All In One Package Deal

Scripture: Romans 3:22, 25-26 "even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe... [God set Jesus] forth... to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Observation: Okay. So this is more (a continuation) from the last two days of SOAPs. I have to slightly change what I concluded yesterday because of what I see today.

Verse 22 clearly makes God's righteousness something that is "shown to" and "put on" believers. Then verses 25 and 26 clearly explain that the gospel does serve the purpose of highlighting both God's wrath and ever-correct attitude toward sin, and God's mercy and grace in over-looking the sin (or just delaying its condemnation) until Jesus could take the brunt of His wrath.

Application: Dale, know that Paul understand God's righteousness in a few different ways.

For me:
(1) God has declared me righteous through faith in Jesus.
(2) God has put His righteousness in me effectually (i.e. He intendeds it to be a powerful force for effecting change in me).
(3) I can look solely and deeply into the gospel to grasp the awesome and unsearchable glory of God's grace.

No wonder Paul made it his point to only preach Christ and Him crucified.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your amazing work in my life. I am your work, your handiwork and I want to give you all the love and praise that you deserve. Amen.

The Gospel Makes It Known and Clear

Scripture: Romans 3:21-22 "But now the righteousness of God part from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God to all and on all who believe..."

Observation: This phrase, the "righteousness of God," is repeated here twice. It was first mention in 1:17. There Thomas R. Schreiner says that the term means both the effective change that occurs by the Holy Spirit's presence in us and also the declaration of "rightness" that God gives to us based on our faith in Jesus. Do those definitions fit here as well?

I have come to understand them simply as a characteristic of God, meaning that the gospel has revealed exactly how high God's holiness is and exactly how endless God's love, mercy and grace are. In the gospel we see that God's being is infinitely separate and excels ours. His perfection is unsearchable because we are incapable of comprehending it entirely.

But does my definition work? I have to stand by my understanding at this point because the rest of this passage (vs 3:21-28) seems to be defining in more detail the support for what exactly God's righteousness IS.

These SOAPs are getting too long in Romans!

Application: Humility. But how do I do it? And how do I go about changing?

Prayer: Father, I need, as always here also, Your help doing this. I'm drawing water from a tainted well. Please help me draw from the well of Your endless power through the life of Jesus in me. I love You. Amen.

Paul Really Didn't Get It Wrong (this is part 2)

Scripture: (continued from the 25th...) Romans 3:4 "Certainly not! Indeed let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: 'That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.' "

Observation: After thinking more, the result or end of both situations (Paul's translation here and the translation of Psalm 51:4) is the same. When I am judged by the Lord concerning sinful actions I am left in the wrong each and every time. When I judge God (as in the instance of Paul's address to the Jews in Romans) I am left in the wrong each and every time. In one situation I have acted and God evaluates those actions. In the other, God acts and I evaluate. Alas, though, I find (1) that God is right, and (2) that I am then "evaluated" by God for my judging of Him and I must confess I must not judge God or presume to be God's judge.

Application: God can be my judge or my shield. The choice is mine. Either way the glory is His!

Prayer: Please reveal to me today where I am standing in judgment of You today. I know pride is ever with me. I presume too much! Renew my mind Father! Soften my heart and make me like Christ. I love You. You are good! Amen.

God Must Have Just Gotten It Wrong (this is part 1)

Scripture: Romans 3:3-4 "For what if some [Jews] did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true (also translatable as "found true") and every man a liar. As it iso written: 'That you may be justified in your words, and may over come when you are judged.' "

Observation: This transition is confusing to me, and I may not figure it out this morning....

First, what does verse 3 have to do with verses 1 and 2 and chapter 2:25-29?

Second, why does Paul "misquote" Psalm 51:4?

First, the "faithfulness" of God must be referring to the fact that God revealed the OT Scriptures even though some Jews did not believe in faith. So Paul's train of thought seems to be that (beginning at the end of Ch. 2):
1. Physical Jewish descent will never lead irrevocably to eternal life.

2. The "chief" blessing or value of being God's chosen nation was the immeasurable blessing of being the bearers of God's holy word and prophecies.

3. Therefore, because some do not continue in faith it doesn't mean that God's faithfulness was useless, but rather it must be understood that eternal life was never guaranteed to every Hebrew.

4. And verse 4 is just Paul saying that a Jew who found blame with God because God appeared to have failed to keep His promise or did not succeed in bringing the promised salvation to the Jews should readjust his or her perspective by remembering that God is always right and man will always be wrong when there exists a conflict between what we see God doing and what we think He should  be doing.

Application: A believer should remember this when dealing with a conflict between our society's current moral standards and the standard(s) laid down in God's word. Many people want to just assume that He didn't mean what His word says He meant.

Remembering this will also protect me from prejudices toward others when I misunderstand portions of God's word because I have forgotten to apply other important and pertinent commands.

Prayer: Lord, I'm glad that You are always right and I will always be found wrong when I disagree with You. I appreciate the times that You convict me of sin. I'm glad when You speak to me about things I need to stop doing... or start doing. I have no desire to be left in the dark so please keep shining Your light into my life. I love You. Amen.

"I Will Not Boast In Anything.. Nothing But The Blood"

Scripture: Romans 2:4, 17-20 "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing hat the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

Observation: Verses 17-20 are a list of things that the Jews have to boast about, in the flesh anyway. He describes what makes some Jews believe there would be  partiality from God on judgment day. But the response to this way of thinking already came in verses 1-4: All are guilty because everyone sins. 

But God's goodness, forbearance, and patience are a soft floor for us to fall to our knees on. He calls us to "judge rightly" and then be humble regardless of what we may think gives us right or reason to be confident in our goodness.

Application: This chapter does nothing but call for humility! 

What are my boasts? What things do I hold pride over? Verse memorization, degree, consistent Bible study and prayer, personal spiritual growth, homeschooling, family, lifestyle. But for everyone of those things, I violate ten (or a hundred) times the laws and consistently am inconsistent in. Really, I'm broken. I am condemned without the blood of Jesus. I, like every other human, have only one hope - to live by faith in Jesus, who loves me and gave Himself for me.

Prayer: Please teach me. Forgive my pride and arrogance. Help me to love as You love. I love You. Amen.

It's More Of a Heart Surgery

Scripture: (I had intended to journal on Romans 2:4, but God caught my attention with) Romans 2:26 "Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirement of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?"

Observation: The Jew who is trying to follow God would probably reply to this verse that someone who is trying to follow God and "keep the righteous requirement of the law" would therefore also be circumcised in order that he would obey the law in that area as well. Yet Paul is making the clear point that circumcision to God is more than just a physical sign (explicit in vs. 28-29; Gal 6:15; Deut 30:6).

Deuteronomy 30:6 shows that "circumcision of the heart" is not a N.T. idea only. Paul isn't creating a new idea or even using a vogue or culturally-based imagery; he's again pointing out that the gospel fulfills the O.T. prophecy and that neither the Jewish Law or any other self-made laws will not bring eternal life to anyone.

God is concerned about our heart. Does our heart belong to Him? Is He our treasure above all else?

Application: Like the Jew I mentioned, I often get so wrapped up in rules (or the idea that everyone should apply God's word in the same way) that I forget to honor the genuine heart in others that desires to love God.

Prayer: Father, please help me to be circumcised of the heart toward You! I want to be single-hearted and in real relationship with the Lawgiver, not the Law. I love you! Amen.

The Mirage of Goodness

Scripture: Romans 2:29 "but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not the letter; whose praise [literally "Jew"] is not from men but from God."

Observation: Here at the end of the chapter (though not, it seems to me, at the end of the train of thought) Paul hits the core of the self-righteousness resulting from efforts toward obedience to the law. Always men and women are engrossed in the judging and comparing of themselves with a standard, whether it be their family or friend or co-worker or enemy or teacher or student or politician or the wealthy or the poor. On the other hand, if we are judged by the God's moral standard (the Law) we all fail.

The purpose of all our comparison is to measure up, but we always drive toward the wrong goal. We strive toward some imaginary standard contrived in our own minds which, conveniently, normally declares us "good enough."

Instead we should ask the Author and Origin of all that is morally good (who is Himself the very standard) for His verdict on our lives. Then we could humbly accept our failure toward the true standard and plead for mercy. If we do so, God will immediately and joyously smother us in forgiveness, mercy and grace and then we will have our "praise from God."

Application: Duh! Cease from my unrighteous judgment (Matthew 7:1). Lavish blessing on others, distain on my sins, and praise on my God!

Prayer: May I seek the praise that comes from you today and be a true Jew in the spirit. I love you. You are beyond good to me. Amen.

The Level Playing Field

Scripture: Romans 2:1 "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

Observation: Paul seems to be addressing self-righteousness and, perhaps, unrealized hypocrisy throughout these passages. Yesterday the SOAP concluded based on verses 6-9 that Paul isn't preaching works-based righteousness or salvation in this chapter.

Beginning in Chapter 1:18 Paul speaks of the wrath to come that will be directed at those stubbornly defiant of God. By the end of Chapter 1 Paul's listeners would be all nodding in agreement. Then for the next 47 verses (through 3:18) Paul turns the tables and directly applies that same wrath and sinfulness to his readers/listeners as well. By the end of it Paul has clearly put all on level ground.

This is also the point of verse 11, "There is no partiality with God." (i.e. The Jews won't be treated special.)

Application: O, how great should be my humility! How deeply should I feel my shame! How sternly do I need to hold to the "goodness, forbearance and long-suffering" of God and be led to repentance!

Prayer: God, I don't even know the extent of my sinfulness and I confess I do the same things that I judge others in. And I confess my judging! Teach me to be free of that, for I know that the greatest shame will come on the day of judgment when you reveal the hidden things. I love you. I fall on your grace. Amen.

The Identity Property of "Nothing"

Scripture: Romans 2:6-9 "who will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil,"

Observation: This portion of the chapter seems to be a "salvation by works" support. But I believe Paul's statements have to be understood in the lens of two things: (1) he's writing to Jews in this chapter, and perhaps all th
e way to chapter 4; and (2) Paul means, when he says "in doing good" (vs. 7 and 10), those that in pursuit of righteousness surrender to the gospel. This is supported by verse 8 "who do not obey the truth" and verses 12-16 in their entirety, which effectively includes all people everywhere and makes them guilty before God and incapable of being justified by works.

Application: "Obey the truth" - surrender to the gospel in its daily application of death to myself (Gal 2:20). Be sober-minded and self-controlled that I may seek "glory, honor and immortality" as it is distributed by God by faith.

Grace + Nothing = Forgiveness, Peace and Eternal Life

Prayer: Father, please continue to work in me. Sanctify me. Chasten me. Purify me. Please do these things all for and to your glory and praise that I may be a witness and have a testimony of your exceeding greatness, power, goodness, and love. I love you! Amen.

A Poem by Nori

Howdy.

I've considered starting up the blog again now that I'm back from Saudi Arabia. There is plenty that I could share from there.

But something else came to me to be the first post-deployment blog.

Tell Me, Flag

by N. R. Sickels

O Flag, waving 'bove the

Land of Liberty, 

Tell me truly, Flag, what 

Is it that you see?

Do your red-and-white stripes

And your star-spangled blue

See a land quite as lovely 

As they once used to?

O Flag, rippling o'er 

Fifty states united,

Has too much freedom 

Left your purity blighted?

Perhaps we burn flags 

Whose cloth touch the floor 

Because the dust of America

Is, by sin, made so poor.

Grease That Even Dawn Won't Cut Through. I'm Going To Need Something Stronger.

Scripture: Romans 2:12-13 "For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;"

Observations: These verses seem to be the crux of Paul's point from the end of Chapter 1 through Chapter 2: namely, that everyone is guilty and those that have the law, though they are in a better place because they have God's written commands guiding them to righteousness, are not more justified before God because the law condemns each person if he or she breaks it even once. 

Many will say "I did not know such and such was wrong," but we do not need to know all of God's law to be held guilty by Him. We really only need to know one, for our compulsion to do wrong is so complete that we will undoubtedly break even just the one law (indeed, each and every law) that we are aware of.

Application: I cannot have pride in my life. I have no place for pride in my behavior or before God. Pride simply becomes a log in the fire that my conscience stokes for the pending judgment of God. Set my heart to scorn self-righteousness and all boasting that is done in anything but God in Jesus Christ! Be humble about my salvation and glorify and praise God!

Prayer: Your word consistently guides me to my sin and your praise. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I praise you! Thank you for the revelation of your law. I agree that it is holy and right, but today's Application I cannot do without you. Knowing the extent of sin in my life I probably have pride about my pride! Humility isn't a natural action for me. Please make me like Jesus then according to your will! Help me to allow Christ to live in me like your word says that I might be in Christ and so be a new creature. I love you. Your grace and mercy are beyond compare. Amen.

Eomer Was Wrong. This "Hope" is Trustworthy.

Scripture: Romans 1:2 [the gospel of God] "which [God] promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures."

Observation: It is important that Paul opens the letter in the way that he does. I believe this is the only letter written to church that he had never visited.

He immediately establishes himself as an authority and then gets down to the purpose for his letter. "This gospel that I preach is the one that God promised." (So was there doubt about that? Is that a theme in the rest of the letter?) "This gospel is the one promised by God! It has happened and it is exciting and full of life changing hope. I want to tell you about it!"

Paul stresses that this gospel was rooted in the Scriptures and was promised by God. This is not a vogue movement. It's been planned by God since before the creation of the world.

"People of earth - here is your Savior! Do not miss this! Do not take this lightly! It will change your entire life... it will make you want you've always wanted to be."

Application: I think this is a perfect picture of the type of testimony that all Christians can share. The OT recorded predictions and promises of it. Jesus declared its arrival (along with John the Baptist). The apostles and disciples invited all to join, receive the blessing of it, and worked and served to strengthen the faith of believers everywhere.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have such excitement, joy and hope in my testifying that the world would know your love and acceptance. I love you. Amen.