"(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) since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) (16) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
I find this section of Romans confusing. I think this means that if you know the law, whether it's God's law or the law of morals, you will ultimately be judged by that law. So if you don't know God's law, there will still be a standard by which you will be judged. Now in my head I'm exempting all people that do not live in 3rd world countries because we all know what Christianity is. That might be a little unfair because there are probably people who lived in non-religious families that don't know what the Bible says. But everyone will still be judged based on the yardstick of our society. One thing Paul points out is that whether you know God's law or only society's law, you still sin. Society's law doesn't offer forgiveness, but isn't it a comfort to know that God's does. All we need to do is ask.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Romans 2: 5-11
"(5)But because of your stubborneness 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 give to each person according to what he has done." (7) To those who by persistance 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."
Paul starts off chapter 2 by talking about judging others and verse 4 ends by talking about how people that judge others will also face God's judgment, but God also has great kindness and leads us to repent for our sins, i.e. judging others and all the other sins he mentioned in Chapter 1. Verse 5 continues in the vein by saying that by not repenting (asking for forgiveness of our sins) we should expect some godly wrath when God's judgment is revealed.
About Repenting - theoretically asking for forgiveness should be easy, but I think in actuality it is hard. First we have to admit that we did something wrong and then verbalize it...horrors! But sometimes we don't think we deserve forgiveness, which can't be further from the truth. We all deserve second chances and God is in the business of giving people a million chances if that's what it takes to get them into heaven.
Okay, back to the verses. Paul talks a lot about how if you do good, you will recieve good from God. If you do evil, you will recieve wrath. Now when I first read this, it seemed contradictory. The Christian doctrine says to recieve eternal life you must believe in God and that Jesus died for your sins and invite them into your life, but Paul seems to be saying that by doing good you can get the same thing. That is not what Paul is saying. He's saying that if you believe in God and that Jesus died for your sins, that you'll WANT to do good things. And added incentive, if you do good things you recieve glory, honor and peace - who wouldn't want those things?
Paul starts off chapter 2 by talking about judging others and verse 4 ends by talking about how people that judge others will also face God's judgment, but God also has great kindness and leads us to repent for our sins, i.e. judging others and all the other sins he mentioned in Chapter 1. Verse 5 continues in the vein by saying that by not repenting (asking for forgiveness of our sins) we should expect some godly wrath when God's judgment is revealed.
About Repenting - theoretically asking for forgiveness should be easy, but I think in actuality it is hard. First we have to admit that we did something wrong and then verbalize it...horrors! But sometimes we don't think we deserve forgiveness, which can't be further from the truth. We all deserve second chances and God is in the business of giving people a million chances if that's what it takes to get them into heaven.
Okay, back to the verses. Paul talks a lot about how if you do good, you will recieve good from God. If you do evil, you will recieve wrath. Now when I first read this, it seemed contradictory. The Christian doctrine says to recieve eternal life you must believe in God and that Jesus died for your sins and invite them into your life, but Paul seems to be saying that by doing good you can get the same thing. That is not what Paul is saying. He's saying that if you believe in God and that Jesus died for your sins, that you'll WANT to do good things. And added incentive, if you do good things you recieve glory, honor and peace - who wouldn't want those things?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Romans 1: 28-32
"(28) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowldge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not 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 are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless; (32) Although they know God's righeous 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."
So I had to back up and finish chapter 1 because I got ahead of myself last night :-) Paul is still talking about how people knew God, but chose to serve the things in the world around them. I'm doing a really awesome bible study called The Truth Project and the guy in the DVD's talks about "the box". "The box" is the world that we live in and God is outside "the box". The people Paul is talking about are looking for a higher power and a meaning to life by looking inside "the box", but God isn't there. By not looking outside "the box" to find God and follow His will, they fall into all sorts of sin. I thought it was a tiny bit funny that Paul includes disobeying parents right along with murder, deceit and evil, but sin is sin I suppose. I think the food for thought today is this: in verse 32, Paul says that people who do the sins he's listed and turn away from God deserve death. The only way to avoid death that takes you to hell is to turn toward God and accept Jesus as your savior. Then you can hopefully put all those corrupting sins behind you with the help of the almighty God.
So I had to back up and finish chapter 1 because I got ahead of myself last night :-) Paul is still talking about how people knew God, but chose to serve the things in the world around them. I'm doing a really awesome bible study called The Truth Project and the guy in the DVD's talks about "the box". "The box" is the world that we live in and God is outside "the box". The people Paul is talking about are looking for a higher power and a meaning to life by looking inside "the box", but God isn't there. By not looking outside "the box" to find God and follow His will, they fall into all sorts of sin. I thought it was a tiny bit funny that Paul includes disobeying parents right along with murder, deceit and evil, but sin is sin I suppose. I think the food for thought today is this: in verse 32, Paul says that people who do the sins he's listed and turn away from God deserve death. The only way to avoid death that takes you to hell is to turn toward God and accept Jesus as your savior. Then you can hopefully put all those corrupting sins behind you with the help of the almighty God.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Romans 2:1-4
"(1) You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, 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 man, 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, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"
When I was writing my last post I was really concerned about how I would come off. I wanted to write the truth without appearing like I am looking down my nose at people's sins. This section of Romans highlights why I was so concerned - God says don't pass judgment on people. I think there is a clear difference between trusting your intuition/voice of the holy spirit and passing judgment. Here's an example - you notice someone following you as you walk down the street, you're not crazy or wrong for judging them to be dangerous. That judgment has probably saved many people from disaster. But if you're at Walmart and you see an African American wearing baggy jeans and dreadlocks and you judge them to be a gang banger, you're passing a judgment that God would not approve of. Paul says that if you condemn someone, you will be condemned. God's judgment is based on truth, our judgment is based on something else - prejudice, experiences, things you've read, things you've heard, etc. How could our basis for judgment compare to God's basis - TRUTH? It can't! Paul goes further to say that you can't pass judgment on someones sins because you do the same thing! Basically he's saying that if you judge someone, you'll be a hypocrite. God can never be a hypocrite because he doesn't sin so he is worthy to pass judgment, but we are just men and not worthy of that responsibility.
One thing to understand: God doesn't just sit up in the clouds passing judgment. He is kind and patient and allows you to repent before he makes his ultimate judgment when you approach the pearly gates. But don't mistake his patience for acceptance of your sin. If you do, you may not like the judgment you get when you finally make it to heaven.
P.S. I just realized I accidentally skipped like 5 verses in Chapter 1...I'll get to those in my next post :-)
When I was writing my last post I was really concerned about how I would come off. I wanted to write the truth without appearing like I am looking down my nose at people's sins. This section of Romans highlights why I was so concerned - God says don't pass judgment on people. I think there is a clear difference between trusting your intuition/voice of the holy spirit and passing judgment. Here's an example - you notice someone following you as you walk down the street, you're not crazy or wrong for judging them to be dangerous. That judgment has probably saved many people from disaster. But if you're at Walmart and you see an African American wearing baggy jeans and dreadlocks and you judge them to be a gang banger, you're passing a judgment that God would not approve of. Paul says that if you condemn someone, you will be condemned. God's judgment is based on truth, our judgment is based on something else - prejudice, experiences, things you've read, things you've heard, etc. How could our basis for judgment compare to God's basis - TRUTH? It can't! Paul goes further to say that you can't pass judgment on someones sins because you do the same thing! Basically he's saying that if you judge someone, you'll be a hypocrite. God can never be a hypocrite because he doesn't sin so he is worthy to pass judgment, but we are just men and not worthy of that responsibility.
One thing to understand: God doesn't just sit up in the clouds passing judgment. He is kind and patient and allows you to repent before he makes his ultimate judgment when you approach the pearly gates. But don't mistake his patience for acceptance of your sin. If you do, you may not like the judgment you get when you finally make it to heaven.
P.S. I just realized I accidentally skipped like 5 verses in Chapter 1...I'll get to those in my next post :-)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Romans 1:24-27
"(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 of God for a lie, and worshipped 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 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 indecent acts with other men, and recieved in themselves the due penalty for their perversion."
Okay, so in my last post Paul was talking about how God revealed himself through nature and His Word, but people still turned away from him and worhipped other things. Today Paul continues by saying that God let them pursue their sinful desires. If God has the power to do anything, why does he allow people to pursue their sinful desires? Answer - free will. We are not robots because God did not create us to be robots. We have the power to choose which direction we will go and God will not force us to choose Him. If we choose to pursue the sinful desires, there's nothing God will do to stop us. Important note: If you ask God into your life and you ask him to help you turn away from those sinful desires, then he certainly will do that, but this is a whole different story when compared to what Paul is talking about.
I feel like in this section of Romans Paul is referring to the people of Rome who still worshipped the Olympians. I am totally fascinated with ancient Rome and having read a lot about it I know that there was a lot of sexual impurity back then. Paul, as the mouthpiece of God, is very critical of homosexuality, so if you weren't really sure where God stood on that issue, go back and read verse 26 and 27. But there are other things besides homosexuality that I think that Paul is including or would have included if he was alive today - pornography, sexting, multipe partners, infidelity, etc. Now I can hear my high school students grumbling that sexting and too-sexy clothes is "normal" and that's what they want, but I have yet to read anything in the Bible that says you should do what is "normal" for your age group or culture. God holds us to a higher standard where we may have to go against our desires or what is "normal". I may desire to eat chocolate for every meal, but I don't think God would approve of me treating my body like a chocolate dump instead of a temple. Why should you listen to what Paul is saying? Because at the end of verse 27 he says "[they] recieved in themselves the due penalty for their perversions." I think this is referring to their heart or soul. Their actions were perverted so their hearts and souls became perverted, which Paul calls thier penalty. I don't want my heart and soul to be warped and distorted, otherwise how could I be a good mom, wife, daughter, sister or human being? I hope you'll pray for everyone to avoid these sins and stand strong against what is "normal" and stand up for what is godly.
Okay, so in my last post Paul was talking about how God revealed himself through nature and His Word, but people still turned away from him and worhipped other things. Today Paul continues by saying that God let them pursue their sinful desires. If God has the power to do anything, why does he allow people to pursue their sinful desires? Answer - free will. We are not robots because God did not create us to be robots. We have the power to choose which direction we will go and God will not force us to choose Him. If we choose to pursue the sinful desires, there's nothing God will do to stop us. Important note: If you ask God into your life and you ask him to help you turn away from those sinful desires, then he certainly will do that, but this is a whole different story when compared to what Paul is talking about.
I feel like in this section of Romans Paul is referring to the people of Rome who still worshipped the Olympians. I am totally fascinated with ancient Rome and having read a lot about it I know that there was a lot of sexual impurity back then. Paul, as the mouthpiece of God, is very critical of homosexuality, so if you weren't really sure where God stood on that issue, go back and read verse 26 and 27. But there are other things besides homosexuality that I think that Paul is including or would have included if he was alive today - pornography, sexting, multipe partners, infidelity, etc. Now I can hear my high school students grumbling that sexting and too-sexy clothes is "normal" and that's what they want, but I have yet to read anything in the Bible that says you should do what is "normal" for your age group or culture. God holds us to a higher standard where we may have to go against our desires or what is "normal". I may desire to eat chocolate for every meal, but I don't think God would approve of me treating my body like a chocolate dump instead of a temple. Why should you listen to what Paul is saying? Because at the end of verse 27 he says "[they] recieved in themselves the due penalty for their perversions." I think this is referring to their heart or soul. Their actions were perverted so their hearts and souls became perverted, which Paul calls thier penalty. I don't want my heart and soul to be warped and distorted, otherwise how could I be a good mom, wife, daughter, sister or human being? I hope you'll pray for everyone to avoid these sins and stand strong against what is "normal" and stand up for what is godly.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Romans 1:18-22
"(18) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men 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 men are without excuse. (21) For although they knew God, they neither glorifeid him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22) Although they clamied to be wise they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."
Most churches teach that God is a loving God - and he is. He loves each and every one of us, but there is another side and that is the wrathful God who is against the wickedness of men, but we'll get back to that. Paul talks about how God made himself clearly known through what he has made which is this beautiful world around us. Personally, if we really think about the complexity of our bodies, ecosystems, and universe it would be hard to think that it just randomly happened, that we just randomly evolved from goo that was swirling around in the ocean. I firmly believe that we were created by an eternally powerful God. It would be really hard to deny that He exists because we can't cut ourselves off from the natural world - we see it all the time. But people did and people do deny that he exists by putting other things before God. Back in Paul's day they created idols that looked like the world they were familiar with to worship. Sure God created the world, but the THINGS in the world were not created to be worshiped. The creator was supposed to be worshiped. Now don't look down your noses at the people in Paul's world because we do the same thing. We put THINGS like money, food, jobs, power, family, worries, etc. before God. Maybe we don't bow down and worship or worries, but we definately put them ahead of God when we let them consume us so that we cannot think about anything else. Remember that God is wrathful plus he created us and this world, so please pray that you won't put anything above God. More on this tomorrow :-)
Most churches teach that God is a loving God - and he is. He loves each and every one of us, but there is another side and that is the wrathful God who is against the wickedness of men, but we'll get back to that. Paul talks about how God made himself clearly known through what he has made which is this beautiful world around us. Personally, if we really think about the complexity of our bodies, ecosystems, and universe it would be hard to think that it just randomly happened, that we just randomly evolved from goo that was swirling around in the ocean. I firmly believe that we were created by an eternally powerful God. It would be really hard to deny that He exists because we can't cut ourselves off from the natural world - we see it all the time. But people did and people do deny that he exists by putting other things before God. Back in Paul's day they created idols that looked like the world they were familiar with to worship. Sure God created the world, but the THINGS in the world were not created to be worshiped. The creator was supposed to be worshiped. Now don't look down your noses at the people in Paul's world because we do the same thing. We put THINGS like money, food, jobs, power, family, worries, etc. before God. Maybe we don't bow down and worship or worries, but we definately put them ahead of God when we let them consume us so that we cannot think about anything else. Remember that God is wrathful plus he created us and this world, so please pray that you won't put anything above God. More on this tomorrow :-)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Romans 1:16-17
"(16) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (17) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last just as it is written: "The righteousness will live by faith." "
Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel, i.e. what he preaches and what is found in the Bible, because it is the way of salvation. I think we get stuck when we come across this word salvation, what does that even mean? Well, we all know that salvation has something to do with being saved, but saved from what? Simply put, we're being saved from ourselves. We all sin and sin leads to death so obviously we need to be saved. We can only find this salvation through the power of God. Paul isn't ashamed of the gospel because he is bringing life! We shouldn't fear either, though it is clear to me that this is MUCH easier said than done. Tonight I was asked how I decribe myself to strangers. I certainly don't start off saying, "Hi, my name is Julie. I'm a Christian." And why not? Am I ashamed? Maybe. I think it'll take more time than I have to write this post to figure that out. What about you? Is it just me who has issues publicly acknowledging the salvation of Christ?
Okay, I'll be honest, verse 17 confuses me. The gopel reveals a righteousness from God? Is this the same as saying it reveals rightness or truth? I'm not really sure, but I am sure that Paul is writing the word of God when he says the righteous will live by faith. The righteous is anybody who has accepted the word of God and they cannot be righteous if they do not have faith in Him. I'd like to zero in on the word "live". The righteous LIVE by faith. I think this goes back to the issue of being ashamed of the gospel, ashamed of being Christian. If we are living by faith would we not be. I am asking God as I type to help me live by my faith, because it is certainly there. I hope that God will help every Chritian live thier faith so that we can show others the way to salvation. Consider introducing yourself first and foremost as a Christian before you go into your family and job.
Paul says that he is not ashamed of the gospel, i.e. what he preaches and what is found in the Bible, because it is the way of salvation. I think we get stuck when we come across this word salvation, what does that even mean? Well, we all know that salvation has something to do with being saved, but saved from what? Simply put, we're being saved from ourselves. We all sin and sin leads to death so obviously we need to be saved. We can only find this salvation through the power of God. Paul isn't ashamed of the gospel because he is bringing life! We shouldn't fear either, though it is clear to me that this is MUCH easier said than done. Tonight I was asked how I decribe myself to strangers. I certainly don't start off saying, "Hi, my name is Julie. I'm a Christian." And why not? Am I ashamed? Maybe. I think it'll take more time than I have to write this post to figure that out. What about you? Is it just me who has issues publicly acknowledging the salvation of Christ?
Okay, I'll be honest, verse 17 confuses me. The gopel reveals a righteousness from God? Is this the same as saying it reveals rightness or truth? I'm not really sure, but I am sure that Paul is writing the word of God when he says the righteous will live by faith. The righteous is anybody who has accepted the word of God and they cannot be righteous if they do not have faith in Him. I'd like to zero in on the word "live". The righteous LIVE by faith. I think this goes back to the issue of being ashamed of the gospel, ashamed of being Christian. If we are living by faith would we not be. I am asking God as I type to help me live by my faith, because it is certainly there. I hope that God will help every Chritian live thier faith so that we can show others the way to salvation. Consider introducing yourself first and foremost as a Christian before you go into your family and job.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Romans 1:11-15
"(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, 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 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 als0 to you who are at Rome."
It's really clear to me that Paul is eager to reach Rome. He says in verse 12 that he wants to go so that they could "be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." So what? Well I think that Paul is giving us a perfect reason to go to church or Bible study or read blogs and books written by Christians - mutual encouragement by experiencing the faith of others. I've often heard that each Christian is like a cup that is constantly being drained by life. To fill up this cup you need to be exposed to God through His word and church, but it's not enough - we need to be encouraged by fellow believers. One of the reasons I love my church is because I regularly get to hear the testimonies of regular people and how God has worked in their lives. How encouraging to know that God doesn't just work in my preachers life, but in everybody's life! I think Paul especially needed this encouragement so I completely understand him wanted to spend time with the believers of Rome whose faith had reached the world.
Alrighty, so Paul tells the Romans he's tried to come to them many times so that he "might have a harvest" among the Romans just as he's had among other Gentiles. Quick definition Gentiles - non-Jewish people. So Paul had a lot of success in places like Syria, Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia and wanted the same thing in Rome. In verse 14 he explains why he wants this success - obligation to Greeks and non-Greeks, the educated and non-educated. I'd say that pretty much means he was obligated to everyone. I think that a lot of modern Christians don't take this seriously. We don't feel an obligation to those outside our church. Obviously that's not true for everything because Christians and Christian organizations are spending so much time and money on Haiti right now, but what happens when the attention dies down? I hope we don't forget our obligation is to spread the word among all the nations and not just cocoon ourselves in our church. We need the encouragement of our Christian brothers and sisters, but we need to get out there and be the face of God.
It's really clear to me that Paul is eager to reach Rome. He says in verse 12 that he wants to go so that they could "be mutually encouraged by each other's faith." So what? Well I think that Paul is giving us a perfect reason to go to church or Bible study or read blogs and books written by Christians - mutual encouragement by experiencing the faith of others. I've often heard that each Christian is like a cup that is constantly being drained by life. To fill up this cup you need to be exposed to God through His word and church, but it's not enough - we need to be encouraged by fellow believers. One of the reasons I love my church is because I regularly get to hear the testimonies of regular people and how God has worked in their lives. How encouraging to know that God doesn't just work in my preachers life, but in everybody's life! I think Paul especially needed this encouragement so I completely understand him wanted to spend time with the believers of Rome whose faith had reached the world.
Alrighty, so Paul tells the Romans he's tried to come to them many times so that he "might have a harvest" among the Romans just as he's had among other Gentiles. Quick definition Gentiles - non-Jewish people. So Paul had a lot of success in places like Syria, Galatia, Asia, and Macedonia and wanted the same thing in Rome. In verse 14 he explains why he wants this success - obligation to Greeks and non-Greeks, the educated and non-educated. I'd say that pretty much means he was obligated to everyone. I think that a lot of modern Christians don't take this seriously. We don't feel an obligation to those outside our church. Obviously that's not true for everything because Christians and Christian organizations are spending so much time and money on Haiti right now, but what happens when the attention dies down? I hope we don't forget our obligation is to spread the word among all the nations and not just cocoon ourselves in our church. We need the encouragement of our Christian brothers and sisters, but we need to get out there and be the face of God.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Romans 1:8-10
"(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 with my whole heart 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."
I find it really interesting in verse 8 that Paul says the faith of the Christians in Rome is being reported all over the world. I guess I think of Rome as being full of sin and find it sort of surprising that the Christians there were setting such a good example that their faith is being spread all over the world. Of course that's what Rome needed - Christians that were actually living their faith so that they might show the world their faith. And isn't that what we need? What if all the Christians in America lived their faith? I think that it would be hard, but it would look truely amazing!
I like verses 9 and 10 because Paul sets an excellent example of how to pray - constantly and at all times. Paul says that he is praying that God will open the way for him to go to Rome. God does answer that prayer...but not in the way he expects. He ends up going to Rome as a prisoner, which is an excellent reminder that we shouldn't expect answers to our prayers to look like what we invision.
LIVE YOUR FAITH AND PRAY!!
I find it really interesting in verse 8 that Paul says the faith of the Christians in Rome is being reported all over the world. I guess I think of Rome as being full of sin and find it sort of surprising that the Christians there were setting such a good example that their faith is being spread all over the world. Of course that's what Rome needed - Christians that were actually living their faith so that they might show the world their faith. And isn't that what we need? What if all the Christians in America lived their faith? I think that it would be hard, but it would look truely amazing!
I like verses 9 and 10 because Paul sets an excellent example of how to pray - constantly and at all times. Paul says that he is praying that God will open the way for him to go to Rome. God does answer that prayer...but not in the way he expects. He ends up going to Rome as a prisoner, which is an excellent reminder that we shouldn't expect answers to our prayers to look like what we invision.
LIVE YOUR FAITH AND PRAY!!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Romans 1: 1-7
"(1)Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God - (2) the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures (3) regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David (4) and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (5) Through him and for his name's sake, we recieved grace and apostleship to call people from among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. (6) And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (7) To all in Rome who are loved by Gad and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
First, I want you to know that I'm starting with Paul's letters because I'm a wimp. Even though I think God called me to do this blog, I'm starting with something easy. Why are Paul's letters easy - I don't know, but my brain is telling me it's easier so this is where I'm starting. Second, Paul wrote lots of letter's to the early Christians to both encourage them and teach them more about the word of Christ. This first letter is to the Romans, hence the title Romans.
Okay so the first thing I find interesting is that Paul calls himself and apostle, which means "one who is sent" (presumably by God to spread the Word), and then later in verse 5 he says that "we" have recieved apostleship too. I find that interesting and profound because in my mind Paul is one of the greatest supporters of Christianity and to be lumped in with Paul is an awesome honor and a great responsibility. In verses 2-4 he clarifies who he's serving - Jesus Christ who's coming was prophisied (sp?) about, who was the Son of God, died, was resurrected and is now recongnized as Jesus Christ our Lord. I think this is important because we need to know what/who Paul stood for and it doesn't really get any clearer than that.
Paul goes on to say that through Christ we recieve grace and apostleship. The dictionary in my Bible says that grace is "God's free and unmerited favor for sinful humanity." Now, this might be upsetting to some people, but I need you to know, that we humans aren't perfect and will never be perfect. We will always sin which is why my grace definition calls us sinful humanity. Now that seems negative, but that puts us all in the same boat. Even if you dress to the nines on Sunday, never miss church, preach in front of a congregation, sing the most beautiful hymns or stand in the pew with your arms upraised, you still sin. Okay, so God shows everyone favor (which I think of as love and forgiveness) even though we're sinful, but it's more than that - it's free and unmerited/undeserved. God has the power to do anything - he spoke the world into existance - but even though we don't deserve it he choses to give us favor/love/forgiveness freely...how amazing! But there is one tiny stipulation. You have to go through Christ to get this grace. That means you have to accept him into your life to be your Lord and savior to recieve His grace. And when you do or if you have already Paul says we will "belong to Jesus Christ" in an awesome family of believers!
First, I want you to know that I'm starting with Paul's letters because I'm a wimp. Even though I think God called me to do this blog, I'm starting with something easy. Why are Paul's letters easy - I don't know, but my brain is telling me it's easier so this is where I'm starting. Second, Paul wrote lots of letter's to the early Christians to both encourage them and teach them more about the word of Christ. This first letter is to the Romans, hence the title Romans.
Okay so the first thing I find interesting is that Paul calls himself and apostle, which means "one who is sent" (presumably by God to spread the Word), and then later in verse 5 he says that "we" have recieved apostleship too. I find that interesting and profound because in my mind Paul is one of the greatest supporters of Christianity and to be lumped in with Paul is an awesome honor and a great responsibility. In verses 2-4 he clarifies who he's serving - Jesus Christ who's coming was prophisied (sp?) about, who was the Son of God, died, was resurrected and is now recongnized as Jesus Christ our Lord. I think this is important because we need to know what/who Paul stood for and it doesn't really get any clearer than that.
Paul goes on to say that through Christ we recieve grace and apostleship. The dictionary in my Bible says that grace is "God's free and unmerited favor for sinful humanity." Now, this might be upsetting to some people, but I need you to know, that we humans aren't perfect and will never be perfect. We will always sin which is why my grace definition calls us sinful humanity. Now that seems negative, but that puts us all in the same boat. Even if you dress to the nines on Sunday, never miss church, preach in front of a congregation, sing the most beautiful hymns or stand in the pew with your arms upraised, you still sin. Okay, so God shows everyone favor (which I think of as love and forgiveness) even though we're sinful, but it's more than that - it's free and unmerited/undeserved. God has the power to do anything - he spoke the world into existance - but even though we don't deserve it he choses to give us favor/love/forgiveness freely...how amazing! But there is one tiny stipulation. You have to go through Christ to get this grace. That means you have to accept him into your life to be your Lord and savior to recieve His grace. And when you do or if you have already Paul says we will "belong to Jesus Christ" in an awesome family of believers!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)