Romans is perhaps the most theological letter of Paul. In chapter three, we have the real foundation for our doctrines justification by faith and salvation by grace. Without these doctrines we would be reduced to "rule keepers" and coming up short. Thank God for a gospel that saves people who are need of grace. All of us are sinners in need of the grace of God. How do we know? The Bible tells us so. Here is one passage that is pivotal for our theology of grace...
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Day 294...(Job 29-30; Isaiah 55; Romans 2)..."God's Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways"
Job ponders aloud how popular he was when everything went his way. His is entertaining bitterness as when things fall apart so do your friends. One of the themes of Job is "God's ways are higher than our ways." This happens to be stated in the turning point of the exile for Isaiah. He says it like this...
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
God's ways are higher than our ways and His word does not return empty. The reading of Scripture each day makes a contribution we cannot measure. We seek understanding of God's higher ways and daily meditation on God's truth fills our emptiness.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
God's ways are higher than our ways and His word does not return empty. The reading of Scripture each day makes a contribution we cannot measure. We seek understanding of God's higher ways and daily meditation on God's truth fills our emptiness.
Day 293...(Job 27,28; Isaiah 54; Romans 1)..."A Biblical Thought on the Oil Spill"
Our reading through the Bible comes to the same theme over and over..."worship God first." As Paul begins Romans, he states this principle another way. He confronts the human condition as loving the creation more than the Creator. How true? Do we not see this played out in many expressions of greed and excess? Is the "oil spill crisis" not a flagrant case of worshiping the creation instead of the Creator. How foolish to drill without a plan for a spill. Is our balance with relating well and being good stewards of our environment not found in the truth of the passage...
"So God said, in effect, "If that's what you want, that's what you get." It wasn't long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!"
"So God said, in effect, "If that's what you want, that's what you get." It wasn't long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out. And all this because they traded the true God for a fake god, and worshiped the god they made instead of the God who made them—the God we bless, the God who blesses us. Oh, yes!"
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Day 292...(Job 26; Isaiah 53; Acts 28)..."Paul and a Snake"
When they reached Malta Paul was bitten by a snake but the power God used the incident to demonstrate Paul was connected with the Lord. (I definitely would not try this at home!) Paul makes the trip to Rome and Acts ends quietly with Paul under either house arrest or guarded supervision. Do we know what happened to Paul?
Christian tradition (according to Calvin Lashway) has him beheaded under the persecution of Nero around A.D. 64. The Book of Acts does not tell us but given the "back and forth" of the last chapters, we can deduce the hostility swung more violent and a persecutor of Christians Nero acted brutally to end Paul's earthly life...his heavenly life though was secure.
Christian tradition (according to Calvin Lashway) has him beheaded under the persecution of Nero around A.D. 64. The Book of Acts does not tell us but given the "back and forth" of the last chapters, we can deduce the hostility swung more violent and a persecutor of Christians Nero acted brutally to end Paul's earthly life...his heavenly life though was secure.
Day 291...(Job 24,25; Isaiah 52; Acts 27)..."Smooth Sailing? Hardly!"
What do we do when we think everything is smooth only to discover the storm has come? In Paul's life, we see a metaphor for sailing troubled waters. God helps us through the storm.
Paul is taken prisoner to sail the rough seas. In this 27th chapter of Acts, we read of changing seasons, a good harbor, and an ignored forecast of rough sailing. Paul's warning is ignored and everyone is in peril for days. Also, interesting to note is Paul's life was spared and his treatment was pretty good. Obviously, they did not know what to do with Paul. He was not guilty to be punished but too persuasive to be released. The journey continues on an island in which everyone swims to safety following two weeks of rough weather.
Against all odds an angel speaks to Paul. Perhaps this message is reassuring to all those whose life is anything but smooth sailing...here is the message of the angel to Paul.
"Last night God's angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, 'Don't give up, Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.' So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we're going to shipwreck on some island or other."
Paul is taken prisoner to sail the rough seas. In this 27th chapter of Acts, we read of changing seasons, a good harbor, and an ignored forecast of rough sailing. Paul's warning is ignored and everyone is in peril for days. Also, interesting to note is Paul's life was spared and his treatment was pretty good. Obviously, they did not know what to do with Paul. He was not guilty to be punished but too persuasive to be released. The journey continues on an island in which everyone swims to safety following two weeks of rough weather.
Against all odds an angel speaks to Paul. Perhaps this message is reassuring to all those whose life is anything but smooth sailing...here is the message of the angel to Paul.
"Last night God's angel stood at my side, an angel of this God I serve, saying to me, 'Don't give up, Paul. You're going to stand before Caesar yet—and everyone sailing with you is also going to make it.' So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me. But we're going to shipwreck on some island or other."
Day 290...(Job 22,23; Isaiah 51; Acts 26)..."Almost Persuaded"
Festus called Paul mad. King Agrippa said Paul almost persuaded him to be a Christian. This difference of opinion is so revealing of the environment Paul found himself. His boldness to tell his story was both a winsome presentation and threatening revelation. Has human nature changed? I do not think so. The persuasive people of today receive the same response as some are inspired and others conspire. It is also interesting that Paul could have been freed had he not requested to be heard by Caesar.
Is this encounter with Agrippa not the spiritual state of so many? Almost persuaded. Here is the passage...
"Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Is this encounter with Agrippa not the spiritual state of so many? Almost persuaded. Here is the passage...
"Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!” But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” When he had said these things, the king stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, “This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.” Then Agrippa said to Festus, “This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Monday, June 14, 2010
Day 289...(Job 20,21; Isaiah 50; Acts 25)..."No Charges Hold Water"
Paul's trial went a great deal like Jesus. Everyone was hurling insults and accusations but nothing to "hold water" according to the Message version. Paul was, of course, in a longer "holding pattern" than our Lord. We will also see more indecision in the case of Paul. Here is the passage...
"Festus said, "King Agrippa and distinguished guests, take a good look at this man. A bunch of Jews petitioned me first in Jerusalem, and later here, to do away with him. They have been most vehement in demanding his execution. I looked into it and decided that he had committed no crime. He requested a trial before Caesar and I agreed to send him to Rome. But what am I going to write to my master, Caesar? All the charges made by the Jews were fabrications, and I've uncovered nothing else. "That's why I've brought him before this company, and especially you, King Agrippa: so we can come up with something in the nature of a charge that will hold water. For it seems to me silly to send a prisoner all that way for a trial and not be able to document what he did wrong."
"Festus said, "King Agrippa and distinguished guests, take a good look at this man. A bunch of Jews petitioned me first in Jerusalem, and later here, to do away with him. They have been most vehement in demanding his execution. I looked into it and decided that he had committed no crime. He requested a trial before Caesar and I agreed to send him to Rome. But what am I going to write to my master, Caesar? All the charges made by the Jews were fabrications, and I've uncovered nothing else. "That's why I've brought him before this company, and especially you, King Agrippa: so we can come up with something in the nature of a charge that will hold water. For it seems to me silly to send a prisoner all that way for a trial and not be able to document what he did wrong."
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