Romans 6:1-14

The last section of Romans left off with "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Paul starts this section with an argumentative question: "Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound?" Because we know that grace is magnified when it encounters sin, should we try to amp the process by adding more sins to be taken care of by grace? Paul's answer was, "God forbid." Heavens NO! We should not indulge in sin so that we can say that we live under grace and grace is so amazing to take care of the mound of sin upon which we continue to add more sins. We are free under grace, but that does not give us freedom to sin. It gives us freedom to serve God.
     If you've been reading my blog, you know that I like to pick out key words that repeat in a section. In this section, the concepts of death and of life are conspicuous. Paul ended the last section teaching that by sin, death (separation from God) entered the world. Here, he has a little different spin, so hold on. The reason that we are not freed by grace to sin as much as we want is that we are dead to sin. We are separated from it, and it no longer has a hold on us. As Christians, Christ saved us from the penalty of sin at conversion, but He continually saves us from the power of sin through sanctification. Baptism is a wonderful picture, used here by the writer, to show what happens to the new believer at the point of justification. When the one being baptized stands in water, he makes a cross with his body and the water. He is them immersed in the water to symbolize Christ's burial. Thank goodness the preacher does not leave him under the water, but he is then raised to mimic Christ's resurrection. Paul says, "You partook of Christ's death when you claimed Him as Savior. He died to sin ONCE. Once is all it takes. You also took fellowship in His burial, which was a public sign of His death. Because He didn't stay dead, neither should you! You are raised to walk in a newness of life!"
     Life is the other key word in this passage. In verse 5, Paul uses the word planted to represent the dying process. When we take on the seed of righteousness who is Christ, we are made dead to sin and are planted in Him. Plants don't stay in the ground, but they grow. As Christians, we are commissioned to come up out of the ground and grow. We cannot continue to go back to the old ways of death. We must walk forward and let Christ continue the process of renewal. Sin and death do not have power over the Messiah. Because we take on Him in our conversion, we also are not under the power of sin. You are under grace to live! So be FREE to live for God.
     Are your 'members' yielded as instruments of righteousness or unrighteousness? Are you choosing to walk in grace and life? Or are you choosing to walk under the power of sin and the law?

Romans 5:12-21

      There are two choices laid before every man: death or life. Paul begins discussing the origin of those consequences of decision. By one man, Adam, sin entered the world and death by sin. When Adam was in the garden, everything was perfect. He walked every day in sweet fellowship with God, had a duty to perform, and was able to enjoy the full blessings of the Lord without any hardship. God, to protect Adam, had one stipulation to this life. Adam was to avoid eating the fruit of one tree. Because Adam did not heed the instruction of the Lord, he was separated from the Lord. That very day, death set into his body and into the earth. Adam no longer had eternal life and fellowship with God. The earth was no longer easier to till. The cycle of death had come to this perfect planet as punishment of the sin of one man. Adam passed down this sin to all of his son and daughters. They passed down sin to their sons and daughters. And now we are in the 21st century. Sin has been passed to us, too. The consequences of this sin is death.
     Death means "separation." When our bodies die, they are separated from the ones that are still living. The day Adam ate the fruit, and the day we commit our first sin, we are separated from a holy God. If you remember from earlier blogs, God's JUST nature will not allow Him to tolerate sin; He has to punish it. Because sin reigns and has control of our bodies, we are subject to mortality and condemnation. We will one day physically die and because of sin spiritually die. If Adam were to continue to hide in the bushes with the fig leaves, he would have suffered both deaths. BUT GOD has mercy. He is willing to hold back His wrath, which we deserve. He has abundant grace! He longs to give us the things that we do not deserve. He made a way for Adam, and for all mankind, to come back to Him and have sweet fellowship once again.
     For if by one man's sin death entered into the world, what do you think would happen by one man's complete righteousness? There was a "second Adam." Jesus came as 100% man and lived a perfectly sinless life. He did this so He could extend God's righteousness and life to others in exchange for death. He took the death and the punishment so that we can take the gift of life freely from Him. Now, that is exciting! In the garden, Adam was told to make a sacrifice. The way that he was able to reunite with God in fellowship was that he had faith looking forward unto the sacrifice that Christ would make. Adam killed the lamb and made himself a covering with that lamb. Because Christ has already made the perfect sacrifice, we no longer have to use animals to make coverings for our sins. We have a sacrifice who will wipe away our sins. He covers us with His own righteousness and makes us perfect, as though we had never sinned. Then He gives us the gift of eternal life with Him.

     Where sin abounds, grace abounds so much more! There is no sin that you could ever commit that would keep you from being able to receive the gift of God. Do you have His life? Or are you a walking dead man?

Romans 5:1-11

      Paul begins this chapter with some great encouragement. When we by faith receive the gift that God extends to us and are made right (justified) in His sight, we are at peace with Him. This passage mentions several times being a sinner and an enemy of God, but Paul beings explaining the benefits of being at peace with God. Because of the faith in God's grace, we can have hope of a future glory with Him. Not only has He saved us from the penalty of sin in the past, but He will save us from the very presence of sin in the future. That is something to definitely be excited about!
    
     Not only do we have perks in the future because of this peace with God, but we also have glory in the presence. Paul writes to the people in Rome that they can glory in their tribulations. If you read about the persecution of the Christians in the Roman empire, you could think, "What in the world is Paul talking about?! Glory in tribulations?" Yes. We as Christians can glory in persecutions, trials, tests, and tribulations because we know that those tribulations bring patience. We learn to wait for God during those hours that are rather bleak and the times when the world is "out to get us." We learn what it is to rest in God. That patience works out experience. On every resume, a potential employee must list out the experience he/she has relating to the job. As a Christian, the trials we encounter produce a patience that proctors experience. We gain wisdom from these experiences, and this wisdom enables some expectations. I think I noted in my last entry that the word hope means "a confident expectation." Because we have tribulations, we develop patience as we wait to see how God will bring us through. This patience causes us to lengthen the resume that tells us how great God is in our lives and how many times He has upheld His end of the bargain. This experience gives us an expectation of how God is going to work out the next major issue in our life. Verse 9 is so awesome. "Hope maketh NOT ashamed." You will never be disappointed by hoping in God. Take a look behind you and review God's resume of revelation in your life. Has He ever let you down? Take that knowledge and apply it to whatever present or future battle you will encounter and HOPE in God. He will never make you ashamed that you did!

     The reason that we can have these promises is that God poured His love into our hearts by His Son's sacrifice and by the working of the Holy Spirit. When we were nothing, Christ died for us, the ungodly, at the right time. Paul notices that for a really outstanding person, one could justify giving his life. Even for a good person, someone could reason that the cause was just. But God didn't send His Son to die for outstanding or even good people. God sent His Son to suffer for sinners! Even though we were the enemies of God, He reached out and made a bridge through the cross so that we could have a way to Him. We were reconciled. Instead of receiving the just punishment of His wrath, we are open to receive the UNFAIR reward of His righteousness. Praise the Lord! He still reaches out to the wretched.

     What tribulation has developed a hope in you that God will never let you down?

Romans 4: 13-25

     Paul begins to reference the promise made to Abraham. Abraham was told that he was going to be the father of many nations. This was not made to him by the law. Abraham and God made their covenant before the law was in existence. Abraham was dubbed the father of many nations through righteousness by faith. The law does not teach us to be righteous, but it shows us that we are sinners in need of God. God promises to us that He will give us righteousness if we believe in His Son's redemptive work.

     Now the exciting part to me begins in verse 17. Here, Paul describes the promise made to Abraham. Abraham believed God would uphold His end of the promise. Paul describes God as One who makes alive the things that are dead and calls into being the things that are not. How exciting is that?! Think about Abraham's situation. The man was old! His body was in the process of dying, but God said that he would have a son and be the father of a great a mighty nation. "Your descendants, Abraham, will outnumber the stars." I can imagine what I would say. "Hold your horses, God! I am decrepit. There is no way that my dying body will be able to produce that kind of life! I'm past that stage." But God is the one who makes dead things alive! Abrahan was "not weak in faith" but "considered NOT his own body now dead" (vs 19). He knew that God could take dead things and make them alive. Also, he trusted in a God who can call into being things which are not. We think these tasks are so impossible. Well, look at God's resume! There was nothing, so He created the heavens and the earth. He called it out of NOTHING! That is just plum crazy to think, but Abraham knew God was capable of doing the same in his life. HE trusted that God could call a great nation from his family line even though it didn't exist YET. He gave God the glory because he believed God could and would do as He promised.

     How does this relate to you and to me? Maybe God hasn't promised to make our descendants great as the sand on the sea shore. Maybe he isn't planning on starting a new group of people with our family. However, God is still in the business of making promises to people. My home church has a very small and dedicated group of believers that meet every week. God has promised us a building in which we can meet. We all know that the building is coming, but we can't see it. Verse 18 says that Abraham hoped against hope. Hope means, "Having a confident EXPECTATION." We use the word today to mean that something is uncertain, but we HOPE that it will turn out all right. This is not what Abraham did nor what we must do. Abraham had an expectation that God was going to perform. I expect that God will erect a building for Testimony Baptist Church to meet. I will be "fully persuaded that what He has promised, He is able to perform."

Because of this faith, Abraham was granted righteousness. What things has God promised to you? How is your faith holding up?

Romans 4:1-12

     We've all heard the following question. Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Paul in this section asks, "Which came first: works or faith?" He continues on his discourse regarding obtaining righteousness. The Jews think of Abraham to be their father, the one who started it all. Abraham was instructed to be circumcised; therefore, a Jew could say that Abraham was justified because of his obedience in circumcision. One point for the Jews. Paul says in verse 2, "If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory, but not before God." Recall on that point for the Jews. If Abraham received righteousness because of something he did, he could only brag about himself. There would be nothing God had to do with it. However, Abraham believed "and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

     As I study God's word, I make marks in my Bible. In this section, I circled words that dealt with works. This, in my opinion, included the words "sign" and "seal" in verse 11. I also boxed the words dealing with belief or faith. This helps me to keep track of the main ideas in a passage as I am studying it. These two concepts are the base of this passage of scripture. So, I repeat Paul's question. Which came first: works or faith?

     Verse 4 says that for the one who works to obtain salvation, the reward is not given of grace but of debt. Take a moment and allow that to "sink in." Do you want to be regarded as one who is in debt to God? God, who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfect, holds something over your head. You, who are completely depraved and hopeless, as defined and explained in earlier sections, owe God something. I don't know how that sounds to you, but it sounds pretty hopeless to me. I would NEVER be able to pay God back if that's how the system worked. If I were to earn my own salvation, I would exhaust myself to no avail trying to merit something that is impossible. I never want to be in debt to God.

     God's plan is so much more wonderful! Paul says that to the person who believes God imputes righteousness without works. There's nothing that I need to DO to EARN it. the word "impute" paints a lovely picture of salvation. According to Dictionary.com, Impute means, "to attribute (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to a person or persons vicariously; ascribe as derived from another." We are awarded righteousness upon faith on what Christ already did. His own righteousness and perfection is attributed to sinners, who enjoy the justification vicariously. Christ took our place on the cross, so we could enjoy His place as the blessed, perfect One. We are sons of God because of our acceptance of His sacrifice. 


     Paul doesn't leave the issue of Abraham's circumcision alone. He wrote that circumcision was a sign of the faith whereby Abraham was justified. It was just  a seal of the righteousness he had already obtained. This makes me think of the book of James. Works cannot justify us. It cannot procure our salvation. However, it is the sign of our salvation. James proclaimed, "Try to show me your faith without works, and I'll show you my faith by my works." Works is not the agent which saves, but it is the manifestation of faith that has already saved. 

What do your works say about you?

Romans 3:21-31

     "The righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." The time came for Jesus to fulfill the law. The law leads us on a search for righteousness, and that search can only end with the person of Jesus Christ. Even the law and the prophets bear witness to the fact that Jesus is the righteousness of God. Through faith in him ALL can receive the righteousness of God. The statement that there "is no difference" refers back to previous discussions. There is no separation of Jew and Gentile, circumcision and uncircumcision when it comes to obtaining this righteousness. Paul reminds us again why one group cannot claim righteousness over another: we have ALL sinned.

     That's it! We've all totally blown it. Each person who has ever lived has sinned against God and failed to measure up to His standards. Therefore, we are all in the same proverbial boat. On the day before Resurrection Sunday, I watched the last 20 minutes of The Passion of the Christ as it appeared on television. I was reminded of this verse as I watched the Roman soldiers pound spikes into Jesus' hands and feel. I felt the pain that MY sin caused a sinless Savior. I watched the skin open and the blood drip down. I knew it was for me. It was as if I had been the soldiers crucifying him, as if the hammer were in my hands. The lyrics to "How Deep the Father's Love" came into my head as they lifted the cross.

"How deep the Father's love for us/ How vast beyond all measure/ That He should give His only Son/ To make a wretch His treasure"

     Christ died for me, a Savior suffering for a sinner. Could I look at such a sacrifice and claim superiority over another sinner? Verse 24 says that I am justified FREELY. There is nothing that I can do to reach heaven. It is only in trusting in that precious and free gift that I may be granted righteousness. Verse 27 reminds me of Ephesians 2:8 & 9. Paul asks, "Are we justified of the law? No Way (Holmes Version): but by the law of faith." We are justified by our faith in what Christ has already done so that we can only BOAST of CHRIST. Men are not justified and made right in the sight of God by keeping rules and commandments. We are only made right through faith. This paradoxically does not void the law. This only establishes the law.

     If salvation by faith does not void the law, what is its purpose?

Romans 3:9-20

      Paul begins this segment with a question: Are we better than they? Whom is he referencing? Paul just dealt some issues dealing with hypocrisy. He addressed the fact the bodily circumcision, a custom of the Jews, does not make a person closer to God. One point for the Gentiles! Then he argues that the Jews have a special place as the ordained mouth pieces of God.  One point for the Jews! So here he asks, "Are we [who are circumcised of the heart] better than they [who are circumcised only of tradition of the body]?" Heavens no! Paul says that Jews and Gentiles are ALL under sin. That clears the scoreboard!
      Take a look at the all-inclusive and all-exclusive indefinite pronouns in verses 9-12. (An indefinite pronoun replaces a noun but gives no definite reference to what noun is being replaces. Because they are so indefinite, we can assume that anyone and everyone's names could go in place of these particular pronouns. One point for grammar! :) )Verse 9 says ALL are under sin. That is an all-encompassing, all-inclusive pronoun! Verse 10 mentions that there is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE. What does righteous mean? Righteous means morally right or just. It means being RIGHT with God. 'There is not a single person on earth who is moral enough to reach God on his/her own. NOT ONE! Verse 11 states There is NONE that understandeth; there is NONE that seeketh after God. No man on his own can understand how much he needs God's help. The Bible says that the Holy Spirit must draw man to God; otherwise, we would not go to Him on our own. Verse 12 says they are ALL gone out of the way and become unprofitable. Now, that would shoot down anyone's feeling of self-worth. We have all walked away from God, our of His plan, and far from His purpose. This act turned us into a load of mess! We became unprofitable, useless. There is NONE that doeth good, NOT ONE. Just in case you think you're the exclusion to the mess, Paul echoes "NO, NOT ONE!" There is not a single person who meets God's standards. There is not a soul who can reach Him on her own merit. NOT ONE.
     Paul gives some characteristics of these lost sheep. Try to remember your life before Christ if you're saved and identify with these markings. Their throat is an open sepulcher. Paul says that their mouths are places of death and decay. Their feet are swift to shed innocent blood. Their actions prove that they care for no one but themselves. They'll step all over people to obtain what they want. Destruction and misery are their ways, and they don't know the way of peace. There is no respect of God before their eyes. Hopefully, these characteristics NO LONGER define your life!
     In this passage, Paul also references the standard we all miss. Wait! If none of us can reach the standard, the law, why does Paul reference it? He says that the law shows us where we all come short. Jesus said whoever breaks one law is guilty of breaking all the law. The law shows us just how guilty we truly are. Because of the law, no flesh shall be justifies in His sight. No one can make it to God on his/her own.

     Read I Corinthians 1:29. How does this verse relate to the passage in Romans?