Romans 5
Ed McCaffrey continued our study in Romans this week. Paul has spent 4 chapters trying to explain and present the truth - that we cannot be saved through works and we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But there is peace, joy and hope in Christ.
In verse 1 - Paul says "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul will continue making the argument that Christ died for us. It is through his death that we are saved through grace. We touched on this last chapter as well. Both Ed and Craig continue to point out that even though we are going through this book chapter by chapter. Paul's letter to the Romans would have been read in it's entirety all at once.
In verse 3-5 we see the hope we have through our sufferings. Paul writes this letter while he is imprisoned. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." If anybody understands sufferings - it is Paul. And for him to be rejoicing despite his sufferings is amazing and only done through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul brings up one more argument regarding how sin entered the world. This is how chapter 5 will end. Through Adam sin entered this world, but life through Christ. And Paul is still talking about the law - how sin does not exist without the law, so works cannot save you. Verse 13 - for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
So God's gift is that much greater than the sin that entered through Adam. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ - vs. 17.
Grace is the message that Paul is trying to communicate. Nothing we do, nothing we have done can earse the grace - the justification, the righteousness through Jesus Christ, which we can experience if we believe and have faith in Him who died for us.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Romans - Chapter 4
Romans 4
This week Craig continued our study in Romans, Chapter 4. Paul is not done talking about sin and how we all have sinned. He is not done fully explaining that the law does not give us hope as many Christians and Romans during his time believed. No amount of works, nor the law will save us.
So Paul starts with the Father of the Jews - Abraham. Paul asks the question "What about Abraham?" Wasn't he saved by works? Verse 3: What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him to him as righteousness." Paul is quoting from Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Paul continues his argument by also quoting David in Psalms. Blessed are those whose trangressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them -vs 7-8.
Craig wrote that "Transgression is a form of rebellion against God. Sin means to not live up to God's standards." David is saying that good works, obeying the law cannot make us righteous. But is God who can wash away our sin and forgive us. It is God's Grace that saves us. Or better put - "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."
Paul has more arguments throughout chapter 4. Here are Paul's irrefutable reasons why justification is by faith:
1) Since justification is a gift, it cannot be earned by works (vv. 1-8)
2) Since Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, circumcision has no relationship to justification (vv. 9-12)
3) Since Abraham was justified centuries before the Law, justification is not based on the Law (vv. 13-17)
4) Abraham was justified because of his faith in God, not because of his works (vv. 18-25)
Paul is not done yet talking about how we are sinners and need a savior, but he concludes his argument using Abraham - the Father of the Jews as irrefutable evidedence of justification by faith.
Craig left us with 3 simple questions:
1 - Do you struggle with being justified?
2 - How long did you struggle before you accepted the free gift?
3 - Why?
This week Craig continued our study in Romans, Chapter 4. Paul is not done talking about sin and how we all have sinned. He is not done fully explaining that the law does not give us hope as many Christians and Romans during his time believed. No amount of works, nor the law will save us.
So Paul starts with the Father of the Jews - Abraham. Paul asks the question "What about Abraham?" Wasn't he saved by works? Verse 3: What does scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him to him as righteousness." Paul is quoting from Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Paul continues his argument by also quoting David in Psalms. Blessed are those whose trangressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them -vs 7-8.
Craig wrote that "Transgression is a form of rebellion against God. Sin means to not live up to God's standards." David is saying that good works, obeying the law cannot make us righteous. But is God who can wash away our sin and forgive us. It is God's Grace that saves us. Or better put - "God's Riches At Christ's Expense."
Paul has more arguments throughout chapter 4. Here are Paul's irrefutable reasons why justification is by faith:
1) Since justification is a gift, it cannot be earned by works (vv. 1-8)
2) Since Abraham was justified before he was circumcised, circumcision has no relationship to justification (vv. 9-12)
3) Since Abraham was justified centuries before the Law, justification is not based on the Law (vv. 13-17)
4) Abraham was justified because of his faith in God, not because of his works (vv. 18-25)
Paul is not done yet talking about how we are sinners and need a savior, but he concludes his argument using Abraham - the Father of the Jews as irrefutable evidedence of justification by faith.
Craig left us with 3 simple questions:
1 - Do you struggle with being justified?
2 - How long did you struggle before you accepted the free gift?
3 - Why?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Romans - Chapter 3
Romans 3
This week Craig Thomson led our bible study where Ed left off - Romans Chapter 3. He did a great job of presenting the text and explaining Paul's letter. Paul can be very confusing sometimes in his writings and Romans is no exception. He starts off in verse 5, with a hard to follow argument. But it helps when we realize he is using a human argument. Shouldn't we keep sinning, since God's truthfulness and glory increases as a result?
The answer is no! But Paul uses many words to say no. Paul concludes that we are all sinners, all unworthy, all unrighteous and in need of change. Verse 20 says, Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin. A professor of my once said, that as he got closer and closer to God - he realized he was more and more sinful than he had previously thought. But Christ died for us - making us righteous. This righteousness from God comes throught faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe - vs 22.
But Paul still has not answered the questions yet - eventhough we know he will answer it with a no. Paul continues 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 - vs. 23-24. It is becasue we will be justified by faith. And through this faith we shall uphold the law not continue sinning. As Paul finally answers the question in vs 31 Do we then, nulify the law by this faith? Not at all, Rather, we uphold the law.
This week Craig Thomson led our bible study where Ed left off - Romans Chapter 3. He did a great job of presenting the text and explaining Paul's letter. Paul can be very confusing sometimes in his writings and Romans is no exception. He starts off in verse 5, with a hard to follow argument. But it helps when we realize he is using a human argument. Shouldn't we keep sinning, since God's truthfulness and glory increases as a result?
The answer is no! But Paul uses many words to say no. Paul concludes that we are all sinners, all unworthy, all unrighteous and in need of change. Verse 20 says, Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin. A professor of my once said, that as he got closer and closer to God - he realized he was more and more sinful than he had previously thought. But Christ died for us - making us righteous. This righteousness from God comes throught faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe - vs 22.
But Paul still has not answered the questions yet - eventhough we know he will answer it with a no. Paul continues 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 - vs. 23-24. It is becasue we will be justified by faith. And through this faith we shall uphold the law not continue sinning. As Paul finally answers the question in vs 31 Do we then, nulify the law by this faith? Not at all, Rather, we uphold the law.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Romans - Chapter 2 (Part 2)
Romans 2:17-29
This week we finished Chapter 2. Ed McCaffrey made it a point to read "Christian" instead of "Jew" everytime you saw the word Jew.
It is true we as Christians can feel superior or feel like we have earned this thing called Salvation. But indeed we can be just as hypocritical as the Jews back then. Paul in Romans goes on to say that being a Jew is an inward thing. That it is by the Spirit that the heart of a Jew makes them a Jew. Same with Christians - they will know we are Christians by our love, because our hearts don't lie.
Jeremiah 4:4 says: Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done - burn with no one to quench it.
This verse is important to point out, because the Jews that Jeremiah was talking to would have already been circumcised, but he specifically talks about the heart not about the physical act that would have already been performed.
Ed left us with 3 questions:
1. What is Gd really looking for out of his children?
2. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?
3. What can you do in your own life so that your example outweighs your message?
This week we finished Chapter 2. Ed McCaffrey made it a point to read "Christian" instead of "Jew" everytime you saw the word Jew.
It is true we as Christians can feel superior or feel like we have earned this thing called Salvation. But indeed we can be just as hypocritical as the Jews back then. Paul in Romans goes on to say that being a Jew is an inward thing. That it is by the Spirit that the heart of a Jew makes them a Jew. Same with Christians - they will know we are Christians by our love, because our hearts don't lie.
Jeremiah 4:4 says: Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done - burn with no one to quench it.
This verse is important to point out, because the Jews that Jeremiah was talking to would have already been circumcised, but he specifically talks about the heart not about the physical act that would have already been performed.
Ed left us with 3 questions:
1. What is Gd really looking for out of his children?
2. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?
3. What can you do in your own life so that your example outweighs your message?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Romans - Chapter 2 (Part 1)
Romans 2:1-16
Back to the Bible - Ed McCaffrey continued our study in Romans. We picked it up in Chapter 2.
2 Things stuck out most to me as we read togther the verses in Romans and all the verses that support and connect with Romans. The 1st thing is that as Christians we need to watch ourselves and try not to condemn others. It says it right in the first verse in Romans Chapter 2 - "You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else for at watever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." We are called to judge what is good and not good, what is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing to God, so that we may choose wisely. But actually passing judgment on some one else as if to say we are perfect or better than that person, that is what Paul is talking about.
The 2nd thing that stuck out to me (and where I want to spend most of my time) it seems that God, the Father won't actually be judging us come judgement day. God has passed that responsibility on to his Son - Jesus Christ. Is this true? It says it here in verse 16 - "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares." I had to think about this statement for a long time. Is God really not going to judge, but Christ instead? God and Jesus are one. So what does this mean. Verse 16 does say God will judge - God will judge, through Jesus Christ.
I have concluded that God will judge - Jesus will be apart of that judgement, but this verse seems to support the philosophy that we as Christians will be judged through Jesus's blood and we will be saved. But this is only the beginning, we will be held responsible for our actions as well, but that comes later in Romans.
Back to the Bible - Ed McCaffrey continued our study in Romans. We picked it up in Chapter 2.
2 Things stuck out most to me as we read togther the verses in Romans and all the verses that support and connect with Romans. The 1st thing is that as Christians we need to watch ourselves and try not to condemn others. It says it right in the first verse in Romans Chapter 2 - "You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else for at watever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." We are called to judge what is good and not good, what is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing to God, so that we may choose wisely. But actually passing judgment on some one else as if to say we are perfect or better than that person, that is what Paul is talking about.
The 2nd thing that stuck out to me (and where I want to spend most of my time) it seems that God, the Father won't actually be judging us come judgement day. God has passed that responsibility on to his Son - Jesus Christ. Is this true? It says it here in verse 16 - "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares." I had to think about this statement for a long time. Is God really not going to judge, but Christ instead? God and Jesus are one. So what does this mean. Verse 16 does say God will judge - God will judge, through Jesus Christ.
I have concluded that God will judge - Jesus will be apart of that judgement, but this verse seems to support the philosophy that we as Christians will be judged through Jesus's blood and we will be saved. But this is only the beginning, we will be held responsible for our actions as well, but that comes later in Romans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)