Romans 3-6
Rich reading for the next few days.
To understand the depth of what Paul is saying requires some understanding of history. So many try to apply historical situations to our current environment, and then we lose the intensity of what happened when Christ accepted the vocation God gave him - a vocation that cost him everything as far as his earthly existence.
Chapter 3, verses 10-16 are quotes from Psalms and Proverbs. Paul was trying to prove his statements with the authority of the scriptures. Paul believes that all along God intended for all of humanity, not just a certain race or religion, to come into a relationship with Him. Performance of Christian duties (or any religious duty) is not enough. Justification by faith is designed to result in fellowship. What does that say about the current state of denominations in our world today? It seems to me that we are more like "tribes" than brothers and sisters. Of course, I know siblings do have a history of rivalry!
Quickly (because it is time to start preparing for worship tomorrow!):
Chapter 4: Abraham is "the father of us all". Christians are not just a "new group" sprung up from nowhere! "The family promised by God to Abraham is a family of forgiven sinners, rescued by grace alone from the personal and communal disintegration that results from idolatry and sin. The God we worship is the God who justifies the ungodly, not the pious" (The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 10, pg. 506). Our task is to encourage - and endure.
Chapter 5: Verse 20 "But law came in, with the result that trespass multiplied...".
Chapter 6: With freedom comes responsibility. Grace reaches where humans are, and accepts them, "because anything less would result in nobody being saved" (ibid, pg. 548). True freedom is not random, but "genuine humanness that reflects the image of God" (ibid, pg. 548).
This is why I am a Christian. The demands are liberating. Thank you God for your amazing grace.
On to Elijah and Elisha (message for worship tomorrow)...
No comments:
Post a Comment