QT 11/13/2024 Rom 6:1-7, A new sphere of life

Romans 6:1–7 (ESV) —

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.

 

NOTE: It is foolish to suggest that since sin brought grace, that more sin would bring more grace. So what does it mean to be dead to sin in life today?

 

Origen, the most influential theologian of the ante-Nicene period, described death to sin in this way: “To obey the cravings of sin is to be alive to sin; but not to obey the cravings of sin or succumb to its will, this is to die to sin.”

 

A more interesting question is the new life that we are promised upon our resurrection. Mounce (1195) says 'The Greek expression translated “a new life” is better rendered “a new sphere which is life.” ' We really have no idea what this new resurrected sphere of life will be like. It could be like Eden before Adam sinned, a beautiful planet, purposeful work, and relationships. We have marred that original creation, including losing access to the tree of life, which ultimately brought death. I believe we will have a body with 'creature holiness,' meaning that sin will have no interest to us. Temptation will flow right by us without a second thought.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I realize that I am dead to sin? It does not have to control me?
2. I also know I am prone to failure, but the promise is that all of my sins, past present and future were paid for on the cross. Do I believe that?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the most important aspect of salvation is that there is a future and a hope, and eternity with you.

QT 11/12/2024 Rom 5:17-21, God has provided the solution, what is your response?

Romans 5:17–21 (ESV) —

17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

NOTE: I know some will see this comparison of Adam's trespass and Jesus' work to indicate that there is universal salvation just as there was universal condemnation. The problem is that both required a response. Maybe that is why the author uses "many" even though it resulted in "all" as in the case of Adam's trespass. The response to Adam's trespass was that we chose to trespass too (in part because the flesh was weakened by Adam's trespass). The response to Jesus' work is also conditional:

• Vs 17 "….those who receive … the free gift …"
• Vs 19 "… many will be made righteous" -- not necessarily meaning "all," even though that was the case with Adam's trespass
• Vs 21 "… grace also might reign …" -- "might" not meaning "will" -- it depends on our response to the gift

You might want to blame God for your sin condition, but he has provided a way out. We chose sin, but we must also choose Jesus. If we don't we can only blame ourselves, not God. We chose.

 

PONDER:

Some people think they have the perfect argument to confound God (if he exists they would say) upon death. That scenario only exists in the mind of the fool. What is your excuse?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to truth before it is too late. You plan to recreate earth someday as you always intended. I pray that our lives would witness to others the power of change before the end.

QT 11/11/2024 Rom 5:12-16, The trespass and the gift have similarities

Romans 5:12–16 (ESV) —

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

 

NOTE: There are a few ways to view verses 12-14, I think the most consistent manner, is that Adam sinned; he passed on the sin nature to us; our flesh was too weak to resist and consequently every person sinned. Theoretically, it might be possible to not sin, but the bible makes it clear, everyone has sinned.

 

Verses 15-16 are similar and yet different. The second Adam, Jesus, resisted sin and lived sinless. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection offers justification to all men. But unlike the trespass, the second Adam's work is a gift that must be received. There is an action required, believe and receive. One could argue that the two actions are the same, since Adam's actions required us to follow in his steps by sinning, which wasn't hard. And it isn't hard to accept a gift too. But unfortunately, all received condemnation because of the trespass and then our trespass, but not all will receive forgiveness because not all will accept the gift.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I received the gift? Have I chosen to believe?
2. Do I believe what the bible says about me, that I am a sinner deserving condemnation?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for touching my heart with the gospel. I believed and received the Son into my life. My life is so much different today because of that decision when I was at college. Thank you.

QT 11/8/2024 Rom 5:6-11, Salvation, then -- now -- and soon

Romans 5:6–11 (ESV) —

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

NOTE: We have just discussed all the things that justification does for us, and that we were justified (saved) when we were his enemies. But Paul talks about a continuing salvation ("shall we be saved") in verse 9 and again in 10. Part of it may be eschatological, that is we will be saved from the wrath to come, but I think it refers to our continuing sanctification and our ultimate glorification. As Constable (2003) shares:

 

(Rom 5:10) We experience continuing salvation (progressive sanctification) and ultimate salvation (glorification) because of Jesus Christ’s ongoing life. These present and future aspects of our salvation were not the direct results of His death, but they are the consequences of His life after death and resurrection (cf. 6:8–13). We have salvation in the present and in the future because our Savior lives. He is still saving us. This verse shows that we are eternally secure.

 

(Rom 5:11) We were saved by His death in the past, we will be saved by His life in the future, and we are presently enjoying a current saving relationship with God—all because of His work of reconciliation

 

Jesus did all the work. The one-time justification, the continuing work now in our lives, and the future work of glorification. These are all part of our salvation.

 

PONDER:

Do I realize I am saved, being saved, and will be saved?

 

PRAYER: Father, there is much to know about salvation. I thank you for all that you did for us, especially when we were your enemies. I praise you for my salvation.

QT 11/7/2024 Rom 5:1-5, Salvation gives the peace the world longs for

Romans 5:1–5 (ESV) —

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 

NOTE: Since justification is by faith and is completed in Jesus, we have peace with God for all time. We never have to worry about doing enough or losing our justification. We are part of the family and his love is permanent. We are truly his children, adopted into the family, unlike many who think being born in God's image makes them God's child -- it does not. It is by faith that we are restored into a right relationship with God that has been broken since the fall in Eden. We chose to be our own gods, and God warned us that we would not like the results. But now, finally, we have peace, true peace. We can rest completely, knowing our future hope is secure. There is still a process (I call it sanctification) which changes us more and more into his likeness here on earth. But salvation is secure.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I truly put my faith in Jesus' work on the cross?
2. Am I experiencing the promised peace with God? If not, why?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do have peace with you. I have felt it in my life throughout the decades since I believed and received Jesus. I can face the end of life with confidence, knowing my reward is in heaven (not here on earth). Thank you!

QT 11/6/2024 Rom 4:20-25, Real faith is not stoicism

Romans 4:20–25 (ESV) —

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

 

NOTE: I love these verses, especially 20-21, but I think most people mistakenly see stoicism as faith, and I don't see the placid "I trust in God" mantra as evidence of true faith -- it might be, but it also might be an inability to deal with pain. I know because I have been there. When I was younger in the Lord, I was a stoic to bad news and suffering. I could say all the right things because I was very good at suppressing my emotions, and I wanted to look the part of a strong Christian. Also, I wasn't willing to deal with pain. I wasn't willing to have an honest conversation with God. Now, almost 40 years later, I understand that real faith is far different from I thought it was. I've learned that I can be angry and hurt when pain strikes. Like Moses, I can question God, and he still loves me. I've learned that emotion and the mind are both the creation of God.

UPDATE: I'm using faith not as an indicator of salvation, but rather as a measure of spiritual maturity.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I determine if I have faith? Is it a response or is it something internal?
2. Do I put on the face of the stoic during suffering -- is that the real me?

 

PRAYER: Father, the church will always look up to the stoic -- I get it. I would not want people to have to go through the pain and suffering required to get beyond that. The real reason for hard times is to draw us closer to you emotionally, mentally, and willfully in spirit.

QT 11/5/2024 Rom 4:16-17, Saved by faith alone

Romans 4:16–17 (ESV) —

16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

 

NOTE: To a man like Martin Luther, steeped in Catholicism of the time, this verse, in fact the whole book of Romans, must have hit like a sledgehammer. Everything depends upon faith, not upon works. I realize that Luther had his issues, but when one reads Romans, there is no other conclusion. There never should have been an argument among the nations. But, the nations were wrong because they saw religion as a key to power as opposed to truth that needed to be consumed. I wonder how many Kings really believed the gospel or just saw it as an expedient way to control the people. Even England's creation of Anglicanism was only because one King could not get his own way, and he coveted the riches of Catholicism. No one was interested in truth to the questions:

• How is one saved?
• Why did Jesus have to die if we need good works?
• What is God's holiness and how does it apply or not apply to me?
• How can anyone be good in God's eyes?
• What then is faith and what does it do?
• Why is there a law?
• Why does the bible say the law was nailed to the cross and the book of Hebrews tell us that the old Covenant is null and void?

There are so many more questions that scripture answers but no one ever wanted to research. It was a world blinded by a religion that carried a name "Christian" without any (or at least very few) actual Christians.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I still, deep down, believe in works -- that my good deeds must outweigh my bad deeds?
2. Or do I absolutely trust in the completed work of Christ on the cross where by faith I exchanged my sinful self for this righteous glory (at least in the eyes of God)?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for calling me out of religion and into a relationship with you. I am totally unworthy. It was mercy and grace poured out upon me. There is nothing I can do or say, … but I will say, sheepishly because of my unworthiness, thank you.

QT 11/4/2024 Rom 4:7-12, Are you blessed?

Romans 4:7–12 (ESV) —

7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered;

8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

 

NOTE: For those of us who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and his completed work on the cross and his resurrected life, we are blessed. But what does it mean? Certainly, we are blessed in that we have a future in heaven and have been given eternal life. We will not go to hell; we will not spend eternity outside of the presence of God; and we will not suffer pain. That is a blessing as much as anything is a blessing. But, we are also made a part of God's family and we share in a heavenly inheritance. We are promised new bodies that will not be susceptible to sin. We will enjoy a new creation and eternal homes. But even here on earth, in the midst of pain and struggles, in the midst of trying to share the gospel, we have a peace that passes understanding. Some, so-called believers, never experience that peace or rest, because they do not pursue a relationship with Jesus. So, are they blessed? Are they "saved?" Only God knows the true condition of their hearts. But I fear that some who have professed Jesus may have only said the words, because their lives do not show the change that comes upon a person when the Holy Spirit enters.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I going through the motions?
2. Do I truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. Does my life show any difference? Is there any peace?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know in my heart that I have invited you to live in me and lead me. I have seen the changes you have made starting from the inside out. I have experienced peace and joy. You are very real and personal. I pray for others, who call themselves believers, that they might truly know you and the power of the resurrected life.

QT 11/1/2024 Rom 4:1-6, We only need faith, not works

Romans 4:1–6 (ESV) —

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

 

NOTE: Abraham was considered righteous long before circumcision, proving that circumcision isn't necessary for salvation. Early Christians, primarily Jews or Jewish converts, viewed Judaism and circumcision as initial steps toward Jesus due to their own spiritual journeys. Paul argues in Galatians and reiterates here that no act—whether circumcision or good deeds—can save a person. Salvation comes through faith alone. Our righteousness, a gift from God, far exceeds that of merely doing good works.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have the righteousness that comes from God, or am I mistakenly clinging to my good works outweigh my bad?
2. God does not weigh good and bad, God looks for perfect righteousness that can only come through faith. Do I think God can allow me into his presence with a little bad, but more good? God's kingdom is a holy kingdom.

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I am a sinner and do not in any way measure up to your standard of perfection. I have a sinful flesh as all of humanity does. My only hope is my confession of Jesus and believing that in his death he takes my sin and replaces it with his perfect righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).