I can just see Paul sitting at a table with only the light from an oil lamp to light his writing. He starts out kind of lukewarm. It's an old, familiar position for him -- all this talk about circumcision. Then he starts to build toward a crescendo and the next thing you know, the chapter begins to read like a dash to the finish line at the end of the 31 verses. He makes his points. He weaves in and out of the rebuttals he perceives could be forthcoming. One by one, he neutralizes them all. And he leaves the Romans with one thought -- it is Paul's hallmark point -- it's grace from God. You can't earn your way into paradise. You just can't do it.
Ah, but the Jews keep hanging onto this notion that the circumcision is their guaranteed ticket that will get them into heaven.The Jews still practiced circumcision -- but Paul is saying they do this for reasons other than an act of faith. Rather, as we read previously in this chapter, the Jews figured that if they continued to uphold the act of circumcision according to the old laws handed down to their ancestors, then God would see them as faithful followers.
And because they were faithful followers, they would get their entry invitation into paradise.
Now, along comes Paul who is telling them that there's something more that they need to do. Circumcision is one thing. If they practice it with faith in their hearts, then they'll be okay. But if they practice it as a kind of "cost of admission," then they're not getting into heaven at all.
Paul brings a new meaning to the word "righteousness." And it's God who is able to make man righteous.
Now comes this concept of grace. It's a new word to expand the vocabulary of the Jewish people. Well, all people actually.
What Paul seems to be trying so hard to do here is integrate the Jewish people and the Gentiles into one believing group of faithful followers. But the first thing that the Jewish people have to do is reconcile this notion of theirs that circumcision makes them more better than the Gentiles.
That's what their ancestors taught them and they believed that's what God expected of them. And if the Gentiles weren't circumcised, then they were somehow flawed only because -- or so it appeared to the Jews -- they had not or would not enter into the same covenant relationship with God that the Jews had done.
And if they hadn't, then they couldn't have God's covenant or blessing.
It was a tremendous hurdle for Paul to get beyond. Fortunately for him, he had the guidance of the Holy Spirit who was putting the words in his mouth.
Paul says in verses 9-18: What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all!
We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
"There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
"All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
"there is no one who does good, not even one.
"Their throats are open graves;
"Their tongues practice deceit.The poison of vipers is on their lips.
"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
"Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.There is no fear of God before their eyes."
So out of this rather long list of things gone wrong with sinful man, the last verse says they don't even fear God. That is, there is no reverence and it's this reverence of God that initiates man's godliness.
But in verse 19, Paul says the whole world is accountable to God.
So if the whole world is accountable, Jews and Gentiles alike, how are the Gentiles going to be held accountable since they never had the Mosaic law to obey in the first place?
Read what Paul says in verse 20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Shame recognition. It's about shame recognition. How many times have I counseled children and had them discover that yes, indeed, they knew they had done something wrong at the point of shame recognition. Children have to learn this; otherwise, it's just white stuff falling out of an overturned glass and cascading onto the floor below. They learn not to tip over the glass of milk -- not that it was purposeful misbehavior -- just something they ought not to be doing. Just hearing that "Oh, for crying out loud" from mom or dad, who had to clean up the mess is often enough for children to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness -- shame recognition.
The law, says Paul, makes us conscious of our sin (verse 20b).
And here comes the gospel message, restated powerfully for the Romans, in verses 21-25: But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.There is no difference, 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.
The playing field just got leveled. The Jews go to worship on the Sabbath and they sit right next to Gentiles who are also worshiping with them. It's not going to be like it used to be when the Gentiles -- if they were allowed in the synagogue at all -- had to sit somewhere not close to the Jews. The Gentiles were pagans. Probably not even supposed to be in the synagogue.
Now, here comes this guy -- Paul -- who's telling the Jews that they're just like the Gentiles and it doesn't matter whether they're circumcised or not, because it's not like it used to be in the old days.
So this Jesus Christ had come down from heaven. He was the Son of God and he would die on the cross. No more would anyone on the face of the earth need to make a sacrificial atonement on the altar at the temple because Christ's blood was shed for the sins of every man, woman and child on the planet.
And the blood of Christ was shed for Jew and Gentile alike. We only have to believe in Jesus Christ who brought God's righteousness to us all. It justifies us -- all of us who have faith in Jesus Christ (verse 26).
So how do we get some of this faith? It that's all it takes is faith, where does it come?
Paul brings this promise from God in verse 30: [S]ince there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
And here comes the big question at the end of this chapter: Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law (verse 31).
Discussion:
It seems to me that Paul was anticipating an accusation in this last verse. That accusation could come from false apostles running around Rome telling the believers that Paul is telling them they didn't have to obey the law anymore.
In fact, a similar message had been misinterpreted in Corinth and it took some doing for Paul to get in there and explain what he meant.
As we get further into this letter to the Romans, we will get a fuller explanation of Paul's explanation of this position.
When it comes to sin, do you think there are some sins that are worse than others? For instance, do you think it's more wrong to kill someone than it is to commit adultery? Or maybe more sinful to rob a bank than it is to tell lies about someone? These are sins against the 10 Commandments and yet we tend to think of some sins as being more serious than others.
Truth is, we are all sinners. And our sins are sometimes perceived as bigger ones; sometimes smaller ones. But we need to let the blood of Christ wash over us and cleanse us from our sins. All of them.
Think about how important it is to wrap our hearts around this notion of Christ's atonement for us -- especially in this season of Lent. Do we hang onto our guilt and shame so that Christ can't get across the barrier we've put between him and our sin?
Forgiveness is ours for the asking. God promised. It is so. Believe it.
We pray: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation that is mine because you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. All my sins. The big ones and the little ones.
Please help me see that in your eyes, a sin is a sin and I pray that you will help me get away from this keeping score that I've been doing. I pray that you will send your Holy Spirit into my heart to clean out all the cobwebs of misguided thinking so that I can let you into every nook and corner of my heart and my soul.
I pray that you will be with me as I go through this day and I thank you for your guidance and care and love. I pray that you will surround all those I love to keep them safe.
I pray that you will seat good Christian leaders into places of governance throughout the world. I thank you for all your blessings. Amen.
##
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
BIBLE STUDY: Romans 2:1-29
In this chapter, Paul outlines how God is going to inflict judgment. And he raises the question again about circumcision. This was an important pillar of faith for the Jewish people -- maybe even the one significant difference between the Jews and the Gentiles.
But it wasn't the act of circumcision itself, but rather, the significance of that act. Circumcision meant that the Jewish person had a covenant relationship with God that went all the way back to antiquity.
Paul opens this chapter with instructions about how God judges people -- and it doesn't have much to do with whether or not they are circumcised either.
Paul says that people ought not to judge others. When they do this, they are also condemning themselves because humanness brings with it this inability to lead lives free of sin. That is an important criteria God uses when he judges us. Paul brings a warning here that we condemn ourselves when we accuse other people of sin, because we, too, are sinners.
So unless we're perfect, we should just be quiet about what other people are doing wrong. Useless tattling is annoying. It's annoying to us as earthly parents, and apparently it's hugely annoying to God. Listen to verse 3: So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?
Then, in verse 4, Paul tells the Jews to not misconstrue God's kindness and patience because these kindnesses are meant to bring people to redemption. My Concordia Study Bible has a footnote that explains it this way: The Jews had misconstrued [God's] patience to be a lack of intent to judge. (p. 1718)
Paul, having the authority to speak about such matters, wants the believers in Rome -- Jews and Gentiles alike -- to just stop it!
He says they are stubborn and have an unrepentant heart and because they are apparently keeping score of the wrongs that other people are doing, they are storing up God's wrath that will come down on their heads when the day of judgment comes for all people.
In verse 6, Paul warns: God will give to each person according to what he has done.
Wow! What happened to the God who paved the way to salvation by his grace?
Well folks, just because God is a gracious God, it doesn't mean you can sin on purpose and pray for forgiveness in advance of sinning.
No indeed. If you are a true believer and have faith in your heart, you are going to lead a life that resists sin. Not that you can ever be perfect, but you can be as good as you can be. And God is not in any mood to be all that gracious to lazy Christians, it seems to me.
So even though you aren't ever going to buy your way into heaven with your good behavior, your faith will lead you to God's grace because you will always be trying to resist sin.God notices such things.
Don't think for one minute that he isn't paying attention to each and every thing that we do as we go through our days. Take a look at what the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- says in verses 9-11: There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
Okay -- so put that gun away. You aren't going to rob anybody! And cancel that date with your lover. Stay home with your spouse instead. And for crying out loud, quit all that gossiping. You know that God doesn't want to hear you talking about other people. While you're at it, go through your purses or pockets and put all those pens back in your desk where they belong. The company you work for is not in the business of supplying you with pens, however cheap they are.
Think about these words from verse 13: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Just in case the Jews might have thought they were okay in feeling their self-righteousness, Paul goes after that way of thinking. Oh, for sure, he knew exactly how that mind-logic got wrapped around their heads because he had been a self-righteous Jew himself at one time, back in the old days.
In our present day, we would say something like "pot can't call the kettle black."
The monologue in verses 17-24 clearly is aimed at this kind of self-righteous thinking. Paul takes dead aim at how the Jews had wrapped their self-righteousness around their "uppitiness."
Paul puts the Jews on notice that it isn't going to fly with him, and it isn't going to fly with God either: Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law th embodiment of knowledge and truth -- you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? you who preach against stealing, doyou steal?You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Uh oh! Now Paul is saying that the Jews are leading the Gentiles into a really big sin against the Holy Spirit: blasphemy. That would be big trouble, indeed.
They can just forget all about this big deal they're making about circumcision. See, the Jews had been holding onto circumcision because it represented a covenant relationship with God.
It meant that they, as a Jew, had sealed this covenant and because of this, had received a pledge from God. This pledge was a blessing, they thought, that guaranteed God's kindness and favor with them. Now, here comes Paul who's telling them they've got it all wrong. Can you see where the Jews would have been very upset with Paul? Paul is telling the Jews that they'd better be really careful because circumcision doesn't mean a thing unless they are living their lives by the law of Moses.
If they aren't, then it doesn't matter if they're circumcised or not. They're the same kind of lawbreakers that the pagans, otherwise known as Gentiles, are.
Well, how dare Paul tell them that! Just who does Paul think he is, anyway?
Paul is about to tell them in verse 29: No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
So that's who Paul is -- God's spokesperson. And Paul was not about the let the Jews forget it.
Discussion: Paul has never met the people in Rome as of this writing. So, as a stranger and as a missionary, what are some other common grounds that he might have used as a strong point in his meeting of the minds with the Jewish believers in Rome?
Keep in mind that these probably were the same Jews who had been present at Pentecost and had witnessed the mighty visuals that God brought to earth during those Pentecostal moments of wonder.
This is not the first time that Paul has argued against circumcision for the Jewish believers.
Why do you think that this seems to be Paul's first confrontation of Jewish beliefs?
We pray: Oh, Spirit of the Living God, I pray that you will fill my heart with your love and joy so that I will be able to resist Satan and all the sin that he desires I fall into. I pray that you will keep me strong.Help me to remember that you have your eyes on me when you look toward the earth, and I pray that you will lift my eyes to the heavens to behold your kindness.
I thank you for all your blessings in Quint's and my life. I pray that you will show us how best to use those blessings to grow your kingdom here on earth.
I pray for all the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Please keep them strong and safe until they are home again reunited with their loved ones.
I pray for my sister, "Cookie," who is in the final days and weeks of her life here on earth from the cancer that has invaded her body. I pray that she will continue to embrace her excitement of coming home to you and also being reunited with our mother and brothers and father. I pray that you will remove the fear of her journey from this earth from her.
I pray for peace for her daughters and her grandchildren. I especially pray for safe travels for her daughter Karen who is making the long journey from Kuwait to be with her mother.
I pray for strength for her daughter Robin who has been lovingly ministering to Cookie's needs for months and months.
I pray for all who are experiencing marital strife. Please fill the hearts of these couples with love so that they can be reunited within the framework of a Christian marriage and bring them to your house where they can worship and praise you as they ought to.
I ask all these things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.##
But it wasn't the act of circumcision itself, but rather, the significance of that act. Circumcision meant that the Jewish person had a covenant relationship with God that went all the way back to antiquity.
Paul opens this chapter with instructions about how God judges people -- and it doesn't have much to do with whether or not they are circumcised either.
Paul says that people ought not to judge others. When they do this, they are also condemning themselves because humanness brings with it this inability to lead lives free of sin. That is an important criteria God uses when he judges us. Paul brings a warning here that we condemn ourselves when we accuse other people of sin, because we, too, are sinners.
So unless we're perfect, we should just be quiet about what other people are doing wrong. Useless tattling is annoying. It's annoying to us as earthly parents, and apparently it's hugely annoying to God. Listen to verse 3: So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?
Then, in verse 4, Paul tells the Jews to not misconstrue God's kindness and patience because these kindnesses are meant to bring people to redemption. My Concordia Study Bible has a footnote that explains it this way: The Jews had misconstrued [God's] patience to be a lack of intent to judge. (p. 1718)
Paul, having the authority to speak about such matters, wants the believers in Rome -- Jews and Gentiles alike -- to just stop it!
He says they are stubborn and have an unrepentant heart and because they are apparently keeping score of the wrongs that other people are doing, they are storing up God's wrath that will come down on their heads when the day of judgment comes for all people.
In verse 6, Paul warns: God will give to each person according to what he has done.
Wow! What happened to the God who paved the way to salvation by his grace?
Well folks, just because God is a gracious God, it doesn't mean you can sin on purpose and pray for forgiveness in advance of sinning.
No indeed. If you are a true believer and have faith in your heart, you are going to lead a life that resists sin. Not that you can ever be perfect, but you can be as good as you can be. And God is not in any mood to be all that gracious to lazy Christians, it seems to me.
So even though you aren't ever going to buy your way into heaven with your good behavior, your faith will lead you to God's grace because you will always be trying to resist sin.God notices such things.
Don't think for one minute that he isn't paying attention to each and every thing that we do as we go through our days. Take a look at what the Holy Spirit -- through Paul -- says in verses 9-11: There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
Okay -- so put that gun away. You aren't going to rob anybody! And cancel that date with your lover. Stay home with your spouse instead. And for crying out loud, quit all that gossiping. You know that God doesn't want to hear you talking about other people. While you're at it, go through your purses or pockets and put all those pens back in your desk where they belong. The company you work for is not in the business of supplying you with pens, however cheap they are.
Think about these words from verse 13: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Just in case the Jews might have thought they were okay in feeling their self-righteousness, Paul goes after that way of thinking. Oh, for sure, he knew exactly how that mind-logic got wrapped around their heads because he had been a self-righteous Jew himself at one time, back in the old days.
In our present day, we would say something like "pot can't call the kettle black."
The monologue in verses 17-24 clearly is aimed at this kind of self-righteous thinking. Paul takes dead aim at how the Jews had wrapped their self-righteousness around their "uppitiness."
Paul puts the Jews on notice that it isn't going to fly with him, and it isn't going to fly with God either: Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law th embodiment of knowledge and truth -- you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? you who preach against stealing, doyou steal?You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
Uh oh! Now Paul is saying that the Jews are leading the Gentiles into a really big sin against the Holy Spirit: blasphemy. That would be big trouble, indeed.
They can just forget all about this big deal they're making about circumcision. See, the Jews had been holding onto circumcision because it represented a covenant relationship with God.
It meant that they, as a Jew, had sealed this covenant and because of this, had received a pledge from God. This pledge was a blessing, they thought, that guaranteed God's kindness and favor with them. Now, here comes Paul who's telling them they've got it all wrong. Can you see where the Jews would have been very upset with Paul? Paul is telling the Jews that they'd better be really careful because circumcision doesn't mean a thing unless they are living their lives by the law of Moses.
If they aren't, then it doesn't matter if they're circumcised or not. They're the same kind of lawbreakers that the pagans, otherwise known as Gentiles, are.
Well, how dare Paul tell them that! Just who does Paul think he is, anyway?
Paul is about to tell them in verse 29: No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.
So that's who Paul is -- God's spokesperson. And Paul was not about the let the Jews forget it.
Discussion: Paul has never met the people in Rome as of this writing. So, as a stranger and as a missionary, what are some other common grounds that he might have used as a strong point in his meeting of the minds with the Jewish believers in Rome?
Keep in mind that these probably were the same Jews who had been present at Pentecost and had witnessed the mighty visuals that God brought to earth during those Pentecostal moments of wonder.
This is not the first time that Paul has argued against circumcision for the Jewish believers.
Why do you think that this seems to be Paul's first confrontation of Jewish beliefs?
We pray: Oh, Spirit of the Living God, I pray that you will fill my heart with your love and joy so that I will be able to resist Satan and all the sin that he desires I fall into. I pray that you will keep me strong.Help me to remember that you have your eyes on me when you look toward the earth, and I pray that you will lift my eyes to the heavens to behold your kindness.
I thank you for all your blessings in Quint's and my life. I pray that you will show us how best to use those blessings to grow your kingdom here on earth.
I pray for all the men and women who serve in our armed forces. Please keep them strong and safe until they are home again reunited with their loved ones.
I pray for my sister, "Cookie," who is in the final days and weeks of her life here on earth from the cancer that has invaded her body. I pray that she will continue to embrace her excitement of coming home to you and also being reunited with our mother and brothers and father. I pray that you will remove the fear of her journey from this earth from her.
I pray for peace for her daughters and her grandchildren. I especially pray for safe travels for her daughter Karen who is making the long journey from Kuwait to be with her mother.
I pray for strength for her daughter Robin who has been lovingly ministering to Cookie's needs for months and months.
I pray for all who are experiencing marital strife. Please fill the hearts of these couples with love so that they can be reunited within the framework of a Christian marriage and bring them to your house where they can worship and praise you as they ought to.
I ask all these things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.##
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Romans 1:1-32 (NIV)
Martin Luther considered Paul's letter to the Romans as the purest nugget of Christian faith. Luther felt so strongly about this that he thought everybody ought to memorize the letter. (Concordia Study Bible, page 1713)
Though there are, no doubt, differing opinions as to where Paul was actually sitting when he wrote this letter, most scholarly thinkers hold to the notion that Paul was in Corinth, or possibly Cenchrea which is a port city about six miles from Corinth (Romans 16:1).
He had gone to Corinth to collect the monies that were being held for the poor folks in and around Jerusalem. While Paul really really wanted to go to Rome to meet with the new churches there, he also knew that he was challenged by the need to go to Jerusalem first.But the churches in Rome had needs too and Paul wanted to minister to those needs of faith.
The year 57 A.D. seems likely for this letter. There were churches in Rome; had been there since that whole exciting event at Pentecost when they were present and received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
These Romans then brought the message of salvation back to Rome and established churches there, meeting safely in peoples' homes.
Except for moments of history, I'm not sure that it's all that important to know what month, what address, and who would be journeying to Rome with this letter. By that I mean that the power and beauty of the message itself is far more important to me than the minute details of Paul's itinerary. But that's just my point of view. Others will hold a different view that would propel them to discovering the names of Paul's hosts if they could, and that's fine too.
Paul introduces himself in the very first sentence of this letter. He very quickly reiterates the fact that Jesus Christ is the very personage of God who was promised to mankind through he prophets of old.
And Paul reiterates to the Romans (in verses 5-6) that he comes ...through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
In verse 7, Paul addresses this letter to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.
Paul uses the word "saints" throughout his writings to mean Christians. Christians are saints because they have been named as righteous or holy by God, and they become even more so because of their welcoming the Holy Spirit into their hearts.
Paul wants the Romans to know that their faith is well known throughout the world and that he was praying for them every day. Paul also lets them know that if there's any way -- any possible way at all -- he would truly relish the idea of coming to Rome to worship with them and minister to them.
In verse 11, Paul says that he hopes to bring them "some spiritual gift" to make them strong.
In verses 16-17, we find the golden nugget of the New Testament that becomes a repeating theme in all of Paul's writings: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles. 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."Keep in mind that Paul uses the word "righteous" to mean having a right relationship with God.
In the very next verse, Paul says that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven to all the godless people and these godless people deny themselves the truth about God. That truth about God is very plain -- it's not hard to figure out at all -- because God makes it very plain. Since the very creation of the earth, God has made his truth known -- this truth is centered around his eternal power and divine nature. There is no excuse for not knowing this, but rather, godless people deny God's nature. For those godless people, there is God's wrath -- this is not a human anger but rather, a kind of disgust for this rejection that leads God to turn the godless people out to pursue their sins.
These are the people who Paul says in verse 25: They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator -- who is forever praised.
It reminds me of something a professor once said to a theology class I was in: "You worship the god at whose altar you bow."
If that "altar" is bags and bags of riches, then you have made wealth your idol.
If you are a workaholic, then you have made your job your idol.
And just in case the Romans didn't quite get the full idea of what he was talking about, Paul describes the ungodless in this way: They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Discussion: If you embrace God in all his glory and live your life to be near him and feel his presence everywhere you go, then you know what Paul means by "righteous." On the other hand, if you feel a distance from God, like you aren't really all that connected, then you know that in your heart too. So how would you resolve that feeling of not being righteous?
Of these faith practices, which are the ones you exercise strongly and which are the ones you need to work on?
Prayer
Weekly worship and praise with other believers
Daily reading of God's word
Each and every one of us, because of our humanness, needs to exhibit great care that we do not make anything or anyone an idol. God is first -- everything else comes after that.
Re-read the final verses of this first chapter and compare it to what Christ said in John 10:27-30 -- My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
How does this message from Christ compare to Paul's comment in verse 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.
Satan lurks around here on earth. We must remain steadfast and vigilant to resist all temptations that Satan puts before us. We must choose God and know that the truth of God is that he is far more powerful than Satan.
We pray: Dear heavenly Father, I pray that your truth will rest upon me so that I can follow you alone.
I pray that you will give me the strength to deny Satan any entry whatsoever in my heart.
I pray that you will strengthen all our children and their spouses and also our grandchildren. Please keep them all safe in your tender care so that they continue to welcome your truth.
I pray that you will keep Quint in the safety of the palm of your hand, and for myself as well, as we go through our lives together.
I thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to redeem me from all my sins. As I go through this preparation time of Lent, help me be mindful of this tremendous sacrifice that you have made for me and for all mankind, so that our sins will be washed away in the precious blood of Christ.
I pray that you will keep me close to you so that you will not have to come looking for me. Keep me near you. And I thank you so much for caring where I am and what I am doing. Amen.
Though there are, no doubt, differing opinions as to where Paul was actually sitting when he wrote this letter, most scholarly thinkers hold to the notion that Paul was in Corinth, or possibly Cenchrea which is a port city about six miles from Corinth (Romans 16:1).
He had gone to Corinth to collect the monies that were being held for the poor folks in and around Jerusalem. While Paul really really wanted to go to Rome to meet with the new churches there, he also knew that he was challenged by the need to go to Jerusalem first.But the churches in Rome had needs too and Paul wanted to minister to those needs of faith.
The year 57 A.D. seems likely for this letter. There were churches in Rome; had been there since that whole exciting event at Pentecost when they were present and received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
These Romans then brought the message of salvation back to Rome and established churches there, meeting safely in peoples' homes.
Except for moments of history, I'm not sure that it's all that important to know what month, what address, and who would be journeying to Rome with this letter. By that I mean that the power and beauty of the message itself is far more important to me than the minute details of Paul's itinerary. But that's just my point of view. Others will hold a different view that would propel them to discovering the names of Paul's hosts if they could, and that's fine too.
Paul introduces himself in the very first sentence of this letter. He very quickly reiterates the fact that Jesus Christ is the very personage of God who was promised to mankind through he prophets of old.
And Paul reiterates to the Romans (in verses 5-6) that he comes ...through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
In verse 7, Paul addresses this letter to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.
Paul uses the word "saints" throughout his writings to mean Christians. Christians are saints because they have been named as righteous or holy by God, and they become even more so because of their welcoming the Holy Spirit into their hearts.
Paul wants the Romans to know that their faith is well known throughout the world and that he was praying for them every day. Paul also lets them know that if there's any way -- any possible way at all -- he would truly relish the idea of coming to Rome to worship with them and minister to them.
In verse 11, Paul says that he hopes to bring them "some spiritual gift" to make them strong.
In verses 16-17, we find the golden nugget of the New Testament that becomes a repeating theme in all of Paul's writings: I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jews, then for the Gentiles. 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."Keep in mind that Paul uses the word "righteous" to mean having a right relationship with God.
In the very next verse, Paul says that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven to all the godless people and these godless people deny themselves the truth about God. That truth about God is very plain -- it's not hard to figure out at all -- because God makes it very plain. Since the very creation of the earth, God has made his truth known -- this truth is centered around his eternal power and divine nature. There is no excuse for not knowing this, but rather, godless people deny God's nature. For those godless people, there is God's wrath -- this is not a human anger but rather, a kind of disgust for this rejection that leads God to turn the godless people out to pursue their sins.
These are the people who Paul says in verse 25: They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator -- who is forever praised.
It reminds me of something a professor once said to a theology class I was in: "You worship the god at whose altar you bow."
If that "altar" is bags and bags of riches, then you have made wealth your idol.
If you are a workaholic, then you have made your job your idol.
And just in case the Romans didn't quite get the full idea of what he was talking about, Paul describes the ungodless in this way: They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Discussion: If you embrace God in all his glory and live your life to be near him and feel his presence everywhere you go, then you know what Paul means by "righteous." On the other hand, if you feel a distance from God, like you aren't really all that connected, then you know that in your heart too. So how would you resolve that feeling of not being righteous?
Of these faith practices, which are the ones you exercise strongly and which are the ones you need to work on?
Prayer
Weekly worship and praise with other believers
Daily reading of God's word
Each and every one of us, because of our humanness, needs to exhibit great care that we do not make anything or anyone an idol. God is first -- everything else comes after that.
Re-read the final verses of this first chapter and compare it to what Christ said in John 10:27-30 -- My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
How does this message from Christ compare to Paul's comment in verse 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.
Satan lurks around here on earth. We must remain steadfast and vigilant to resist all temptations that Satan puts before us. We must choose God and know that the truth of God is that he is far more powerful than Satan.
We pray: Dear heavenly Father, I pray that your truth will rest upon me so that I can follow you alone.
I pray that you will give me the strength to deny Satan any entry whatsoever in my heart.
I pray that you will strengthen all our children and their spouses and also our grandchildren. Please keep them all safe in your tender care so that they continue to welcome your truth.
I pray that you will keep Quint in the safety of the palm of your hand, and for myself as well, as we go through our lives together.
I thank you for sending your son, Jesus Christ, to redeem me from all my sins. As I go through this preparation time of Lent, help me be mindful of this tremendous sacrifice that you have made for me and for all mankind, so that our sins will be washed away in the precious blood of Christ.
I pray that you will keep me close to you so that you will not have to come looking for me. Keep me near you. And I thank you so much for caring where I am and what I am doing. Amen.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
BIBLE STUDY: Hebrews 11:1-40
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.openbible.info%2Fgeo%2Fkmls%2Fheb.11.kml&t=k
This link will let you see the trek of the Israelites from the time they left Egypt, where they crossed the Red Sea, and finally to the promised land.
This chapter in Hebrews is known for its testaments of faith.In fact, it is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith."Faith is defined in verses 1-2: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
And in verse 6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
This Hall of Faith in this chapter gives testimony to such faithfuls as Abel. In verse 4: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.
This Hall of Faith includes Enoch -- Verse 5: By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God has taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Then there was Noah. He started building this huge big boat in his back yard long before it started to rain. What do you think his neighbors thought? Yet Noah knew that if God said he'd need a big boat because the rains were coming, Noah had every faith that it would happen -- verse 7: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
And there was Abraham. God told him he was supposed to just pick up and move his whole entire family. Didn't tell him exactly where he was going, but just get ready. Oh, and it's going to take you forty years and you'll wander around in the desert, but I want you to do this. Forget that nice little house where you could go up on the roof and watch the sun go down and catch the evening breezes. I want you to live in tents for a while. You can explain it to the missus. She'll understand. In verses 8-12: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and building is God.
By faith, Abraham, even though he was past age -- and Sarah herself was barren -- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.In verse 17: By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son.
In verse 20: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
In verse 21: By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
In verse 22: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
In verse 23: By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
In verses 24-28: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
In verse 29: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
In verse 30: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
In verse 31: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
And from verses 32 through the end of this chapter, there is a dissertation about so many others who exhibited great faith and made their choice, took their stand against what would have been more popular, and pleased God by their choice.
In verses 39 and 40: These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Did you learn something about your faith in today's readings? Is it a strong faith that would please God? Practice your faith and lift your prayers to heaven. God hears each and every one of our prayers. It pleases him greatly that we want to talk to him and bring our thoughts and concerns to him.
##
This link will let you see the trek of the Israelites from the time they left Egypt, where they crossed the Red Sea, and finally to the promised land.
This chapter in Hebrews is known for its testaments of faith.In fact, it is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith."Faith is defined in verses 1-2: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
And in verse 6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
This Hall of Faith in this chapter gives testimony to such faithfuls as Abel. In verse 4: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.
This Hall of Faith includes Enoch -- Verse 5: By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God has taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Then there was Noah. He started building this huge big boat in his back yard long before it started to rain. What do you think his neighbors thought? Yet Noah knew that if God said he'd need a big boat because the rains were coming, Noah had every faith that it would happen -- verse 7: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
And there was Abraham. God told him he was supposed to just pick up and move his whole entire family. Didn't tell him exactly where he was going, but just get ready. Oh, and it's going to take you forty years and you'll wander around in the desert, but I want you to do this. Forget that nice little house where you could go up on the roof and watch the sun go down and catch the evening breezes. I want you to live in tents for a while. You can explain it to the missus. She'll understand. In verses 8-12: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and building is God.
By faith, Abraham, even though he was past age -- and Sarah herself was barren -- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.In verse 17: By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son.
In verse 20: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
In verse 21: By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
In verse 22: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
In verse 23: By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
In verses 24-28: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
In verse 29: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
In verse 30: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
In verse 31: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
And from verses 32 through the end of this chapter, there is a dissertation about so many others who exhibited great faith and made their choice, took their stand against what would have been more popular, and pleased God by their choice.
In verses 39 and 40: These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Did you learn something about your faith in today's readings? Is it a strong faith that would please God? Practice your faith and lift your prayers to heaven. God hears each and every one of our prayers. It pleases him greatly that we want to talk to him and bring our thoughts and concerns to him.
##
Monday, October 29, 2007
Hebrews 10:1-39
We are reminded again in this chapter, in verse 4b, that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to redeem a person from sin.
Then in verses 5-7, Christ addresses his father directly: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am -- it is written about me in the scroll -- I have come to do your will, O God."
These words are actually the same as David's in Psalm 40:6-8.
The Hebrews are reminded in verse 10: And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Again, in verses 11-14, we get another contrast between the Levitical priests and Jesus Christ: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
A footnote in my study Bible says that the Levitical priests always stood. Their work of offering sacrifices was never complete. But look at what Jesus does after his sacrifice to his father: he went to heaven and sat down next to his father. Christ's sacrifice was complete. His work as the sacrificial lamb was completed for all time. (Concordia Study Bible)
The Hebrews are also reminded again, as they had been told by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 31:34): The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. (verses 15-17)
Now we have permission to enter the Holy of Holies through the curtain that is the body of Christ. We are cleansed by the blood he sacrificed for us.
The Hebrews are told to hang onto this thought. And then go on to encourage each other in the Christian love they have for one another and to do good deeds.
They had been told in verse 22 that there are four conditions for drawing near to God. They are: 1.) have a sincere heart, 2.) have the full assurance of faith in their hearts, 3.) have their hearts cleansed from a guilty conscience, and 4.) have their bodies washed with pure water.
This did not mean that the priests were to give the worshipers a bath, or that the priests were to sprinkle blood onto the worshipers. These references are used figuratively as reminders that the Hebrews were to remember what the priests had done under the Mosaic covenant and now, with Christ, there is a new cleansing under the Messianic covenant.
These next several verses compare Moses' law further with Christ's law -- especially in terms of obedience.
In the old days, under Moses' law, in verse 28: Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
And then comes the stern warning in verses 29-31: How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I wish that all people who have trouble forgiving those who have walked across their psyches, leaping about with glee at the anguish they cause, would memorize these verses.
These verses carry the very powerful reminder that we are not supposed to try to get even with the ne'er do wells who bring pain and suffering to us. We are not supposed to be unforgiving either. Rather, we are supposed to let God avenge for us, if there is any vengeance to be had at all.
We are not supposed to be running around acting like we're little gods who have the right to make other people miserable. They're miserable enough or else they wouldn't be projecting all their misery onto us. So let God decide what they need to learn as a life-changing event in their lives.
Sure, the Hebrews are reminded that they had been exposed to insults and persecution; that they had their properties confiscated. But no matter. In verses 35-36 they are comforted: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
##
Then in verses 5-7, Christ addresses his father directly: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am -- it is written about me in the scroll -- I have come to do your will, O God."
These words are actually the same as David's in Psalm 40:6-8.
The Hebrews are reminded in verse 10: And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Again, in verses 11-14, we get another contrast between the Levitical priests and Jesus Christ: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
A footnote in my study Bible says that the Levitical priests always stood. Their work of offering sacrifices was never complete. But look at what Jesus does after his sacrifice to his father: he went to heaven and sat down next to his father. Christ's sacrifice was complete. His work as the sacrificial lamb was completed for all time. (Concordia Study Bible)
The Hebrews are also reminded again, as they had been told by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 31:34): The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. (verses 15-17)
Now we have permission to enter the Holy of Holies through the curtain that is the body of Christ. We are cleansed by the blood he sacrificed for us.
The Hebrews are told to hang onto this thought. And then go on to encourage each other in the Christian love they have for one another and to do good deeds.
They had been told in verse 22 that there are four conditions for drawing near to God. They are: 1.) have a sincere heart, 2.) have the full assurance of faith in their hearts, 3.) have their hearts cleansed from a guilty conscience, and 4.) have their bodies washed with pure water.
This did not mean that the priests were to give the worshipers a bath, or that the priests were to sprinkle blood onto the worshipers. These references are used figuratively as reminders that the Hebrews were to remember what the priests had done under the Mosaic covenant and now, with Christ, there is a new cleansing under the Messianic covenant.
These next several verses compare Moses' law further with Christ's law -- especially in terms of obedience.
In the old days, under Moses' law, in verse 28: Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
And then comes the stern warning in verses 29-31: How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
I wish that all people who have trouble forgiving those who have walked across their psyches, leaping about with glee at the anguish they cause, would memorize these verses.
These verses carry the very powerful reminder that we are not supposed to try to get even with the ne'er do wells who bring pain and suffering to us. We are not supposed to be unforgiving either. Rather, we are supposed to let God avenge for us, if there is any vengeance to be had at all.
We are not supposed to be running around acting like we're little gods who have the right to make other people miserable. They're miserable enough or else they wouldn't be projecting all their misery onto us. So let God decide what they need to learn as a life-changing event in their lives.
Sure, the Hebrews are reminded that they had been exposed to insults and persecution; that they had their properties confiscated. But no matter. In verses 35-36 they are comforted: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
##
Friday, October 26, 2007
Hebrews 9:1-28
This chapter of Hebrews will speak to all of you who feel like you are not forgiven for something or other that you've done in your life.
Read it. And read it again. Copy the verses that are particularly meaningful to you -- those verses that bring you peace when their meanings flow like a river through your consciousness.
This particular chapter is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. I hear God speaking to me especially through these verses. I feel Christ looking over my shoulder as I write about him. I feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit once again reminding me that Christ's death on the cross brought a whole new meaning to the fulfilment of my worship.
If this doesn't happen to you in a single read-through of this chapter, I encourage you to read it again. And again. And again until the words take root in your heart.
This chapter promises to unlock answers to the secrets that you've anguished about. I pray most earnestly that this the Holy Spirit will bring you the profound peace of knowing that Christ's salvation is a gift that is yours for the claiming. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. And even if you had been willing to die for it, it wouldn't have been good enough because your blood is contaminated by sin.
This great atonement had to be fulfilled by someone who was without sin.
The first part of this chapter -- verses 1-5 -- is a description of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
If I have it right, there was this huge curtain that separated the two parts of the tabernacle. It was thick as a man's palm. It was sixty feet tall -- that's six stories high! And it took 300 priests to get it in place. So there it hung.
Nobody could go into the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place, except the High Priest. And he could only go in once a year on the Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur). On that day the High Priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood that was a sin offering onto the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant. This atonement cover was a slab of pure gold. It is also called the mercy seat and this is where God's presence appeared. At either end of this atonement cover are two cherubim.
What the author of this letter to the Hebrews is doing is reminding the Jewish people that God was very precise in his expectations of just how the sacrifices were to be offered to him under the old Mosaic system.
Be sure to remember that part of the Ark of the Covenant that refers to the Mercy Seat. This is where God's presence was. When the high priest came back there to offer the special sacrifice on Yom Kippur, you just know that God was watching.
And then things changed. God decided that the old Mosaic system wasn't good enough anymore because it didn't have any way for people to become inwardly clean. To be redeemed from their sins.
The Mosaic system had a bunch of sacrifices that could be offered up for all sorts of things that people do wrong in their lives. But there was no sacrifice at all to cleanse people on the inside -- in that innermost part of their being that is their soul. This is the place inside each of us where God comes to rest; watch how we're thinking. How we're behaving. What we're doing with our lives and how we're serving him.
Each one of us has this place inside. In a way it's a Mercy Seat where God himself is seated. It's the very seed of our spiritual being. It's where God lives inside us. It's our soul.
What this chapter of Hebrews is telling the Jewish people, and is telling us today, is that the Mosaic system was replaced forever when God sent his son to become the sacrifice for all the sins that had ever been committed and will ever be committed -- even for people who hadn't been born yet. It's that forever thing that God does.
The blood of animals was the sacrificial offering that God told Moses he wanted. And every year after that, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place and offered the sin offerings by sprinkling the blood onto the Mercy Seat of the Ark.
In verses 14-15 we have the great tipping point in this message of salvation: How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance -- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
This chapter also explains how the tabernacle was ritually cleansed by the sprinkling of animal blood. But wait. This new covenant is better than that because Christ didn't go into the earthly tabernacle and purify it. Rather, he went into the heavenly most most holy place and offered himself up. This heavenly holy of holies is where God the Father sits.
But Christ doesn't do this again and again, year in and year out. No indeed. He only did it once. And it was for all time. We don't see Christ coming back to earth each year to re-sacrifice himself.
Oh, for sure, we honor what he has done in our remembrances in worship, but these are not re-sacrifices in the literal sense. No indeed. Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God right now, as you are reading this.
Christ is renewed and is now free of any pain that he suffered during his crucifixion. We are made new again, each and every time we ask for forgiveness from our sins. It is how you can know with full certainty that salvation for you is assured. It's how you know you are going to heaven. It's how you know your soul will never die for that is where God lives inside you.
##
Read it. And read it again. Copy the verses that are particularly meaningful to you -- those verses that bring you peace when their meanings flow like a river through your consciousness.
This particular chapter is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. I hear God speaking to me especially through these verses. I feel Christ looking over my shoulder as I write about him. I feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit once again reminding me that Christ's death on the cross brought a whole new meaning to the fulfilment of my worship.
If this doesn't happen to you in a single read-through of this chapter, I encourage you to read it again. And again. And again until the words take root in your heart.
This chapter promises to unlock answers to the secrets that you've anguished about. I pray most earnestly that this the Holy Spirit will bring you the profound peace of knowing that Christ's salvation is a gift that is yours for the claiming. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. And even if you had been willing to die for it, it wouldn't have been good enough because your blood is contaminated by sin.
This great atonement had to be fulfilled by someone who was without sin.
The first part of this chapter -- verses 1-5 -- is a description of the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
If I have it right, there was this huge curtain that separated the two parts of the tabernacle. It was thick as a man's palm. It was sixty feet tall -- that's six stories high! And it took 300 priests to get it in place. So there it hung.
Nobody could go into the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place, except the High Priest. And he could only go in once a year on the Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur). On that day the High Priest sprinkled the sacrificial blood that was a sin offering onto the atonement cover of the Ark of the Covenant. This atonement cover was a slab of pure gold. It is also called the mercy seat and this is where God's presence appeared. At either end of this atonement cover are two cherubim.
What the author of this letter to the Hebrews is doing is reminding the Jewish people that God was very precise in his expectations of just how the sacrifices were to be offered to him under the old Mosaic system.
Be sure to remember that part of the Ark of the Covenant that refers to the Mercy Seat. This is where God's presence was. When the high priest came back there to offer the special sacrifice on Yom Kippur, you just know that God was watching.
And then things changed. God decided that the old Mosaic system wasn't good enough anymore because it didn't have any way for people to become inwardly clean. To be redeemed from their sins.
The Mosaic system had a bunch of sacrifices that could be offered up for all sorts of things that people do wrong in their lives. But there was no sacrifice at all to cleanse people on the inside -- in that innermost part of their being that is their soul. This is the place inside each of us where God comes to rest; watch how we're thinking. How we're behaving. What we're doing with our lives and how we're serving him.
Each one of us has this place inside. In a way it's a Mercy Seat where God himself is seated. It's the very seed of our spiritual being. It's where God lives inside us. It's our soul.
What this chapter of Hebrews is telling the Jewish people, and is telling us today, is that the Mosaic system was replaced forever when God sent his son to become the sacrifice for all the sins that had ever been committed and will ever be committed -- even for people who hadn't been born yet. It's that forever thing that God does.
The blood of animals was the sacrificial offering that God told Moses he wanted. And every year after that, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place and offered the sin offerings by sprinkling the blood onto the Mercy Seat of the Ark.
In verses 14-15 we have the great tipping point in this message of salvation: How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance -- now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
This chapter also explains how the tabernacle was ritually cleansed by the sprinkling of animal blood. But wait. This new covenant is better than that because Christ didn't go into the earthly tabernacle and purify it. Rather, he went into the heavenly most most holy place and offered himself up. This heavenly holy of holies is where God the Father sits.
But Christ doesn't do this again and again, year in and year out. No indeed. He only did it once. And it was for all time. We don't see Christ coming back to earth each year to re-sacrifice himself.
Oh, for sure, we honor what he has done in our remembrances in worship, but these are not re-sacrifices in the literal sense. No indeed. Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God right now, as you are reading this.
Christ is renewed and is now free of any pain that he suffered during his crucifixion. We are made new again, each and every time we ask for forgiveness from our sins. It is how you can know with full certainty that salvation for you is assured. It's how you know you are going to heaven. It's how you know your soul will never die for that is where God lives inside you.
##
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Hebrews 8:1-13
This part of the letter to the Hebrews is a reminder that the original covenant that God had made with the Israelites was not a perfect law. It was not perfect because it did not have any method of redemption. It was a kind of "do this -- do that" list of expectations that God had of his children.
On the other hand, when he sent his son Jesus to deliver a new covenant, he also included redemption. And through this redemption came the promise of salvation.
This new covenant is stated in verses 8-12 -- But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them," declares the Lord.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.' For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more."
This new covenant is a restatement of that promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
It would not be unusual for someone as scholarly as the apostle Paul to remind the Hebrews of what the earlier prophets had said. Paul would certainly have had access to earlier Hebrew writings.
And there is a reminder here that Jesus is the true high priest. As God, he brought perfection to his priesthood. There is much peace available to all of us sinners in the closing verse of this chapter: By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
##
On the other hand, when he sent his son Jesus to deliver a new covenant, he also included redemption. And through this redemption came the promise of salvation.
This new covenant is stated in verses 8-12 -- But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them," declares the Lord.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.' For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more."
This new covenant is a restatement of that promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
It would not be unusual for someone as scholarly as the apostle Paul to remind the Hebrews of what the earlier prophets had said. Paul would certainly have had access to earlier Hebrew writings.
And there is a reminder here that Jesus is the true high priest. As God, he brought perfection to his priesthood. There is much peace available to all of us sinners in the closing verse of this chapter: By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
##
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)