Romans 3:19-20 (NIV)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Romans 3:27-31 (NIV)
28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.
29 Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Paul is having to explain the relationship between law and grace. It would seem an easy subject at first glance, however it goes at the heart of the gospel and why the Messiah came to this earth. It is not as easy as it would seem. At least half of the subject in the book of Galatians has to do with law and grace. Notice the question in verse 31, "Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith?" If it is of faith then it is of grace and law has no place where there is grace. Therefore the law which was held up by Moses, David, and the prophets is nullified. This argument would be put forth by any good Jew. Jesus said this about His relationship about the law, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17. The key to understanding law and grace is to understand why Jesus came to this planet. Jesus is the fulfillment of the O.T. prophecies. The O.T. is all about Jesus first and seconding coming. We need righteousness and we cannot do this ourselves even with the knowledge of the law. The law in truth aggravates our situation; it does not heal us. The law sheds light that we need help but it does not do the saving. Later Paul will show how this was true even for Abraham. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. One of the things that the Jews had forgotten is the relationship between the law and their own faith in Yahweh. It is my contention that the Jews placed the law ahead of God and that relationship which was to be supreme. The Jewish teachers simply were the keeper of rules instead of helping them seek God with all their hearts. In a way the Jews were committing idolatry with the law. They were placing it ahead of God. Today you can thank God that there is more understanding about grace on this side of the cross. However, the battle rages on as there are those who try to bring the law back to a position that is not Scriptural. Let Jesus reign in your life and all will be fine.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I hope you are reading your Bible and asking God to help you understand it and apply it to your life. God's Word is one of His most magnificent gifts to us.
Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
There is what God has done and there is what I must believe and obey. I believe that a follower of Christ is both passive and active. Notice take another look at verse 12,
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." We are commanded to make sure that sin no longer holds sway over us. Christ did not die on the cross just to release us from the penalty of sin. If it was only the penalty of sin then we would still have to live in misery. However, Christ came to release us from the power of sin. This is some of the best good news you will here or share. We can really have a better life right here in enemy territory. We have to remember that we belong to Christ. We no longer belong to this world and it's ways. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to Christ and His kingdom! Let's look at this passage in the Message.
Romans 6:12-14 (MSG)
12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day.
13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things.
14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
The only lasting treasure is spiritual; the only perfect freedom is serving God.
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)
Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
There is what God has done and there is what I must believe and obey. I believe that a follower of Christ is both passive and active. Notice take another look at verse 12,
"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires." We are commanded to make sure that sin no longer holds sway over us. Christ did not die on the cross just to release us from the penalty of sin. If it was only the penalty of sin then we would still have to live in misery. However, Christ came to release us from the power of sin. This is some of the best good news you will here or share. We can really have a better life right here in enemy territory. We have to remember that we belong to Christ. We no longer belong to this world and it's ways. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to Christ and His kingdom! Let's look at this passage in the Message.
Romans 6:12-14 (MSG)
12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day.
13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things.
14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
The only lasting treasure is spiritual; the only perfect freedom is serving God.
Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Romans 3:9-20 (NIV)
9 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.
10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."
14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Paul is in an argument with those who arguing in their heads about what he has been writing. Paul's conclusion is that we are all undone. The charge is that all are guilty before the Lord almighty. A form of preaching that was used in the day of Paul was called charuwz. This term literally means "stringing pearls." Paul was not quoting from one passage in the O.T. when he says, "As it is written:" Paul was quoting from many passages such as Ps. 14:1-3, Ps. 5:9, and Is. 53:6-9, to name a few. So whether it be the law of God or the law of conscience the function of both is to help us become aware of our real guilt. Guilt is a gift from God. To acknowledge our guilt before God and to repent is a miracle of God's grace working in us. If we know ourselves to be guilty of disobedience towards God and do nothing about it then the guilt we feel is no longer a gift, but a burden of judgment upon our own souls.
What Paul is doing in his arguments is locking the world up to the store house of God's grace. NO one is able to come to God on his or her own terms and therefore we must depend on His grace and mercy. It is a sweeping indictment of humanity, however God's grace is more than enough to bring us the abundance of forgiveness and reconciliation. We who were once dead are now raised to new life in Christ Jesus. We who were once enemies of God are now at peace with God. This passage has everything to do with Easter weekend because without Good Friday and the resurrection we would not be able to experience His grace and mercy. Go with God and enjoy the riches of His grace.
9 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.
10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."
13 "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips."
14 "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."
15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know."
18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
Paul is in an argument with those who arguing in their heads about what he has been writing. Paul's conclusion is that we are all undone. The charge is that all are guilty before the Lord almighty. A form of preaching that was used in the day of Paul was called charuwz. This term literally means "stringing pearls." Paul was not quoting from one passage in the O.T. when he says, "As it is written:" Paul was quoting from many passages such as Ps. 14:1-3, Ps. 5:9, and Is. 53:6-9, to name a few. So whether it be the law of God or the law of conscience the function of both is to help us become aware of our real guilt. Guilt is a gift from God. To acknowledge our guilt before God and to repent is a miracle of God's grace working in us. If we know ourselves to be guilty of disobedience towards God and do nothing about it then the guilt we feel is no longer a gift, but a burden of judgment upon our own souls.
What Paul is doing in his arguments is locking the world up to the store house of God's grace. NO one is able to come to God on his or her own terms and therefore we must depend on His grace and mercy. It is a sweeping indictment of humanity, however God's grace is more than enough to bring us the abundance of forgiveness and reconciliation. We who were once dead are now raised to new life in Christ Jesus. We who were once enemies of God are now at peace with God. This passage has everything to do with Easter weekend because without Good Friday and the resurrection we would not be able to experience His grace and mercy. Go with God and enjoy the riches of His grace.
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