Good morning to you who follow Christ in the good times and the bad times.
Romans 9:10-18 (NIV)
10 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac.
11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad--in order that God's purpose in election might stand:
12 not by works but by him who calls--she was told, "The older will serve the younger."
13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
You have to really keep these verses in context. Here is what this Scripture is not saying: 1) God sends some to heaven and some to hell. 2) God knows who is going to heaven and we do not have to witness. 3) God in some arbitrary way just goes about His business and what we do or how we respond makes no difference.
The context of these verses has to do with God no longer using Israel as His primary way of reaching the world with His message. God had raised Israel up to be the nation to show forth His mercy and grace, but that has been taken from them because of their disobedience. You will see upon further reading that God has now replaced Israel with this thing called the church. There are, what we call, the primary purposes that are revealed in Scripture. We all have a purpose and yes God has a plan for our lives. What we have to face as we read Scripture is that there are some that are chosen for a higher purpose. One example of that higher purpose is what God chose John the Baptist to do. Upon further examination you will see that in Peter's life as well as Paul's. In these chapters Paul is dealing with what we call down south the "Big Dog!" Israel has been put on the sidelines and the Jews are not getting with the new program. Paul goes to the O.T. to show how God, in the process of raising up Israel, chose Jacob over Esau to make it happen. Many people apply the Jacob and Esau passage to prove what some call the doctrine of unconditional election. This doctrine teaches that God chooses whom He will and the basis of that has nothing to do with our response. I contend that God does choose people, but we are not privy to how He does this thing of election. Remember here Paul is talking about Israel being put on the shelf for a while.
Read these verses very carefully for they are used in showing some end-of-the-times teachings in some circles. Just a thought as you read chapters 9-11; God is going to reach this world with or without us so why not join in?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Romans 9:4-9 (NIV)
Romans 9:4-9 (NIV)
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
In verses 1-3 Paul told of his anguish that Israel did not know the Messiah. He is now addressing a couple of issues regarding the Jewish nation. The first issue that Paul addresses is that it was not a waste to be a Jew. There were a lot of advantages in being a Jew and Paul lists them in verses 4-5. Paul would say that the Jews did not take advantage of being in their unique position to see that Jesus was the Messiah. Jews were coming to faith, but the nation as a whole had not turned to Jesus. Many Gentiles around the world were believing in Christ and they did not have the built-in advantages that Israelites had as a people. Perhaps a bigger issue is that of people thinking that God somehow had failed His people. In verses 6-9 Paul begins to answer that question. Not all Israel are Israel. What a great phrase that sums up what is really going on in God's bigger plan. Just because you have some Jewish blood does not mean you are automatically in God's family. Paul then turns to the children of the promise which is different than a blood line. That is why Paul says later that God has mercy on whom He has mercy. What is happening in these verses is like a glimpse behind the curtains of an epic drama. The deeper you go into this drama it becomes apparent that God wrote the epic play and He is directing it as well. As I read chapter nine I grieve for Israel with all their opportunities to know and obey the truth, but did not act. Pray for Israel as they are still in God's plan and then make sure you act upon the opportunities that have been and are given to you.
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
In verses 1-3 Paul told of his anguish that Israel did not know the Messiah. He is now addressing a couple of issues regarding the Jewish nation. The first issue that Paul addresses is that it was not a waste to be a Jew. There were a lot of advantages in being a Jew and Paul lists them in verses 4-5. Paul would say that the Jews did not take advantage of being in their unique position to see that Jesus was the Messiah. Jews were coming to faith, but the nation as a whole had not turned to Jesus. Many Gentiles around the world were believing in Christ and they did not have the built-in advantages that Israelites had as a people. Perhaps a bigger issue is that of people thinking that God somehow had failed His people. In verses 6-9 Paul begins to answer that question. Not all Israel are Israel. What a great phrase that sums up what is really going on in God's bigger plan. Just because you have some Jewish blood does not mean you are automatically in God's family. Paul then turns to the children of the promise which is different than a blood line. That is why Paul says later that God has mercy on whom He has mercy. What is happening in these verses is like a glimpse behind the curtains of an epic drama. The deeper you go into this drama it becomes apparent that God wrote the epic play and He is directing it as well. As I read chapter nine I grieve for Israel with all their opportunities to know and obey the truth, but did not act. Pray for Israel as they are still in God's plan and then make sure you act upon the opportunities that have been and are given to you.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Romans 9:1-5 (NIV)
Are you ready to dive in?
Romans 9:1-5 (NIV)
1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Paul never forgot where he came from. In the south they will say, "they got above their rais'en" when they think somebody has forgotten their roots. Paul was a Jew among Jews. Paul had a holy heart burn for the Israelites to come to faith. It deeply troubled him that they did not know the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. "Great sorrow and unceasing anguish" are the words Paul uses to describe how he feels about the chosen people of God not knowing salvation in Christ. Today we have extreme sports and in my opinion they are extremely amazing but sometimes crazy. Some of the things I see these younger people do on bikes, snowboards, skateboards, etc., are truly amazing and very risky. The risk they take is for the adrenalin rush and glory they receive. You could call Paul's statements about how he wants to reach the Jews as extreme evangelism. I do not believe it is for the rush or the glory that Paul says, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race." Paul is saying that he would go to hell for them if they would come to faith. Paul has an authentic heartache for his people that do not know the Messiah. Of all the issues that are in the public debate forum none are more important than where does a person go once they die. Paul made it personal in these verses when talking about reaching people for Christ. Paul felt it and did not just know it. Who does your heart ache for in order for them to come to Christ? Pray for them and ask God to open the eyes of their heart.
Are we as willing to go into debt for the work of God as we are for a vacation to Hawaii?
Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )
Romans 9:1-5 (NIV)
1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit--
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Paul never forgot where he came from. In the south they will say, "they got above their rais'en" when they think somebody has forgotten their roots. Paul was a Jew among Jews. Paul had a holy heart burn for the Israelites to come to faith. It deeply troubled him that they did not know the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. "Great sorrow and unceasing anguish" are the words Paul uses to describe how he feels about the chosen people of God not knowing salvation in Christ. Today we have extreme sports and in my opinion they are extremely amazing but sometimes crazy. Some of the things I see these younger people do on bikes, snowboards, skateboards, etc., are truly amazing and very risky. The risk they take is for the adrenalin rush and glory they receive. You could call Paul's statements about how he wants to reach the Jews as extreme evangelism. I do not believe it is for the rush or the glory that Paul says, "For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race." Paul is saying that he would go to hell for them if they would come to faith. Paul has an authentic heartache for his people that do not know the Messiah. Of all the issues that are in the public debate forum none are more important than where does a person go once they die. Paul made it personal in these verses when talking about reaching people for Christ. Paul felt it and did not just know it. Who does your heart ache for in order for them to come to Christ? Pray for them and ask God to open the eyes of their heart.
Are we as willing to go into debt for the work of God as we are for a vacation to Hawaii?
Erwin W. Lutzer (1941– )
Friday, June 4, 2010
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul, who spent quite a bit of time in prison, did not see himself as a loser, but as a conqueror. In sports they talk about the swagger of a team or an individual that has done well in their field. The conversation usually turns to the fine line between pride and confidence. They would say if Tiger Woods or Michael Jordon, in his day, would say something about winning it was not pride, but confidence because they have won championships. Is Paul bragging or does he just have some swagger because he has seen what the Lord can do through a life that is yielded to Him? Paul's confidence came because of his experience and his knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew from experience that the Lord was with him in the bad times and the good times. As you read verses 38 and 39 you can tell that this was not a contrived confidence, but a real belief that God and Jesus are real and are present. God was present with Paul and is now with us as well, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The connection for Paul was the love of God. In verse 37 and 39 Paul brings it down to God's love for us and nothing will separate us from that love. Does God love you? If God loves you would He abandon you? Is that not one of the reasons that this chapter is on the Holy Spirit? To help us understand that the Spirit has been given to help us experience His presence and His power? Who are you? No really, take a little time today to reflect on this question and let God speak to you.
Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but, on the contrary, it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.
Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul, who spent quite a bit of time in prison, did not see himself as a loser, but as a conqueror. In sports they talk about the swagger of a team or an individual that has done well in their field. The conversation usually turns to the fine line between pride and confidence. They would say if Tiger Woods or Michael Jordon, in his day, would say something about winning it was not pride, but confidence because they have won championships. Is Paul bragging or does he just have some swagger because he has seen what the Lord can do through a life that is yielded to Him? Paul's confidence came because of his experience and his knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knew from experience that the Lord was with him in the bad times and the good times. As you read verses 38 and 39 you can tell that this was not a contrived confidence, but a real belief that God and Jesus are real and are present. God was present with Paul and is now with us as well, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The connection for Paul was the love of God. In verse 37 and 39 Paul brings it down to God's love for us and nothing will separate us from that love. Does God love you? If God loves you would He abandon you? Is that not one of the reasons that this chapter is on the Holy Spirit? To help us understand that the Spirit has been given to help us experience His presence and His power? Who are you? No really, take a little time today to reflect on this question and let God speak to you.
Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but, on the contrary, it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.
Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Romans 8:29-30 (MSG), Romans 8:31-36 (NIV)
Romans 8:29-30 (MSG)
29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
30 After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
These verses were covered earlier, but I thought it would be good to read them in The Message. I like how verse 29 reads when he says, "to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son." For the follower of Christ the issue is that of becoming like Christ. God is using everything to help us to become like His Son. We are being shaped into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This process goes better when we are on board with that goal of what God wants to do in our life. We must be careful not to tell God how He could do a better job if He did it this way or that way--you know the backseat driver syndrome. We must trust Him in this process of becoming like Christ.
Romans 8:31-36 (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
When I read verses like these my response is, "What a great God we serve!" The Lord gave us His Son. Will He not graciously give us all things? Yes! God will give us all things, because the greatest gift has already been given. We are set for eternity, not just in this life. This would be a good day to lift up the name of Christ, to praise Him in all things. Amen.
29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
30 After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
These verses were covered earlier, but I thought it would be good to read them in The Message. I like how verse 29 reads when he says, "to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son." For the follower of Christ the issue is that of becoming like Christ. God is using everything to help us to become like His Son. We are being shaped into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This process goes better when we are on board with that goal of what God wants to do in our life. We must be careful not to tell God how He could do a better job if He did it this way or that way--you know the backseat driver syndrome. We must trust Him in this process of becoming like Christ.
Romans 8:31-36 (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
When I read verses like these my response is, "What a great God we serve!" The Lord gave us His Son. Will He not graciously give us all things? Yes! God will give us all things, because the greatest gift has already been given. We are set for eternity, not just in this life. This would be a good day to lift up the name of Christ, to praise Him in all things. Amen.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Romans 8:28-34 (NIV)
Romans 8:28-34 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
You can read all the verses above, but pay special attention to verse 30. People ask me if I believe in once saved always saved and I say yes if the person is really saved then they will stay saved. The key is if they are saved and in the end only God knows and that person, but surely not us. A principle that is used in interpreting the Bible is that a person should always take the clearer passages over the more obscure ones. I am aware of the other passages that seem to lend themselves to losing your salvation, however upon a closer look at those passages you will see that most of them are written to the Jews who had converted to Christ. The Jews had special issues in coming to Christ. They wanted to bring Old Testament practices with them while following Christ. When you read chapter 8 of Romans, especially from verse 28 till the end, it is so clear that when God has you in the Body of Christ that He does not remove you. Look at verse 30 again and you will see that all of this salvation work is His work and it is completed. God already sees us as glorified--period. I do not find a clearer passage on this subject of eternal security. My joke is that God does not write our name in the Lamb's book of life in pencil. Look at the implications in the following verses of 31-34. Our response to this truth is one of security, because if God is for us who can be against us?! No one or nothing can be against us. We are free to move about the cabin--amen.
It is not your hold of Christ that saves you, but his hold of you!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
You can read all the verses above, but pay special attention to verse 30. People ask me if I believe in once saved always saved and I say yes if the person is really saved then they will stay saved. The key is if they are saved and in the end only God knows and that person, but surely not us. A principle that is used in interpreting the Bible is that a person should always take the clearer passages over the more obscure ones. I am aware of the other passages that seem to lend themselves to losing your salvation, however upon a closer look at those passages you will see that most of them are written to the Jews who had converted to Christ. The Jews had special issues in coming to Christ. They wanted to bring Old Testament practices with them while following Christ. When you read chapter 8 of Romans, especially from verse 28 till the end, it is so clear that when God has you in the Body of Christ that He does not remove you. Look at verse 30 again and you will see that all of this salvation work is His work and it is completed. God already sees us as glorified--period. I do not find a clearer passage on this subject of eternal security. My joke is that God does not write our name in the Lamb's book of life in pencil. Look at the implications in the following verses of 31-34. Our response to this truth is one of security, because if God is for us who can be against us?! No one or nothing can be against us. We are free to move about the cabin--amen.
It is not your hold of Christ that saves you, but his hold of you!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892)
Friday, May 28, 2010
Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Please read these verses very carefully. These verses are misunderstood more than about any that I know of in the Scriptures. Perhaps, if you have time, write down what you think these verses are saying to us as believers. When you write something down it forces you to really come to grips with words and remember words matter.
I believe the biggest problem is the word 'good.' Many want to snatch this word out of the context of these verses and make it say something that is not there. I would say about half of the people that do this 'good' thing are people who have sinned and are trying to justify what they have done. They will say, "Well, pastor, you know God works these things out for the good." The question is for the good of what? The what comes down to the purpose. This 'good' is tied to those who have been called according to His purpose. In verse 29 the purpose is revealed as His followers becoming like Jesus Christ. We will sin, but it is not so we can become more like Jesus Christ. When we sin we must repent and ask God for forgiveness. When God forgives He wipes the sin away forever. I am not saying that God can't take our sins and use them for His glory. What I am saying is God does not take our sin and help us become like Jesus Christ.
I believe in predestination, but not as the many of the philosophers speak about this subject. Most who believe in predestination wind up becoming fatalist. They will say, "Well it is God's will." When they say that it means we are to just sit back in whatever circumstance and just take it. The atheist who is a fatalist sees the world in that the fix is in the DNA. We have no control over our circumstances, therefore we just hang on for the ride. No where in the Scriptures does it teach fatalism. Look at the context of the word predestined and you will find that it is in context of Christ followers being conformed to Christ's image. We as followers of Christ are destined to be like Jesus. If any fix is in, it is that God is going to deliver on His promise!
Are you aiming to become like Jesus Christ in your character and in your mission? What action steps are you taking on a daily basis to create an environment for this growth to happen?
A Christian is:
a mind through which Christ thinks;
a heart through which Christ loves;
a voice through which Christ speaks;
a hand through which Christ helps.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Please read these verses very carefully. These verses are misunderstood more than about any that I know of in the Scriptures. Perhaps, if you have time, write down what you think these verses are saying to us as believers. When you write something down it forces you to really come to grips with words and remember words matter.
I believe the biggest problem is the word 'good.' Many want to snatch this word out of the context of these verses and make it say something that is not there. I would say about half of the people that do this 'good' thing are people who have sinned and are trying to justify what they have done. They will say, "Well, pastor, you know God works these things out for the good." The question is for the good of what? The what comes down to the purpose. This 'good' is tied to those who have been called according to His purpose. In verse 29 the purpose is revealed as His followers becoming like Jesus Christ. We will sin, but it is not so we can become more like Jesus Christ. When we sin we must repent and ask God for forgiveness. When God forgives He wipes the sin away forever. I am not saying that God can't take our sins and use them for His glory. What I am saying is God does not take our sin and help us become like Jesus Christ.
I believe in predestination, but not as the many of the philosophers speak about this subject. Most who believe in predestination wind up becoming fatalist. They will say, "Well it is God's will." When they say that it means we are to just sit back in whatever circumstance and just take it. The atheist who is a fatalist sees the world in that the fix is in the DNA. We have no control over our circumstances, therefore we just hang on for the ride. No where in the Scriptures does it teach fatalism. Look at the context of the word predestined and you will find that it is in context of Christ followers being conformed to Christ's image. We as followers of Christ are destined to be like Jesus. If any fix is in, it is that God is going to deliver on His promise!
Are you aiming to become like Jesus Christ in your character and in your mission? What action steps are you taking on a daily basis to create an environment for this growth to happen?
A Christian is:
a mind through which Christ thinks;
a heart through which Christ loves;
a voice through which Christ speaks;
a hand through which Christ helps.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
