Romans 6:1-23
Do you know what it’s like to look back on part of your life and be ashamed of the things you used to do? As I reflect on my life as a middle school and high school student, sometimes it’s hard for me to admit that person was me. It’s not the same kind of shame Paul is describing here, but, for me, it’s a fairly good picture. I think back to the way I related to people, the stress and anxiety I felt, and I shudder. It’s embarrassing. And it’s incredible that Jesus took that broken little kid, worked to put him together again, and brought him to this place.
Paul says that, as believers in Jesus Christ, our identity is distinctly different now than it was before we trusted Jesus. So much so, that as we look back at what characterized our lives, what we were living for, and what we did, we’ll be ashamed that it was all leading to destruction. But now, through faith in Jesus, we are freed from the power of sin and can be slaves of God, rather than slaves of sin.
In verse 23, Paul says the wages – the just payment for our sin - is death. However, he declares, the gift is eternal life. It’s an incredible truth that the debt we owed was paid by Jesus on the Cross for us. We are not only acquitted of our wrong-doing, but Christ’s perfection and goodness is credited to us, as we trust in Him as our Savior. The wages is death, but the gift is life.
In Jesus, by God's grace, received through faith, we are no longer slaves to sin but are slaves to God. We have a new Master, who changes our way of life. Before our life was destined for doom and destruction. But now, by the power and redemption of God in us, the life we live leads to eternity with God.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Friend of God
We occasionally sing a song in our worship services called "Friend of God". The chorus is a rather repetitive (OK, very repetitive) refrain which states "I am a friend of God, He calls me friend." Knowing that our congregation generally dislikes too much repetition in our worship songs, I rarely select that one for use in our services. But, inspired by today's scripture from Romans 5, I may need to pull it out more often!
Today's reading in the New Living Translation has replaced some of the "churchy" words we grew up with. Gone from this translation are being reconciled and justified. We are, in terms simple enough for all of us to understand, friends with God. Verse 11 states: "So now we can rejoice in our wonderful relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends with God."
I think I had an easier time with reconciliation and justification.
You see, I fall short in my relationships on earth. I forget birthdays. I write my thank you notes late, if at all. I email friends rather than call, because calling takes time that I don't think I have. I snap at my kids, and fold laundry when I should be talking with my husband. Does any of that sound familiar to you?
So, if I disappoint the people that I love on earth, might I wreck my friendship with God? The one that Jesus went to such lengths to establish on my behalf? As I get caught up in the "tyranny of the urgent", what if I am not a good friend to Him?
That's what makes me think of the worship song. Maybe it says "I am a friend of God" as a reminder, and it says it over and over because in our hearts of hearts, we struggle to believe it is true.
Today's reading tells us it is. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at the right time and died for us sinners..... He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. .... God's free gift leads to us being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. .... Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ... As people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.
The truth is that I am God's friend because of Jesus, not because of me. When I fail to be the kind of friend I think I ought to be, God's abundant grace covers me. Jesus has restored my relationship with God -- his grace is sufficient and unaffected by my shortcomings.
I am a friend of God; I am a friend of God. Suddenly repeating that phrase over and over is music to my ears.
Today's reading in the New Living Translation has replaced some of the "churchy" words we grew up with. Gone from this translation are being reconciled and justified. We are, in terms simple enough for all of us to understand, friends with God. Verse 11 states: "So now we can rejoice in our wonderful relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends with God."
I think I had an easier time with reconciliation and justification.
You see, I fall short in my relationships on earth. I forget birthdays. I write my thank you notes late, if at all. I email friends rather than call, because calling takes time that I don't think I have. I snap at my kids, and fold laundry when I should be talking with my husband. Does any of that sound familiar to you?
So, if I disappoint the people that I love on earth, might I wreck my friendship with God? The one that Jesus went to such lengths to establish on my behalf? As I get caught up in the "tyranny of the urgent", what if I am not a good friend to Him?
That's what makes me think of the worship song. Maybe it says "I am a friend of God" as a reminder, and it says it over and over because in our hearts of hearts, we struggle to believe it is true.
Today's reading tells us it is. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at the right time and died for us sinners..... He will certainly save us from God's condemnation. .... God's free gift leads to us being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. .... Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ... As people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.
The truth is that I am God's friend because of Jesus, not because of me. When I fail to be the kind of friend I think I ought to be, God's abundant grace covers me. Jesus has restored my relationship with God -- his grace is sufficient and unaffected by my shortcomings.
I am a friend of God; I am a friend of God. Suddenly repeating that phrase over and over is music to my ears.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
The Lord's Provision, Promises and Faithfulness
Key words and expressions regarding the Lord’s provision and His offer of salvation include: promise, faith, and free gift. Notice: Paul, the author of this book, frequently refers to the Old Testament teachings…such as the importance of the life Abraham who was called the father of the Jewish people. Paul gives emphasis to this idea, God made promises to Abraham, and God kept them! So He will for us! Promises? What comes to your mind as promises of God to us? Pause to offer your thanks to God for His promises and His faithfulness. V. 21 Can you…can I…can we really believe this too? V. 24 God will count us as righteous if we believe in the Lord Jesus. Consider what a wonderful provision the Lord has made for us! V. 5:1 “Being made right in the sight of God by faith.” Isn’t that something! By faith. By really trusting Him! Let’s make that very personal – “Do I really, really believe this is true? V. 5:2 We are in the place of undeserved privilege…in Christ. Key words include: confident, joyful, looking forward to sharing God’s glory! Am I? Are you? V. 5:3 Wow! We can rejoice even in the midst of problems and trials. Maybe you’d like to read again the first 5 verses of Romans 5. This is good stuff.
Donald E. Pardun
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
There's Gotta be a Catch
Romans 4:1-15
Paul lays it out clearly in today's reading: righteousness comes by faith.
There's really no argument here. No waffling by Paul. No weasel words. No tricks. He presents this idea in language anyone can understand, concise and straightforward. It's not what we do; our righteousness comes from faith in God. It's a gift, not something we earn.
That should end all discussion, right? "God said it; I believe it; that settles it."
Yet over the millenia, much ink has been spilled -- and even more blood has been spilled -- over this concept.
The implications are enormous. The notion of human equality that we hold so dear in this country springs from this; for how else could all of humanity be considered as equals except in the sense that we are equal in the sight of God.
Why is this so difficult? Why are we hard-wired to believe that what we do carries any weight? It's true that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), but so often we rely on that as an indicator of our standing with God.
I believe in righteousness by faith. I believe it in my head. And on good days I think I believe it in my heart, too. And on not-so-good days, when I'm busy and cranky and overworked (there's that word -- work), I start to believe that faith isn't enough to cover me.
Granted, faith is not just a big, warm, fuzzy blanket we wrap up in to feel all cozy. Our salvation came at a cost.
Oh, yes. Our suspicions were right. There was a catch after all. But the cost was to God. God is the one who made it happen. God is the one who decided to bless the whole earth through Abraham, and God is the one who went to the cross to reconcile us all to himself.
There's nothing we can do to achieve it. God is the acting force who draws us all to himself, forgives our disobedience, and declares us righteous.
No waffling, no weasel words, . . . no catch.
--Drew Clausen
Paul lays it out clearly in today's reading: righteousness comes by faith.
There's really no argument here. No waffling by Paul. No weasel words. No tricks. He presents this idea in language anyone can understand, concise and straightforward. It's not what we do; our righteousness comes from faith in God. It's a gift, not something we earn.
That should end all discussion, right? "God said it; I believe it; that settles it."
Yet over the millenia, much ink has been spilled -- and even more blood has been spilled -- over this concept.
The implications are enormous. The notion of human equality that we hold so dear in this country springs from this; for how else could all of humanity be considered as equals except in the sense that we are equal in the sight of God.
Why is this so difficult? Why are we hard-wired to believe that what we do carries any weight? It's true that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), but so often we rely on that as an indicator of our standing with God.
I believe in righteousness by faith. I believe it in my head. And on good days I think I believe it in my heart, too. And on not-so-good days, when I'm busy and cranky and overworked (there's that word -- work), I start to believe that faith isn't enough to cover me.
Granted, faith is not just a big, warm, fuzzy blanket we wrap up in to feel all cozy. Our salvation came at a cost.
Oh, yes. Our suspicions were right. There was a catch after all. But the cost was to God. God is the one who made it happen. God is the one who decided to bless the whole earth through Abraham, and God is the one who went to the cross to reconcile us all to himself.
There's nothing we can do to achieve it. God is the acting force who draws us all to himself, forgives our disobedience, and declares us righteous.
No waffling, no weasel words, . . . no catch.
--Drew Clausen
Monday, July 16, 2007
Character Issues
Romans 3:9-31
Okay, so for a football fan, this is the 'dry' season. Between the draft in the spring, and the start of training camp there's not much. So, I haven't paid much attention to any of the news, except the following. The headline grabbed my attention, and smile: "Late Picks Pass Character Checks". The article went on to describe how one professional team eliminated from their draft consideration over 90 players due to mars on their character record. However, late in the draft they did take a chance on a couple players with some checkeredness (there's a great word!) in their past. The quoted team official spun the move, saying that the team had looked into the background of these players and was "comfortable" with them despite their "character issues".
And that's what brought the knowing smile. NFL coaches, along with a whole slew of self-justifying-by-comparison humanity, must not have read Romans 3, and not know the full truth of the matter: we ALL have character issues.
No one is righteous -- not even one.
No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.
All have turned away; all have become useless.
No one does good, not even a single one...
Haven't you come to love the plainspoken truth of this translation we are reading?! And yet, our natural self at the same time hates its plain and simple assertions.
But unless we reckon with the character issue flaw in all of us unavoidably assessed in vv. 10-18, we will never own the wonder of grace equally presented in awestruck simplicity in vv. 20-22:
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law... We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
"Jesus, you know my every character issue, and yet You choose me. I am undone. And so grateful. Help me only to believe."
PPaul
Okay, so for a football fan, this is the 'dry' season. Between the draft in the spring, and the start of training camp there's not much. So, I haven't paid much attention to any of the news, except the following. The headline grabbed my attention, and smile: "Late Picks Pass Character Checks". The article went on to describe how one professional team eliminated from their draft consideration over 90 players due to mars on their character record. However, late in the draft they did take a chance on a couple players with some checkeredness (there's a great word!) in their past. The quoted team official spun the move, saying that the team had looked into the background of these players and was "comfortable" with them despite their "character issues".
And that's what brought the knowing smile. NFL coaches, along with a whole slew of self-justifying-by-comparison humanity, must not have read Romans 3, and not know the full truth of the matter: we ALL have character issues.
No one is righteous -- not even one.
No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.
All have turned away; all have become useless.
No one does good, not even a single one...
Haven't you come to love the plainspoken truth of this translation we are reading?! And yet, our natural self at the same time hates its plain and simple assertions.
But unless we reckon with the character issue flaw in all of us unavoidably assessed in vv. 10-18, we will never own the wonder of grace equally presented in awestruck simplicity in vv. 20-22:
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law... We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
"Jesus, you know my every character issue, and yet You choose me. I am undone. And so grateful. Help me only to believe."
PPaul
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Matters of the Heart
Romans 2:25 – 3:8
I had a chemistry professor who stated on the first day of class that you could solve problems that you do not understand by applying certain principles and using one of his formulas. I think he said this for the next 90 days and double for labs days.
This is one of those times when I need to “solve” these statements with my professor’s principles. First, we need to list all the things text states.
…circumcision has value only if you observe the law.
…circumcision can be undone by not obeying the law.
…the uncircumcised will judge the circumcised because of obedience.
…Jews and circumcision are outward & physical signs.
…true Jews are those who have had their heart circumcised.
Where is that professor when I need him?
I wonder when my faith became more than a ritual? What caused me to fall back into ritualistic behavior? Worse yet, what rituals am I doing that I am not aware of?
Through all of life, the solution to the statements of life is that God remains faithful. No matter if I loose sight of grace and operate by works, or operate totally by grace. He is faithful.
Steve Louden
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