend January and February working through Judges-Ruth-1 and 2 Samuel.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Malachi 4: Our Hope
Have you ever had high hopes which were on the verge of being fulfilled… then disaster comes? We have experienced this in our sports, where our sports team seems unstoppable only to fumble away its victory. We have experienced this in our jobs, where we worked for that great promotion, only to be laid off. We have experienced this in relationships, where we thought everything would soon be perfect only to face bitter betrayal. Israel’s return from exile was like this, where the Temple was rebuilt and God’s glory would again fill the land. But instead great blessing, disillusionment quickly set in. To these disheartened people the prophet Malachi speaks.
Into this discouragement, Malachi declares that God loves his people (1:2), that He is Israel’s father, creator and master (1:6, 2:10), that He is the God of justice (2:17), who does not change (3:6), and is honest (3:13). Most importantly Malachi presents a vision of the future of the day where God will come to judge the wicked (4:1) and heal those who fear him (4:2). But before this day God will send his prophet Elijah to bring the people to repentance.
God has proven himself to be faithful to his word. This Elijah has come. The Gospels describe him as John the Baptist and he prepared the way for Christ to come and to save his disheartened people. We may experience all types of discouragement and heartbreaks, but Christ will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and God will cause all things to work for our good (Romans 8:28). Let us then walk freely and in our hope in Jesus Christ that brings us life and strength.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Into this discouragement, Malachi declares that God loves his people (1:2), that He is Israel’s father, creator and master (1:6, 2:10), that He is the God of justice (2:17), who does not change (3:6), and is honest (3:13). Most importantly Malachi presents a vision of the future of the day where God will come to judge the wicked (4:1) and heal those who fear him (4:2). But before this day God will send his prophet Elijah to bring the people to repentance.
God has proven himself to be faithful to his word. This Elijah has come. The Gospels describe him as John the Baptist and he prepared the way for Christ to come and to save his disheartened people. We may experience all types of discouragement and heartbreaks, but Christ will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and God will cause all things to work for our good (Romans 8:28). Let us then walk freely and in our hope in Jesus Christ that brings us life and strength.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Monday, December 22, 2008
Zechariah 9:9-17: The King’s Day
What does it mean to live far away from home? Of course you know where home is but you cannot go back. In fact someone else lives there now. This is what the exile was for Israel. They knew where home was but their enemies lived there. However the story does not end there. God brought his people back to their land. They had been restored! But as good as the homecoming was the return from exile in Babylon pointed to a greater restoration that Israel would never imagine.
The prophet Zechariah pointed to a greater and final day where the king comes to rule and to bring peace to the nations, not just to Israel (v. 10). On that day all of God’s enemies are destroyed (v. 14-15); and the Lord will save his people who sparkle as jewels (v. 16). On that day God will restore twice as much (v. 12) because he has compassion on his people (10:6).
That day came when Christ was born and when shepherds, angels (Luke 2:8-20) and Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) visited him. But the full inauguration has not taken place. That day of fullness is still coming, when God will dwell with us and wipe every tear from our eyes. When we will no longer live in exile as strangers and foreigners but finally home. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away (Revelation 21:3-4). It will be a good and awesome day. For us Christmas touches on that day and we can have hope for today because we know that that day is coming. So let us be truly merry and as the Magi truly worship our king (Matthew 2:2, 11).
Posted By Aaron Miner
The prophet Zechariah pointed to a greater and final day where the king comes to rule and to bring peace to the nations, not just to Israel (v. 10). On that day all of God’s enemies are destroyed (v. 14-15); and the Lord will save his people who sparkle as jewels (v. 16). On that day God will restore twice as much (v. 12) because he has compassion on his people (10:6).
That day came when Christ was born and when shepherds, angels (Luke 2:8-20) and Magi (Matthew 2:1-12) visited him. But the full inauguration has not taken place. That day of fullness is still coming, when God will dwell with us and wipe every tear from our eyes. When we will no longer live in exile as strangers and foreigners but finally home. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will pass away (Revelation 21:3-4). It will be a good and awesome day. For us Christmas touches on that day and we can have hope for today because we know that that day is coming. So let us be truly merry and as the Magi truly worship our king (Matthew 2:2, 11).
Posted By Aaron Miner
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Isaiah 40--Comfort my people
“I told you so!”
Nobody likes to hear that phrase. Yet, we have heard it and we have said it. Why does know one like to hear it? The reason is, that it simply adds insult to injury. If somebody is using that phrase, it is because we have done something that we regret and are currently feeling the hurt. Then the insult comes.
That is not how God responds to his people. In our advent series, we are looking at Isaiah 40 as a standalone. However, if we had been reading it we would know that chapters 1-39 were warnings to Israel and the surrounding nations of impending judgment. Isaiah 40—66 are addressed to the people of Israel who have experienced that judgment. The words aren’t “I told you so,” but rather, “comfort my people, comfort my people.”
Isaiah the prophet was sent to bring words to comfort the people of Israel and point them to the compassion of their God. Yet, Isaiah as the prophet only foreshadowed Jesus, the greater prophet and priest, who would not just bring words, but would be the very word—God himself. H e would be the ultimate comfort for God’s people.
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
When we pray to Jesus, we can know that he understands our pain and our experience—because he too experienced the loss, grief and temptations we do. Because we have the same Holy Spirit that dwelled in Jesus, that Holy Spirit will enable us to commune with Christ and will fill us with the same power, hope and courage that Jesus was filled with. That same Holy Spirit will comfort us, not tell us “I told you so."
Nobody likes to hear that phrase. Yet, we have heard it and we have said it. Why does know one like to hear it? The reason is, that it simply adds insult to injury. If somebody is using that phrase, it is because we have done something that we regret and are currently feeling the hurt. Then the insult comes.
That is not how God responds to his people. In our advent series, we are looking at Isaiah 40 as a standalone. However, if we had been reading it we would know that chapters 1-39 were warnings to Israel and the surrounding nations of impending judgment. Isaiah 40—66 are addressed to the people of Israel who have experienced that judgment. The words aren’t “I told you so,” but rather, “comfort my people, comfort my people.”
Isaiah the prophet was sent to bring words to comfort the people of Israel and point them to the compassion of their God. Yet, Isaiah as the prophet only foreshadowed Jesus, the greater prophet and priest, who would not just bring words, but would be the very word—God himself. H e would be the ultimate comfort for God’s people.
“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
When we pray to Jesus, we can know that he understands our pain and our experience—because he too experienced the loss, grief and temptations we do. Because we have the same Holy Spirit that dwelled in Jesus, that Holy Spirit will enable us to commune with Christ and will fill us with the same power, hope and courage that Jesus was filled with. That same Holy Spirit will comfort us, not tell us “I told you so."
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Isaiah 11: Good Tidings
Christmas is about good news or good tidings; where we hope for something better, something greater than we can experience now. For Israel, Isaiah 11 was part of that good news. Since Jesse’s son, David, left the throne the nation repeatedly failed to live up to their covenantal obligations to Yahweh, who brought them out of Egypt and who made them a great nation. Their hard hearts and stubbornness eventually alienated them from God bringing them hardship and exile from the Promised Land.
But Isaiah promises that the roots of Jesse that bore David were not completely done. The restoration of Israel in Isaiah 11 was a part of the hope the nation of Israel had during their exile. This passage is full of amazing promises. From the roots of Jesse, life would come again with extraordinary fruit! I can image verse twelve building hope in their hearts. “And (He) will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Now they have judgment and exile but restoration is coming.
I think the part that challenges me the most is verse 3 and 4. “And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor. And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth.” Finally, someone who will see people as they truly are has power, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. This was Israel’s hope for salvation as a nation but little did they realize this also is the source of salvation for the entire earth. Someone was coming who could see clearly and restore this chaotic world and our chaotic hearts. Jesus Christ inaugurates this hope in us, that God has not abandoned us but will restore our lives and our hope. This is the voice that cried out from the manager and that the Star of David testified to. Good tidings indeed.
Posted by Danny
But Isaiah promises that the roots of Jesse that bore David were not completely done. The restoration of Israel in Isaiah 11 was a part of the hope the nation of Israel had during their exile. This passage is full of amazing promises. From the roots of Jesse, life would come again with extraordinary fruit! I can image verse twelve building hope in their hearts. “And (He) will assemble the banished ones of Israel, and will gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Now they have judgment and exile but restoration is coming.
I think the part that challenges me the most is verse 3 and 4. “And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make a decision by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor. And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth.” Finally, someone who will see people as they truly are has power, wisdom, and fear of the Lord. This was Israel’s hope for salvation as a nation but little did they realize this also is the source of salvation for the entire earth. Someone was coming who could see clearly and restore this chaotic world and our chaotic hearts. Jesus Christ inaugurates this hope in us, that God has not abandoned us but will restore our lives and our hope. This is the voice that cried out from the manager and that the Star of David testified to. Good tidings indeed.
Posted by Danny
Friday, December 19, 2008
Isaiah 9:1-7--God's Kingdom
When we read about Jesus’ life we can sometimes wonder how people missed the coming of Christ. Perhaps they were looking for a king as they envisioned a king, but Christ had a different vision for his kingdom. The book of Isaiah was written about 700 years before the birth of Christ, and in chapter 9 Isaiah talks about the coming of Christ. He talks about the lifting of despair and the joy that Galilee will experience when Christ is born.
I wonder how often we fall into the same trap of not recognizing Christ’s kingdom. We live in a fallen world so we see and experience the pain in that and long for Christ’s return. In simply waiting for Christ to return and put things back in order do we miss that he has already come. Just like 2000 years ago are we looking for a kingdom yet to come only to miss what Christ has already done? The kingdom is already here, at least in part. Faith, hope and love are all attributes of the kingdom that we have now. Look at what verses 2-7 say about what has changed with the birth of Christ. We do not just longingly wait for the second coming to experience the kingdom; we get to experience the kingdom now.
Enjoy your family and time away from work, but be sure to take some time to ponder the celebration of Christ’s birth and what that brings us today. Let’s celebrate the kingdom that Christ has brought with his first coming. He is coming again and we can rest in that knowledge, but like our brothers from 2000 years ago let’s not lose sight of what he has already done when he came in the form of a baby and laid in a manger.
Posted by Jim
I wonder how often we fall into the same trap of not recognizing Christ’s kingdom. We live in a fallen world so we see and experience the pain in that and long for Christ’s return. In simply waiting for Christ to return and put things back in order do we miss that he has already come. Just like 2000 years ago are we looking for a kingdom yet to come only to miss what Christ has already done? The kingdom is already here, at least in part. Faith, hope and love are all attributes of the kingdom that we have now. Look at what verses 2-7 say about what has changed with the birth of Christ. We do not just longingly wait for the second coming to experience the kingdom; we get to experience the kingdom now.
Enjoy your family and time away from work, but be sure to take some time to ponder the celebration of Christ’s birth and what that brings us today. Let’s celebrate the kingdom that Christ has brought with his first coming. He is coming again and we can rest in that knowledge, but like our brothers from 2000 years ago let’s not lose sight of what he has already done when he came in the form of a baby and laid in a manger.
Posted by Jim
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Isaiah 7:14--God's Mercy
One of the most beautiful things about biblical prophecy is how it can speak to two situations at once. There is always an immediate situation addressed by the prophet. But often there is a deeper, longer-range significance to his or her words buried beneath the surface.
Isaiah 7 describes such a situation. The immediate circumstance is a growing threat to the southern kingdom (Judah) by an alliance of the northern kingdom (Ephraim or Israel) and Aram (Syria).
Ahaz is king of Judah, and he’s scared. Verse 2 says he and the people were shaken like trees in the wind. But the impending defeat they dread is an illusion. God has other plans. He definitively states, “It will not happen.”
Ahaz doesn’t believe it. In order to deal with this threat (we learn elsewhere in the Bible) Ahaz plans to strike up an alliance with Assyria. This is always a bad idea for God’s people. God takes personal offense when his people seek solutions in human power rather than in him.
So Isaiah tries to save the situation: “Ask for a sign,” he says. “God wants to give you a sign of his power and plans on your behalf.” Ahaz refuses.
So God gives a sign anyway. He says, “A virgin will have a child named Immanuel, and before he’s even old enough to be held accountable for his own moral choices, Israel and Aram will be no more.” That’s the good news; but there’s more: “Those two nations will be destroyed by Assyria, which will park on your doorstep bringing greater fear than you feel now!”
In other words, Isaiah 7:14 was originally a prophecy of judgment. God was coming to judge his unbelieving people.
But there’s a deeper significance, which of course has to do with Christmas. One day 700 years into the future, when God’s people were already overrun by a greater power (Rome) and were already living in darkness and dread, the virgin would give birth to the True Immanuel, Jesus. And then he would come not to judge but to save.
Because God’s mercy triumphs over judgment.
Because God’s perfect love casts out fear.
Because God’s ultimate purpose is not to condemn but justify.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Greg
Isaiah 7 describes such a situation. The immediate circumstance is a growing threat to the southern kingdom (Judah) by an alliance of the northern kingdom (Ephraim or Israel) and Aram (Syria).
Ahaz is king of Judah, and he’s scared. Verse 2 says he and the people were shaken like trees in the wind. But the impending defeat they dread is an illusion. God has other plans. He definitively states, “It will not happen.”
Ahaz doesn’t believe it. In order to deal with this threat (we learn elsewhere in the Bible) Ahaz plans to strike up an alliance with Assyria. This is always a bad idea for God’s people. God takes personal offense when his people seek solutions in human power rather than in him.
So Isaiah tries to save the situation: “Ask for a sign,” he says. “God wants to give you a sign of his power and plans on your behalf.” Ahaz refuses.
So God gives a sign anyway. He says, “A virgin will have a child named Immanuel, and before he’s even old enough to be held accountable for his own moral choices, Israel and Aram will be no more.” That’s the good news; but there’s more: “Those two nations will be destroyed by Assyria, which will park on your doorstep bringing greater fear than you feel now!”
In other words, Isaiah 7:14 was originally a prophecy of judgment. God was coming to judge his unbelieving people.
But there’s a deeper significance, which of course has to do with Christmas. One day 700 years into the future, when God’s people were already overrun by a greater power (Rome) and were already living in darkness and dread, the virgin would give birth to the True Immanuel, Jesus. And then he would come not to judge but to save.
Because God’s mercy triumphs over judgment.
Because God’s perfect love casts out fear.
Because God’s ultimate purpose is not to condemn but justify.
Merry Christmas!
Posted by Greg
Isaiah 7:14--A Sign for you
What battle will you fight today? We all have battles to fight every day. It could be managing the complexities of an entire family’s holiday schedule and holiday task list. It may be a conflict with a co-worker. It may be an increasingly complex to-do list. We all will fight a battle today. How will we fight that battle?
Ahaz as king was charged to protect Jerusalem. He was successful in that (Isa 7:1) but when a greater alliance formed against him, “the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” Ahaz had a battle before him that he would need to fight. Ahaz needed a sign from God to remind him that God would fight the battle for him. It is hard to know why he didn’t want the sign (the pious, “I don’t want to put the Lord to the test” didn’t fly with Isaiah 12-13). It seems that he would rather close his eyes and think that he was on his own rather than look for the sign and trust that God would fight the battle for him. That was unfortunate for him, for Isaiah’s prophecy to him was, “if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (9)
God is generous in making himself known. If we will look for him in life and in scripture, he will gladly reveal himself. I think the reason we don’t want to look to him is because, we are like Ahaz. We would rather not see and have to respond to what we see. We would rather work with the smallness of our own life than to have look to God in his greatness and respond in faith to Him.
Yet, if we would only see this sign for what it is. It is the sign of Immanuel. It is the sign that means, “God is with us.” If God is with us, we can trust that he will not ask us to do something we are unable to do. He will not ask us to resist something that will overpower us. If he is with us, his skin is in our game. He will ride with us in our success and he will be with us in our failures. That is the beauty of Christmas. Jesus was born in humility to show us that in our humility, he is with us. Our brokenness will never be too broken for him. Our humility will never be too humble for him. If he could emerge from a feeding trough to become the resurrected Son of Man seated in heaven; than because he is with us, he can take us from our brokenness and humility into whatever battle we face today and enable us to stand firm in our faith.
Ahaz as king was charged to protect Jerusalem. He was successful in that (Isa 7:1) but when a greater alliance formed against him, “the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” Ahaz had a battle before him that he would need to fight. Ahaz needed a sign from God to remind him that God would fight the battle for him. It is hard to know why he didn’t want the sign (the pious, “I don’t want to put the Lord to the test” didn’t fly with Isaiah 12-13). It seems that he would rather close his eyes and think that he was on his own rather than look for the sign and trust that God would fight the battle for him. That was unfortunate for him, for Isaiah’s prophecy to him was, “if you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” (9)
God is generous in making himself known. If we will look for him in life and in scripture, he will gladly reveal himself. I think the reason we don’t want to look to him is because, we are like Ahaz. We would rather not see and have to respond to what we see. We would rather work with the smallness of our own life than to have look to God in his greatness and respond in faith to Him.
Yet, if we would only see this sign for what it is. It is the sign of Immanuel. It is the sign that means, “God is with us.” If God is with us, we can trust that he will not ask us to do something we are unable to do. He will not ask us to resist something that will overpower us. If he is with us, his skin is in our game. He will ride with us in our success and he will be with us in our failures. That is the beauty of Christmas. Jesus was born in humility to show us that in our humility, he is with us. Our brokenness will never be too broken for him. Our humility will never be too humble for him. If he could emerge from a feeding trough to become the resurrected Son of Man seated in heaven; than because he is with us, he can take us from our brokenness and humility into whatever battle we face today and enable us to stand firm in our faith.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Psalm 122--A Journey
Do you have a favorite journey? Is there a car ride that brings back memories—like an annual drive to a family member’s home to celebrate Christmas?
Psalm 122 is about a journey. This is a psalm about how the Jews would journey three times a year to Jerusalem for a feast. They rejoiced because they were going to the Temple, the place where God dwelled. And that made it worth all of that effort. And since the Temple was special, so was its city because it was the city of the Temple. The presence of God at the Temple not only made the Temple special, but made the city around it important. So, the psalm calls the people of God to pray for Jerusalem and to seek its peace.
Christmas is all about a journey also. However Christmas is not about travelers journeying to the place of God. Rather, Christmas is the story about God leaving his place in heaven and coming to where we dwell. The presence of the Temple represented God’s intention to be near his people in their world. The arrival of Jesus superseded the old Temple in order to house the presence of God so that God may be close to all people throughout the entire world. Now that Jesus has come, each person who follows Jesus is now a Temple that houses the presence of Jesus’ own Holy Spirit. Not only that, but together, the disciples of Jesus become a Temple (Eph 2:19-22) where together they reveal God and express his praises.
Now we are the ones who reflect God, just as the Temple did in the Old Testament. We have the opportunity to bring joy to the people in our community. Just as the Temple made Jerusalem important, our presence in our community is important to God. Just as it was right for those first pilgrims to seek the peace of Jerusalem, so it is also right for us, in the spirit of Christmas, to seek the peace and welfare of our community.
Posted by Marc
Psalm 122 is about a journey. This is a psalm about how the Jews would journey three times a year to Jerusalem for a feast. They rejoiced because they were going to the Temple, the place where God dwelled. And that made it worth all of that effort. And since the Temple was special, so was its city because it was the city of the Temple. The presence of God at the Temple not only made the Temple special, but made the city around it important. So, the psalm calls the people of God to pray for Jerusalem and to seek its peace.
Christmas is all about a journey also. However Christmas is not about travelers journeying to the place of God. Rather, Christmas is the story about God leaving his place in heaven and coming to where we dwell. The presence of the Temple represented God’s intention to be near his people in their world. The arrival of Jesus superseded the old Temple in order to house the presence of God so that God may be close to all people throughout the entire world. Now that Jesus has come, each person who follows Jesus is now a Temple that houses the presence of Jesus’ own Holy Spirit. Not only that, but together, the disciples of Jesus become a Temple (Eph 2:19-22) where together they reveal God and express his praises.
Now we are the ones who reflect God, just as the Temple did in the Old Testament. We have the opportunity to bring joy to the people in our community. Just as the Temple made Jerusalem important, our presence in our community is important to God. Just as it was right for those first pilgrims to seek the peace of Jerusalem, so it is also right for us, in the spirit of Christmas, to seek the peace and welfare of our community.
Posted by Marc
Genesis 22: God Provides
Christmas has become a lot of different things to different people. It is a time to spend with family, time to give to others, and it is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is a time when individuals are kind to each other, except if you are around a mall or a shopping center. Unfortunately, for many people this is also a difficult and depressing time. The sorrows of this world hit them in very real ways during the holiday season. So what do we have to offer those around us who view Christmas in such diverse ways?
Genesis 22 is a great place to start thinking about what the Christmas means. God promised an old and aging Abraham that his wife Sarah would have a son. God did provide that heir and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. However, God is now asking Abraham to kill Isaac. On their journey up the mount Isaac asks one question, “Where is the lamb for the burn offering?” Abraham simply answers, “God will himself provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” God does provide the lamb and Isaac is spared, but the story does stop on that mountain. It points to another Father and Son relationship.
Though Isaac was Abraham’s promised son, Jesus is the ultimate promised Son through whom God blesses all the nations. Jesus is the sacrificed lamb who God provided to reconcile all things back to himself. It is in Jesus that we have hope for today and for tomorrow. Genesis 22 is then prophetic of Christ’s death on the cross—that God provided himself as the sacrifice. The Christmas story cannot be view without this end. Without Easter, Christmas is meaningless.
Christmas is more than family, gifts, kindness and love. It is about God providing. In Bethlehem he began the greatest act of love—of giving himself to die for us. This is our hope, this is why we celebrate, and this is what we have to offer.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Genesis 22 is a great place to start thinking about what the Christmas means. God promised an old and aging Abraham that his wife Sarah would have a son. God did provide that heir and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. However, God is now asking Abraham to kill Isaac. On their journey up the mount Isaac asks one question, “Where is the lamb for the burn offering?” Abraham simply answers, “God will himself provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” God does provide the lamb and Isaac is spared, but the story does stop on that mountain. It points to another Father and Son relationship.
Though Isaac was Abraham’s promised son, Jesus is the ultimate promised Son through whom God blesses all the nations. Jesus is the sacrificed lamb who God provided to reconcile all things back to himself. It is in Jesus that we have hope for today and for tomorrow. Genesis 22 is then prophetic of Christ’s death on the cross—that God provided himself as the sacrifice. The Christmas story cannot be view without this end. Without Easter, Christmas is meaningless.
Christmas is more than family, gifts, kindness and love. It is about God providing. In Bethlehem he began the greatest act of love—of giving himself to die for us. This is our hope, this is why we celebrate, and this is what we have to offer.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Monday, December 15, 2008
Romans 16--Good Gossip
When you realize that you are saved by grace and that there is nothing you can do add to the love, affection and approval that you have in Christ before God—you have a remarkable ability to see the virtue in others. Hebrews 3:13 teaches us to, “encourage one another daily…so that we will not be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” That is a command and the stakes are high because how horribly sin can deceive.
Paul is an example of one who understands the gospel so clearly that he can look around him and see people and the various ways each of them bring value and contribution to the Kingdom of God. Not only that, but he unashamedly promotes others publicly knowing that there is no scarcity of virtue, righteousness and approval for those who know the gospel. We fail in our ability to build others up because we are afraid that if we build them up, we may be putting them above ourselves--making our way to the bottom.
True encouragement is an overflow of something that you have. I am not talking about the needy kinds of encouragement that fishes for compliments in return. True encouragement comes from the heart that has been dislodged from self-reflection, and is now able to look at people through the eyes of God. This heart then uses its words to build others up to their face and behind their back—thereby creating good gossip.
Are you better at finding faults in others than in finding in them value? Is that the way God looks at you? Why don’t you try practicing the reality of the gospel in your life by creating some good gossip about the people around you.
PS—Go to the Bible For Everyday website and fill out our one question survey.
PSS--Look for the Advent Reading Series starting tomorrow.
Posted by Marc
Paul is an example of one who understands the gospel so clearly that he can look around him and see people and the various ways each of them bring value and contribution to the Kingdom of God. Not only that, but he unashamedly promotes others publicly knowing that there is no scarcity of virtue, righteousness and approval for those who know the gospel. We fail in our ability to build others up because we are afraid that if we build them up, we may be putting them above ourselves--making our way to the bottom.
True encouragement is an overflow of something that you have. I am not talking about the needy kinds of encouragement that fishes for compliments in return. True encouragement comes from the heart that has been dislodged from self-reflection, and is now able to look at people through the eyes of God. This heart then uses its words to build others up to their face and behind their back—thereby creating good gossip.
Are you better at finding faults in others than in finding in them value? Is that the way God looks at you? Why don’t you try practicing the reality of the gospel in your life by creating some good gossip about the people around you.
PS—Go to the Bible For Everyday website and fill out our one question survey.
PSS--Look for the Advent Reading Series starting tomorrow.
Posted by Marc
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Romans 15: True Unity
What immediately comes to mind when you hear the word tolerance? You may be indifferent, but more likely than not you fall into a spectrum between crusading for it and crusading against it. Regardless of our initial reactions, if we take an honest look at the contemporary idea of tolerance, then we can see that it actually raises a few good questions. How do we treat our neighbor? How do we treat each other?
Foundational to loving our neighbor is having a servant’s heart. Our focus should be for the benefit of others not ourselves (v. 1-2). Christ’s life and death gives us our greatest example of true servant love. Even more, Christ’s love for us and for other empowers us to love as he loves. We can talk about behavior modification changing our hidden biases but that ultimately leaves us powerless to true heart-felt change. My suspicion is that those who attempt being tolerant that way only really change who they are tolerant towards. As Christians we should examine ourselves to see how we love our neighbors who are different from us.
Secondly, we are to accept one another as Christ as accepted us (v. 7). The church should be a place of acceptance and love. For those we like and love to be around this is easy and energizing, but for those to whom extra grace is required, extra grace is required. How we love those we do not like or who annoy us is the measuring stick by which we truly accept one another. Sometimes loving another includes confronting sin in them (Matthew 18:15-20, James 5:20), but admonition only works if it is done with a history of true godly love and acceptance towards them. This is true unity and we can live in it only as we trust in God who fills us with joy and peace leading to an overflowing hope (v. 13). This is what the world longs for in tolerance but is always just out of reach.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Foundational to loving our neighbor is having a servant’s heart. Our focus should be for the benefit of others not ourselves (v. 1-2). Christ’s life and death gives us our greatest example of true servant love. Even more, Christ’s love for us and for other empowers us to love as he loves. We can talk about behavior modification changing our hidden biases but that ultimately leaves us powerless to true heart-felt change. My suspicion is that those who attempt being tolerant that way only really change who they are tolerant towards. As Christians we should examine ourselves to see how we love our neighbors who are different from us.
Secondly, we are to accept one another as Christ as accepted us (v. 7). The church should be a place of acceptance and love. For those we like and love to be around this is easy and energizing, but for those to whom extra grace is required, extra grace is required. How we love those we do not like or who annoy us is the measuring stick by which we truly accept one another. Sometimes loving another includes confronting sin in them (Matthew 18:15-20, James 5:20), but admonition only works if it is done with a history of true godly love and acceptance towards them. This is true unity and we can live in it only as we trust in God who fills us with joy and peace leading to an overflowing hope (v. 13). This is what the world longs for in tolerance but is always just out of reach.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Romans 14: Christian Liberty
“It would be a great place to live if it wasn’t for the people.” Many places have been given that title—great place but terrible people. But the truth of the matter is living with people makes life difficult. The church is no different since one of the top five reasons people leave the ministry is because of interpersonal conflict. So how do we think about working through this issue?
The foundation of working through any issue would be to seek to love them as Christ loves them. 1 Corinthians 13 is a great help in thinking about the root of the problem. Is it envy, impatience, rudeness, pride, anger, or selfishness? But many times it is a matter of conscience and religious conviction. Each party feels justified and accurate resulting in a great impasse (v. 5). So how do we proceed from here?
Paul solves this situation through submission to God and to one another. If we in our liberty “eat meat sacrificed to idols,” or our cultural disputable matters (v. 1) such as going to the movies, dancing or style of worship, and knowingly distress another believer we not loving them (v. 15). We are to never destroy the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ because of our liberty (v. 15), but on the other hand we also should not allow what we consider good to be spoken of as evil (v. 16). Walking this delicate balance takes great care and we must make every effort to live such a way because this leads to peace and mutual edification (v. 19).
We are to avoid both legalism and licentiousness for this is mark of maturity and is pleasing to God. Living with others is not easy but loving each other in spite of our differences and maybe even because of them sets us apart from the world.
Posted by Aaron Miner
The foundation of working through any issue would be to seek to love them as Christ loves them. 1 Corinthians 13 is a great help in thinking about the root of the problem. Is it envy, impatience, rudeness, pride, anger, or selfishness? But many times it is a matter of conscience and religious conviction. Each party feels justified and accurate resulting in a great impasse (v. 5). So how do we proceed from here?
Paul solves this situation through submission to God and to one another. If we in our liberty “eat meat sacrificed to idols,” or our cultural disputable matters (v. 1) such as going to the movies, dancing or style of worship, and knowingly distress another believer we not loving them (v. 15). We are to never destroy the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ because of our liberty (v. 15), but on the other hand we also should not allow what we consider good to be spoken of as evil (v. 16). Walking this delicate balance takes great care and we must make every effort to live such a way because this leads to peace and mutual edification (v. 19).
We are to avoid both legalism and licentiousness for this is mark of maturity and is pleasing to God. Living with others is not easy but loving each other in spite of our differences and maybe even because of them sets us apart from the world.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Friday, December 12, 2008
Romans 13--Authority Song
“I fight authority; authority always wins
Well I fight authority; authority always wins
Well, I have been doing it since I was a young kid and I come out grinning
Well, I fight authority; authority is always winning…”
You may remember this John Cougar Mellencamp song from the 1984. If not, you can check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po47SNloMBg
It is a funny song that we can all resonate with. Somewhere in each of us is something that wants to do our own thing and resist authority. Paul gives us the good news that the law and the authorities are gifts to us from God because they restrain evil—both Evil from others and the evil within. That might not seem too special, but travel to a third world where the authorities can be thoroughly corrupt and compromised and you will see that good authority is a gift from God.
So we are to pay our debt to the authorities for they provide a service under God. We should not allow any debt to roll up to anyone except for one. That is the continuing debt of love.
We all owe a debt of love that we will never be able to pay back. Jesus in his love and grace has credited our account with infinite “cash flow” of love, truth, affection and approval. His command is not that we “pay him back,” but that we “pay him forward” in the way we love others—and therefore truly fulfill the law.
So Christians live under a greater authority and that is the authority of love. It is good when that authority wins.
Posted by Marc
Well I fight authority; authority always wins
Well, I have been doing it since I was a young kid and I come out grinning
Well, I fight authority; authority is always winning…”
You may remember this John Cougar Mellencamp song from the 1984. If not, you can check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po47SNloMBg
It is a funny song that we can all resonate with. Somewhere in each of us is something that wants to do our own thing and resist authority. Paul gives us the good news that the law and the authorities are gifts to us from God because they restrain evil—both Evil from others and the evil within. That might not seem too special, but travel to a third world where the authorities can be thoroughly corrupt and compromised and you will see that good authority is a gift from God.
So we are to pay our debt to the authorities for they provide a service under God. We should not allow any debt to roll up to anyone except for one. That is the continuing debt of love.
We all owe a debt of love that we will never be able to pay back. Jesus in his love and grace has credited our account with infinite “cash flow” of love, truth, affection and approval. His command is not that we “pay him back,” but that we “pay him forward” in the way we love others—and therefore truly fulfill the law.
So Christians live under a greater authority and that is the authority of love. It is good when that authority wins.
Posted by Marc
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Romans 12--Applying the first eleven chapters
Paul has laid out the truth our faith is founded on. Through the book of Romans to this point he has given us doctrine of our faith. He tells us in chapter 3:23 that we are all sinners and therefore under the penalty of sin. In Romans 5:6-8 Paul shares the gift of salvation which comes through Jesus. In Romans 7:14-17 we see the struggle of living in the fallen world, but we also know God supplies us power for righteous living. We also see that God is sovereign and has a plan. Paul carefully reveals this doctrine to his readers and lays the ground work for our faith. Then he transitions his whole train of thought with a simple, “and so…”
Pause for a moment to think about what your response to the first 11 chapters to Romans really is?
Paul is telling us our only response can be one of a living sacrifice. I must know who God made me to be and to use my gifts for honoring God. When it comes to these things, we all know how to talk a good game abou them. However, maybe we simply need to fall on our faces and repent. Do we love people? Really? How often do we fail to even see people or allow ourselves to become frustrated? Do we pray for people who don’t like us? Do we celebrate with those that are celebrating a win that we long for? Do we cry with a neighbor who is in pain? Am I a good neighbor and friend to those that need a friend?
I know how easy it is to become frustrated with a neighbor or to turn a blind eye to someone in pain. I also know that the doctrine of Romans 1-11 demands a different response. It requires a heart response of “living sacrifice”. Corinthians 13:13 says “Three things will last forever- faith hope and love-and the greatest of these is love”. Do we copy the behaviors of this world or do we live a life of love?
Pause for a moment to think about what your response to the first 11 chapters to Romans really is?
Paul is telling us our only response can be one of a living sacrifice. I must know who God made me to be and to use my gifts for honoring God. When it comes to these things, we all know how to talk a good game abou them. However, maybe we simply need to fall on our faces and repent. Do we love people? Really? How often do we fail to even see people or allow ourselves to become frustrated? Do we pray for people who don’t like us? Do we celebrate with those that are celebrating a win that we long for? Do we cry with a neighbor who is in pain? Am I a good neighbor and friend to those that need a friend?
I know how easy it is to become frustrated with a neighbor or to turn a blind eye to someone in pain. I also know that the doctrine of Romans 1-11 demands a different response. It requires a heart response of “living sacrifice”. Corinthians 13:13 says “Three things will last forever- faith hope and love-and the greatest of these is love”. Do we copy the behaviors of this world or do we live a life of love?
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Romans 11--Hope
Are there people whom you long to see come to faith? This passage is about hope. Paul was speaking about the concern he has for his people the Israelites. When he was writing this passage, the progress of the gospel had flourished among the Gentiles but had halted among the Jews. So, some were saying that God had rejected the Jews in favor of the Gentiles.
It certainly seemed that there was a genuine hardness among the Jews. They had had Jesus among them and all the law and the prophets to testify to him, but they still refuse. Even still, Paul was hopeful for a great awakening among Israel.
When you look at our world, do you grow discouraged and think that no one would respond to the gospel in faith? I believe that Paul carried great hope for his people and we should carry the same hope for our people. Paul can think of his own story when he was an enemy of God. Yet, God still won him over. We too can think of how God has had mercy on us and that can give us hope.
Even more than his own story, Paul looks to the character and wisdom of God. The great mercy of God gives us hope that he can and will show compassion towards people who make themselves his enemy. This hope is the crescendo of the book of Romans. All eleven chapters drive to this point where Paul essentially expresses his faith that God’s judgment and mercy is glorious beyond all of our searching and thought. It leads him to worship and the worship leads him back to ministry. That’s what hope can do.
Posted by Marc
It certainly seemed that there was a genuine hardness among the Jews. They had had Jesus among them and all the law and the prophets to testify to him, but they still refuse. Even still, Paul was hopeful for a great awakening among Israel.
When you look at our world, do you grow discouraged and think that no one would respond to the gospel in faith? I believe that Paul carried great hope for his people and we should carry the same hope for our people. Paul can think of his own story when he was an enemy of God. Yet, God still won him over. We too can think of how God has had mercy on us and that can give us hope.
Even more than his own story, Paul looks to the character and wisdom of God. The great mercy of God gives us hope that he can and will show compassion towards people who make themselves his enemy. This hope is the crescendo of the book of Romans. All eleven chapters drive to this point where Paul essentially expresses his faith that God’s judgment and mercy is glorious beyond all of our searching and thought. It leads him to worship and the worship leads him back to ministry. That’s what hope can do.
Posted by Marc
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Romans 10: True Spirituality
Many people stumble over the Gospel not because it is too hard, but because it is so profoundly simple.
Paul says that the Israelites stumble for this very reason. They were chosen by God to enter into a covenant with him. God would be their God, and they would be his people. Israel would walk with God by faith. They would love him and follow him. And, when they failed, they would believe in God’s grace and receive it by making a sin offering.
But somehow this simple arrangement got twisted into a religion of entitlement and performance. On the one hand, Israel felt entitled to God’s blessing—they were children of Abraham, after all, so they deserved their special status. On the other hand, they felt burdened by the laws God gave, and developed elaborate strategies for performing them all.
Paul feels for them. Israel is so zealous for God, but so far from understanding His heart.
True spirituality isn’t an extreme quest for personal perfection. It’s not about somehow ascending to heaven or plumbing the depths of the ocean to prove your worth. It’s far simpler than that. Just listen to the word of Christ. Just believe. Just set your affections on Jesus.
Jesus once was asked, “What must we do to perform the works God requires?” He answered, “The works of God are this: To believe in the one He sent.”
If you insist on performing for God, you’ll never enter his good graces. But if you let Jesus perform for you—if you accept his life, death, and resurrection as obedience for you—you’ll delight God forever.
Posted by Greg
Paul says that the Israelites stumble for this very reason. They were chosen by God to enter into a covenant with him. God would be their God, and they would be his people. Israel would walk with God by faith. They would love him and follow him. And, when they failed, they would believe in God’s grace and receive it by making a sin offering.
But somehow this simple arrangement got twisted into a religion of entitlement and performance. On the one hand, Israel felt entitled to God’s blessing—they were children of Abraham, after all, so they deserved their special status. On the other hand, they felt burdened by the laws God gave, and developed elaborate strategies for performing them all.
Paul feels for them. Israel is so zealous for God, but so far from understanding His heart.
True spirituality isn’t an extreme quest for personal perfection. It’s not about somehow ascending to heaven or plumbing the depths of the ocean to prove your worth. It’s far simpler than that. Just listen to the word of Christ. Just believe. Just set your affections on Jesus.
Jesus once was asked, “What must we do to perform the works God requires?” He answered, “The works of God are this: To believe in the one He sent.”
If you insist on performing for God, you’ll never enter his good graces. But if you let Jesus perform for you—if you accept his life, death, and resurrection as obedience for you—you’ll delight God forever.
Posted by Greg
Monday, December 8, 2008
Romans 9--A Stumbling Block
It was a very short scene in the movie Titanic. As the ship was sinking and there was absolute chaos on board the ship—screaming, arguing, strange breaking ship noises—the director would flip to a distant aerial shot that would view the boat from high in the sky at night. From that perspective, the viewer would see that the ship was clearly alone, but also the noise was silenced and the ship and all aboard seemed quite shrunken.
As we come to this passage, Paul steps back from the chaos of day to day spirituality and describes the plan of God from the 30,000 foot view. The perspective he offers is a direct assault on our western and modern view of life. He speaks of the sovereignty of God in salvation. He describes how salvation is the work of God in what is known as election. This is quite difficult for us to swallow because it seems to violate the laws of justice. We derive a justice perspective because, quite frankly, we are consumed with the challenges of keeping a ship from sinking and do the best with what we have. However, if we would understand Romans 9 we will need to set aside our justice perspective and look to God for His mercy perspective.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s effort or desire, but upon God’s mercy.” Romans 9:16
When God created Adam and Eve, he empowered them as image bearers to rule and fill the earth. This commission was not removed at the fall. However, the fall did produce a momentum that shaped life on earth. As the humanity expanded, it became clear early on how no one desired God. If God’s story was simply about justice, he would have simply released us like an astronaut beyond gravity, and allowed our momentum to perpetually drift us away from his presence, purpose and goodness.
The story of God’s mercy is in contrast quite different from a story driven by justice. Instead of allowing all people to simply drift off with its desires bent on hell itself (the absence of God), God would choose a people through whom he would bring redemption to the world. This people would be Israel with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the patriarchs. Along the way though, the descendants of the Patriarchs wanted to turn the story into a story of justice. They wanted to claim their salvation based upon their performance.
This performance mentality hardened their hearts so that when The Descendant arrived, they rejected him because they didn’t want his salvation that came from mercy. They would need to put their faith in the descendant, Jesus Christ. But his mercy became a stumbling stone that made them stumble. That mercy demanded their humility and for them to acknowledge that their works couldn’t make up for the drift and distance that their sin had created between them and God.
If this is new for you, you probably have many questions about this. This blog might be a helpful forum for you to discuss them. Remember, the words of one of the church fathers, we should desire “faith seeking reasons, not reasons seeking faith.” If this isn’t new for you, allow yourself to be amazed at the majestic plan of God.
As we come to this passage, Paul steps back from the chaos of day to day spirituality and describes the plan of God from the 30,000 foot view. The perspective he offers is a direct assault on our western and modern view of life. He speaks of the sovereignty of God in salvation. He describes how salvation is the work of God in what is known as election. This is quite difficult for us to swallow because it seems to violate the laws of justice. We derive a justice perspective because, quite frankly, we are consumed with the challenges of keeping a ship from sinking and do the best with what we have. However, if we would understand Romans 9 we will need to set aside our justice perspective and look to God for His mercy perspective.
“It does not, therefore, depend on man’s effort or desire, but upon God’s mercy.” Romans 9:16
When God created Adam and Eve, he empowered them as image bearers to rule and fill the earth. This commission was not removed at the fall. However, the fall did produce a momentum that shaped life on earth. As the humanity expanded, it became clear early on how no one desired God. If God’s story was simply about justice, he would have simply released us like an astronaut beyond gravity, and allowed our momentum to perpetually drift us away from his presence, purpose and goodness.
The story of God’s mercy is in contrast quite different from a story driven by justice. Instead of allowing all people to simply drift off with its desires bent on hell itself (the absence of God), God would choose a people through whom he would bring redemption to the world. This people would be Israel with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the patriarchs. Along the way though, the descendants of the Patriarchs wanted to turn the story into a story of justice. They wanted to claim their salvation based upon their performance.
This performance mentality hardened their hearts so that when The Descendant arrived, they rejected him because they didn’t want his salvation that came from mercy. They would need to put their faith in the descendant, Jesus Christ. But his mercy became a stumbling stone that made them stumble. That mercy demanded their humility and for them to acknowledge that their works couldn’t make up for the drift and distance that their sin had created between them and God.
If this is new for you, you probably have many questions about this. This blog might be a helpful forum for you to discuss them. Remember, the words of one of the church fathers, we should desire “faith seeking reasons, not reasons seeking faith.” If this isn’t new for you, allow yourself to be amazed at the majestic plan of God.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Romans 8: The Good Life
What does American society lift up as the good life? Of course that would depend on whom you ask. It would be different if you watched MTV, CNN or Fox News. The good life is not making money because you never have enough and are always afraid of losing what you do have. It is not having fame or prestige because that only lasts about fifteen minutes. It is not adventure or sports because the thrill only lasts during the journey not after. So what is the good life?
We are set free from the bondage of sin and death for a specific purpose, to live according to the Spirit. The good life is living according to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is life and peace (v. 6). So how do we live this way?
The first step is to set your mind on what the Spirit desires not on what our flesh desires (v. 5). We have an obligation to live this way (v. 12). We must desire love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness rather than anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language (Col 3:8, 12-14). We have assurance that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (v. 28). Therefore, even through the sufferings and difficulties we may face, we live the good life. Can wealth, fame, adventure or anything else make such a boast? Let us then seek the things of God and thus live in peace and true joy.
Posted by Aaron Miner
We are set free from the bondage of sin and death for a specific purpose, to live according to the Spirit. The good life is living according to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is life and peace (v. 6). So how do we live this way?
The first step is to set your mind on what the Spirit desires not on what our flesh desires (v. 5). We have an obligation to live this way (v. 12). We must desire love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness rather than anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language (Col 3:8, 12-14). We have assurance that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (v. 28). Therefore, even through the sufferings and difficulties we may face, we live the good life. Can wealth, fame, adventure or anything else make such a boast? Let us then seek the things of God and thus live in peace and true joy.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Romans 7: A New Allegiance
Let’s be honest. We all know personally what Paul is experiencing here. We all have known the good we should do and haven’t done it. We all have known what we should resist and we gave in. The guilt we feel in the face of these things is a sign that we are healthy enough to still know right from wrong. It is completely illogical and foolish. But sin can have such a hold over people that it seems to do things against their own will.
Even Paul knew what that was like, before he met Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, Rom 7:14) he could not stop doing the evil he hated (Rom 7:19). Paul found out that his Judaism was unable to empower him to do the good that he desired. Within him, an insidious and powerful law imprisoned him. Though he delighted in the law of God, he was powerless to live it.
We all know and understand that dilemma, knowing what to do and cannot do it. It is not freedom but bondage, and it is extremely destructive. Few good things come out of that state. But hope do we have?
Paul places his hope solely and definitively in Jesus Christ our Lord who alone can free us from the bonds of the law of sin. But this requires complete surrender to Christ as our Lord and there lies the rub and the difficulty. To be free I must become a slave to Christ. There are only two options a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. A change of allegiance to Christ set us free therefore we are free and empowered to do the good we desire to do.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Even Paul knew what that was like, before he met Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, Rom 7:14) he could not stop doing the evil he hated (Rom 7:19). Paul found out that his Judaism was unable to empower him to do the good that he desired. Within him, an insidious and powerful law imprisoned him. Though he delighted in the law of God, he was powerless to live it.
We all know and understand that dilemma, knowing what to do and cannot do it. It is not freedom but bondage, and it is extremely destructive. Few good things come out of that state. But hope do we have?
Paul places his hope solely and definitively in Jesus Christ our Lord who alone can free us from the bonds of the law of sin. But this requires complete surrender to Christ as our Lord and there lies the rub and the difficulty. To be free I must become a slave to Christ. There are only two options a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. A change of allegiance to Christ set us free therefore we are free and empowered to do the good we desire to do.
Posted by Aaron Miner
Friday, December 5, 2008
Romans 6--New Reign, New Environment
In Boston, they don’t know what a hoagie is!?!? Anyone who has travelled there has experienced the accent, slang and even the characteristics that are uniquely Bostonian. Environment does a lot to shape our behavior. I know that if I stayed there it would not be long before I was speaking and acting like a local. Our environment creates a unique kind of pressure on us that shapes us even when we don’t realize it.
What does Romans teach us about environment? Flashing back to chapter five we read that because of our faith, Christ brought us to a place of undeserved privilege. Yet we are told that we will experience problems and trials. Now we move into chapter six and find that we are no longer under the law since Christ paid our debt through his death and resurrection. Yet, we still confront sinful desires and constant temptations. We continue to live in this tension of two worlds. Christ’s coming and resurrection has brought his kingdom to Earth, but only in part. We do live in the reality of his love and faith and hope. But, we also still live in this broken, sinful world. We are strangers in a foreign world where sin and Satan attack. There is duality to this place we temporarily live. Just like Boston has an environment that can shape us, the Kingdom has its own environment that will shape us if we will allow it to.
Paul shows us in chapter six that while there is tension between these two environments, we have moved from the realm of sin and death and the reign of the first Adam to the realm of peace, hope and love—the reign of the second Adam. Though we are free under the grace-filled reign of Christ, we still can choose to re-enslave ourselves under the principles of the former regime. In Christ, our workplace and community is a mission field and garden that we can develop for the glory of God. Or, we can allow the cut throat corporate environment to re-enslave us to the principles of the reign of sin and death? Are we experiencing the freedom to love people or are we enslaved to the busyness of this world? Do we enslave ourselves to our own desires or do we embrace the freedom which God has called us? We live in the constant tension of two worlds. We can practice this freedom with every decision we make and develop lives of holiness as strangers in a foreign place. As we embrace this new heavenly environment, its characteristics will soon create the kind of pressure upon us that will shape us for eternal life.
Posted by Jim
What does Romans teach us about environment? Flashing back to chapter five we read that because of our faith, Christ brought us to a place of undeserved privilege. Yet we are told that we will experience problems and trials. Now we move into chapter six and find that we are no longer under the law since Christ paid our debt through his death and resurrection. Yet, we still confront sinful desires and constant temptations. We continue to live in this tension of two worlds. Christ’s coming and resurrection has brought his kingdom to Earth, but only in part. We do live in the reality of his love and faith and hope. But, we also still live in this broken, sinful world. We are strangers in a foreign world where sin and Satan attack. There is duality to this place we temporarily live. Just like Boston has an environment that can shape us, the Kingdom has its own environment that will shape us if we will allow it to.
Paul shows us in chapter six that while there is tension between these two environments, we have moved from the realm of sin and death and the reign of the first Adam to the realm of peace, hope and love—the reign of the second Adam. Though we are free under the grace-filled reign of Christ, we still can choose to re-enslave ourselves under the principles of the former regime. In Christ, our workplace and community is a mission field and garden that we can develop for the glory of God. Or, we can allow the cut throat corporate environment to re-enslave us to the principles of the reign of sin and death? Are we experiencing the freedom to love people or are we enslaved to the busyness of this world? Do we enslave ourselves to our own desires or do we embrace the freedom which God has called us? We live in the constant tension of two worlds. We can practice this freedom with every decision we make and develop lives of holiness as strangers in a foreign place. As we embrace this new heavenly environment, its characteristics will soon create the kind of pressure upon us that will shape us for eternal life.
Posted by Jim
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Romans 5--The reign of Adam II
The Hatfield’s and McCoy’s eventually didn’t know why they had hated each other. The hate had been handed down from generation to generation. If there ever had been a day when the two families were friends, the distance that time created and the hate handed down had made that day a simply fantasy or illusion. Paul introduces similar imagery here when he discusses the first and second Adam’s (also in 1 Corinthians 15).
Paul is explaining to us that Adam is like a representative head of state. At one time, Adam and God were allies. Yet, Adam rebelled against God and brought himself and all his descendents into a state of rebellion against God and his way in this world. As the first Adam’s descendants, we are born as enemies to God and into a rebellion against His purposes in this world. The effects of this are similar to DNA that transfers from one generation to the next. This Cosmic rebellion that we are born into is not only external in that we begin as enemies of God, but it is also internal. We are born as sinners. Sin is the disease that binds us as enemies together under our head of state, Adam I.
Yet, we do not have to continue under the first Adam’s leadership. Jesus comes as Adam II, Son of God just like Adam I (Lu 3:38). Supernaturally, through a miraculous birth, Adam II is not infected by the disease of Adam I. He resists all of the temptations of Satan that Adam I could not (Lu 4:1-13). But he dies an undeserved death as if he had been an enemy of God, crushed by the disease and rebellion of Adam I. Because he was ultimately innocent, the Holy Spirit resurrected Him and now counts His death to be the payment for all of the treasonous acts of his followers
Now, all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ follow a New Adam. He is our head of state and we share in His innocence and righteousness. Not only that, by the Holy Spirit (who provided the miraculous conception to bring Jesus into the world) we receive a new DNA that is inherently bothered by sin. We have a new desire to resist sin and begin conforming ourselves to the New Adam, our new leader who is not just God’s ally, but God’s son. Now, sin and death no longer reign over us because we are not under their government. We are under Jesus’ government where grace, righteousness and eternal life reign. This gives us power over sin that tempts. This gives us hope in the face of death and disease. This gives us confidence the forces of sin and death in our life will be defeated.
But this is not just theology. This is real and this comes from real love. As your head aligns to the ideas of being a part of Jesus’ new government, let your heart warmed to the reality of God’s love demonstrated for us in this: While we were still sinners (powerless and ungodly v.6), Christ died for us.” (5:8).
Posted by Marc
Paul is explaining to us that Adam is like a representative head of state. At one time, Adam and God were allies. Yet, Adam rebelled against God and brought himself and all his descendents into a state of rebellion against God and his way in this world. As the first Adam’s descendants, we are born as enemies to God and into a rebellion against His purposes in this world. The effects of this are similar to DNA that transfers from one generation to the next. This Cosmic rebellion that we are born into is not only external in that we begin as enemies of God, but it is also internal. We are born as sinners. Sin is the disease that binds us as enemies together under our head of state, Adam I.
Yet, we do not have to continue under the first Adam’s leadership. Jesus comes as Adam II, Son of God just like Adam I (Lu 3:38). Supernaturally, through a miraculous birth, Adam II is not infected by the disease of Adam I. He resists all of the temptations of Satan that Adam I could not (Lu 4:1-13). But he dies an undeserved death as if he had been an enemy of God, crushed by the disease and rebellion of Adam I. Because he was ultimately innocent, the Holy Spirit resurrected Him and now counts His death to be the payment for all of the treasonous acts of his followers
Now, all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ follow a New Adam. He is our head of state and we share in His innocence and righteousness. Not only that, by the Holy Spirit (who provided the miraculous conception to bring Jesus into the world) we receive a new DNA that is inherently bothered by sin. We have a new desire to resist sin and begin conforming ourselves to the New Adam, our new leader who is not just God’s ally, but God’s son. Now, sin and death no longer reign over us because we are not under their government. We are under Jesus’ government where grace, righteousness and eternal life reign. This gives us power over sin that tempts. This gives us hope in the face of death and disease. This gives us confidence the forces of sin and death in our life will be defeated.
But this is not just theology. This is real and this comes from real love. As your head aligns to the ideas of being a part of Jesus’ new government, let your heart warmed to the reality of God’s love demonstrated for us in this: While we were still sinners (powerless and ungodly v.6), Christ died for us.” (5:8).
Posted by Marc
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Romans 4--What is Justification?
It was a hot, August day in Istanbul Turkey. I was leading a short-term missions team on a project there. I was fed up by my high-maintenance, low stamina, quick to grumble team. I was so frustrated. My roommate, a seminary professor took me out to the only place in Istanbul (that I knew of) that made real American coffee at the time. He said to me words that I will never forget. “Do you know what is wrong with these people? (thankfully he did not give me time to answer) They don’t understand the difference between their justification and their sanctification.”
At that point, that wasn’t just their problem. It was mine also. I didn’t know the difference and it was my spiritual life. Do you? Do you understand the how God has given you the gift of both justification and sanctification and how they differ?
This is a large degree what Paul is getting at in this chapter and the next few chapters of Romans. Simply speaking, our justification and sanctification are both gifts that we receive through our union with Christ. Our union with Christ is another way of saying we are “in Christ” or have a relationship with Him. This is how justification and sanctification differ: Our justification is our legal declaration that we are innocent (of transgression) and righteous (having displayed full obedience) before God. At the cross, Jesus identifies with us and takes our guilt and unrighteousness. His death is the due penalty for sin. Not only that, but also we take his legal status of being fully innocent and fully righteous. In a sense, we trade our legal status. This justification is the grounds of our acceptance before God. That is why we can pray in Jesus’ name—not in our righteousness, but in his name by which we can stand before God (Heb 4:18)
Sanctification is spoken of in two ways through scripture. First, it speaks of a definite state where we are set apart and made holy to God—similar to the way the Temple or a Priest would have been (Hebrews 10:10). Secondly, scripture teaches us about progressive sanctification. This is our day to day Spiritual growth (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
When we mix up the two, we equate our acceptance before God based upon our progress in sanctification. This makes our sin hang heavy upon us for we cannot feel or experience the wonder of forgiveness. It makes us unwilling to enter into the presence of God. We assume our entrance ticket to his presence is based upon our performance rather than Christ’s performance.
This chapter shows us that grace has always come first--ever since Abraham. He was credited with righteousness before he ever fulfilled any law. Yet, from a well of acceptance, wonder and grace, Abraham not only submitted himself and his sons to circumcision (Paul uses as representative of the law), but displayed the faith that would trust God with everything that is dear to him (Gen 22). Abraham was justified by faith and then fulfilled the law later. If we base our relationship with God based upon how well we perform, we misunderstand Christian faith, and set aside the grace of God in the death of Christ (Galatians 2:21)
Now, let me ask you this: Does this make any sense?
Posted by Marc
At that point, that wasn’t just their problem. It was mine also. I didn’t know the difference and it was my spiritual life. Do you? Do you understand the how God has given you the gift of both justification and sanctification and how they differ?
This is a large degree what Paul is getting at in this chapter and the next few chapters of Romans. Simply speaking, our justification and sanctification are both gifts that we receive through our union with Christ. Our union with Christ is another way of saying we are “in Christ” or have a relationship with Him. This is how justification and sanctification differ: Our justification is our legal declaration that we are innocent (of transgression) and righteous (having displayed full obedience) before God. At the cross, Jesus identifies with us and takes our guilt and unrighteousness. His death is the due penalty for sin. Not only that, but also we take his legal status of being fully innocent and fully righteous. In a sense, we trade our legal status. This justification is the grounds of our acceptance before God. That is why we can pray in Jesus’ name—not in our righteousness, but in his name by which we can stand before God (Heb 4:18)
Sanctification is spoken of in two ways through scripture. First, it speaks of a definite state where we are set apart and made holy to God—similar to the way the Temple or a Priest would have been (Hebrews 10:10). Secondly, scripture teaches us about progressive sanctification. This is our day to day Spiritual growth (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
When we mix up the two, we equate our acceptance before God based upon our progress in sanctification. This makes our sin hang heavy upon us for we cannot feel or experience the wonder of forgiveness. It makes us unwilling to enter into the presence of God. We assume our entrance ticket to his presence is based upon our performance rather than Christ’s performance.
This chapter shows us that grace has always come first--ever since Abraham. He was credited with righteousness before he ever fulfilled any law. Yet, from a well of acceptance, wonder and grace, Abraham not only submitted himself and his sons to circumcision (Paul uses as representative of the law), but displayed the faith that would trust God with everything that is dear to him (Gen 22). Abraham was justified by faith and then fulfilled the law later. If we base our relationship with God based upon how well we perform, we misunderstand Christian faith, and set aside the grace of God in the death of Christ (Galatians 2:21)
Now, let me ask you this: Does this make any sense?
Posted by Marc
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Romans 3: Excuses
If you’re a sport’s fan—and maybe even if you’re not—you’ve heard the news about Plaxico Burress. The star receiver for the New York Giants carried a concealed weapon into a nightclub then accidentally shot himself in the leg. He didn’t have a permit to carry the weapon, so he was in clear violation of the law.
So, caught dead to rights, what does Plax do? Does he do what all parents teach their kids to do: Tell the truth, admit your wrongdoing, and face the consequences? Not exactly.
He tries to check into a hospital under the name, “Harris Smith.” He claims that the gun went off while he was eating at Applebee’s. He turns himself into police but enters a plea of “not guilty.” Classic evasiveness. We all do it. We know the truth but find it impossible to face. Instead, we scratch and claw to justify ourselves, all evidence to the contrary.
This instinct lies behind the teaching of Romans 3. It’s a tough passage, but the gist of it is this: Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners before a holy God, and it does no good to protest this fact. Nevertheless, some will. Jews will say, “Well, what good is it to be Jews if our Judaism doesn’t save us?” Or they’ll say, “If we’re unfaithful and God condemns us for it, then He’s unfaithful too—because He promised to keep us as His chosen people!” Or they’ll say, “If our sin shows, by way of contrast, how holy God is, then how can He judge us? We’re fulfilling our purpose! We’re glorifying God by sinning!”
It’s all childish and ridiculous excuse-making. The Scriptures are clear: Everyone is a sinner, so everyone should hold his tongue and stand accountable before God. But not just so they can hear their sentence, but so that they can receive His grace!
In one of the most important paragraphs in the entire Bible, Paul explains how Jesus Christ shed his blood to atone for our sins. This allows God to justify us—to clear us of all charges—and to do so justly. Our acquittal is not a miscarriage of justice. It’s the fulfillment of it, for Jesus absorbs the death sentence on our behalf. As a result, we no longer have to justify ourselves, either by perfect obedience or persuasive excuse-making. We just place our faith in Jesus and walk free.
Posted by Greg
So, caught dead to rights, what does Plax do? Does he do what all parents teach their kids to do: Tell the truth, admit your wrongdoing, and face the consequences? Not exactly.
He tries to check into a hospital under the name, “Harris Smith.” He claims that the gun went off while he was eating at Applebee’s. He turns himself into police but enters a plea of “not guilty.” Classic evasiveness. We all do it. We know the truth but find it impossible to face. Instead, we scratch and claw to justify ourselves, all evidence to the contrary.
This instinct lies behind the teaching of Romans 3. It’s a tough passage, but the gist of it is this: Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners before a holy God, and it does no good to protest this fact. Nevertheless, some will. Jews will say, “Well, what good is it to be Jews if our Judaism doesn’t save us?” Or they’ll say, “If we’re unfaithful and God condemns us for it, then He’s unfaithful too—because He promised to keep us as His chosen people!” Or they’ll say, “If our sin shows, by way of contrast, how holy God is, then how can He judge us? We’re fulfilling our purpose! We’re glorifying God by sinning!”
It’s all childish and ridiculous excuse-making. The Scriptures are clear: Everyone is a sinner, so everyone should hold his tongue and stand accountable before God. But not just so they can hear their sentence, but so that they can receive His grace!
In one of the most important paragraphs in the entire Bible, Paul explains how Jesus Christ shed his blood to atone for our sins. This allows God to justify us—to clear us of all charges—and to do so justly. Our acquittal is not a miscarriage of justice. It’s the fulfillment of it, for Jesus absorbs the death sentence on our behalf. As a result, we no longer have to justify ourselves, either by perfect obedience or persuasive excuse-making. We just place our faith in Jesus and walk free.
Posted by Greg
Monday, December 1, 2008
Romans 2: The Good News of God's Justice
Let’s orient ourselves to this part of Romans. From 1:18-3:20 Paul develops the theme of righteousness and through that theme demonstrates that all people have sinned and have disqualified themselves from God’s favor. Admitting our failure doesn’t come easy and there are various ways around it so Paul takes a few different tacks. First, he addresses the godless in 1:18-1:32 and shows them how what they consider natural and healthy is quite unnatural because sin has distorted their own understanding far from God’s intent for their life. In this chapter, he will address the “Gentile moralist” and the “righteous Jew.”
Paul’s call to each party is this: If you believe that you are accepted before God based upon your ability to fulfill the requirements of the law (whatever law that might be), then you better obey the entire thing. Not only should you obey the entire thing without any flaw, but you must do so in such a way that you obey the Spirit of that law. So obey everything fully, without any flaw, joyfully. This is the standard for righteousness and perfection. If God bent on this, where could the line be drawn? Righteousness would no longer be righteous and perfection would be reduced to “pretty good.”
Grace does not shrink the standard. It upholds the standard. Religion is a temptation to all who would seek God. Religion is wrong in this way because it reduces Godliness to external things that people can look at in order to make a judgment and find approval. What happens is that we lose our ability to relate to God for his approval and shrink our life to a bunch of duties, exercises, and meetings that make us feel like we are related right to God. Jumping through hoops like quiet times and church attendance to prove ourselves is an insult to the one who knows our thoughts, our passions and our motives. In our religiosity we become the same as the ungodly. Both of us are avoiding God as Savior; the ungodly in their unrighteous deeds and we in our righteous deeds. When we do this, we reveal our shrunken view of a holy, righteous and perfect God.
The good news that this passage alludes to is that God’s kindness leads us to something called repentance. Understanding God’s justice is good news; First, because it releases us from having to avenge. Secondly, it is good news because we can know that there is a standard for goodness, morality and purity. Upon these things, beauty, hope and love are built. Third, it breaks us from the false hope of finding our own righteousness through our deeds. It flings us to our only hope—an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Posted by Marc
Paul’s call to each party is this: If you believe that you are accepted before God based upon your ability to fulfill the requirements of the law (whatever law that might be), then you better obey the entire thing. Not only should you obey the entire thing without any flaw, but you must do so in such a way that you obey the Spirit of that law. So obey everything fully, without any flaw, joyfully. This is the standard for righteousness and perfection. If God bent on this, where could the line be drawn? Righteousness would no longer be righteous and perfection would be reduced to “pretty good.”
Grace does not shrink the standard. It upholds the standard. Religion is a temptation to all who would seek God. Religion is wrong in this way because it reduces Godliness to external things that people can look at in order to make a judgment and find approval. What happens is that we lose our ability to relate to God for his approval and shrink our life to a bunch of duties, exercises, and meetings that make us feel like we are related right to God. Jumping through hoops like quiet times and church attendance to prove ourselves is an insult to the one who knows our thoughts, our passions and our motives. In our religiosity we become the same as the ungodly. Both of us are avoiding God as Savior; the ungodly in their unrighteous deeds and we in our righteous deeds. When we do this, we reveal our shrunken view of a holy, righteous and perfect God.
The good news that this passage alludes to is that God’s kindness leads us to something called repentance. Understanding God’s justice is good news; First, because it releases us from having to avenge. Secondly, it is good news because we can know that there is a standard for goodness, morality and purity. Upon these things, beauty, hope and love are built. Third, it breaks us from the false hope of finding our own righteousness through our deeds. It flings us to our only hope—an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Posted by Marc
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