Romans 16 - Fully Preach Where Christ Is Not Yet Named

LINK: Romans 15:14-16:27 

BACKGROUND

Paul accomplished his goal in his letter to the Romans by explaining the essence of the gospel and how one who embraces the gospel can live that out. Now, he bids the Romans farewell by revealing his philosophy of ministry. 

In his concluding remarks, he expresses his confidence in their ability to understand the basic truths of the gospel that He has laid out in this epistle. He felt they were mature and able to teach, but it never hurts to be reminded of these basic principles of grace (15:15)! They never grow old and are the foundation of our faith. Romans is a foundational book that never gets old no matter where we are on our journey of faith. 

Paul stated that he was a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, fully preaching the gospel of God according to His plan and for His glory, and serving in the power of the Holy Spirit (15:16-24, note the trinity). 

Paul's specific calling was to preach the gospel where Christ was not yet named (15:20). It is not wrong to build upon another person's foundation (John 4:38; 1 Corinthians 3:10), but continuing to expand the gospel is very high on God's list of priorities (Matthew 24:14; Isaiah 52:15).  Paul was so busy with his calling that he had not been able to get to the Romans on his way to Spain, which was the western limit of the empire. He was ready to go there after dropping off a gift from the churches in Asia Minor to the poor in Jerusalem. There is no historical record that says he ever made it to Spain though, even though he wanted to. He did get to Rome, but he arrived as a prisoner (Acts 27-28). 

Paul asked for prayer from the Roman Christians because, in delivering the gift from the Gentile Christians to the poor Jerusalem believers, he knew he would encounter hostile Jewish unbelievers (Acts 20:22-23). We know from Acts that he was able to deliver the gift and barely escaped flogging by Roman authorities (Acts 22:25-29). 

Romans 16 began his farewell to many people. First was Phoebe, who is believed to be the carrier of the letter to Rome. Then he mentioned an extremely diversified list of 28 individuals (26 by name) with whom he shepherded. I love how relational Paul was! He mentioned women and house churches. I believe these both figured prominently in the early church. The early church valued women, and churches were intimate and relational.

Paul gave a final warning to those who caused dissension through false teaching. These were probably the Judaizers whom I mentioned at the beginning of our study of Romans and had been a problem in other churches (Philippians 3:17-21). 

At the end of the letter of Romans, he mentions several saints who were with him in Corinth: Timothy (Acts 16:1-3; 20:4, Phil 2:22; 1 & 2 Timothy), Lucius (perhaps of Acts 13:1); Jason (perhaps of Acts 17:6-9); Sosipater (probably the same as in Acts 20:4); Tertius, who penned the letter and acted as Paul's scribe; Gaius (Acts 19:29;20:4; 1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 John 1; and perhaps in Acts 18:7); Erastus, a Christian public official who has been identified in archaeological ruins in Corinth (perhaps of Acts 19:22; 2 Timothy 4:20); and unknown Quartus, the brother. 

His final doxology sums up so much of what we have learned in our reading and studying of Romans and in the Bible Book Club as a whole. The mystery is that God intended for the Gentiles ("all the nations") to come to obedience of the faith too (16:25-26)! Glory to Him forever!!!

REFLECTION 

Paul's priority was to preach in places where Christ was not yet named. We lead a group of people who want to do just that. It is interesting because I had a friend who recently expressed how much she did not like that. She said, "There is so much they can do right here where we live!"  (I cannot wait until we get to this chapter since we are studying Romans together over the next couple of years!)

While I agree there is plenty to do right where we live, we are "building on someone else's foundation."  There is nothing wrong with that, but I think that God places a high priority on reaching those who have not yet heard; who do not have anyone who has ever "moved into the neighborhood" and been a living example of the living Christ. My family did that once, and so many of my friends from this people group said they had never met a follower of Jesus, and how pleasantly surprised they were!  (Before they met me, they thought all "Christians" dressed immodestly like the women on Baywatch!)

Out of the 6.8 billion people in the world, 2.8 billion are unreached people groups with little or no access to the Gospel. Of those unreached, there are 418 unengaged, unreached people groups with populations of over 40,000, numbering about 130 million people with no Gospel witness. Someone has to make it a priority if they are going to follow Jesus' words:

This gospel of the kingdom 

 shall be preached in the whole world 

as a testimony to all the nations, 

and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14

And I ask you . . . 

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? 

How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? 

And how will they hear without a preacher?

How will they preach unless they are sent? 

Just as it is written, 

"How beautiful are the feet of those 

who bring good news of good things!"

Romans 10:14-15

Did you know that less than 10% of outreach is done among the unreached with an even lower number among the unengaged, unreached? 

So, what will you do about this?

"Remember you are God's sword, 

His instrument -- I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. 

In great measure, according to the purity 

and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. 

It is not great talent God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. 

A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." 

Robert Murray McCheyne

How can you be an "awful weapon in the hand of God" for the unengaged, unreached millions He wants to draw to Himself?

APPLICATION

Your first step might be to . . . 

PRAY

What about taking just 1 minute a day to pray for an unreached people group as you see the sunshine? Let the shining sun remind you to pray that the SON will shine among the darkness of the unreached?

I like to pray for specific unreached people groups because so few are going to them, and many of them do not have anybody "in the neighborhood" praying "on site with insight"!  Your prayers can change that.

Here is a great site to sign up for emails or Apps to help you: 

Pray for the Unreached People of the Day

One year, I committed myself to pray for one unreached people group for every mile I "walked for the world." I would receive daily emails and send them to my iPod or print them on paper so that I could read them while I walked and prayed, but now they have an App for iPods, iPhones, and Androids that make it even easier!

(2023 Update: Now I have all the apps for this kind of prayer!)

It was such an enriching experience for me! 

Your next step might be to . . .  

GIVE

I know many people going to the unengaged and unreached. If you are looking for someone, contact me, and I can connect you!

Your next step after that might be to . . . 

GO

There are many short-term opportunities available for people who want to go to unreached peoples. Contact me!

Maybe God is tugging at your heart to GO and "move into the neighborhood" of one of these groups long term! 

Contact me if you need any help on these next steps!


PRAYER

Lord, teach us what You would have us do to be part of Your plan for all the nations. Amen. 

Romans 15 - Selflessness, Acceptance, Unity

LINK: Romans 15  

BACKGROUND

"A Christian is a most free lord of all, subject to none. 

A Christian is a most dutiful servant of all, subject to all." 

(Martin Luther, "A Treatise on Christian Liberty")

When the Jewish believer kept the Old Covenant customs and eating rituals, the Gentile believers questioned their faith in Christ. When the Gentile believers served food forbidden by the Law of Moses and ignored Old Testament holy days, the Jewish believers questioned their full conversion from paganism. Paul blazed a path through the flaming darts thrown back and forth and said simply, "Selflessly love."

Jesus is our primary example, He bore with us, and we should bear with and accept one another, especially the weak. We are to think less of what we have the freedom to do and think about how our conduct affects others. Our goal should be the building up and blessing of others. We can draw the spiritual power to do this through the Word of God (15:4) and prayer (15:5-6). This all glorifies God (15:7). 

Romans 15:14 - 16:27 is Paul's long goodbye to the Romans. So, I will include the remainder of Romans 15 in tomorrow's post. 

REFLECTION

My favorite English novelist, Jane Austen, once wrote: 

"Incline us, oh God, to think humbly of ourselves, to be severe only in the examination of our own conduct, to consider our fellow creatures with kindness, and to judge all they say and do with that charity which we would desire from them ourselves." 

(The Doubleday Christian Quotation Collection, p. 161). 

Doesn't that line up beautifully with our reading for today? 

APPLICATION 

Love trumps all. It really does. How are you doing in the love department?

Pray and ask God what your "I will" statement will be for today. Mine might give you a good example:

"I will build up and bless my husband by telling him how much I appreciate his investment in our boys."

My husband goes about things in a totally different way than I would go about doing things. His investment looks different from mine based on our different gifts, talents, and personalities. I can judge "how" he invests or I can praise him that he invests; one tears down and one builds up. It is obvious which one I should choose. 

(2015 Update: As I edited the whole book of Romans, he was in the living room talking for hours with our youngest son. That is true investing. I should tell him how much I appreciate it again!)

Also, here is an excellent analysis of 1 Corinthians 13 and the role of love in the believer's life by the Scottish evangelist, Henry Drummond, written in 1880:

"The Greatest Thing in the World"

"The Greatest Thing in the World" Audio

2023 Update: While updating the links for this classic on love, I saw that the website had closed down. Then, I found out it was because it was a church with a history of over 40 years of abuse and was forced to shut down because of a BBC investigation. And they had a message about LOVE in the Body of Christ on their website. I am so sad!

PRAYER

Jesus, help us to follow Your example of selfless love. And I pray for the victims of the abuse of this church that did not show love. Amen. 

Romans 14 - Unity Trumps Individual Liberties

LINK: Romans 14

BACKGROUND

This passage is about living in harmony with one another. First of all, we are not to judge one another because we are all at different levels of spiritual maturity and come from different backgrounds. What might be sin for one person may not be sin for another. We are not to judge but to leave that to the Lord when He will review and evaluate every person's life at the judgment seat (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

Even though we are not to judge other people's actions, we need to evaluate the impact some of our "freedoms" in Christ might have on other believers. What might not be sin for you may be sin for another, and you may need to abstain from it so that you do not hinder that person's growth! This is the way of love and is more important than your freedom.  This leads to unity, peace, and the mutual building up of one another. 

APPLICATION

Are you judgmental of other believers and forcing your views on them?

Is there anything that you are doing that may be causing another believer problems? Are you willing to stop it for the sake of unity?

PRAYER

Lord, help us to walk in love in our relationships by being willing to give up personal liberties. Show us those areas where we might be causing other believers to stumble or where we are judging others. For Your glory, help us to walk in unity. We ask this because You accomplished that unity on the cross. Amen. 

Romans 13 - Submit to Governing Authorities

LINK: Romans 13

BACKGROUND

Paul wrote these commands during the reign of Emperor Nero (A.D. 54-68), who persecuted Christians mercilessly. 

Here is a summary of his exhortations to the Romans:

1. Respect the authorities in office because they are ordained by God. If you resist them, you are resisting God (13:1-2, Titus 3:1, 1 Peter 2:13-17). 
2. Obey the laws of the land because they are for your good (13:4-5). 
3. Support the government by paying taxes (13:6-7). Even Christ said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's" (Matthew 2:21). 
4. Love others in all interpersonal relationships because it is our continuing debt and fulfills the Law (13:8-10, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31). 
5. Put away deeds of darkness and walk in the light until Christ returns (13:11-14).

Aren't these exhortations remarkable in the historical context in which Paul wrote? Nero was not a nice governing authority!

REFLECTION 

Paul wrote to Timothy: 

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, 
be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, 
so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  

(1 Timothy 2:1-4)

We are to submit to all civil authorities and laws that do not defy Biblical commands, and we are to pray for those in authority over us even when we did not vote for them. How are you doing in that area?

APPLICATION

Here is a great website to help you apply this passage: 

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/

PRAYER

I realize that many people who read this blog are from different countries. You might like to pray this for your government:

Father, thank You for my government. I pray for the head leader, the national and local government, the judges, the policemen, the business leaders, and all those who are in leadership positions in my country. Please protect them from the evil that is in the world and keep them safe and free from all harm.

You have promised to bless any nation that follows after You. May my government follow after You. Help me to live a quiet and peaceful life so that the Good News of the Gospel can spread throughout my land.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Romans 12:9-21: Love is the Ultimate Goal

LINK: Romans 12 

BACKGROUND

Paul has just explained the importance of spiritual gifts. Now he is going to talk about demonstrating love in our relationships. 

The main passages of Scripture that tell us about spiritual gifts follow a similar pattern:  

  

Our spiritual gifts are the expression of living a sacrificial life, and our love, especially of our enemies, will be the evidence of it.  When we love, we are becoming more and more like Christ and entering into maturity in Him!

REFLECTION 

All Those Little Acts of Love

To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others . . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom -- I will do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table -- "Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all." But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, "Get lost." Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ is not glorious. It is done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it is harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul. (An Address by Fred Craddock in "Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching." Leadership Journal. 1993, p. 200)

On my morning walk yesterday, I found Toyota car keys. There was a key chain with the name of a Toyota dealership in town. When I called the dealership, I asked if anyone ever asks about their keys being turned in. She told me that it did occur occasionally and to bring them by. I said that I would like to leave my name in case someone called before I brought them by, and low and behold, someone DID call for the keys. He had been running before dark. They went over his whole route but could not find the keys. 

It was just a small 25 cents on my part, but I was so happy when I was able to give the keys to the dealership so they could give them to the owner! 

APPLICATION

Is there a family member, friend, or even an enemy in which you need to show more love? What is one specific action that will demonstrate love to that person?

PRAYER

Because of Your great mercy, my only natural response can be to offer myself to You in little acts of love throughout my 24/7/365 existence. Teach me how I can demonstrate Your love to others. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.  

Romans 12:1-8: Living Sacrifices for God's Glory

LINK: Romans 12

BACKGROUND

Today we turn the corner from the doctrinal to the practical. "Therefore" begins the chapter and refers back to God's mercy and compassion described in the first 11 chapters. The only reasonable response to His mercy is a sacrificial life. 


We know from our study of the Old Testament that an animal was killed, cut into pieces, and placed on the altar. Sacrifices were important, but God always made it clear that the submissive heart behind the sacrifice was what really mattered (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 40:6; Amos 5:21-24). In Romans 12, he is not asking us to "make" a sacrifice but to "be" a sacrifice by offering our lives! This is not always easy as this unknown author once, humorously, put it:

"The problem with living sacrifices is that 

they keep crawling off the altar"!

Regardless, sacrificing our lives is our only response. The normal Greek word for "spiritual" is pneumatiokos coming from the Greek root word for "spirit", pneuma. The word in this verse is logikos from logos meaning "word" or "reason."  It means "reasonable." It means that this kind of worship is the only sensible and reasonable response to God's grace outlined in the first 11 chapters of Romans!

The way we sacrifice ourselves is by not letting the world (the present evil age, Galatians 1:4) "squeeze us into its mold" (J.B. Phillips New Testament) but to keep on being transformed into the likeness of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18) by renewing our mind (Ephesians 4:22-24). This requires that we put the Word of God into our minds (Psalm 119:9, 11, Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12). This way we will do the perfect will of God. 

A sacrificial believer will not think that he is superior to anyone else but will want to think about how he can exercise his spiritual gifts so that God will be glorified rather than himself. A gift is a spiritual ability given by God that, when exercised, glorifies Him and builds up the Body of Christ. 

REFLECTION

About two years before writing to the church in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 12, he first introduced that the church was like a body with many parts. These parts are spiritual gifts. He covers the gifts in two chapters in 1 Corinthians, but he writes about it in Romans 12 in only five verses. The gifts listed in Romans 12 are prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, and mercy. We will cover more of them when we get to 1 Corinthians 12 in about two weeks. 

APPLICATION

As preparation for further discussion about the gifts when we get to 1 Corinthians 12, here are three handouts that might help interpret your gifts:

How Can I Discover My Spiritual Gifts?

Spiritual Gifts Bible Study

Spiritual Gifts at a Glance  - This sheet is the result of 60 hours of study based on the four primary chapters on the gifts: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4. I suggest you give this list to three trusted friends/loved ones and see what they think your gifts are. I call these people a "clearness committee" because sometimes we do not always see clearly the gifts God has given us but others do!

Here is an online version of the test that I use in my workshops:

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ASSESSMENT (Actually it has the whole SHAPE process that looks at 

Spiritual Gifts

Heart Passions

Abilities

Personality Type

Experiences of Life

PRAYER

Lord, make our lives a living sacrifice to You for building up the body of Christ so that You might be glorified in all things. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Romans 11 - Remnant Chosen by Grace

LINK: Romans 11 

BACKGROUND 

Despite God going to the Gentiles, He has NOT rejected His chosen people. Paul's conversion is a foretaste of how Israel will be saved when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom on earth. It is very cool because as I am typing a post that will post in six months from now, the posts for Zechariah in YEAR TWO of the BBC are currently posting. And this minor prophet speaks to this issue in Zechariah 12:10-13:1 and 14:4. Take some time to read these Scriptures and the posts to remind yourself of why it is so important to read the Old Testament to understand the New! Jews can always come to Jesus, but when He returns, the nation will see Him (Revelation 1:7), recognize Him as the true Messiah, repent, and receive Him just as Paul did on the road to Damascus! WOOHOO!

Paul uses the example of Elijah who prayed God would take him away, thinking he was the only Jew left who followed God, but God told him there was a remnant of 7,000 (See 1 Kings 19). There has always been a remnant (Romans 9:27; Isaiah 10:22-23). This remnant of Jews is saved by grace through faith and not by the works of the Law (Romans 11:5-6; 9:30-33; Ephesians 2:8-9). The rest of Israel has been "hardened." Paul uses more Old Testament Scripture to back this up: Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 29:10; Psalm 69:22-23; and Matthew 13:13. The Law had become a snare for them instead of the thing that led them to Christ. Religiosity had replaced a relationship with the living God. So true today too!

In 11:11, Paul asks another question in order to answer that the stumbling of Israel was not a permanent fall. God's purpose was to offer salvation to the Gentiles (9:25-26; Hosea 2:23; 1:10), and their coming to salvation would wake the Jews up by making them jealous. In Romans 10:19, Paul quoted Moses from a portion of Deuteronomy 32:21, "So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation." God's ultimate goal was that this jealousy would lead to Israel's future restoration because of His covenant love.

Paul's reference to the dough refers to the Jews offering dough to God from the first of the grain crop (first fruits). This allowed for the whole harvest to be holy to the Lord and belong to Him (Numbers 15:17-21). This also happened in the Feast of First Fruits when the priests offered a sheaf of grain symbolizing that the whole harvest belonged to Him (Leviticus 23:9-14). The Patriarchs of Israel were "set apart" as God's people. Therefore, the whole nation was "set apart" in blessing. 

The olive tree usually symbolizes the nation of Israel with the roots symbolizing the prophets (Jeremiah 11:16-17; Hosea 14:4-6). Israel was holy because of the roots of the patriarchs even though some branches were broken off because of unbelief. 

In Romans 11:17-24, Paul speaks to the Gentile Christians, he warns them not to feel that they are better than the Jews God has rejected. Continuing with the tree analogy, Paul claims that the Jews are the natural branches with faithless Jews representing the broken branches. The Gentiles have been "grafted in" like a wild olive shoot. Both Jews and Gentiles who put their faith in God share in the nourishment of the tree regardless of cultural background. Normally, in horticulture, a cultivated branch is grafted into a wild tree without producing its poor fruit. In Paul's symbolism, the opposite is true and "contrary to nature" (11:24). Jesus said, "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22), and the Gentiles should appreciate them!

As a side note, according to 1 Timothy 4, 2 Timothy 3, and 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul asserts that, in the last days, the professing church will fall away, and there will be no hope for them, but God will always keep His promises to the Jews who are rooted in the patriarchs. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 3:6; Matthew 22:23). The olive tree will flourish in the end! 

The "hardening" (11:7,25) of Israel is only partial and temporary. It will last until the "fullness of the Gentiles" (11:25).  As you read this, millions of Gentiles are coming to Christ from all over the world (Acts 15:12-14)! We do not know the end of this "fullness," but God does (Luke 21:24; Psalm 110:1). We are just to "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). 

The sticky verse in this chapter is "all Israel be saved" (11:26). It is important to read Isaiah 59:20-21 and all of Isaiah 60 to understand Romans 11:26-27.

God has promised to save His people, and He will keep His promise. There are those who interpret this as meaning salvation to individuals through the Gospel, but it is my conviction that the prophet has national conversion in mind. “All Israel shall be saved” does not mean that every Jew who has ever lived will be converted, but that the Jews living when the Redeemer returns will see Him, receive Him, and be saved. Zechariah 12–13 gives the details. (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Ro 11:25)

This note for Romans 11:26 from the Life Application Bible gives further clarity:

Some say the phrase "And so all Israel will be saved means that the majority of Jews in the final generation before Christ's return will turn to Christ for salvation. Others say that Paul is using the term Israel for the "spiritual" nation of Israel made up of everyone--Jew and Gentile--who has received salvation through faith in Christ. Thus all Israel (or all believers) will receive God's promised gift of salvation. Still others say that all Israel means Israel as a whole will have a role in Christ's kingdom. Their identity as a people won't be discarded. God chose the nation of Israel, and he has never rejected it. He also chose the church, through Jesus Christ, and he will never reject it either. This does not mean, of course, that all Jews or all church members will be saved. It is possible to belong to a nation or to an organization without ever responding in faith. But just because some people have rejected Christ does not mean that God stops working with either Israel or the church. He continues to offer salvation freely to all. Still others say that the phrase "and so" means "in this way" or "this is how," referring to the necessity of faith in Christ. (Romans 11:26, p. 2048-2049) 

God has made an eternal covenant with Israel, and He will not turn back from it. It is against His nature to do so (11:29). Someday, all faithful Jews will share in God's mercy and deliverance, but not all individual Jews will avail themselves of the offer God will make to the nation as a whole, but many will (Zechariah 12-13). In the meantime, the Gentile believers did not need to gloat over God temporarily putting Israel aside to show grace until the chosen number among them were saved (11:25). Instead of gloating, they were to provoke the Jews to jealousy (Romans 10:19; 11:11, 14)! It is like Genesis 12:1-3 in reverse! 

Paul concludes this meaty chapter with a hymn of praise to God for His wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and ways. He also quotes Isaiah 40:13f. 41:11 and Job 35:11. 

REFLECTION 

Whew! I think this is probably the longest I have ever taken to write a post for the Bible Book Club. I have had some of my most ardent prayer warriors praying for me through this chapter, and I have put the timer on and forced myself to spend at least one hour writing it today. My hour is up, and I am still working on the last ten verses as I take a break to write this reflection.

I met with a girl on Sunday who told me she discipled another woman through the book of Romans but gave up when she got to Romans 11 because it was too complicated. I laughed, sighed, and agreed. 

Next to Daniel 9-12, I find this one of the more difficult chapters of the Bible to parse out! Everything within me has screamed today to stop (even to the point of preferring a grueling workout), but I am determined to finish it, no matter how inadequate my background and reflection are. 

They are inadequate because I do not know the "depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God."  His judgments truly are "unsearchable," and His ways "unfathomable" (Romans 11:33).  

When I get into heavy doctrinal chapters, I want to run to the "therefore" in Romans 12, longing for the ways I can practically and lovingly live out my faith, knowing that "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1 in the New Living Translation says "But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church." AMEN!) 

I do not even profess to understand all of this chapter (Remember, I don't think "about" God, I just love Him.). But regardless of how one may interpret this, our response should be like Paul's: heartfelt praise. God's method and plan are so far above us. He is all-wise, all-knowing, and 100 percent loving in all His unfathomable ways. Let's praise Him today!

APPLICATION 

Spend some time meditating and praying through the future glory of the Kingdom in Isaiah 60!

PRAYER

Lord, praise You that there is a future for those who put their faith and trust in You. Teach us what it really means to cling to You. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Romans 10 - The ABC's of Salvation

LINK: Romans 10 

BACKGROUND 

The Law was "a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24) that should have led Israel to Christ because of The Scarlet Thread of Redemption throughout the pages of the Old Testament, but they rejected Him (John 1:11). Because they had the Law, they sought righteousness through it rather than through faith in the finished work of Christ who fulfilled the whole Law and ended the need for it. It is true that the Israel that returned after the Babylonian Captivity did not practice idolatry and were zealous for God, but they added traditions that were not in the Law. They were religious, but their religiosity could not save them. In addition, they practiced that religiosity with pride and self-righteousness. 

Paul uses verses in the Old Testament to back up his claim that salvation is by faith: Leviticus 18:5 and Deuteronomy 30:12-14. Moses charged that God promised blessings for faith and obedience and discipline for rejection and disobedience to God.  Christ had already come in the flesh (John 1:14), died, and had been resurrected. That was all they needed. 

This section contrasts the difference between righteousness through the Law and righteousness through faith:

Righteousness by faith was not a new concept for the Jews. No one can do what Christ did. Only God could bring Him down from heaven and bring Him up from the dead to demonstrate His righteousness. 

So, what is our only response to hearing this message? Paralleling the quote from Deuteronomy 30:14 in Romans 10:8 about the mouth and heart, Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-13 that if we  . . .  

• Acknowledge (confess, agree, admit) that Jesus is Lord (supreme in authority, master, owner) with our mouth,
• Believe (to be persuaded of, put confidence in) in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and 
• Call (appeal to in prayer) on Jesus the Lord, we will be saved. "Directing prayer to Jesus is a mark of faith in him as the Messiah" (The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 397). 

As simple as ABC and not through works that no man can boast about or attain righteousness through (Ephesians 2:8, 9). 

But believing comes because one hears the word preached to them by someone sent, and those bearers of Good New have beautiful feet!!! (Hug a messenger of God today! Be a messenger of God today!) 

Even though this Good News was meant for both Jews and Gentiles (10:12), Israel did not heed ("to hear with a positive response") the Word when it was preached to them. He quotes many more Old Testament verses in Romans 10:19-21: Isaiah 53:1; Psalm 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:21; Isaiah 65:1-2. While God's salvation has always been for both Jews and Gentiles, He has continued to stretch His hand out to His chosen people, the Jews. 

REFLECTION from Isaiah 65 last year:

You might recall that I have said God's intention has been for ALL peoples to come to know Him, both Jew and Gentile. Isaiah 65:1 gets at this point:

I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; 

I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. 

I said, "Here am I, here am I," 

To a nation which did not call on My name. 

Even though the Gentile nations did not seek the Lord or experience the blessings He gave to Israel, salvation would go to the Gentiles! 

As further confirmation, Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1 in Romans 10:19-20. If Israel was rejecting God's offer, then He would give it to the Gentiles. For further study about this, see Luke 14:16-24 and Acts 28:23-31. 

God wants us to share this Good News with both Jews and Gentiles alike! They cannot hear without us telling them.  Put your "gospel of peace" shoes (Ephesians 6:15) on your beautiful feet (Romans 10:15) and share the good news of peace with God through Jesus Christ with someone today! 

PRAYER

Thank You, God, that You make this all so simple. We acknowledge Jesus as Lord, we believe that You raised Jesus from the dead, and we call on You Jesus for our salvation. Help us to be messengers of this Good News by leading us to those who are prepared to hear. We ask this in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

Romans 9 - God's Justice, Sovereignty, and Mercy

LINK: Romans 9

BACKGROUND 

"Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation.

We do pray for mercy,

And that same prayer doth teach us to render

The deeds of mercy. . . . "

William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene 1

No one says it like the Bard!

Paul has just closed the "sanctification" section of Romans (chapters 6-8) by cementing the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:39). What a high note! Romans 12 flows out of this, but Paul goes on a little detour in Romans 9-11, lamenting over the fact that so many of his fellow Jews did not embrace Christ. He had great concern for his people. So much concern that he would be willing to be cursed and separated from Christ if they could be saved (sounds like Moses in Exodus 32:30-35). 

The Jews were the first to be chosen as children of God. He glorified them above all other nations, and He gave them His Law, His covenants, His temple, and His promises in abundance. God's original plan was for them to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6), but their "chief priests and elders . . . put Jesus [one of their own] to death" (Matthew 27:1). Most rejected Jesus. Paul had even been one of them, but we have already read about his miraculous transformation in Acts 9 (in God's providence, I am also writing posts for that chapter this week).

Paul asserts that God's promises did not fail ("taken no effect") to Israel, but Israel failed (9:6). The Greek word pictures a ship that has gone off course. 

In Romans 9:6-13, Paul uses Old Testament history to explain God's basis for Israel's election: 

1) Not based on physical descent - If this were the case, the firstborn sons Ishmael (Genesis 21:12; 18:10; Hebrews 11:18) and Esau (Genesis 25:23) would have been chosen over Isaac and Jacob. They were God's sovereign choice.

2) Not based on merit - These babies were chosen before they were born, so God's sovereign choice was not based on any good or evil they had done. It has nothing to do with works but His sovereign calling. By the way, Esau did not serve Jacob, but his descendants, the Edomites did serve the Israelites (1 Samuel 14:47; 2 Samuel 8:14; 1 Kings 11:15-16; 22:47; 2 Kings 14:7). 

Malachi 1:2-3 is quoted and often misunderstood. Hate and love are very strong words. According to the Holman New Testament Commentary: Romans:

The language used by God is poetically comparative; not absolute . . . the focus . . . is not on the "not chosen". . . Rather the focus is on the chosen . . . God chose Jacob (for his own reasons) . . . The "not chosen" are not chosen according to purpose, not according to hate. (p.282)

Romans 9:14-18 covers possible objections to God's sovereign choice. God's sovereign work of election has always been about His choice. He has that right because He is God, and He has a purpose that our tiny minds cannot explain.  He also has the right to show mercy to whomever He chooses. In fact, no one deserves mercy! 

Conversely, He hardens ("makes stubborn") the heart of whomever He wants to harden and uses Pharaoh and the Egyptians as an example of this (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:27; 14:4,8; 14:17). Pharaoh also made a personal choice to harden his own heart (Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:34-35) implying that there is also free will and choice on the part of the individual involved.  For a greater understanding of this section, it might be helpful to brush up on your "Egyptology" by reading through Exodus 7-11 and 14!

Romans 9:19-29 is Paul's defense of God's justice and sovereignty. Paul creates an imaginary accuser who asks questions about this idea of God's election. It can be confusing at this point in Romans 9, but Warren Wiersbe paraphrases it well:

"If God is sovereign, then who can resist Him? And if one does resist Him, what right does He have to judge?"It is the age-old question of the justice of God as He works in human history.  

(The Bible Exposition Commentary, Romans 9:19)

Paul answers this question by using an illustration from Isaiah 45:9. God is the Potter, and we are all clay. His wisdom, will, and ways are much higher than ours. Who are we to question a sovereign God or resist His will in our life?  Jeremiah also drives home this point:

“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.”  

Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.  

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel."

(Jeremiah 18:2-6)

God is sovereign in His choosing. He can use some lumps of clay for noble purposes and some for common purposes. If some are used for common purposes, it does not dismiss them from being responsible to respond to Him. Pharaoh's heart was hardened for God's purposes, but he still had the responsibility to respond to God, Pharaoh chose rebellion.

Romans 9:22 is a hard verse for me to understand (and it is best understood in the New American Standard Bible that I have in the link). If you understand Greek construction, it can make perfect sense, but most of us do not understand Greek. So here is an explanation of this difficult verse:

The thought is that they have been and are in a state of readiness or ripeness to receive God’s wrath. The objects of God’s wrath are the unsaved (1:18), who will suffer eternal judgment (John 3:36). God has patiently endured their antagonism to Him (cf. Acts 14:16; Rom. 3:25), but their judgment is coming. Those who oppose Him and refuse to turn to Him (Matt. 23:37) are then “prepared” by Him for condemnation. They are “storing up [God’s] wrath” against themselves (Rom. 2:5). In hell they will experience His wrath, and His power will be made known (cf. 9:17). God does not delight in wrath, and He did not choose some people to go to hell. Choosing (v. 22) should be rendered “willing.” Some are prepared by God for eternal judgment not because He delights to do so, but because of their sin. In view of their sin, which makes them “ripe” for destruction, God is willing to exhibit His wrath, and He will do so at the proper time.  (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: 2:478)

God revealed His mercy through Moses and Israel, and His wrath through Pharaoh and Egypt, but neither of them deserved mercy. Therefore, He cannot be unjust.  

As I have said all along in our studies of the Old Testament, God's purpose was for the church to be made up of both Jews and Gentiles. And all who are in the church are "vessels of mercy"! Paul asserts that this has been prophesied all along and God is just to fulfill His promises both for mercy and for wrath, quoting Hosea 2:23; 1:10, and Isaiah 10:22-23.

Paul ends the chapter by asserting that salvation is not by works but by belief in the cornerstone of salvation, Jesus (Romans 9:33; Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22), whether Jew or Gentile. 

REFLECTION 

This is a tough chapter for me. I know it is a controversial one. It has taken me a week to write just the background. The whole mystery of predestination and freewill is at the forefront of this chapter, but I choose to respond as Charles Spurgeon did when asked how he reconciled God's sovereign predestined plan and man's free will to choose responsibly: 

"I never try to reconcile friends."

Warren Wiersbe writes: 

He offers us His salvation by faith. The offer is made to “whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17). After we have trusted Christ, then we have the witness and evidence that we are among His elect (Eph. 1:4–14; 1 Thes. 1:1–10). But first we must trust Him and receive by faith His righteousness which alone can guarantee heaven. (The Bible Exposition Commentary, Ro 9:30) 

God does not ask us to choose between these two mysterious truths. He is the author of both truths, and that is that. I know many have a hard time with it, but maybe a thorough study of God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy followed by a study of what Scripture says about God's calling, foreknowledge, predestination, and election will be in order!

APPLICATION 

First, worship and praise God through His attributes, specifically His sovereignty, justice, and mercy. 

Secondly, take some time to do some Greek Word studies. These documents will help you:

"How to Do a Word Study" 

"The Basics of Inductive Study" 

Here are some words and some cross-references to get you started: 

Called - 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Matthew 22:1-14 

Foreknowledge - Acts 2:23; 15:16-18; 26:5; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 20; Romans 8:29; 11:2  

Predestination - Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:3-6; Acts 4:27-28 

Election - Matthew 22:1-14; 24:22, 24, 31; Luke 23:35; John 15:16; Romans 8:33; 9:11; 11:5, 7, 28; Colossians 3:12; 1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:4, 9; 2 Peter 1:10; Revelation 17:14

I biblical view of God and an understanding of these basic doctrines are important. 

PRAYER

Lord, we are painfully aware that our sins make none of our righteous deeds acceptable. So, we fall on Your mercy and the way that You have provided for us through Jesus. Thank You! Amen.