Thoughts on Romans - Day 8

                                         Romans 4:1-11

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? ² If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. ³ What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

⁴ Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. ⁵ However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. ⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

⁹ Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. ¹⁰ Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! ¹¹ And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.

 

              As boss over 10 people, I am responsible for their hiring, firing, job description, raises, bonuses, paychecks, etc. One issue that surfaces with me occasionally is their lack of thankfulness. I know this goes both ways but let me focus on them since it is my blog :)  I remember one January giving them all what I felt to be decent raises, and a month later none of them had thanked me. several months later it stewed in me so long that I let it out something like this ..."I'm thinking about not giving raises next year because none of you thanked me for your raises this year." They all then thanked me except for one who speaks her mind said, "I deserved that raise - I worked hard. Bonuses I will thank you for but I don't feel like I need to thank you for my paycheck or raises." I remember firing several people (not her) who came back afterwards wondering if I gave out bonuses that month because they deserved one because they worked most of the month. I guess even bonuses are "deserved" if you give them on a regular basis? I often am not thanked for the Christmas bonuses because most jobs give those and therefore they are expected?

 

        I'm not venting here, I'm sure I would do the same, I'm just trying to explain the above passage in real life terms. We don't give thanks for anything we perceive to have earned. If we are saved by being a good person and doing good works, we will stand before God someday and if He asks you why should I let you in, our response would be, I deserve it. I am entitled to Heaven. But if it is by God's grace (unmerited favor), we would say, "I am unworthy, but I by faith have trusted in your Son's death on the cross for my sins", our salvation would be totally unworthy, we would be eternally thankful and everlasting glory would be given to God not us. We aren't just talking about Heaven here - if I think that I am earning Heaven in the future down here, what is there to be thankful for. I would live an expectant entitled life without joy and thanksgiving upset with others who aren't as good as me. Thanksgiving is the hallmark of a life aware of the grace of God.

 

     Lord, I go through life in a very ungrateful manor. Help me to have a thankful attitude throughout my day aware of the depths of my sinfulness and extent of your grace to me. Amen

Thoughts on Romans - Day 7

                                         Romans 3:19-31

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
²⁷ Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. ²⁸ For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. ²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, ³⁰ since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. ³¹ Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

             Paul has been warning people about certain sins. In late chapter 1 he lists a host of sins of the body and in chapter 2 he lists some sins of the soul - the mind. He makes a case that just because you look good on the outside, you may not look good on the inside and we are all sinful. He then goes on to say that you may even go to church or be religious but are you stealing, committing sexual sins, worshipping things above God, lying, not a person of your word, and abrasive - you better check and see if you really are a follower of Christ.

            We might get the idea that being a Christian is a matter of not doing all the above things and in exchange being as zealous as Paul. Who can do that?? And that's the point. The law only shows us how far short we come of God. We can't get to God by being good because we can't be good enough.

          Enter the grace of God. What club do you know of whose only entrance qualification is that you admit you are bad? That you are weak? That you are a loser? Maybe alcoholics anonymous. Maybe rehab. I guess we could call Christianity SA - Sinners Anonymous. We check in and say, I'm Jim and I'm a sinner. I can't stop and I need help. I hear Jesus will take all my sins away and give me a fresh start and come inside of me to change my desires and make me want to do good instead of bad all the time. I've come by faith because He is my only hope. I'm desperate! Jesus steps into the room and says, "I've been expecting you" -haha (but true). "it's done"

         Therefore, where is boasting? It only can be boasting what God did for you. Where do works fit in? Only after God comes into your life and performs them through you as we do them to glorify, no longer blaspheming, the name of our new Father as we are adopted into His family.

        Lord, strip away all my pride because without You I am hopeless. Help me not to look down on anyone today because I know that I am just like them apart from you. Point me in the direction of people that are ready to admit they can't make it without you, Amen

Thoughts on Romans - Day 6

                             Romans 2:25 - 3:18
²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶ So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

3 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? ² Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.

³ What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? ⁴ Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:

“So that you may be proved right when you speak
    and prevail when you judge.”

⁵ But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) ⁶ Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? ⁷ Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” ⁸ Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!

⁹ What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. ¹⁰ As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;
¹¹     there is no one who understands;
    there is no one who seeks God.
¹² All have turned away,
    they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
    not even one.”
¹³ “Their throats are open graves;
    their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
¹⁴     “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
¹⁶     ruin and misery mark their ways,
¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.”
¹⁸     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

 

     Yesterday I looked at 3 sinful behaviors listed in the previous passage that blaspheme the name of Christ - make His name common or unholy - if we/I as a Christian am participating in. Those 3 behaviors are stealing, adultery, and idolatry. Paul isn't quite done with his point. He is further going to shame me by saying, just judging from the outside, sometimes non-Christians look more like a Christian than me. Sure, if you look at their heart you would see impure motives such as impressing people rather than God, but if you are going to say you are a Christian, here are some things you /I need to rein in.

     As I look at these I think I could group them all as sins of the tongue. First we start with unfaithfulness. Do you make promises you don't keep. Do I say, "I will pay you back", and then don't. Do I say, "I will pray for you" and don't. Do I say I will fulfill my job as a deacon, and don't. Do you say, "To have and to hold from this day forth as long as we both shall live",and then divorce your spouse? Why is the divorce rate in the Church approaching that of the world? Don't you think the world sees this? Don't you think that not keeping your word blasphemes God if you are identifying with Him?

        Next is lying. Satan is the father of lies, and God is the father of truth. This is a little different from unfaithfulness unless when you made the pledge, you never intended on keeping it. Superman once said to Lois, "Lois, I never lie". Can I say that? Can people say that about us? I once had someone tell me that lying, stealing, and cheating are a triad that always go together. If you want to kill three birds with one stone (I guess that isn't a PC idiom) stop lying!

        Lastly, "open graves, poisoned lips, cursing and bitterness" I would group together and say am I sarcastic, cutting, hurting with my words or am I seen as a Barnabas - an encourager. Do people come to me for encouragement or do they leave discouraged? Encouraging and being honest can take some effort so lets work on the filter from our mind to our lips.

       Lord, I want people to leave my presence saying, "If that is a Christian then I want to be one." I fall so far short of that and in fact, some unbelievers are more winsome than me. Forgive me for this and with your Holy Spirit inside me, help me be an accurate representation of You to a lost world. Amen

Thoughts on Romans - Day 5

                                               Romans 2:12-24
¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; ¹⁸ if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

              The 4th commandment is "Don't take the Lord's name in vain". Most of us would say that means don't cuss and I was even taught that saying Gosh, Jeez, Gee-whiz, Golly were euphemisms and should not be said either. Not to take away from that but also look at the end of this passage -"God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” In other words if I identify myself as a follower of Christ, and I don't live like a follower of Christ, I am defaming or making a mockery of His name. I am  dragging His name through the mud. How am I in danger of doing that?

    Number one - stealing. How do my employees view me? Do they think I'm generous or do they think I'm stealing from them- that I am making myself rich off them? This is tough because our human nature is to never be satisfied so more than likely my workers will always feel underpaid. The question is do they feel like I am stealing from them and I hope and pray not because they will then say "if that's a Christian, I don't want it". We can't take advantage of getting free stuff, we must tell people when we are undercharged, declaring income, lying to insurance companies, saying our kids are a younger age for discounts... money is nothing compared to keeping people from God by any questionable monetary move we make.

     Number 2 - adultery. There is no quicker more definitive way to lose your ministry than to cheat on your spouse. You become that salt that Jesus says is thrown out to be trampled on because it has lost it's saltiness. That isn't to say that we as the church should treat people that way but we do need to treat them then with a certain modesty that Paul talks about in 1Cor. 12. God isn't done with you but you have just become another reason to reject Christ. And what about your internet history? If someone were to confiscate your computer, what would they find? What about your phone? Have you been inappropriately texting someone?

    Number 3 - idolatry. What have I put above Christ? If I have put something ahead of Him, the world will see that God isn't sufficient. Do I miss Church for vacations, sporting events, sales, family visits, etc. Our kids will see that God is ranked below #1 and His glory will be lessened in their eyes. Our neighbors who we are witnessing to will see that God doesn't mind sharing His glory and see a false Christianity and be led astray.

        Jesus says that if you cause someone to reject the gospel because of you it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and thrown into the sea. Do I take my representation of Christ to a lost world that seriously? I hope so

         Lord, I live in a small town where everyone sees everything I do. Help me to stay above reproach for the glory of Your name and in order to lead people into Your kingdom. Amen





                  

Thoughts on Romans - Day 4

                                                 Romans 2:1-11
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.


        OK, it's true- I have been accused of being judgmental, not showing grace, self righteous, etc. It's not something I'm proud of but well earned and hopefully improving over the years. When you grow up in a Christian family in a Fundamental Bible teaching church, you can usually avoid all those sins mentioned in Romans 1. The problem is that we tend to look with disdain on those Romans 1 people and judge our spirituality not by what we do but by what we don't do. Romans 2 evens the playing field.

        Romans 2 says that it is not my actions only that makes me righteous or unrighteous but what is going on in my mind. If I am condemning someone for a behavior, first of all I am putting myself in the place of God. Just call me Lucifer. Secondly, chances are I am guilty of the same sin and deserve my own judgement. For example, if someone is having an affair Jesus would say if I looked at someone lustfully then I am committing adultery in my own heart. Look at that person with that expensive boat - shouldn't they give their money to the poor, yet I am coveting their lifestyle. I am always reminded of this when I see packages sticking out of people's mailboxes and being jealous that they are getting something I'm not! Weird, huh? As I start to realize what is in my heart and how nasty it is, I can start showing Romans 1 people grace and being less judgmental when people mess up. Tim Keller says that the same seeds of people's heinous behavior and sins are in your heart, too - they just haven't been watered.

        One of the passages in the Gospels that speaks to me more and more the older I get is when Simon (a different Simon) invites Jesus to his house and is appalled that a prostitute is washing Jesus' feet. Jesus, knowing his thoughts (Romans 2) tells him a parable about 2 people whose debts are forgiven - one a huge sum and one a small sum. Jesus asks Simon which would love the forgiver more. Simon correctly answers the one with the larger sum. Jesus then proceeds to bust Simon's chops because he has shown no love for Jesus at his house really because Simon hasn't been a Romans 1 person. So not only are we Romans 2 people judgmental (usurping God's place), self righteous and proud, alienated from a ministry to "those" people, but we are in danger of having a low level of Love for God. No wonder I can go a day without thinking about God. Well enough about me - what about you...?
       Lord, You attracted those Romans 1 people and I repel them. Help me to continue to see the depths of my sinful heart and the extent of your grace poured out on me. Amen

Thoughts on Romans - Day 3

                                 ROMANS 1:16-31

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

         Paul is my hero! There are no close seconds. Yes, my dad was an awesome Christian, Billy Graham is/was a legend. I've admired Christian sports figures like Tebow, Warner, Wilson, Bobby Richardson, etc. but they usually let me down. But Paul!!... So far in Romans I have seen that he made himself a servant of God. God would tell him to jump and he would say" how high?" In fact he was desiring to go to Rome for years but God wouldn't let him. Finally God lets him. In fact He sends him there free of charge... in shackles, ship wrecked, disdained, snake bit and under house arrest, etc and what does Paul do - he tells about the grace and goodness of God to his captive audiences. Next I saw that Paul was focused. He didn't get distracted by the things of this Earth that we get distracted by. I'm not talking about bad things, I'm talking about things that God has given us to enjoy. What would I rather do on a weekday night - hang out with my wife and sit by the fire and watch our favorite TV show or go out and advance the Kingdom of God with fellow believers. For Paul it wasn't even a reasonable question. Wow!

         Today I see that Paul was unashamed. Well, at least I have this one licked. Ha! Don't we want to fit in? Nobody wants to be the one being laughed at by the crowd. Why wasn't Paul ashamed - because he was convinced that there was and is a God over the universe. I mean , to me that's obvious and Paul is convinced that deep down everyone knows this when they look at the beauty and order of creation, the wonder of life and childbirth, etc. But then when you start thinking about it that means He created the universe, you and me, and that means that He must have had a purpose for doing it and that leads to the slippery slope ending in we are all under His authority - and like we saw in day 1, none of us likes that. Therefore, anyone that wants to be a free agent (which is impossible because we are all slaves to something) will mock you, ostracize you, belittle you, laugh at you if you present that God is righteous and you aren't and will be eternally separated from Him unless you by faith receive His righteousness in you through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

         This couldn't have been easy for Paul. Everywhere he went people hated him. Even believers tried to get him to chill. In Galatians we see Peter and Barnabas, out of fear of the circumcision group backing down. We see travelling partners like John Mark and Demas deserting him because they couldn't take it. And then he presents it to the most powerful enlightened person of his time, King Agrippa and the king thinks he is insane. I don't want enlightened people to think I'm insane - do you?

     Lord, help me today not to worry about what so called enlightened people think about me because they despite knowing the truth have stuck their heads in the sand and make fun of everyone who hasn't. Help me to be bold and stand uncompromisingly for the truth of the gospel. Convince my heart of it's truth today through your Holy Spirit inside me and through the encouragement of fellow believers of like mind.

Thoughts on Romans - Day 2

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. ⁹ God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you ¹⁰ in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
¹¹ I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— ¹² that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith. ¹³ I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.


             <sup>How do you view fellowship? We get a glimpse into Paul's view of it in this passage. He is constantly praying for a group of believers who he has never met, who he didn't lead to the Lord. He spends time thanking God for them (how much of my prayer time is devoted to just thanking the Lord?), and praying that he can see them. Why? So they can mutually be encouraged that this path of faith we are on is not only true but worth all the death to self that we talked about yesterday.

        Do we see fellowship this way? I'm afraid not. A.W.Tozer wrote an essay on This World: A Playground or a Battlefield, where he states that we view life through the wrong lens. Paul says to Timothy, "A good soldier does not get involved in civilian affairs". Do you think our soldiers in the middle east are using their weekly pay to buy land over there so when their tour of duty is up they can live over there? No way! They are sending their money home to ensure a better life when they get back to their real home. A preacher friend of mine once said, "We have been called to be fishers of men but we have taken our boat and gone water skiing." Why do we do this? Here in America there is very little persecution of Christians. We can be wealthy and be a Christian. We can run for president and be an outspoken Christian (winning is another matter). Why would we need to meet together to encourage one another in the faith? Our encouragement tends to be along the lines of ,"Oh, I'm so sorry your child got runner up".

     We need to meet with fellow believers more often and not just to watch sporting events, though there is nothing wrong with that, but when we meet we need to remind each other that we are harvesters with a limited window of time. We need to pray for each other, hold each other accountable, and ask how can I help you accomplish the unique ministry with the unique gifting that God has supplied you with? And if there has been any persecution, ridiculing, ostracizing because of their faith - patch them up and send them back in the battlefield.

       I know this sounds harsh. I know this sounds like obligation and duty rather than freedom and grace and joy. What about where Paul also says to Timothy, "He has given us all things for our enjoyment"? That doesn't sound like a battlefield. That sounds like water skiing. I guess it is just in our mindset. Are we living with eternity in our mind so we hold loosely to the things of this earth or are we living like this earth is our home? We tend to live more like the latter so a harsh reminder is often needed. Actually, that is the point of fellowship, to refocus our eyes on our true citizenship and say, "Yes He is the Truth, Yes He is the Way, and Yes He is the Life"

 Lord, help me encourage fellow Christians today that this world is not their home and Jesus will be coming back soon. Help me to boldly proclaim the gospel today and encourage others to do the same. And please, let me see a harvest. Bring about revival</sup>