QT 30 Sep 11, The law added sin so that we might see ourselves as sinners

Rom 5:20-21 (NIV) The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTE: It seems like a strange thing, to add the law so that sin would increase.  Why would God want sin to increase?  I think this is really evidence of God's mercy.  Our sin is what reveals to us our need for a savior.  The more evidence of sin, the more realization that we cannot be perfect before God.  Additionally, some things, like giving to God, coveting, filthy language, selfishness, and others, might not have been recognized as sin without the law, leaving the individual with a sense that they were not that bad after all.  The knowledge of our sin is a mercy to us.  Jesus' further definition of lust and murder, into our thought life and words, increased our understanding even more of the powerful influence of sin upon our life.  God does not desire sin--God desires that we see our sin.  And when we see our sin, that brings us to repentance and into a right relationship with God.

QT 28 Sep 11, The gift is not like the trespass

Rom 5:15a, 18-21 (NIV) But the gift is not like the trespass. . . .

18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTE: If taken out of context, verses 18 and 19 would argue for universalism.  The structure, key words, and verbs are all the same, with the exception of verb tense.  But verse 15 says that the gift is not like the trespass.  There is something distinctly different.  The difference is not in the cause and effect, i.e., one man's actions led to many men's consequence.  Because the parallelism argues for similarity in that sense.  No, I believe the gift is not like the trespass because the trespass infected us, although technically we all sinned, so we can't blame Adam.  But the gift is not like an infection.  It offers hope, but does not demand it.  Adam's sin demanded death of everyone.  And we earned it by our actions.  But grace is a gift, it is not earned, nor is it forced upon a person.  A gift can be rejected.  A gift gives a choice to the recipient.  The gift is not a wage as Rom 3:23 describes sin.  Finally, verse 21 concludes the section and clarifies the thought by the introduction of "grace might reign through righteousness."  Here the parallelism is broken just enough.  Verse 21 says that sin reigned in death but grace "might" reign through righteousness.  Not everyone is saved, only those who respond to the  gift of grace offered to them.  Why should anyone reject that gift?  Why do people reject God's rule over their lives now?  Man wants to be his own god, he does not want to submit to his creator.

QT 27 Sep 2011, Rob Bell is wrong, it is not true that all will be saved

Rom 5:15-17 (NIV) But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 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.

NOTE: There is some current thought in American evangelical circles, that all will be saved.  It is a variation of universalism, but is essentially the same.  Some of these verses might seem to support that idea, but there is just enough qualification to dismiss it.  Verse 15 uses "the many" to describe the result of Adam's trespass, and the result of Jesus's grace.  Verse 16 says "judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation" and in a parallel form says "the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification."  Here a slight differentiation is observed.  Judgment is for every single man, and is repeated elsewhere in scripture.  The gift, though, has to be accepted (by definition of the term gift).  Judgment is earned, i.e., the wages of sin is death.  But a gift is free and only realized when accepted or taken.  Verse 17 makes it even more clear when it says "death reigned through the one man," but "God's abundant provision of grace" to "those who receive."  In other words, all mankind is affected by death, but grace is only to those who receive it.  The parallelism is useful in comparison, but there is a difference in the population that is affected.  You don't get a choice about death (unless you never sin), but you do get a choice about receiving God's grace.  While it is not possible to not sin, one could argue that both have a choice attached.  We willfully disobeyed God--we chose to sin.  We willfully choose to receive God's gift.  Otherwise, unlike the new theology of the day, we will go to hell.

QT 25 Sep 11, We don't need the law to know we have sinne

Rom 5:12-13 (NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

NOTE: What does it mean that "sin is not taken into account when there is no law?" Paul has just concluded that sin was in the world, and that it had entered the world through one man. And that death came to all men, not just because of Adam's sin, but because each person sinned. So clearly it is taken into account. I think I see it. What happened to man was not their failure to obey the law. The law did not exist. Their punishment was strictly due to their sin prior to the law's definition of sin and consequences. So the law was not necessary to condemn man. What a person knew in his hearts was sufficient to condemn him. The only thing the law did was to add additional clarity to the idea of sin.

I don't need the law to know right and wrong. It helps, but I know in my heart most sin without the confirmation of the word. The word gives me insight and teaches me about things that I might not even think are sin. But for most things in my life, my conscience tells me where I have sinned.

QT 16 Sep 11, Abraham's faith was evidenced by a belief in creation and in raising the dead

Rom 4:17 (Complete Jewish Bible) Avraham is our father in God’s sight because he trusted God as the one who gives life to the dead and calls nonexistent things into existence.

NOTE: The scriptures point out two aspects of Abraham's faith.  One, he believed that God could give life to the dead.  He had a chance to prove that many years later in his life when God called him to a sacrifice at Mount Moriah.  He also believed that God could call nonexistent things into existence.  This is the very essence of creation.  How God created man can be debated, but Abraham could not deny that the very universe itself was created out of nothing.  Paul exalts Abrahams faith on these two points: God is our creator, and God raised Jesus to life as a precursor to everyone who believes.  Of course, with power to call into existence out of non-existence, there really is nothing too hard for God.  What is a miracle?  It is beyond all silliness, the simplest of things for God.  To the atheist, if God exists, the question of miracles are the least of their problems.  And yet there is a constant theme in scripture of amazing miracles.  But the real problem for the atheist remains, where did everything come from, and how could it be so incredibly complex?

QT 15 Sep 11, Legalism is a great danger to trust

Rom 4:13-14 (Complete Jewish Bible) For the promise to Avraham and his seed that he would inherit the world did not come through legalism but through the righteousness that trust produces. 14 For if the heirs are produced by legalism, then trust is pointless and the promise worthless.

NOTE: I like the way CJB translates theses verses.  The issue is legalism toward the OT law and it is contrary to trust.  In my opinion, it is not possible to live by faith (trust) and also live legalistically to the OT law.  I grant that a believer who is legalistic to the OT law may argue that his salvation is not dependent on the law, but that he proves his devotion to God by keeping the OT law.  There is a certain truth in that statement, since John 14:21 says something similar.  But how does one know that keeping the entire OT law is correct? And if you do not keep the entire law (which most adherents of that view don’t), why do you keep any of it?  If one can pick and choose how he shows his love for God, why can't he choose none of it (the OT law)?  But you might reply, what of the moral laws (although the OT Law makes not distinction itself)?  And I would agree, because Jesus himself taught those laws and they are what we count as the law of Christ (Gal 6:2) and the law of the spirit of life (Rom 8:2).  And so my focus is on what the NT teaches as law,  not what the OT says.  The OT provides principles and lessons to teach us (Rom 15:4).  But am I not under the burden of the OT law, I have taken on a lighter burden (Matt 11:28-30) of Jesus' commands, for his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

QT 14 Sep 11, Wavering in faith is exhibited by a lack of prayer

Rom 4:20-22 (NIV) Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."

NOTE: There are a lot of good definitions for the word waver.  I think the one that most fits the usage here is "pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness." Abraham was certain of God's word and he was willing to obey.  Consequently, he did not pause or hold back.  In applying this to our own lives, it can be difficult to find a promise of God that is specific to ourselves and our situation.  I'm not referring to moral commands of God, but to the larger will of God issues that are not a point (only one course of action) but are represented by a circle (many possible options none of which are sinful).  On the other hand, even within the circle of God's will, we are told not to worry, not to fear, to pray, and to act prudently.  These are things I can do without pause or holding back.  And in fact, my faith is shown by my willingness to obey God in these tasks.  So, if I am exercising faith, am I praying?  If not, I am wavering.  Am I worried or fearful about the future?  Then I am wavering.  Am I acting not planning and acting prudently?  Then I am also wavering.  The latter actions, planning and prudent decisions, are usually not where we struggle, but rather with the former actions, praying and trusting (not worrying or fearing).  Lord, forgive my for my wavering.  I am certain you know what my future holds and you will bring good out of it.

QT 13 Sep 11, Nothing we can do will ever merit salvation

Rom 4:13-15 (NIV) It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

NOTE: Abraham was declared righteous long before he was circumcised and more than 400 years before the law was given.  It was with Abraham that God established the Abrahamic covenant which guaranteed that out of Abraham's seed, the entire world would be blessed.  Abraham was also declared righteous, not on the basis of anything he did, but on the basis of faith.  He believed in God and so God declares him righteous.  And as a result Abraham becomes a symbol for all people of how one gains righteousness before God--it is based only upon one's faith.  There still remains the issue of justice, the payment for sins, but Jesus would later satisfy God's judgment against sin by taking all of mankind's sin upon himself at the cross. 

There is a tendency in man to believe he has to earn something to claim it.  And most of the time, that is a right way to feel.  But when it comes to salvation and righteousness before God, it is not possible to earn it.  And the desire to earn it becomes the very barrier to achieving it.  To receive righteousness, we must come to God humbly and admit that there is nothing we can ever do to merit his favor to counteract the sins we have done.  The only answer is to humbly accept the free gift offered in faith, believing that God did all the work necessary for our salvation.  Oh how freeing, to be completely accepted and never to worry about where we stand.  Thank you God!

QT 9 Sep 11, Homosexuality is the second stage in the descent into the pit

Rom 1:24-27 (NIV) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

NOTE: Verse 26 is the second of three "God gave them over" phrases and describe the descent into the gutter--greater and greater degrees of sin.  In this case, sexual lust and permissiveness (verse 24), and the passion for things they create (verse 25), causes God to give them over to shameful lusts.  It is not just 'lust,' as seen in the preceding verses, but shameful lusts.  Shameful means to give offense to our moral sensibilities and to injure our reputation (thefreedictionary.com).  We call these shameful acts, homosexuality.  It was not the way God created us.  And by the way, the research that we are born this way is very questionable.  None of the studies have been repeated.  But, actually, it would make sense that our DNA structure would have a same-sex gene, since sin has caused a decay in God's originally perfect creation (Rom 8:20, 21 (NIV) For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.)  Our rebellion in the garden started a process that has not only destroyed ourselves but destroyed the very world created for us.  We were not created to die; we were not create to live without God; and we are not served by our rebellion to God.  The hope, for those who repent and turned to God through Jesus Christ, is the liberation from our bondage and decay.  We think we are free because we can choose to sin, but we don't even know what real freedom feels like, because we are so much in bondage to our sin.

QT 7 Sep 11, Evil is our lot for choosing sin over God

Rom 1:24-25 (NIV) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

NOTE: This is the first of the three "God gave them over" phrases that describe the downward cycle of sin.  This first usage follows the worship of images despite evidence to the contrary.  The Greek word for "gave up" is paredooken and is an intensified form of the word "give," suggesting a person in possession of something, transferring it to another.  God, who has a personal interest in our well-being and protection transfers his possession to what we wanted, which was the sinful desires of our heart.  The result of this new phase (second stage) is no longer just giving thanks and worship to images, but worshipping and serving create things.  Our lusts become our gods.  In this stage, men also exchange truth about God for a lie.  Today, our land is full of lies about God because we do not want to know the truth.  We are our own enemies.  Rather than shaking our fists at God for not protecting us from evil or disaster, we should realize that it was our own rebellion that causes God to give us over to what we truly wanted.  God is very good.  The evil in the world does nothing to dispel that truth.  It only amplifies our poor choice!

QT 6 Sep 11, A refusal to acknowledge God is the first step in futility

Rom 1:21-25 (NIV) For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

NOTE: Paul writes that men knew God.  I wonder if that was during the time after Adam and before Noah.  I'm not sure how they knew or when they knew, but they did know God.  And even though they knew him, the first two mistakes was not to glorify him or give him thanks.  For the believer, this is the heart of worship, and based on this verse alone would seem to be our primary purpose in life.  Because when we fail to worship God, it starts a chain of effects that are disastrous for us.  Worship is for our good, and when we do not worship, the first area affected is our thinking, the second area is our emotions.  Their thinking became futile.  A definition for futile, is that it serves no purpose, and it is occupied with trifles.  Secondly, our foolish hearts were darkened.  That which should have captured our attention and emotions was obscured and unclear.  And so, we no longer knew God, because we couldn't see him anymore.  And it all started because we refused to worship.  We didn't exalt God for who he is and we did not thank him for what he has done.  And as the passage will continue, we are the recipients of our own choice.

QT 5 Sep 11, All men are without excuse for not recognizing God's existence

Rom 1:17-20 (NIV) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

NOTE: God has revealed two things to us, verse 17 purports of  "a righteousness from God" and verse 18 of "the wrath of God."  A righteousness appears as a gift since it is from God.  It is obtained by faith in all cases.  The phrase "first to last" could mean status or could be referencing the two major covenants, but the phrase is still quite clear.  The only way to obtain "a righteousness from God" is by faith.

The wrath of God, also revealed to us (verse 18), suggests a trait, since it is of God.  It is not necessarily a gift since it is being revealed against men who are godless, wicked, and suppress the truth.  God says that what may be known about him is plain.  God says that he has made it plain.  Plain has a number of meanings, but here the meaning is that it is obvious and clear.  What is plain are God's invisible qualities--those which would seem to be not clear since they are invisible--his eternal power and divine nature.  God says they are clear from creation and are understood from creation.  Therefore, at judgment time, God will tell men that they are without excuse.  Apparently those who argue that what is clear to them--random process of nature to create life out of immaterial matter--will be an insufficient argument in God's eyes.  They will be charged with suppressing truth, because creation is obvious and clear.

God seems to be using the teleological argument or argument by design.  The complexity of life argues against creation by random forces.  Mathematically, the probability for even the simplest cell to form by random forces is astronomically low.  But, men would prefer to believe in chaotic elements than to believe in God, and so they suppress the truth and are without excuse.