Blog – Page 87 – Jeremiah's Vow

Romans Series (Pt. 8) – Romans 3:1-9

First in Time (Romans 3:1-5)

Paul helps the Roman hearer, and the all Gentile readers of this letter, understand that the primacy of the Jew in God’s plan had nothing to do with some intrinsic worth that they had as people. He will point this out in verse 28 of this chapter. What Paul is trying to make clear is that because God has chosen to work through human affairs someone had to be selected for the purpose of being the instrument of God’s will ([reftagger title=”Romans 3:2″]v. 2[/reftagger]). This people were the children of Abraham. Why Abraham? I don’t know, but that becomes a moot point because it is not something that can be undone or reversed. God picked Abraham and worked out His will through Abraham’s progeny, both the physical and the spiritual (look at Galatians 2:18-21, 3:10-14) . Look back at Romans 2:25-29. Paul has just finished removing any privilege that may have existed for the “circumcised”. The true heart of the matter is what is going on in the heart.

But there is something else at work that Paul wants to address. A teaching had become popular among the Jews that God would overlook and not punish unfaithfulness on the part of the Jews. God’s faithfulness is not, should not, and must not be called into question just because a frail humanity is unable to comply with its end of the bargain. God remains faithful. God’s reputation is not tarnished because of our failures. This however, had become the mentality of the Jews. They believed that their “unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God” ([reftagger title=”Romans 3:5″]v. 5[/reftagger]). This is the epitome of putting God to the test. And it must be avoided at all costs.

Sinning for the Glory of God (Romans 3:6-9)

But not only were the Jews putting God to the test. There rose up in the Jews’ mind an indignation that they were being punished as they served as examples of God’s faithfulness. Paul writes about the total arrogance of the Jews in this regard, “But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?” ([reftagger title=”Romans 3:7″]v. 7[/reftagger], emphasis added). There is never an appropriate time to sin for the Glory of God. This is an attempt and make God a fool and to take the grace that has been given to us and misuse it for our own fleshly desires (Galatians 5:13).

The poor example of the Jewish people as a whole was inexcusable. But Paul understood that he himself had been among them. His errors may have been on the side, the side of piety and total devotion, but that is only exchanging one extreme of misunderstanding for another. Paul recognized that his extreme devotion and other Jews’ extreme infidelity both missed the point and mark of God’s character ([reftagger title=”Romans 3:8″]v. 8[/reftagger]). And because of this both were rightfully condemned ([reftagger title=”Romans 3:9″]v. 9[/reftagger]).

Joy’s Eternal Increase: Edwards on the Beauty of Heaven

Have you ever wondered what Heaven would be like? I know I have. It is so hard to describe a place no one has ever been to. I have often wondered what we would do in Heaven? Will I get bored? Will I spend all of my time singing to God? That is great, and God is worthy of it, but that seems less interesting than the time I have now, here on Earth with my family and with my friends. I don’t mean to for this to sound like Heaven will be a great let down because it won’t be. But how can I have joy about a place I will never experience or can clearly understand until I get there?

I came across this sermon by Dr. Sam Storms. He is the pastor of Bridgeway Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is also the founder of Enjoying God Ministries which exists “To Proclaim the Power of Truth and the Truth about Power.” Enjoying God provides Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Historical Studies and even Recommends books, sites and other personal reflections for reading. It is a useful site.

The following sermon was given during the Desiring God National Conference in 2003. It takes a look at how Jonathan Edwards understood Heaven. This is probably the best (to date) exposition and explanation of what Heaven will be like and possibly is like. Dr. Storms argumentation and presentation is quite passionate and has made looking toward Heaven something wonderful.

You can download the audio, but I would recommend watching the video. It’s about an hour-long and will be worth every minute. The first one-third of the sermon is about Jonathan Edwards himself and then Dr. Storms jumps into Edwards understanding of heaven. Hope you enjoy! I did.

Joy’s Eternal Increase: Edwards on the Beauty of Heaven.

Romans Series (Pt. 7) – Romans 2:25-29

Paul bridges chapter 2 with its emphasis on God’s righteous judgment on sinners and chapter 3 with its emphasis on righteousness through faith with a brief discussion on circumcision. While this may seem strange Paul does this because circumcision had become a point of contention regarding salvation. In light of the argument that he was making Paul wanted to remove this as an obstacle to faith. Was it necessary for gentiles to become Jews before becoming Christians? (cf. Act 15:1-35, Galatians 5:6, 11-15).

Circumcision of the Flesh (2:25-27)

As Paul comes out of his discussion about God judging according to a righteous standard and moves into the issue of circumcision. What is interesting in his treatment of the issue is that he begins to drive the issue of faith and salvation beyond the physical conformity to the Mosaic Law. It was important for the Romans to understand that faith in Christ was more than external, behavioral conformity. Paul, a pharisee and student of the Old Testament, alludes to the prophet Samuel’s mistake in looking at the outer appearance instead of looking at the heart (1 Samuel 16:1-13). As experience has taught us, appearances can be deceiving. This may be why Paul wants to move away from the appearance of a person’s compliance of holiness to the actual practice of holy living.

Circumcision of the Heart (2:28-29)

Paul goes so far as to say that there are some among the Jews who are not truly Jews. The standard that determines whether a person is a Jew is that they “are one inwardly” [v. 29]. There will be an expansion of this idea of justification by faith in chapter 4 when the example of Abraham is examined. This is a very astonishing statement from someone who was among the most devout and zealous observers of Jewish customs, culture, and faith [Philippians 3:3-6]. As Paul wraps up the second chapter he begins to firmly establish that faith is the measure and the means by which God will judge those who claim to be in Christ. Paul established here that the proper order of any good work done by a Christian comes as a result of the heart transformation that has taken place because of salvation and not the other way around.

In times like these…

Shooting in Colorado

The news out of Littleton, Colorado, is basically that it could have been worse. Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, 32, began shooting at middle school students as they were leaving to go home. The motive has not been identified, but in the end, it doesn’t really matter. Murder is a horrible thing, but when you take it to the level of attacking children it takes on another dimension of the sinister. I think of the brave teacher, David Benke, that tackled Eastwood and still wishes he could have done more. I can’t even think about what Benke did without getting a little choked up. The line between heroism and cowardice is a fine one, and yet we see average, normal people stepping up and doing things that inspire all the time.

In times like these, I find myself wondering why does this happen? What is going on in the lives of some people who would think shooting kids is “the thing to do.” As a Christian, I struggle to make sense of the chaos that finds expression in our world. To say that it is because of sin seems to over-simplify and even trivialize the issue. But I think that this only appears to be the case because we don’t truly understand what sin is.

Sin on Display

Sin has to be understood not by the nature of the offense, but rather by the worth of the offended. Rape is a terrible scourge independent of the victims involved, but make the victim a child and you raise the level of indignation. In like manner, the depth of sin’s offense must be seen by virtue that God, the one offended, is infinitely perfect and holy. It is because of God’s purity that any sin, no matter how small, deserves eternal punishment for God is of eternal worth.

In times like these I have to remember that sin is an utterly terrible blight in the human experience. I have to remember that sin is an insidious enemy that taunts us and tempts us away from God. I have to remember that none of us is beyond the reach of Sin’s influence. Sin will only be eradicated when God sends Jesus back to claim those that have called to him and believed that Jesus is the only way to have a relationship restored with God the Father.

While I understand these things to be true I still mourn and struggle with having to wait for Jesus to return as long as we live in times like these.

Romans Series (Pt. 6) – Romans 2:12-24

God’s Judicial Philosophy (2:12-16)

In these verses, we begin to see how God will perform his judicial responsibility to render justice to all sinners. What is interesting here is that all sinners will be judged according to the “laws” under which they lived. “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law” [v. 12]. One of the objections to God’s goodness has been this: How can God condemn to hell those who have never heard the Gospel of Jesus? I believe that Paul is speaking to this very thing when he tells the Romans that God will be just to all regardless of when they live or what they have or have not heard. He is bringing his understanding of the revelation of God’s character in Creation back to the minds of the Romans by saying that when men see the creation they would be introduced to the Glory of God and would be without excuse [Romans 1:19-20]. Paul wraps up this paragraph by saying, “God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus” [v.16]. Whatever this means, it does mean that God will be just.

The Jews Chastised (2:17-24)

Paul then switches gears and turns to his countrymen in the church and questions them regarding the example they are setting. In one sense the Jews could boast in God. They had been called out from among the nations. God had sent to them the Law and the prophets. But all of this did not appear to have the effect of changing the hearts of the people. The Jews had “in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,” and still they failed to live according to God’s precepts. Paul understood that the image and example of the Jewish people had not served the purpose of God as it ought to have. As a result, Paul quotes Isaiah 52:5: “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” The purpose for which the children of Israel were to be set apart – to spread the truth of God – had become distorted into a conceited nationalism.

We will look at the source of the distortion next time.

Book Review | Life After Death: The Evidence

Author(s): Dinesh D’Souza
Publisher: Regenery Publishing
Year: 2009
Rating: (Out of five)

To say that life after death is not an interesting topic would be an understatement. What makes this discussion even more challenging is the fact that most who do not hold to a faith system of some kind would dismiss any religious attempt to defend the proposition of life after death as superstition or wishful thinking. This is where Life after Death: The Evidence comes in. While not shying away from his own personal faith Dinesh D’Souza embarks on the near impossible. He asks the question of whether life after death is a probable hypothesis and goes about the task of looking in every direction, except religion, to see if there is sufficient warrant for such a belief.

In the end what the reader discovers is that there is ample evidence to bring the claims of the non-theist into question, i.e., that there is no life after death. D’Souza first unmasks the self-defeating arguments of atheism and shows that as a philosophical system it has no legs upon which to stand. Or put another way, the basis of “belief” in atheism is the same as that of any other religious system. In both cases there is an element of “blind faith” that one’s system better represents the facts of our experiences.

After dismantling the arguments of the “Vendors of Unbelief” the author looks at the two overarching conceptions of life after death – The Western and Eastern views. This provides some insight to what people have believed over time. Following this is an investigation and analysis of near death experiences and what they tell us about the connection between the body and the mind, and provide some basis to continue the process of investigation. Don’t lose heart because this can be difficult territory, but the rewards of continuing on are worth the time spent reading.

Over the course of the book D’Souza looks at physics, evolutionary suppositions in the sciences and philosophy and the newly overturned earth of brain chemistry. The questions about where the mind resides within the brain and the implications of epistemological arguments from philosophy are brought to bear on the overall argument that is being shaped. Finally, D’Souza wraps up by looking at the issues of justice, societal order and the development of virtuous living as a result in belief in life after death to tie all of the strings of thought that were analyzed throughout the book.

All-in-all this is a good read and is worth the investment in time and mental effort to see that the case for life after death can be made and that a belief in this life should inform the choices and direction of our lives here and now. The implications of life after death are far-reaching and have ramifications of an eternal nature.

I will cite D’Souza near the end of his text in summation.

Some people may respond to this data by saying, wonderful! Let others believe, but not me. This is the position not of belief but of “belief in belief,” and it is held by quite a few people who like to think of themselves as sophisticated and above the popular multitude. This position, however, is quite irrational. If others stand to benefit from lives full of hope, purpose, and charity, why not you? Given the weight of the evidence in favor of belief, there is no room for unbelievers to claim that their position enjoys a superior claim to rationality. On the contrary, unbelief is neither intellectually plausible nor practically beneficial. [217]

Romans Series (Pt. 5) – Romans 2:1-11

God’s Reason in Being Patient (2:1-5)

After telling us in the second half of chapter one the depth of sin and its potential expression, Paul lets us know that because of this sinful inclination God’s judgment “rightly fall” [v.2] on us. The hypocrisy that we at times perform is only a small demonstration of our depravity. This hypocritical tendency should serve as a reminder of why God should and ultimately will judge the sinner. But Paul is not simply concerned with God’s judgment of sin.

Sometimes reading Paul can be difficult and we miss the little nuggets that are hidden in the letters. Here, even in the midst of laying the foundation of the Gospel, the grace of God is revealed. The Gospel at every turn and in every instance sheds the light of God’s grace in the midst of the darkness of our shortcomings. That is what is saying here. Paul says that “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance” [v. 4]. This is unbelievable.

God does not hit the reset button and unleashes his angelic hosts because He desires for sinners to repent! The sad reality that Paul throws back at the reader is that the reason some do not head the Gospel summons is because of their “hard and impenitent” [v. 5] hearts. And it is this persistent condition that is “storing up wrath” [v. 5] for us when God finally returns.

God’s Demonstration of Integrity (2:6-11)

The major thrust of this entire section is that God shows no favoritism to the sinner or the believer in His dispensation of justice. All are sinners and are worthy and even deserving of eternal punishment, but God has overshadowed the sins of those that have believed and confessed in Christ. God will reckon what is rightfully due to each one “according to his works” [v. 6].

The irony in this statement is that those that believe in Christ have no work by which we are to be judged! The work of Salvation is the work of God in us. So the reward that we receive at the time of judgment rightfully belongs to God! We are the beneficiaries of God’s love and grace in spite of our sins. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 2:4-10.

⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [ESV, Emphasis Added]

Paul outlines how God will deal with all humanity. To those who live rightly and obey God’s commands and does good there will be reward and “glory and honor and peace” [v. 10]. But to those that chose their own way and chose “unrighteousness” [v. 8] and “does evil” there will be “tribulation and distress” [v. 9].

There is no partiality with God because he will not be swayed by sentimentality devoid of reason. God sees clearly and will dispense the just reward or penalty to all who will stand and kneel before His throne.

Romans Series (Pt. 4) – Romans 1:18-32

God is Righteous (1:18-20)

The Roman listener and reader would not have had the same reference point as the Jewish believer. So Paul begins with his own version of the creation story from Genesis 1 [vv. 19-20]. Paul speaks to the creation and all that is in it to demonstrate that God is good, but more importantly that God is righteous. The word righteous tells us something about the way that God lives out his existence. Everything we need to know about God is made knowable by virtue of God’s creation. What we see is the evidence that points to and illustrates for us who God is. And God is righteous and therefore stands up against all “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” [v. 18].

God is Denied (1:21-25)

Paul then makes a move toward describing the state of those that forget to look at God, or more specifically, that intentionally turn away from looking at God. This is where Paul begins to lay the foundation that he will expand in Romans 5:12. What is important here is to understand what Paul is describing. God will suffer the reproach of man only for a time. But the longer we persist in denying God, Paul tells us that God will eventually give us up.

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. [Romans 1:24-25, NLT]

Whenever we lose sight of God, when we forget to honor God for who and what he is we tempt God and become subject to God’s judgment. What we have to consider is this: Is there any greater judgment than to be left to oneself?

God is NOT Mocked (1:26-32)

Then Paul closes by illustrating the manifestation of Sin in the practice of sins. I don’t believe that Paul is saying that all will perform these sins. I think this is where many people begin to dismiss the doctrine of Total Depravity. We have to see that Total Depravity is not about the depth of sin, but rather about the culpability of sin and capability of sinning. We all, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, have become partakers in Sin. We are born in Sin [Psalm 51:5] and we are guilty of our own transgressions [Romans 3:23]. What I hear Paul saying is that once the path of selfishness and idolatry is chosen there is no means of predicting the depths to which one can fall. I find this to be the major thrust of this section and starting block for what is to come in the following chapters.

Book Review | Jesus Loves You This I know

Author(s): Craig Gross and Jason Harper
Publisher: BakerBooks
Year: 2009
Rating: (Out of five)

Both Craig and Jason see ministry and the church a little differently than most. They desire to take seriously God’s command to love Him, but also to love our neighbor, no matter where that neighbor is found. The entire book revolves around the premise that Jesus loves you, the reader. The unconventional nature of their ministry has taken them from the Las Vegas strip to Porn conventions all over the world because Jesus loves Porn Stars too. Through their journeys the authors have encountered many who did not know or could not believe that Jesus could or would love them. These are a few of those stories. Along the way it becomes evident that from the outcast to the porn star, from the skeptic to the religious all are loved by God and by Jesus, whom God sent.

The efforts of the authors are sincere and the motivations behind their ministries are biblical. One of the take-aways from the book is the merging of biblical teaching and practical living. These guys are in the trenches doing the hard work in the gutters of life. It is there Jesus was to be found on most days. Jesus himself said that he did not some for the well, but for those that are sick.

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” [Mark 2:17, NLT]

This book does a good job of reminding its readers that God wants his children to get out of their comfort zone and into the world that he created and desires to redeem.

I would recommend this book as a worthwhile read. It is encouraging and will challenge the reader to look with new eyes at those that lie “outside” of the love of God. You may just be surprised to see that those on the outside are looking for someone to invite them in.

Romans Series (Pt. 3) – Romans 1:16-17

Paul’s Confession (1:16-17)

In these two verses we find one of the greatest confessions of what the Gospel is and what it is designed to do. This is not an overstatement of the Gospels intended purpose. Nor is it an exaggeration that Paul wanted the Romans to understand that the Gospel, by design, was intended to be the means through which people are regenerated and the gospel is the seed from which the germ of eternal life will emerge in the life of all who believe. It is this seed that will mature into the tree that the psalmist alludes to in the opening psalm of the psalter.

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. [Psalm 1:3, ESV]

But it doesn’t end here. Even Jesus himself said,

³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. [John 1:3, ESV]

Here in lies the heart of what Paul is speaking to. The Gospel’s power breaks the dam of sin in our lives which is keeping us from having a right relationship with the Father. And it releases unto us the power of God to make us his children and the Gospel gives us the right to claim for ourselves the righteousness that rightfully belongs to Jesus. The challenge to anyone who agrees with Paul is that we have to receive this truth and grace in faith. For it is only from faith that we can receive it and it is only by faith that we can live it.