Cornerstone

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day six)

The Law declared the righteousness of God by contrast. Up against the Law, the starkness of our own brokenness and idolatry, only ever served to draw attention to the righteousness of God. The Law was both microscope and telescope; bringing into view the fissures left in the wake of our idolatry, as well as bringing into proper view the true immensity of God’s righteousness. It could never bring life or restoration to dead and dying things; it was never meant to. This is why Paul tells us that the Law and Prophets(v. 21) always pointed to the righteousness of Jesus, the very image of the invisible God, and the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17).

And so we rejoice, not in the doing of the Law, but in Jesus. He is the cornerstone, the glory of God, and our righteousness by grace through faith!

All

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day five)

Romans 3:23 is a good reminder that God looks at the human race far differently than I do. It is easy is to compare my sins to the sins of others. I imagine that some sins are worse or more deplorable than others. The scripture leaves NO room for that kind of thinking/reasoning. There are no “unsatisfactory, poor, satisfactory“ levels of sin. I remember asking a group of students how many of you are included in the group “all”. Everyone raised a hand. Of course that’s the point isn’t it? All of us, each of us, belong in this group!! No grades or progress reports are given. Everyone has failed- a discouraging thought indeed.

But, the despair of the “all” in verse 23 finds great hope in the “all” in verse 22. (Look it up). The righteousness of God needed by all (Romans 3:23) “who have sinned”, is offered to all (Romans 3:22) “through faith in Christ”.

By Grace Through Faith

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day four)

It is not often we see a snowflake in Texas, but it is said that there are no two alike.  God is a creative genius.  Flowers, stars, animals, and people…God has endless creativity.  One thing though is common with all people…we have all sinned against God.  We have all disobeyed His commands and have chosen our own will rather than His.  Something else is common to man, forgiveness for our sin is available by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is the only way we can be justified and it is available to all men.  Jews, Gentiles…rich, poor…good, bad…God’s grace reaches to every man, woman, or child who places their faith in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing…absolutely nothing…that we can do to earn our salvation.  It is a gift from God.  Faith in Christ is the key to the grace of God.  Have you received His forgiveness?

True

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day three)

“We uphold the law.”  The law of God sums up, in terms human minds can understand, the way the universe actually works, physically and spiritually.   The universe still works in the same way, and the law is still God’s word about those workings, Paul says.  It has not stopped being true.  It enabled the formation of a people–the nation of Israel–but the law was never going to be scalable to the kind of future God designed for the human race.  Through Christ, who came from that nation, God subjected himself to his own law–and lived where all others would have died.  God spoke to Israel through his law, and it is the truth.  God has now spoken to Israel and to the whole world through Jesus Christ, and he is the truth.  Hear him.  Believe him.

Speed Limits

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day two)

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. vs. 21

What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have know what sin was except through the law. Romans 7:7

70, 75, 80, 85 – don’t you just love Texas highways? Somebody seems to have figured out that if you have 800+ miles of interstate from East to West, you will be helped to get where you are going if you can get on down the road. For this, I am grateful. But why do those signs exist? Clearly they are they to remind, or sometimes simply inform you of how fast you are legally allowed to go as you travel. So, if you are at or below those speeds does that make you a good driver? No, it just means you obeyed that particular law. Good driving is about courtesy, defensive driving, awareness in addition to abiding by the rules of the road. The idea of abolishing those rules would be foolish.

The law continues to be our guide for moral behavior, but it is insufficient on its own to guarantee salvation. Keeping the law is an essential step in nourishing our faith. Together they build our story of being a good driver, or Christian.

Short people

Re:Verse reading–Romans 3:21-31 (day one)

“There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”–v 23.  Remember the old Randy Newman song?  “Short people got no reason to live” sings the catchy melody.  He (Randy) says it was about prejudice.  “Short people are the same as you and I”, sings a later verse.

Paul says that all of us are short people.  From God’s perspective.  From the vantage point of what we were made to be.  We have fallen short.  Way short.

Humans do NOT achieve God’s lofty dream–not individually, not collectively.  HIS glory is not even our ambition.  “They did not honor Him nor did they give Him thanks.”  Trashed the environment. Blamed others.  Served self.

“The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”–Genesis 6:6

Consider His great mercy in sending His Son!  We fell short.  He stood tall.

Is good good enough?

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day seven)

“A man is a Jew if he is one inwardly. . .by the Spirit.”–v 29.  In Romans 1, Paul declares the wrath of God against those who REJECT Him.  Pagans/Gentiles.  Jewish listeners said “Amen” to the first part.  In Roman 2, Paul declares the wrath of God against those who try to satisfy Him with RELIGION.

Surprised?  Being good is not good enough.  God’s demand is not that we go to church or read our Bibles or try to be inclusive.  No.  God’s demand (something known only by revelation) is that we, “by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality”–v 7.

But, who does that?  Do you know ANYONE who steadily, courageously, at all times, in all circumstances seeks God’s will?  As the Bible says, we fall short of God’s glory.  Way short.

So, God provides a way.  A new life, Spirit-born.  It is the ONLY thing that is enough. Being good just isn’t.

Work

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day six)

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Romans 2:29

Paul makes it increasingly clear that we are all in trouble. We are idolaters, all of us; and even those of us who look the part, we too have rejected God for the praise of men. He then introduces the type of person that God seeks, one who is concerned more about the affections of their heart, then the one putting on airs. This one doesn’t live for the approval of men, but lives to worship God in all of life. Finally he tells us how such a person takes shape, “by the Spirit.” The Spirit of God does the work of reshaping the human heart through faith in the Gospel. The key to living a life of faith is just that-faith! It is not working harder, or beating yourself up over past sins (penance), it’s not adding another Bible study to your schedule, no, it is none of those things. Live from faith to faith forever resting in God’s approval of you because of the work of His Son! Have faith in the Gospel, and let the Spirit of God do the hard work of reshaping your heart!

Both/And

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day five) 

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?  Many people have inaccurate pictures or views of God.   1) God is a “wise and loving patriarchal figure” (grandfather in the sky) filled with wisdom and knowledge, but not actively engaged in the lives of His children. He won’t challenge or confront sin, idleness, or apathy.   He’s too loving to do that sort of thing. 2) He’s a “genie in a bottle” ready to answer and fulfill all our requests and petitions at a moments notice.

Each of God’s character traits (Love, Kindness, Sovereignty, Righteousness, Holiness, etc.) exist for the purpose of His Glory AND our good. They both go together. To separate them is poor theology at best, and manipulative theology at worst. John Stott says, “For God’s kindness leads us towards repentance. That is its goal. It is intended to give us space in which to repent, not to give us an excuse for sinning.”

We must seek to find and understand both God’s Glory and our good as we worship, follow, serve, and grow.

Led by Character

Re:Verse reading–Romans 2:1-29 (day four)

The character of God is who He is…the very essence of His being.  Verse 4 says that the kindness (one of His character qualities) of God leads you to repentance.  Everything about God will draw you to Him…choose any character quality of God and it will inspire worship, lead to obedience, bring a sense of awe or confront with repentance.  God is in the business of changing lives.  Ezekiel says that God will take our heart of stone and replace it with a heart of flesh.  He will change us so we can enter into a right relationship with Him.  We are without excuse when we stand before God.  How we have responded to His character through obedience will determine the outcome of our relationship with Him.  What does your character inspire?  Does it lead others to God?  Does it lead to repentance?  It will if our lives look like Jesus…we will give an accurate picture of the character of God.