On The Sixth Day #5

Romans 1.14 – 17 Good News, Salvation and the justice of God

I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. Thus I am eager also to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, "The righteous by faith will live."

• "I am a debtor to ..." is not about an obligation that the Greeks & barbarians [wise & foolish] can make claims against – but it is about God's claim on him to be the apostle to them – it's an obligation to God from which the Greeks & barbarians [wise & foolish] are the beneficiaries -- how this particular bond-servant/slave works in the service of and at the direction of his Lord
  
• Why would Paul preach the gospel to people who were already Christians? Because "the gospel" is not just a call to initial saving faith but also a call to continue in a daily walk of faith
  
• his eagerness stems from his desire to pleasingly serve his Lord
  
• and therefore he is not – and cannot be – ashamed to do this work of sharing God's power for the salvation/healing/mending/setting straight individuals and the cosmos – maybe he is thinking of Psalm 119:46, "I shall speak of your decrees before kings and I will not be ashamed."
  
• and he clearly understands how it is to be done --
  
  • he announces God's good news first to the Jews wherever he goes
    
  • then to the Greeks [gentiles/barbarians/whatever] wherever he may be
    
  • just as he has always done
    
• and ultimately all prior DIVISIONS of peoples is wrong
  
  • Greek view: Greek OR barbarian
    
  • Roman view: Roman OR barbarian
    
  • Jewish view: Israelite/Jew OR gentile
    
• the true dividing point is "who is Lord"?
  
  • Good news begins with God's power
    
    • raised Jesus
      
    • defeated the ultimate worldly weapon
      
  • when announced new life, new creation takes place in those who receive it
    
    • new hearts, minds, & lifestyles
      
    • salvation happens
      
      • a present reality
        
      • as well as a future hope
        
  • such acceptance is by faith – the opposite of both sight and doubt
    
    • NT Wright describes it as "a settled conviction that God has raised Jesus and that he is indeed Lord of the world."
      
    • it is the FIRST thing that happens when the good news strikes home, in the power of the Spirit
      
    • and it brings God's declaration that the believer is indeed "set right" and a new creation here and now even before final judgment
      
  • and membership is available to everyone on equal terms
    
• v. 17 – the righteousness of God - a phrase that is the subject of intense debate. It carries firstly and more fully, I think, a meaning which refers directly to God's right moral character, particularly manifested in His Own faithfulness, holiness and justice; it also carries the meaning "righteousness from God," so that it denotes right standing before God (a legal reality) that is given to people by God
  
• God has been faithful to His plan & promises – if you want to benefit from His faithfulness, His righteousness – respond in faithfulness "believing obedience" from v. 5
  
• because the righteous live by faithfulness – Habakkuk 2:4 – righteous/just not only believe [mind/heart] but live in accordance with that belief [soul/strength] Mark 12:30 & Luke 10:27 – the whole human being lives by and in faithfulness
  

(Source material from N T Wright, John Wesley, Martin Luther, ESV Study Bible, Orthodox Study Bible, et al)

On The Sixth Day #4

Romans 1.8 – 13 Longing to see the Roman believers

First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God. For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another's faith, both yours and mine. Brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles.

• Paul is thankful because he sees here the fulfillment of his goal in life, which was for the good news of the kingdom of God to advance throughout the world.
  
• The faithfulness of the Roman believers is well known among other Christians
  
  • probably because of the expulsion from Rome in 49 AD
    
  • expelled Jews returned to provinces and cities of origin or birth
    
  • some are his friends & some are his relatives
    
  • their faith encourages Paul also
    
• Paul continues to remember them in his prayers
  
• Paul's desire to visit the believers in Rome is so important that he prays that God will work to make it happen to advance God's plan – Paul is ALWAYS in His service
  
• He has wished to visit them for a long time
  
  • to impart a spiritual gift – maybe helping them get along among themselves
    
  • to strengthen and encourage them
    
  • to bring the good news to maybe a few new believers in Rome
    
  • and rely on the believers in Rome to support his ministry to Spain 15:24
    
• he sees them & himself as members of one family – God's

(Source material from N T Wright, John Wesley, Martin Luther, ESV Study Bible, Orthodox Study Bible, et al)

On The Sixth Day #3

Romans 1.1 – 7 Good News about the New King

¹Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

⁵through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

⁶To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• This introduction sets the foundation or "launching pad" for the entire letter
  
• begins in the classic style of letters of his day
  
  • who is writing the letter
    
  • to whom it is being written
    
• Paul expands quite a bit
  
  • not simply "I'm Paul, who serves Jesus and I'm writing to believers in Rome."
    
  • deeper & clearer identification of himself
    
  • the purpose of his writing – the God's good news [gospel of God]
    
    • which identifies Paul
      
    • and the "map of the world" - which king do you serve
      
    • and God's good news claims the whole world even Rome!!
      
• Verses 1 – 4 – Reveal the Trinity
  
  • the word "God" is found 555 times in 486 verses in Paul's letters
    
  • the opening verses of all 13 of Paul's letter refer to "God, the Father" of the Lord
    
• Verse 4 reveals the 2 natures of Jesus of Nazareth –
  
  • man via the seed of David
    
  • revealed to ALREADY be the Son of God by the resurrection – just declaration of an existing truth – like the centurion in Matthew 27 & Mark 15
    
• this is good news about something that has already happened
  
• God's "good news" - God's gospel
  
  • God is faithful to His covenant -- v.2
    
    • Genesis 3 with ALL of mankind
      
    • and Genesis 12, 15 & 17 with Abraham & his descendants
      
  • about and thoroughly invested in Jesus of Nazareth
    
    • – His Son vv. 3 – 4
      
    • truly a king – descended from king David v. 3
      
    • Jesus has been raised from the dead & is ruling the cosmos right here right now v. 4
      
      • because God has defeated the last weapon of the rulers of this world – DEATH
        
      • and God is building new creation through the resurrected, living, ruling Jesus & his body, the church v. 5-6
        
• "saints" refers, of course, to all believers – living and dead v.7

(Source material from N T Wright, John Wesley, Martin Luther, ESV Study Bible, Orthodox Study Bible, et al)

Sunday's Song #26

Shabath #24

God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.
--- Genesis

On The Sixth Day #2

Paul's letter to the believers in Rome [Romans] has been said to be "the most significant, the most logical the most doctrinally oriented of Paul's epistles." It is the only one he wrote to a church he had not yet visited. The Letter to the Romans had a direct impact on the faith, theology, writings and life of Augustine of Hippo, Martin Luther, John Wesley and Karl Barth, among many others.

Augustine said, “To Paul I appeal from all interpreters of his writings.” Augustine finally became a believer after taking up and reading Romans 13:13-14.

In his “Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans”, Martin Luther said, “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian's while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes ... .”

A further note: John Wesley's doubts were settled as he said, “That evening he reluctantly attended a meeting in Aldersgate. Someone read from Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to Romans. About 8:45 PM, “while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” Wesley had peace about his destiny and salvation. Although he might have experienced some doubt’s later, his writing and speaking was never again full of agony about this issue. Notice from his own words what brought this peace, “…I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins,…” It was faith in Christ that brought an end to Wesley’s doubts.

Today there is so much disagreement about this letter, so much misunderstanding, non-understanding and contention that the church - the Body of the Messiah-Savior-King, Jesus - has been divided in many cases, seemingly at least, based solely on the interpretation of this letter.

These posts are not going to repair those divisions or solve differences. The hope is that we will find a way to better understand one another.

(Source material from N T Wright, John Wesley, Martin Luther, ESV Study Bible, Orthodox Study Bible, et al)

Hunger and Thirst Day #23

Adonai said, "Should I hide from Avraham what I am about to do, inasmuch as Avraham is sure to become a great and strong nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by him? For I have made myself known to him, so that he will give orders to his children and to his household after him to keep the way of Adonai and to do what is right and just, so that Adonai may bring about for Avraham what he has promised him."

Wednesday's Wonder #25

"The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed; for the creation was made subject to frustration — not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope that it too would be set free from its bondage to decay and would enjoy the freedom accompanying the glory that God's children will have. We know that until now, the whole creation has been groaning as with the pains of childbirth; and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly to be made sons — that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free. It was in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn't hope — after all, who hopes for what he already sees? But if we continue hoping for something we don't see, then we still wait eagerly for it, with perseverance."

---- Paul of Tarsus, Romans

Tuesday with Jesus #29

Isn't it odd that people ask, "What would Jesus do?"

Don't we already know what He did?

Shuldn't we be asking instead, "Now that I know Jesus, what am I gonna do?"

Monday's Madness #26

Just saw this:

"An axe-wielding Somali extremist broke into the home of Kurt Westergaard on Friday night as the 75-year-old cartoonist was looking after Stephanie, his five-year-old granddaughter.

... He did not have time to collect the child from the living room before locking himself into a “panic room”, a specially fortified bathroom. He said the assailant had shouted “swear words, really crude words” and shrieked about “blood” and “revenge”, as he smashed the axe in vain against the bathroom door"

He "did not have time to collect the child ... ."

“I feared for my grandchild, ... (b)ut she did great. I knew that he wouldn’t do anything to her.” He went on: “It was close, really close. But we did it.”

WE(???!!!???!) did it?

Sorry, Kurt, you're a coward.

Read the story here.

Sunday's Song #25

"God is love" -- 1John 4:8

Love Changes Everything
Composer: Andrew Lloyd-Webber, "Aspects of Love" - Artist: Michael Ball

Love, love changes everything
Hands and faces, earth and sky
Love, love changes everything
How you live and how you die
Love, can make the summer fly
Or a night seem like a lifetime
Yes love, love changes everything
Now I tremble at your name
Nothing in the world will ever be the same

Love, love changes everything
Days are longer, words mean more
Love, love changes everything
Pain is deeper than before
Love will turn your world around
And that world will last forever
Yes love, love changes everything
Brings you glory, brings you shame
Nothing in the world will ever be the same

Off into the world we go
Planning futures, shaping years
Love (comes in) and suddenly all our wisdom disappears
Love makes fools of everyone
All the rules we made are broken
Yes love, love changes everyone
Live or perish in its flame
Love will never never let you be the same
Love will never never let you be the same

Beautiful lyrics, sung by an outstanding tenor ...

Without changing a word, you are able to sing this as a praise song in just about any worship service.

But if God is love and love changes everything, why are we who profess faith, hoipe and love in the name of such a God so unchanged?

Shabath #23 [repost of #1]

"to repose, to rest, to rid of, to still, to put away, to leave. Most often, the word expresses the idea of resting, i.e., abstaining from labor."

Does anyone actually abstain from labor on whatever day they observe shabbath?

On The Sixth Day #1

I want to spend a few [many?] Fridays with Paul and his letter to the believers in Rome. Just about every denomination, sect and/or heresy has to deal with what Paul says to these believers. And most take a very parochial view in their dealings - taking what they like and leaving what they don't like as though the letter itself were some sort of cafateria rather than a teaching of whole cloth.

A few basic questions to begin:
1. Who is the man writing the letter?
2. Who are the people to whom he is writing?
3. What is their world like?
4. How do the answers to these questions affect how the letter is, first, understood by the first recipients?
5. How do the answers to these questions affect how the letter is, then, to be understood by us?
6. What then does the letter say, teach and proclaim?

Over the next few [many?] Fridays, I will look at [briefly and NOT academically] some answers to these questions that I offer.

First a quick observation from N. T. Wright: "If Jesus is Messiah, he is of course also Lord, Kyrios. The proper contexts for this term, too, are its Jewish roots on the one hand and its pagan challenge on the other. Taking them the other way round for the moment: the main challenge of the term, I suggest, was not to the world of private cults or mystery-religions, where one might be initiated into membership of a group giving allegiance to some religious "lord". The main challenge was to the lordship of Caesar, which, though certainly "political" was also profoundly "religious". Caesar demanded worship as well as "secular" obedience; not just taxes, but sacrifices. He was well on the way to becoming the supreme divinity in the Greco-Roman world, maintaining his vast empire not simply by force, though there was of course plenty of that, but by the development of a flourishing religion that seemed to be trumping most others either by absorption or by greater attraction. Caesar, by being a servant of the state, had provided justice and peace to the whole world. He was therefore to be hailed as Lord, and trusted as Savior. This is the world in which Paul announced that Jesus, the Jewish Messiah, was Savior and Lord”