:: in.a.mirror.dimly ::

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

At the end of this epistle Paul gives a fascinating role call of his friends and partners in ministry who supported him financially and spiritually. There are accounts of financial gifts, friends who risked their lives for each other, those who worked hard, and those who shared their homes. Many suffered for Christ in prison or through material loss.

In this microcosm of the early church we see models of Christian discipleship at work, the practical unity of the church in daily life, and the costs of following Christ. Whatever the problems addressed in this epistle, we can see that God’s Spirit prompted many to live extraordinary lives as disciples.

As a final word, Paul warned them about those who cause divisions or diverge from apostolic teaching. The divisive and incorrect are serving their own agendas for their own glory. Paul knows the Romans are on the right track, but desires to keep them pure and innocent.

There is a stark contrast that we should notice between those honored by Paul and those who serve themselves. Paul notes those who have risked their money, reputation, and safety for the sake of the Gospel and for fellow believers.

Even so, God will soon crush Satan as they struggle through hard times. They are reminded that Paul and his many friends stand united with them in both suffering and in the power of God.

Paul ends with a massive theological statement that essentially sums up God saving and sanctifying power and plan. In God’s wisdom the Jews and Gentiles have been saved in Christ according to God’s plan that was hidden and mysterious for many generations. This plan that was first mentioned by the prophets has now been fully revealed in Christ.

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

After providing instructions on Christian conduct and asking the Romans to commit to build one another up, Paul continues to instruct the Romans on living in Christian love and unity. Though love and unity are generated by the power of the Holy Spirit through Christ, Paul makes it clear that the Romans have an important role to play.

Christ bore the insults directed to God, much like David in the Psalm quoted, and laid down his life for others. The Romans who have clear consciences and can live by faith without extra limitations in unimportant matters should seek the best for their neighbors and build them up. the goal isn’t winning the argument but remaining confident and selfless, encouraging one another.

There is a balance between God’s work and the Romans’ calling to accept one another. Only God can help them to endure and to remain united with one mind and voice. And much like Christ’s obedience to do God’s work, they are to be servants among one another. In the unifying of Jew and Gentile there are lessons to learn about blessing others above themselves.

After so many strong words in this letter, Paul shares his hope in God and his hope that the goodness of God at work in the Romans will help them live holy lives together. Paul only speaks of Christ’s work and his calling in Christ, aiming to fulfill his duty to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. It is by God’s power that he has spread this message far and wide.

However, in fulfilling his spiritual ministry with words, signs, and wonders, Paul also desires to carry material blessings from Gentiles to the Jews in Jerusalem, even if it puts him in harm’s way. he asks them to join in prayer for his safety and for an audience that will gladly receive the Gentile churches’ gifts.

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

What are the marks of weak faith?

One person’s faith gives great liberty in disputed matters, but the weak in faith place limitations on themselves.

They key is to avoid quarrels over disputed matters. Don’t condemn others whether they have more or less freedom.

In the case of acceptable food among the Romans there is no cause to judge one another because God has accepted both sides of the debate. Judgment of fellow believers is a mark of a lack of faith in God’s ability to make someone stand or fall. They have no place in judging God’s servants.

The standard set involves being convinced in one’s own mind about these matters, but to also hold back on judging others. We can expect to hit interpretive conflict when attempting to apply the principles of this passage to our doctrinal disputes today. Where do we draw the lines? I think we would quarrel over which matters are even worth quarreling over.

However, Paul reminds the Romans that they do not live for the approval of one another, but rather they live and die for God. Christ’s death and Resurrection established his Lordship over all humanity. If God acts in mercy, reigns as Lord, and is able to make his servants stand or fall, then there is no room to judge his servants.

When considering judgment and quarrels, it is important to ask whether the person being judged or challenged in an argument has anything to gain. In fact, does the judge or instigator derive the most “benefit” by justifying his/her own views or way of life?

Judgment has been reserved for God. The Romans are challenged to resolve to not put any obstacles in the way of a fellow believer since judgment and quarreling do not lead to peace or edification. Even those with freedom to eat anything should be willing to abstain out of love for those with weak faith. These peripheral matters do not promote righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When promoting the growth of one another so that we are approved before God and others, the Romans will find that disputes often do little to help anyone.

When considering how to handle disputes, the direction of God and the peace of the Kingdom should lead all responses. That doesn’t open the door to heresy necessarily, but rather the goal is to build up others rather than picking them apart and condemning them.

They are free to hold opinions on disputed matters, but they are ultimately accountable to God and need only be approved by God in them. Their beliefs should be rooted in faith, believing that God is honored by their beliefs and practices. In fact, the practice of condemning others may be a sign that some need to justify themselves, to build up their convictions and ultimately their faith by pulling others into their systems of belief. Judging others and pushing them to accept other convictions on disputed matters shows a vestige of doubt and fear that one’s beliefs may be wrong unless everyone else accepts them.

However, if someone is not fully convinced on a matter before God, then there is a real possibility of sinning because his/her relationship before God is put into jeopardy with uncertainty interfering with the relationship. Faith is also the means by which the Romans are made right before God, and so departing from faith means reliance on other means for holiness and perhaps salvation.

For more on this topic, see my previous post: When We Should Not Debate Theology

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

Obedience to God is the foundation for all obedience to government, and so the order of allegiances is established here. Living in peace and obeying laws seems to be the focus—a balance where God comes first but law and order are still maintained. Rather than providing a blueprint for all Christian involvement in government, this passage addresses extremist who may use their allegiance to the Kingdom of God to justify revolt or the violation of laws.

We dare not take Paul’s command to submit to authorities as a tacit endorsement of all governments or all governmental policies. At the same time, Christians must wrestle with the necessity of obeying governmental authorities while committing to challenge injustice and immorality in their governments.

For the Romans, who are told to love one another with affection, honoring one another, they are once again reminded to love their neighbors as they would themselves. This seems to also satisfy the obedience required under the government, if not with all people.

Paul’s final reason for living in righteousness is the expectation of God’s coming salvation. Time is running out, so stay in step with God, living in his light rather than the darkness of evil deeds. Instead of letting their sinful natures control their minds, they are told to let Christ take control. he will lead them to righteousness and goodness.

Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ carries the sense of playing a role or assuming a part. Left to their own devices the Romans may leave debts outstanding, fail to love one another, or live in slavery to their immoral desires. In claiming their identity under the Lordship of Christ they are choosing to live in God’s light, which will soon come to define all of time and space. By putting on Christ they are claiming the resurrection power he has over sin as explained in Romans 6-8.

Whether in public or in Christian community the Romans should not let financial, relational, or sinful debts remain. They have a new identity in Christ. 

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

With a clear picture of salvation and God’s historic plan of redemption into the present in place, this letter moves into more practical matters, namely how to live holy lives as God’s people. It is good for the Romans to know they should count themselves dead to sin, alive to Christ, and empowered in the Holy Spirit, but what does this look like on a day to day basis?

The answer is a daily offering of themselves to God, becoming living sacrifices that are surrendered to God but still able to live obedient, holy lives. This is a difficult matter, as it’s easy to make pleasing one’s self the primary goal of each day. However, Paul reminds his readers that Christ has done as much for them and that such a commitment will allow God to renew their minds. This will lead to the kind of holy lives that he says they should be living. In addition, God will make his will known to them.

The result of this will be holy living where the believers can use their gifts in service to others. Even with these gifts in use, the Romans are reminded not to judge themselves according to their usefulness or magnificence of their gifts. Their measure for themselves is directly tied to their faith.

This strikes me as a good check on whether believers are seeking first God’s Kingdom and offering themselves to God daily for direction. Faith is the means by which such steps are taken, believing that God can direct and empower his people to live in holiness and obedience.

With these things in mind, Paul adds on a series of commands and pleas for right living among the believers in Rome. They are called to a counterintuitive and countercultural lifestyle of self-sacrifice and love that is simply not possible for those who have failed to offer themselves to God as helpless, God-dependent sacrifices. The power of self interest must be laid down before God in order to love neighbors, provide for them, and to meet enemies with prayers and blessings.

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

Though the majority of the Jews rejected Jesus as Messiah and the promise of God has been extended to Gentiles, the Lord has not rejected his people. He has saved a remnant. They are saved by God’s free and undeserved kindness. Many Jews have been seeking God’s favor, but his kindness is not based on merit, but rather God’s purposes in election. Only those enabled by God could respond to him.

In God’s plan to make salvation available to all people, he appointed Paul to carry the Gospel to them. However, even that calling aimed to spark jealousy among the Jews. God had not forgotten them.

God isn’t done with the Jewish people, as their lineage from Abraham is still important. Paul is hopeful for the day of salvation still coming for the Jewish people.

Since salvation comes by God’s mercy and the cutting off of some Jewish branches, Paul warns the Gentiles from thinking too highly of themselves. They should fear the possibility of falling away. God is kind to those who continue to trust in his kindness, but he is also severe to those who disobey.

God is both severe and kind, patient and decisive, cutting off and preserving. It would seem every time the Jews and Gentiles thought they had God’s plan figured out, Paul revealed new aspects of it that would seem to smash all systematizing. God has a plan and purpose in election, humans make choices they are responsible for, and those in Christ are both safe from sin and in danger of choosing to fall away.

The appropriate response to God comes at the end of this chapter: worship. Hold the truth we know about God out there, but celebrate God and the mercy that comes through the salvation offered by Christ. The last thing God needs is to be twisted and misrepresented by finite humans.

Worship is the place for humanity, whether always part of God’s plan or an addition grafted in.

Continuing my series of meditations on the book of Romans…

Paul continues to explain the mysteries of Jews and Gentiles being in Christ, the place of the Jewish people now that Jesus is the Messiah, and the nature of salvation in Christ. Instead of keeping the law, ascending to heaven, or descending to hell, God has made salvation within easy reach. It’s on our lips as a confession that Jesus is the risen Lord.

When comparing the marks of God’s covenant people now with the marks of God’s covenant people before Christ, Paul makes the nature of salvation simple to grasp: believing in one’s heart gives right standing before God. Confessing with one’s mouth brings about salvation.

This is God’s plan for all people now, and Paul wanted to emphasize its simplicity and access. This is something for the Romans to meditate on and to share. In fact, God has been moving in this direction for quite some time. Through a series of OT passages Paul proved that the Jewish rejection of their Messiah was foretold long ago.

The problem isn’t that messengers failed to go out or that God didn’t communicate with his people. The Jewish people looked for God, but with the wrong zeal and expectations, missing God’s real plan when it was revealed. In fact, the biblical proficiency of the Jewish people should give all followers of Jesus pause today. If they could miss God’s plan after essentially having the Bible memorized, there is more to being God’s people than study and knowledge.

The expectations of the Jewish people prevented them from accepting God’s salvation. Ironically, the people without knowledge or expectations received the Gospel message. God showed himself to them, hoping that this transfer of the Gospel to the Gentiles would call the Jews back. The people who should have been demonstrating God’s work among the Gentiles switched roles because of their unbelief.

There is a sadness in Paul’s words here. He sees the zeal and knowledge of his own people, and their tragic rejection of the Messiah. Nevertheless, he places his hope not in their knowledge, but in the power of the Gospel at work in the Gentiles—hoping the Jews will become jealous of God’s favor and turn back to God.

Continuing my series of meditations on the book of Romans…

Paul has established that there is salvation in Christ mediated through the Holy Spirit in chapter 8. Nothing can separate God’s people from his love. However, there may be a wrinkle in his argument here. That is what he aims to set straight.

If Israel could be described as God’s chosen people, how is it that they were separated from God? Shouldn’t the new Jew/Gentile church expect God’s plan to unravel just as it did for the Jews? Romans 9 marks the beginning of Paul’s discussion of the ramifications of Christ’s salvation for the Jewish people, while also explaining the joining of Jews and Gentiles into one people.

Throughout scripture God always reached out to the rest of creation through a chosen tribe or remnant. Abraham had several children, but only one descendant received the promise. In addition, Isaac had twins, but only Jacob received the promise. In other words, being a descendant of Abraham has never meant instant access to God. The children of God are determined according to God’s gracious action.

Though all of Israel may not have responded in faith, God has a plan to fulfill that has not gone off track. God is still working with a remnant as he has in the past. However, just as Abraham was set apart to be a blessing to all nations, there is a calling among God’s chosen people to do the same. We don’t know why God chooses some and not others, but we can rest in two simple truths from elsewhere in scripture.

For starters, God desires that all people should be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-4). It’s had to know how to make sense of Romans 9 and the doctrine of election when running into Paul’s letter to Timothy. However, there is a sense in Romans 9 that somehow God’s election sets things into motion that will spread the knowledge of himself and enable him to be merciful. Even Pharaoh was raised up in order to display God’s power throughout the world.

Secondly, when preaching to the Athenians in Acts 17:26-27, Paul says, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 2God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” Therefore, God clearly takes a very active role in his creation and orders our world so that we will reach out to him. Even in God’s election and control of circumstances, God also expects humanity to respond to his salvation and allows even the Jewish people to go astray.

Such notions are hard to compute. Our human effort cannot win God’s favor that is freely given to those he chooses. However, God desires all to be saved and reaches out to all, hoping we will respond. Regardless of the exact mechanics, the correct response is obedience to God’s calling, accepting whatever task he sets before us, whether noble or not.

The point of Romans 9 is to put Christians in their place as the vessels of God. On the one hand, there is tremendous freedom in the notion that no one can earn a place in God’s favor. In fact, for those who continue in faith, there is nothing that can separate them from God’s love. Even those who have given themselves over to sin may receive God’s merciful patience and kindness that will hopefully lead them to repentance one day.

It’s easy to get hung up on a detail or lost in the minutiae of salvation and the way God offers righteousness. It is good to meditate on these things. However, it is not good to miss out on God’s salvation when fretting over the particulars. Don’t miss out on the depth and width of God’s mercy and grace, God’s desire to extend salvation to all people, and even the hope that the Jewish people will one day widely accept Jesus as their saving Messiah.

While the Roman Christians trust in Christ as their rock, Paul turns to the application of everything he’s already shared to the Jewish people of his day. He writes that while he is the apostle to the Gentiles and believes Christ has fulfilled the requirements of the law, he shares God’s commitment to the salvation of the Jewish nation.

Continuing my series of meditations on the book of Romans with chapter eight…

There is no condemnation under sin or the law for those who belong to Jesus and live by the power of the Spirit. With this bold statement, Paul has essentially wrapped up his arguments concerning the law and sin.

He has already established that the law itself is not bad. Rather, it is incapable of saving. That is why God initiated the incarnation of Jesus who died and rose in order to destroy sin’s control over humanity and its misuse of the law to bring condemnation. Paul wants the Romans to know they are in right standing before God and the law because the Spirit applies God’s new life to them.

The Holy Spirit now takes center stage in God’s redemptive work.

As the Romans struggle with obedience and sin, Paul explains their conflict between the sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. In vv. 5-17, the Roman church is presented with a choice to allow sin or the Spirit to control their lives. Those who live under the control of the Spirit are able to live in peace, pleasing God through obedience.

The ramifications for living under God’s Spirit include belonging to Christ, freedom from the control of sin, and the same Resurrection power that brought Christ to life bringing God’s full life to fruition. Living in the freedom and obedience of God’s Spirit means the Roman believers have nothing to fear from God since they are no longer under the condemnation of sin and can consider themselves sons of God.

However, being a son of God is not free from suffering. In fact, being in God’s family requires sharing in the suffering of Christ (v.17).

In fact, life will be difficult for those patiently waiting for God’s glory to be revealed. Even with the Holy Spirit living among them, the Romans will have to wait with the rest of creation, confidently expecting God to give them full rights as his adopted children.

God’s goal for his children is that they bear a family resemblance to Jesus, the first-born son of the family. Therefore, God’s Spirit prays in accordance with God’s will, helping sons and daughters with their struggles against sin. As the Spirit prays, God works everything for the good of those who respond to God’s calling and purpose with love for God. Those who love God can trust they are being supported and carried as they submit to God’s purpose for their lives. For those called by God and known by him, there is struggle and sacrifice, but God is gracious, offering them right standing before God and his glory.

For those in God’s family through the Holy Spirit, there is nothing that can separate them from God’s love. External or internal circumstances have no sway, even in the most dire of situations involving hunger, danger, or death. God’s deep love is for his people, and so no other power or situation can change that.

These are the spiritual realities of the Christian life, and they are worthy of our deepest consideration.

I took a few days away from blogging to market a few things, to film a goofy video of my rabbit eating lettuce, and then to help a friend move in to her place at Long Island. It was a welcome break from writing in general that has me ready to jump back into blogging. However, before we dig into today’s passage, I have a story of my own stupidity to tell.

The night before leaving for Long Island, I had a tough time sleeping. Our new futon, which we sleep on, is way more firm than anything I’ve slept on for years. And so I rose at 5 AM to catch the ferry feeling a bit like a zombie. That feeling persisted all day.

I had a 6:30 PM ferry to catch in order to head back to Connecticut, meaning I needed to be at the dock by 6 PM, and leaving my friend’s place by 5:30 PM. For some stupid reason I became convinced that I needed to be there by 5 PM.

So she dropped me off at 5 PM, I waved goodbye, and I walked to the ticket office. I noticed a rather large, white, ferry sort of boat leaving the harbor. I checked to the schedule. That was the 4:45 PM boat. I had a long time to wait. I made the most of it however, sitting down to a plate of steamed clams with a view of the tiny harbor. Things went swimmingly until my 6:30 PM ferry began pitching in the Sound’s rolling waves.

Ick. Not ick for too long, but just a general ick for an hour.

And now for some meditations on Romans 6…

Paul has established the problem of sin among the Romans and has explained the role of Christ’s death and resurrection in giving us new life through the grace and kindness of God. In chapter six he becomes a broken record of sorts, expounding on the importance of leaving sin behind because the Romans have died to it, and then making the decision to live as servants of God. It’s a simple message really, but it’s one that every Christian must wrestle with day by day.

Though Paul is working toward his climax in which he states that death is conquered by God’s free gift in Christ, Paul begins this section by explaining the union of believers with the death and resurrection of Christ that frees them from sin. Those who have died to sin and risen with Christ have no obligation to live under the sway of sin.

A Debate Over Baptism

This passage is one of the more mystical ones of scripture because Paul speaks of believers as having been united with Christ’s death and resurrection by becoming Christians and being baptized. The implication is that God’s resurrecting power is at work with us in the same way it’s at work in Christ. This has led to a great deal of debate about the role of baptism in salvation. Does baptism illustrate what God is accomplishing or is it a necessary part of the equation.

I won’t be able to settle this one here, but there are some articles that help flesh out the issues: Is baptism necessary for salvation? and Baptismal Regeneration in Wikipedia. I think some reading on atonement theories will help readers of Romans 6 sort through some of the things to look at out for as well. So far as I can tell, we know people can be saved apart from baptism, i.e. the thief on the cross whom Jesus promised to see in paradise, but we also should be wary of minimizing this important, ancient sacrament. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more to it than an illustration, but it’s hard to know how far to take that.

The Choice of Holiness

The major theme that arises throughout the rest of the chapter is the prospect of making a choice to live in the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. Christians need not ask for Christ to free them from sin, but rather to live in the power of that reality. In other words, we can still choose to obey sin, but God has given us the victory through Christ that we can claim. In this sense, we are very much dependent on the Holy Spirit to apply God’s saving work to our lives.

This passage also brings up the idea of offering ourselves to God. This comes up later in Romans 12, but as Paul speaks of offering ourselves as slaves or servants to sin or to God, we have a great illustration of what it looks like to live holy day to day. I like to begin by asking, “Am I offering myself to God?” If I am, then I need to keep it up, choosing to live in the reality of his life and power. If not, then I know I need to look for his redemption and renewal.