Tag: sin

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?

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.

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.

Worship

Re:Verse reading–Romans 1:18-32 (day six)

The central theme to our rev:verse text is not primarily the wrath of God, nor is it the sinfulness of man, but rather it is the Glory of God. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of life.” The great “unrighteousness” that Paul writes about is the sin of the unguarded heart; we gave our heart to another. We were made in the image of God, designed to behold, enjoy, and find purpose in the Glory of God, and yet we did not. We did not “honor him, or give him thanks.” The results are self-evident, just turn on the news. Once we chose to worship creature over creator, all hell broke lose. The affections of our hearts have “determined the course of [our] lives”

Our hearts need realigning. “Oh, what wretched people we are! Who will free us from lives of sin and death? Thank God the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24-25