1:4 - Because of the grace of Jesus Christ, in every way our speech and knowledge should become more enriched...become better. As a follow filled with the Spirit of Jesus, my words and mind should consistently move towards godliness. Is that happening?
1:10ff - What in the world has happened to us? The should be no divisions between us! Why are there fifty different kinds of Christ following churches in Houston! We have fallen a long way from the early church. They just had divisions within the church...we have mastered the art of turning divisiveness in the church into a whole new church moved down the road. We have people shouting, "I follow Luther!" "I follow Calvin!" "I follow Campbell!" When verse 31 tells is that we should clearly only boast in the Lord Jesus Christ. What can you do to help the Church move towards unity and not towards chaos?
1:17 - I like Paul's attitude here...as a minister, it is awesome to see people you have shared the gospel with baptized by somebody else. It is awesome to see your own disciples go out and baptize. Baptism isn't an ordained minister only kind of gig. What steps can you take to baptize somebody within the next year? Get to work!
1:18 - The Word of God lived out is death and destruction when witnessed by the world. When you refuse to work 70 hours a week because you take seriously the call to live out a Sabbath - that looks like the death of a career to the world. When you take 10% or more of your income and give it away - that looks like lunacy and financial destruction to the world. Fortunately we have a secret...we know that living out the Word, as crazy and life-altering as that is, brings about true life and resurrection. This is a secret we need to be telling people!
1:22ff - It is absolute folly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is crazy. The call to die...understanding that you cannot save yourselves...the call to take up your cross daily...the call becoming living sacrifices...the call to follow a master that was slaughtered at the hands of the Roman juggernaut...these things are absurd to the world. It is absurd, yet the only way.
1:27 - The church is the home of the weak, rejects, losers, broken people of the world - and God chooses these same people to reflect His person to the world. Again, folly. Beautiful, powerful, God-ordained folly.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Romans Chapter 15 and 16 - May 14, 2008
*Doing two chapters because I still have a couple to make up for and usually the final chapters aren't quite as theologically brain-busting.
15:1 - There are many times when I get frustrated with people because they aren't as mature in the faith as I think they should be (And I'm the judge of all things spiritual for all people right? LOL). It seems like maybe my refusal to accept people where they are calls into question my own level of spiritual maturity. I believe that I get frustrated with people because I view myself as making sacrifices in life that they aren't making. I think I might be a little jealous...which is absurd! Can I truly not be happy with the blessings that growing closer to God brings to me? Do I really miss the old life I had, and get angry with people who are still living it? If my foundation is firmly is Jesus Christ I should be able to sympathize and bear with weaker Christians, because I know how good I have it...unfortunately that isn't usually my response.
15:18ff - Paul can boast because he doesn't boast in his own power. Every good thing he has done...every positive aspect of his ministry...ever miracle performed and person saved is from God. Paul understands that and it helps him have a realistic outlook on the good and the bad things that come his way.
15:27 - I know people hate to talk about money in church, but again and again we see that Jesus and Paul are willing to talk about it all the time. That has to tell us something. For Paul in this passage there is an expectation...if you are receiving spiritual blessing from your new found brotherhood of Christianity, it is a given that you pour out material blessings in return. It is clearly a part of growing in spiritual maturity. You don't save yourself through giving...you don't get extra brownie points with God for giving...it is simply a natural reaction to coming into contact with God. When you see how blessed you are - you bless others. Deal with it!
16:1-16 - Do I live my life that my friends and colleagues would address me like this? He risked his neck for my life. Hard worker. Beloved of the Lord. Fellow worker in Christ. It gives us something to strive for...not to be honored by men, but to live in such away that we are leaving a godly impression wherever we go.
16:17-18 - People within our churches who create divisions and live contrary to the gospel do not serve God...they serve their own appetites. The only thing that they can think of is their own pride...their own well-being...their own honor...they have become an idol for themselves. These are toxic people that must be confronted and held accountable. God, please help me to be a man who serves you and not myself. God please help me to be man who builds your church up and does not destroy it.
16:20 - The prophecy given to Adam and Eve in the garden will soon be fulfilled, and the God of peace will bring peace to the entire universe by crushing the head of the serpent - the prince of lies - Satan. Amen.
15:1 - There are many times when I get frustrated with people because they aren't as mature in the faith as I think they should be (And I'm the judge of all things spiritual for all people right? LOL). It seems like maybe my refusal to accept people where they are calls into question my own level of spiritual maturity. I believe that I get frustrated with people because I view myself as making sacrifices in life that they aren't making. I think I might be a little jealous...which is absurd! Can I truly not be happy with the blessings that growing closer to God brings to me? Do I really miss the old life I had, and get angry with people who are still living it? If my foundation is firmly is Jesus Christ I should be able to sympathize and bear with weaker Christians, because I know how good I have it...unfortunately that isn't usually my response.
15:18ff - Paul can boast because he doesn't boast in his own power. Every good thing he has done...every positive aspect of his ministry...ever miracle performed and person saved is from God. Paul understands that and it helps him have a realistic outlook on the good and the bad things that come his way.
15:27 - I know people hate to talk about money in church, but again and again we see that Jesus and Paul are willing to talk about it all the time. That has to tell us something. For Paul in this passage there is an expectation...if you are receiving spiritual blessing from your new found brotherhood of Christianity, it is a given that you pour out material blessings in return. It is clearly a part of growing in spiritual maturity. You don't save yourself through giving...you don't get extra brownie points with God for giving...it is simply a natural reaction to coming into contact with God. When you see how blessed you are - you bless others. Deal with it!
16:1-16 - Do I live my life that my friends and colleagues would address me like this? He risked his neck for my life. Hard worker. Beloved of the Lord. Fellow worker in Christ. It gives us something to strive for...not to be honored by men, but to live in such away that we are leaving a godly impression wherever we go.
16:17-18 - People within our churches who create divisions and live contrary to the gospel do not serve God...they serve their own appetites. The only thing that they can think of is their own pride...their own well-being...their own honor...they have become an idol for themselves. These are toxic people that must be confronted and held accountable. God, please help me to be a man who serves you and not myself. God please help me to be man who builds your church up and does not destroy it.
16:20 - The prophecy given to Adam and Eve in the garden will soon be fulfilled, and the God of peace will bring peace to the entire universe by crushing the head of the serpent - the prince of lies - Satan. Amen.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Romans Chapters 13 and 14 - May 13, 2008
13:1ff - Part of honoring God is honoring those who have been put in authority over you. Paul is pretty clear about that in this passage. He is writing to a Roman church that has probably seen example after example of corrupt authorities. The tax collectors gouged the people for every last penny they could get...the ruling authorities were pagan men from an often violent, ruthless and sexual immoral society. These rulers were not shining examples of the faith, but the Roman Christians were still called to honor them anyway. In fact, for whatever reason, God placed those people in power. Something that we as Christians need to remember is that we are not called to be political...we are called to be spiritual. We live in a country where we can have some say when it comes to who is in power, but we must also honor our leaders no matter who is in office.
13:8 - A recurring theme throughout the New Testament: wanna fulfill the law, love one another. Really simple concept, but it seems from our constant failure that it is pretty hard to make into a reality. Stinking selfish human nature!!! What can you do today to live out the command to love another?
13:11 - The time is now for us to wake up from the zombie-like existence we live out when obsessed with the things of this world and see that we were meant to live for so much more (Thank you, Switchfoot) than money, power, stuff, sex, etc. Salvation is at hand...do you live out your salvation daily?
14:4ff - Who do I think I am to call down judgement on my Christian brothers and sisters who believe differently then me? Paul isn't saying that we should not hold each other accountable...he is saying Christians should not destroy each other over theological differences. I don't have the corner on theological correctness...I am a flawed man who is chasing after God and should have respect for other flawed men chasing after God.
14:7 - The important part is not that you have every aspect of spirituality completely figured out (Which chapter 11 showed us is impossible!), but that we daily live for God and willingly offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
14:19 - Why would you ever cause a Christian brother to stumble by what you eat or drink or watch or do? To cause problems just to prove a point about what you believe is acceptable is the height of selfish arrogance. Instead pursue the tings in life that bring peace and uplift.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Romans Chapter 12 - May 10, 2008
1 - Worship = every day presenting yourself to God as a sacrifice. Offering everything...everyday. I think it would be life-changing and incredible if we started out every day literally offering ourselves to God, saying, "It's all yours today God...all of me...please help me to die to self so that I can live for You." Give it a try.
2 - How do you find out what God's will is? That is a question everybody wants to know. This gives us some clues: fight against cultural conformity; and allow Christ to fill your mind - not worldly junk. How could we possibly hear God's voice in our lives when we are allowing it to be drowned out by all the "noise" of our culture?
3-4 - Humility is something I need to work on. Humility is hugely important, because it bring us closer to God. When we are humble, we understand how much we need God...when we allow arrogance to creep into our minds, we begin to believe that we can do things through our own power...through our own strength of will. This passage reminds me drop the damaging "comparison game" and remember that every member of the body of Christ is invaluable. Every single person who is a follower of Christ is completely unique and the only person that can do the task that God has assigned to them. Humility can see the importance of all the members...arrogance is blind to the gifts of anyone other then itself.
6 - Prophecy freak us out, but this is the first thing that Paul mentions when it comes to gifts that we need to be using. What we need to understand is that the majority of the time, the prophets were not making future prophecies...they were calling God's people back to Him. Maybe we don't have enough people in our churches today, calling God's people back to His way. Maybe we don't have enough "prophets" willing to speak the hard truths.
9-21 - I just want to make a short list of the marks of the Christian believer in this passage that I believe the modern church is pretty terrible at living out (Me included)...
- Abhor evil and hold to what is good
- Be zealous and fervent in the Spirit
- Bless those who persecute you
- Avoid arrogance and hand out with the lowly
- As far as you e concerned, live peaceably with all
- If your enemy is hungry feed him
What would it look like if you really lived those things out?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Romans Chapter 11 - May 9, 2008
12 - Seems to be saying that if the Jews' stubborn rebellion against the gospel serves to bring Gentiles to Jesus...how many more would be brought to Christ if they were fully Christ-centered? God is doing awesome work through Israel's failure...imagine the power of His Gospel unleashed in the nation of Israel following the messiah, Jesus. This shows me that God fully gives them free-will to choose their path, yet He will bring men to Him no matter what people choose. God uses our evil to bring men to Him...but He longs to use our faith to bring others to Him.
22 - Doesn't this verse seem to imply a continued salvation through faith? Again, this doesn't mean that men save themselves through good works...it means that we must always continue to trust in His kindness and faithfulness. He will allow us to reject His kindness...read the verse again.
32 - Again, Paul uses language that speaks of all men...all men are fallen, and through our failure God offers His mercy to all. All that is good within us comes from God...yet all that is evil within us proclaims the glory and mercy though God's forgiveness. God is good!
33 - There have been some really hot theological topics covered in the last few chapters - free will, predestination, one saved/always saved, continual salvation, etc. This verse is great to end any absurd human theological argument (The word theological in itself is insane, as we boast of our particular "knowledge of God" - as if He is fully knowable). How unsearchable are His judgements and inscrutable are His ways! How could we ever be arrogant enough to assume we have constructed some error free doctrine, when it is clear that we are too far below God to fully know His ways? Every argument can end like this - do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God and he died to pay the price for your sins? Then we're good!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Romans Chapter 10 - May 8, 2008
*My apologies about yesterday, I am going to try to throw an extra commentary down Saturday.
FYI - I LOVE ROMANS!!!
10:4 - There is no righteousness through law...there is only failure...you will fail to uphold the law completely. There is only righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let us turn to him in humility and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, knowing full well that he is our only hope.
10:6-7 - Faith is not about what you do. If faith was about you ascending into heaven through your good works, you would be belittling the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If faith was about you sacrificially going into the bowels of hell to raise up the dead, it would mock the death of Jesus. Faith is about putting our trust in the fact that the Son of God did something to save us that none of us could ever do.
10:9 - Salvation without water...(GASP!) The nerve of this guy Paul! You mean to tell me that it isn't the holy baptismal water that saves? No it is not the water that saves...it is your belief in Jesus Christ. Then why get baptized? A.) Because Jesus did it, and as followers of Christ, why would we dare think that we are above something he lived out. B.) Because we were commanded to by scripture. C.) Because it is an outward symbol of the inward act of dying to self so that we can rise to live for Christ. D.) It is a ceremony that solidifies your commitment to Christ before God and man. F.) Why wouldn't you do it after seeing these reasons?
10:13 - Here is another example of Paul presenting both sides of the predestination equation. After repeatedly saying that God it is God's choice in chapter 9...in chapter 10 he says that EVERYONE who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Preach like an Armenian and hope like a Calvinist.
10:14-15 - Beautiful treatise on evangelism - why do it? How can people call on someone they don't believe? They can't. How can people believe in somebody they have never heard of? They can't. How can they hear about it if nobody preaches? They can't. How can anybody preach if they haven't been sent out? They can't. Can there be a more simple explanation about why we should share the truth about Jesus Christ? If you care about the eternal souls of the people you share this world with - share Christ with them (How's that for pouring it on?).
FYI - I LOVE ROMANS!!!
10:4 - There is no righteousness through law...there is only failure...you will fail to uphold the law completely. There is only righteousness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let us turn to him in humility and offer ourselves as living sacrifices, knowing full well that he is our only hope.
10:6-7 - Faith is not about what you do. If faith was about you ascending into heaven through your good works, you would be belittling the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If faith was about you sacrificially going into the bowels of hell to raise up the dead, it would mock the death of Jesus. Faith is about putting our trust in the fact that the Son of God did something to save us that none of us could ever do.
10:9 - Salvation without water...(GASP!) The nerve of this guy Paul! You mean to tell me that it isn't the holy baptismal water that saves? No it is not the water that saves...it is your belief in Jesus Christ. Then why get baptized? A.) Because Jesus did it, and as followers of Christ, why would we dare think that we are above something he lived out. B.) Because we were commanded to by scripture. C.) Because it is an outward symbol of the inward act of dying to self so that we can rise to live for Christ. D.) It is a ceremony that solidifies your commitment to Christ before God and man. F.) Why wouldn't you do it after seeing these reasons?
10:13 - Here is another example of Paul presenting both sides of the predestination equation. After repeatedly saying that God it is God's choice in chapter 9...in chapter 10 he says that EVERYONE who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. Preach like an Armenian and hope like a Calvinist.
10:14-15 - Beautiful treatise on evangelism - why do it? How can people call on someone they don't believe? They can't. How can people believe in somebody they have never heard of? They can't. How can they hear about it if nobody preaches? They can't. How can anybody preach if they haven't been sent out? They can't. Can there be a more simple explanation about why we should share the truth about Jesus Christ? If you care about the eternal souls of the people you share this world with - share Christ with them (How's that for pouring it on?).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Romans Chapter 9 - May 6, 2008
9:8 - It is not people that are born into Christian families and forced to go to church their whole lives who are the children of God (They can be, but just because that is where you come from doesn't make you a believer)...it is people that actually cling to the hope and the promises of God.
9:14-29 - Some of the most controversial verses in the entire bible. Examples..."Jacob I loved, Esau I hated." - God. "I will have mercy on who I have mercy on" - God. The potter can mold the clay for honorable and dishonorable use. Does this mean that God predestines people to go to hell? Does this passage say that we are saved because God chose some of us to be saved and we will never be saved if God chose us not to be saved? This is the debate that has raged for centuries when it comes to verses like these. It is the wonderful old Calvin vs. Armenian throw down. Eternal security/predestination vs. free will. So where should we stand as rational believers? I believe that we should stand somewhere in the middle, because I believe that is where Paul sits. There are too many scriptures from throughout the New Testament that support both sides of the argument for us to choose one side and run wild accusing the other side of being hell-bound idiots. Chapter 9 gives plenty of credence to Calvinism as well as many other verses written by Paul, but what about the words of Jesus. In Hebrews Chapter 5 and 9 the author says that Jesus died once for the salvation of ALL who believe. Everybody who believers becomes saved...not just a chosen few. I Corinthians 9:27 - Paul talks about how he runs the race towards Christ with everything he has, beating his body into submission because he doesn't want to be disqualified from the race...leaving the impression that you can be disqualified from the race if you turn from God. I Peter 1:5 says that believers are kept through "faith" in their inheritance that won't fade away. Hebrew 6:4ff talks about people who were once believers who have turned from God. John 15:1ff talks about how people who were a part of the vine being cut off and thrown away. These are just a few of the verses that could be used. It is unfair to the truth of God, to put God in a man-made theological box and try to hold Him there. He is too huge! The best way I have heard it explained is this - teach like an Armenian and hope like a Calvinist. Meaning you should be out there sharing the Gospel with people because they have the free will to choose to accept the grace of Jesus Christ (Like an Armenian), but you should also be confident in the eternal life that awaits for you as believer (Like a Calvinist). This is going to be a debate that rages for all time, but a few things are certain...those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved, and those who are saved are supposed to be making disciples. Get to work and quit have lame theological arguments!
9:33 - Jesus was a stumbling block because his message was so radical and unheard of - it messed with peoples' minds. He was offensive because he called people to become slaves and he preached that no one was good enough to save themselves. What seemed shameful to the Jews (And to many people today) - the Way of Jesus Christ - is the only thing that can save us from truly being shamed in the end.
9:14-29 - Some of the most controversial verses in the entire bible. Examples..."Jacob I loved, Esau I hated." - God. "I will have mercy on who I have mercy on" - God. The potter can mold the clay for honorable and dishonorable use. Does this mean that God predestines people to go to hell? Does this passage say that we are saved because God chose some of us to be saved and we will never be saved if God chose us not to be saved? This is the debate that has raged for centuries when it comes to verses like these. It is the wonderful old Calvin vs. Armenian throw down. Eternal security/predestination vs. free will. So where should we stand as rational believers? I believe that we should stand somewhere in the middle, because I believe that is where Paul sits. There are too many scriptures from throughout the New Testament that support both sides of the argument for us to choose one side and run wild accusing the other side of being hell-bound idiots. Chapter 9 gives plenty of credence to Calvinism as well as many other verses written by Paul, but what about the words of Jesus. In Hebrews Chapter 5 and 9 the author says that Jesus died once for the salvation of ALL who believe. Everybody who believers becomes saved...not just a chosen few. I Corinthians 9:27 - Paul talks about how he runs the race towards Christ with everything he has, beating his body into submission because he doesn't want to be disqualified from the race...leaving the impression that you can be disqualified from the race if you turn from God. I Peter 1:5 says that believers are kept through "faith" in their inheritance that won't fade away. Hebrew 6:4ff talks about people who were once believers who have turned from God. John 15:1ff talks about how people who were a part of the vine being cut off and thrown away. These are just a few of the verses that could be used. It is unfair to the truth of God, to put God in a man-made theological box and try to hold Him there. He is too huge! The best way I have heard it explained is this - teach like an Armenian and hope like a Calvinist. Meaning you should be out there sharing the Gospel with people because they have the free will to choose to accept the grace of Jesus Christ (Like an Armenian), but you should also be confident in the eternal life that awaits for you as believer (Like a Calvinist). This is going to be a debate that rages for all time, but a few things are certain...those who believe in Jesus Christ are saved, and those who are saved are supposed to be making disciples. Get to work and quit have lame theological arguments!
9:33 - Jesus was a stumbling block because his message was so radical and unheard of - it messed with peoples' minds. He was offensive because he called people to become slaves and he preached that no one was good enough to save themselves. What seemed shameful to the Jews (And to many people today) - the Way of Jesus Christ - is the only thing that can save us from truly being shamed in the end.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Romans Chapter 8 - May 5, 2008
8:1 - Not guilty. Thank you Jesus.
8:6-7 - The mind of a sinful man is death because a sinful man lives in open rebellion against God. God is life, so only death can come from opposing Him. Do my actions reek of death or pulsate with God-honoring life?
8:15 - We did not receive God's Word and we did not receive the Holy Spirit (God Himself!), so that we could feel like we are enslaved to a bunch of rules given to us by a universal control freak who lives within us to make us constantly feel guilty. If that is what your view of God and the Holy Spirit look like, you just don't get it. We were given the good news and the Holy Spirit as a part of our inheritance...we have been freed as slaves to life destroying, death-bringing sin and we are given a father-child relationship with the ruler of all things. That is an insanely awesome payment in return for a sin-filled life...thanks be to Jesus Christ.
8:19 - Creation itself is waiting for you and me to stand up as the sons of God and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. The choices we make and the way we lives should leave a wake of life and resurrection behind us in this world. We are saved by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God, and that should be revealed through our lives.
8:26 - There are times that I am at a loss for words when it comes to God. When problems, like world hunger, seem so huge you don't know where to begin...when you are confused and don't know what God wants or what you want...when you are spiritually exhausted...when you are broken by guilt and feel unworthy to speak in the presence of God...the Spirit of God takes your failed conversation with God communicates in ways that you couldn't even imagine. Trust that God will hear you and go to Him, no matter where you are.
8:27 - I LOVE THIS PHRASE - "we are more than conquerors." We are victorious, but it is so much more beautiful and powerful that a conquering victory. We are not victorious through sheer power of strength and will...we are not victorious because we have the biggest and baddest army...we are victorious through the way of Jesus Christ. We are more than conquerors because we are victorious servants. We do not live and fight to become the masters...we live to serve our master and fight against the selfish ambitions of this world through sacrificial service. Do you see how earth-shatteringly wild it is to be more than conquerors? We win by losing...losing our old lives...losing our self-absorbed obsessions and gaining Jesus Christ. As Christians we are more than conquerors, because in this war we do not sow destruction and death...we die to ourselves to become servants who bring resurrection and life. That's what it should look like anyway.
8:6-7 - The mind of a sinful man is death because a sinful man lives in open rebellion against God. God is life, so only death can come from opposing Him. Do my actions reek of death or pulsate with God-honoring life?
8:15 - We did not receive God's Word and we did not receive the Holy Spirit (God Himself!), so that we could feel like we are enslaved to a bunch of rules given to us by a universal control freak who lives within us to make us constantly feel guilty. If that is what your view of God and the Holy Spirit look like, you just don't get it. We were given the good news and the Holy Spirit as a part of our inheritance...we have been freed as slaves to life destroying, death-bringing sin and we are given a father-child relationship with the ruler of all things. That is an insanely awesome payment in return for a sin-filled life...thanks be to Jesus Christ.
8:19 - Creation itself is waiting for you and me to stand up as the sons of God and bring the kingdom of heaven to earth. The choices we make and the way we lives should leave a wake of life and resurrection behind us in this world. We are saved by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God, and that should be revealed through our lives.
8:26 - There are times that I am at a loss for words when it comes to God. When problems, like world hunger, seem so huge you don't know where to begin...when you are confused and don't know what God wants or what you want...when you are spiritually exhausted...when you are broken by guilt and feel unworthy to speak in the presence of God...the Spirit of God takes your failed conversation with God communicates in ways that you couldn't even imagine. Trust that God will hear you and go to Him, no matter where you are.
8:27 - I LOVE THIS PHRASE - "we are more than conquerors." We are victorious, but it is so much more beautiful and powerful that a conquering victory. We are not victorious through sheer power of strength and will...we are not victorious because we have the biggest and baddest army...we are victorious through the way of Jesus Christ. We are more than conquerors because we are victorious servants. We do not live and fight to become the masters...we live to serve our master and fight against the selfish ambitions of this world through sacrificial service. Do you see how earth-shatteringly wild it is to be more than conquerors? We win by losing...losing our old lives...losing our self-absorbed obsessions and gaining Jesus Christ. As Christians we are more than conquerors, because in this war we do not sow destruction and death...we die to ourselves to become servants who bring resurrection and life. That's what it should look like anyway.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Romans Chapter 7 - May 2, 2008
I can't do it...I cannot do another two chapter day of Romans...it doesn't do the words of the Holy Spirit spoken through Paul justice. So I'll catch up an extra chapter in another book of the bible later (Help me remember).
7:4ff - Til' death do us part. That is the only way that I will ever be freed of my vows to my wife (Not that I want to be freed - I'm just saying, that's the only way it would ever happen). Sharing in the death of Jesus Christ is the only thing that allows us to realign ourselves with Jesus. Through his death and the death to our old self we can break the commitment to sin we have had our whole lives behind and commit ourselves to his way.
7:7ff - This is a wild passage...sin like a rabid beast jumps on the law and drags us deeper into sin...showing us not that the law creates sin, but exactly how fallen we really are. Sin is the opposite of God. Just as God can only be good - sin can only be corrupt and rebellious. Just as God, when faced with sin, reacts with wrath and judgement because He is good and just, sin reacts to God's perfect law with all out rebellion. When our sinful human nature comes in contact with God's truth it goes to war dragging us down with it.
7:20 - The difference between old life (Before Christ) sin and new life (Believing in Christ) sin, is that as a believer you know it is wrong - you go to war with sin...often losing, but you hate the sin within you and you fight against it and it drives you to an understanding (7:23) about how much you need the sacrifice and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
7:4ff - Til' death do us part. That is the only way that I will ever be freed of my vows to my wife (Not that I want to be freed - I'm just saying, that's the only way it would ever happen). Sharing in the death of Jesus Christ is the only thing that allows us to realign ourselves with Jesus. Through his death and the death to our old self we can break the commitment to sin we have had our whole lives behind and commit ourselves to his way.
7:7ff - This is a wild passage...sin like a rabid beast jumps on the law and drags us deeper into sin...showing us not that the law creates sin, but exactly how fallen we really are. Sin is the opposite of God. Just as God can only be good - sin can only be corrupt and rebellious. Just as God, when faced with sin, reacts with wrath and judgement because He is good and just, sin reacts to God's perfect law with all out rebellion. When our sinful human nature comes in contact with God's truth it goes to war dragging us down with it.
7:20 - The difference between old life (Before Christ) sin and new life (Believing in Christ) sin, is that as a believer you know it is wrong - you go to war with sin...often losing, but you hate the sin within you and you fight against it and it drives you to an understanding (7:23) about how much you need the sacrifice and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Romans Chapters 5 and 6 - May 1, 2008
I do not have the two or three hours I need today to really do these two chapters justice in regards to their theological depth and power. If you are ever confused about what to say to somebody that has questions about Christianity and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ...read through Romans chapter 5 and 6 with them.
Quick summary...
5:8 - God loves us so much that He gave His son as a sacrifice for our sins while we were still in a rebellious war against Him...that is unfathomable love for human beings. How could He love me so much?
5:12ff - Adam is representative of all men, who given the choice between loving God completely and rebellion - always choose rebellion. Always...any of you miss out on that aspect of humanity? We brought sin and death into the world as the consequences of our rebellion. Jesus, the God/man, represents man as he should be. Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, meaning that he was also tempted with selfish rebellion, but Jesus chooses obedience to and relationship with God. And just as the rebelliousness of one man ushered in a world of sin and death verified by the actions of every man and woman to follow him...one man also ushered in forgiveness and salvation through his sacrifice, and we are given an opportunity to become righteous by following Jesus instead of Adam.
6:1ff - So if God becomes more and more gracious through more and more sin, should we keep sinning it up? Heck no! If you have followed Jesus and died to sin - how can you live in it...that isn't how death works. If you believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus...you live out the sacrificial death of the sinfulness in your life.
6:15ff - Since we are not slaves to the law any more and saved by grace, can we sin it up? Heck no! When you say you follow someone - you prove it by who you obey. If you are a slave to Christ...you obey Christ (i.e. you do not willfully live in sin). If you are a slave to the world...you obey the world and live as selfish and as self centered as you want to. Which is it for you? You are what you obey...you don't get to say you follow Jesus while following the world.
Quick summary...
5:8 - God loves us so much that He gave His son as a sacrifice for our sins while we were still in a rebellious war against Him...that is unfathomable love for human beings. How could He love me so much?
5:12ff - Adam is representative of all men, who given the choice between loving God completely and rebellion - always choose rebellion. Always...any of you miss out on that aspect of humanity? We brought sin and death into the world as the consequences of our rebellion. Jesus, the God/man, represents man as he should be. Hebrews tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, meaning that he was also tempted with selfish rebellion, but Jesus chooses obedience to and relationship with God. And just as the rebelliousness of one man ushered in a world of sin and death verified by the actions of every man and woman to follow him...one man also ushered in forgiveness and salvation through his sacrifice, and we are given an opportunity to become righteous by following Jesus instead of Adam.
6:1ff - So if God becomes more and more gracious through more and more sin, should we keep sinning it up? Heck no! If you have followed Jesus and died to sin - how can you live in it...that isn't how death works. If you believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus...you live out the sacrificial death of the sinfulness in your life.
6:15ff - Since we are not slaves to the law any more and saved by grace, can we sin it up? Heck no! When you say you follow someone - you prove it by who you obey. If you are a slave to Christ...you obey Christ (i.e. you do not willfully live in sin). If you are a slave to the world...you obey the world and live as selfish and as self centered as you want to. Which is it for you? You are what you obey...you don't get to say you follow Jesus while following the world.
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