Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Christian Unity
Paul doesn't deal with any problems in his letter to the Ephesians. All news was good news from the people at Ephesus, and Paul had the joyous priviledge of writing a positive letter to encourage them. The theme of his letter is "Christian Unity". Paul had established many churches and watched them grow, so he knew that without unity nothing else really matters. And with unity nothing can defeat the church.
In his first three chapters, Paul lays the foundation of christian unity. In his last two chapters, he describes the practical results of christian unity. In this post I am going to focus the attention on this forth chapter. Here Paul speaks of (1) the behavior of christian unity, (2) the basis of christian unity, and (3) the benefits of christian unity.
1. The behavior of christian unity (Eph. 4:1-3)
Paul begins with behavior, it has everything to do with christian unity. Often it appears that behavior is more important than beliefs in maintaining unity in the church. For example, in any giving church are many different beliefs concerning prophecy, the second coming of Christ, and social practices, and yet most of these churches are in unity. But a person could absolutely destroy a church by their misbehavior.
Few church splits can be traced to bad theology. But many can be traced to bad behavior. ( I can list several such splits, but I wont.) Therefore, Paul quickly and directly deals with behavior as a matter of priority. " I beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith you are called," (v 1). In case the church at Ephesus doesn't understand what kind of behavior Paul is talking about, he spells it out for them. He lists seven characteristics of the kind of behavior that builds christian unity.
A. It is compatable with our calling; If we are to help bring christian unity, we must conduct ourselves in a manner that doesn't reflect poorly on our calling as christians. Since we bear the name of Christ, we must not bring that name into disrepute.
B. It is humble; (v2). With all lowliness and meekness, A very wise person once said, " Egotism is the sedative nature provides to deaden the pain of being a fool."
But how does humility come about? It comes from two things:
1. Self-knowledge. Humility depends on honesty; it depends on having the courage to look at ourselves without the rose colored glasses of self-admiration and self-love.
2. God-knowledge. Humility comes from comparing our life with the life of Christ. As long as we compare ourselves with others, we may come out of the comparison fairly well. It is when we compare ourselves with Christ that we see our own failure. God-knowledge plus self-knowledge brings humility.
C. It is gentle (v 2). Those who are gentle are so God-controlled that they are continually kind and gracious towards others. They are people in whom self has died through whom Christ in all His humility lives. Paul said, " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me..."(Gal. 2:20)
D. It is patient (v 2). Patience has been defined as , the spirit that has the power to take revenge but never does. Patience is the spirit that bears insult without bitterness or complaint.
E. It is magnanimous (v2). as christians we must make allowances for one another; we must be magnanimous towards others and their faults as God has been magnanimous towards us.
F. It is loving (v2). We should not bear with one another through sheer grit and determination, but through christian love. There are four Greek words for love, but the word used here is the highest. It means that we must love others so much that nothing they do or say will keep us from loving them and seeking their highest good. Even though they mistreat us and hurt us, we will feel only kindness towards them.
2. The basis of christian unity ( Eph. 4:4-6)
Behavior is important to christian unity. But a sound basis is absolutely indispensable. What is the basis, the foundation, on which christian unity is built? Paul lays seven foundation stones: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God.
A. One body; (v4) Christ is the head and the church is the body. The unity of the church is essential for the work of Christ.
B. One Spirit (v4) There is one Holy Spirit, and He is saying and inspiring the same in all He is consistant, He doesn't bounce all over from one thing to the next, and He always speaks from the scripture. He is one Spirit, with one voice, and one motivation.
C. One hope; This is the hope of the ultimate consummation of our salvation in heaven.
D. One Lord (v5). " I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by Me." ( Jn. 14:6)
E One Faith (v5). Paul is not talking about a set of beliefs that may characterize a particular denomination. There is " one faith" by which people come into a saving relationship with Christ as Lord. There may be many "faiths" (denominations), but there is only one by which we are saved-faith in Jesus as Savior.
F. One Baptism (v5). Just as there is one faith through which we come into a saving relationship with Christ, there is "one baptism" through which we make an outward demonstration of that inward experience.
G. One God (v6). There is one God-- and one God unites us into one family of God. Paul says four things about God.
1. He is Father of All-- that is, He created all.
2. He is above all--that is, He controls all.
3. He is through all--that is He sustains all.
4. He is in all-- that is, He is present everywhere.
3. The benefits of christian unity ( Eph. 4:28-32)
Quite predictably someone may ask, "Why all the fuss about unity? Does it really make that much difference? What are the benefits of christian unity?"
The last five verses of this chapter list the benefits of christian unity. Here we learn that unity in the church does make a difference--a big difference! Let's look at what happens when unity prevails.
A. Conduct is changed (v28). When there is christian unity, there is a change in conduct. No longer do we ask, "What can I get?" but rather, "What can I share?" When we are united in allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, the hope of heaven to challenge us, and the Lord Jesus to guide us, our conduct is changed.
B. Conversation is clean (v29). "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth..." It is difficult, if not impossible, to be in unity with God and His people and still have a filthy mouth. An ancient proverb says," The heart of man is a well, and the mouth of a man is a bucket, and that which is in the well of the heart can be determined by what is in the bucket of the mouth."
C. Commitment is deepened (v30). when we live each moment aware that there is but one Holy Spirit by which we have been born again, we desire to do nothing to grieve Him. One of the benefits of christian unity is that we reach a level of commitment beyond beyond which we will not grieve the Holy Spirit.
D. Conflict is eliminated (v31). Unity gets rid of conflict. Conflict comes from "the sins of the spirit" Paul has dealt with the sins of the flesh. now he deals with the sins of the spirit-- or "christian sins". These are identified as " bitterness,and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking...with all malice." When we are one in Christ, we are free from all such disruptive and divisive conflicts.
E. Kindness is practiced (v32). To be kind means to exercise thoughtful consideration.
When the Roman soldiers on guard at Jesus' crucifixion were dividing the prisoners clothes, they came to Jesus' coat and discovered that it was seamless. To tear it would ruin it. For this reason they decided to keep it intact and to cast lots for it.
The seamless robe of Christ has become a metaphor for the unity of the church. Henry Ward Beecher prayed that the church might be one again, like the seamless robe of his Lord. The metaphor is one of great beauty and it quite appropriate. Strife and divisions within the church have been ugly efforts to tear into pieces the sacred garment of the truth.
The Crucified One must look down sadly at the miserable conflict between those He died to redeem. His look of love and sorrow is reminisent of His prayer, ..." that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent Me, and have loved them, as you have loved Me." (Jn 17:23)
Transforming Friendships
Some of our most meaning relationships are those we have with friends. We can recall with warm feelings the hours we spent together and the joys, sorrows, and experiences we have shared. The Bible speaks highly of friendships: " A man that has friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother." (Prov. 18-24)
Friendships help to make life beautiful and enjoyable. Elizabeth Barrett Browning once asked novelist Charles Kingsley the secret of his life. He thought a moment, then replied, " I had a friend." One of the most important things we can do in life is to make friends and cultivate lasting friendships.
When we come to the last section of the letter to the Colossians, we meet a whole host of Paul's friends who were with him in Rome. Remember that he was a prisoner and it was probably dangerous to be his friend. But these men chose to demonstrate their friendship and loyalty to Paul by staying with him. Some of these names we identify instantly--Mark and Luke, for example--but others are not so familiar.
In these names and references we find a great message: the message of transforming friendships. We can see a lot of gospel in the names mentioned here.
1. A Transforming friendshio can change a life.
A. A life can be changed. Paul refused to write about his personal problems in this public letter. The bearer of the letter, Tychicus, would fill them in on those details. With him would be Onesimus, who was described as a " faithful and dear brother," (col. 4-9) and who was evidently a native of Colosse.
Onesimus was the slave of Philemon, also of Colosse. He had stolen something from Philemon and fled to Rome to lose himself among the crowds. But while he was there he met someone--Paul--who introduced him to someone else--Jesus Christ. Now this man who once had been a fugitive slave was going back to Colosse with a letter to the church, but also with a letter to Philemon from Paul. In this letter Paul appeals to Philemon to take him in and receive him as a brother.
B. The friendship that changes a life makes it profitable. "Profitable" is the meaning of Onesimus's name. Before he was introduced to Christ, Onesimus had been anything but profitable. But his friendship with Paul and his new relationship with Jesus had transformed his life, making him profitable indeed.
2. A transforming friendship can develop steadfastness.
A. A staedfast friend shares experiences with you. Aristarchus was a native of Thessalonica who was a Jew by birth. Called " a fellow prisoner," he willingly shared the bondage of all believers in Christ.
B. A steadfast friend stays with you. Aristarchus is seen three times in the New Testement: during the riot at Ephesus at the temple of Diana when he was captured by the mob (acts 19:29), when Paul sailed as a prisoner for Rome (Acts 27:2), and here with Paul in Rome. He was a man who stood by Paul in a crisis, always at hand in times of need.
Someone has described a friend as one who steps in when the whole world steps out.
3. A transforming friendship can build a life.
A. Hasty decisions can hurt friendships. Mark is the next name mentioned. Mark had set out with Paul and Barnabus ( he was a relative of Barnabus) on the first missionary jouney but soon left them and went home to Jerusalem. Paul refused to take him with them on the second journey. Their mission team broke up because of Mark.
B.Friendships can rebuild and reclaim lives. Mark's life was mended because of friendship. Now Paul had Mark with him in a place of difficult service.
4. A transforming friendship can weld a heart of loving service.
A. Loving service can renew a church. Paul mentions Epaphras, who was likely the founder and pastor of the church at Colosse as well as those at Hieropolis and Laodicea. The concern that he had for the people there was manifested as he prayed daily for them that they might stand within the will of God.
B. Loving service can show a contrast in fidelity. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas are mentioned. Demas is mentioned only here, in Philemon 24, and in 2 Timothy 4:10, where the sad and haunting words appear, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world." The following verse reads, "Only Luke is with me now." Demas and Luke show a contrast in fidelity.
C. Loving service is willing to share one's home for Christ. The last name listed is Nym-phas, who offered her home as the meeting place for the church. She shared what she had with Christ.
We show friendship to God and others when we serve them faithfully. We are friends of Christ when we obey what He commands and witness to others of what He has done for us. And we do all this because Christ showed His love for us by laying down His life for us.
When You Have Been Wronged
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in dispair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast, down but not destroyed; (2 Cor. 4:8-8)
Some people at Corinth did not like Paul. They were infuriated by his insistence on christian morality and his daring to correct those whose lives proved to be contradictions to their profession. These worldly church members and the judaizers joined forces against him. The man who seemed to be the ringleader was the same man Paul reprimanded in 1Corinthians (5:1-5) for having an affair with his stepmother. Apparently this man was influential. He persisted in his sin, leading an open revolt against Paul and and taking some of the leaders with him.
Because of Paul's second letter, the church came back into line. They recognized the evil of this man and disciplined him. But in the process Paul was grieviously wronged, both by this man and others in the church. They said Paul had no authority to advise them, that he carried no letters of commendation from the leaders in Jerusalem as they did, and that he had a weak and unimpressive appearance. They also accused him of going back on his word by not visiting Corinth when he said he would. If ever a man was wronged, Paul certainly was. But because of his strong christian witness even under fire, he has provided us with three basic truths that we can apply to our own lives when we have been wronged.
1. Lessons to learn (2Cor. 2:14) Any time we are wronged we can learn a lesson from the experience and emerge stronger and wiser. When Paul was wronged he learned three valuble leasons from his experience.
A. How to triumph over wrong (2:14). To triumph over wrong does not mean to overcome it or defeat it. Rather, it means to refuse to be overcome or defeated by it. We may not be able to control what others do, but we can control how we respond to the wrong done. There is both a human and a divine side to this victory. If we do our part, God will be faithfull to do His part.
1. Human endurance. " And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings: (2Cor 1:6)
An old mule, thought to be of no further use, was put into a deep ditch, and shovel after shovel of dirt was thrown down to bury him. The old mule refused to be buried. He would shake the dirt off his back, pack it down under his feet, and gradually but surely stand higher and higher until, after enough dirt was thrown on him, he simply stepped out of the ditch and galloped away!
2. Divine comfort. "For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ." (2Cor. 1:5). We are not left to face our trails with sheer human endurance alone. The comfort of God sustains us. Between verses three and seven the word comfort ( or consolation) appears nine times. " The God of all comfort" (v3) uphold us with His compassion and care.
B. How to comfort others who have been wronged. Our God is the one "Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted by God." (2Cor. 1:4) Once we have endured suffering and sorrow, we are better able to help others who are struggling with the hardships of life.
C. How dependant we are on God. "...that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we dispaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:" (2Cor. 1:8-9) We have no information about the terrible experience that Paul went through at Ephesus. But he recognized the experience had been beneficial--it had driven him closer to God. It proved to him his utter dependence on God.
2. Attitudes to display. (2Cor. 1:13; 2:5-11; 3:1-2). Anytime we are wronged we must realize that real injury is not the wrong itself but the attitude that it creates. Rarely does being wronged cripple us. But we can cripple ourselves by our attitude toward those who have wronged us. Paul portrays the kind us attitude we must whenever we suffer an injustice.
A. An attitude of openness. " For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we had have our conversation ( conducted ourselves) in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. For we write no other things to you, than what you read or acknowledge; and I trust you shall acknowledge even to the end." (2Cor. 1:12-13)
Some claimed that Paul in his letters didn't quite mean what he said. Paul replied that there were no hidden meanings in his words. He had maintained an attitude of absolute openness during his entire experience. He had told nothing but the truth, being honest with everybody involved. In the language of today he " called it the way he saw it."
What are we suposed to say when we have been wronged? We just need to tell the truth. we are not to be vindictive or accusative; we are to be open. And an attitude of openness is always the right attitude during troubling times.
B. An Attitude of Forgiveness. (2Cor. 2:5-11) When Paul came to Corinth he encountered the ringleader of the opposition. Paul's short visit had been poisoned by the efforts of one man. This man had insulted Paul. Although the man had been disciplined, some church members felt that it had not been severe enough and wanted to impose a still greater punishment. It is at this time that Paul's greatness shone through. Paul said that enough had been done. The man had repented, and to add more discipline now would do more harm than good. It might even drive the man to dispair.
Our job is not to render sinners harmless by beating them into submission. Instead, our job is to gather them back into the kingdom of God.
C. An attitude of innate integrity. (2Cor. 3:1-2). There are two kinds of integrity. "Infused " integrity is the reputation we hope to gain by what others say about us. "Innate" integrity, is the character that is ours because of the persons we are. One is counterfeit, the other is genuine. One is assumed, the other is inherent.
When we have been wronged, we should display the attitude of innate integrity. We don't have to answer every charge leveled at us. Our life and character are answer enough.
3. Ministries to fulfill (2Cor. 4:1). Paul says, "Therfore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." (2Cor. 4:1). In essence, Paul is saying,"In spite of the terrible wrong that has been done to me, I will not be discouraged and I will not quit--I have a minisrty to fulfill!
Too many people give up when they are wronged. If Paul had been easily discouraged, he would have quit the ministry long before he reached Corinth. We cannot allow the criticisms and ill will of others to distract us from our calling--we have ministries to fulfill. And the more quickly we begin to fulfill our ministry, the more quickly we will recover from the wrong done to us.
A. The ministry of Proclaiming Jesus Christ (2Cor. 4:5, 7-11; 5:18-20)
B. The ministry of separating ourselves from the world ( 2Cor. 6:17). Even when we are wronged by professing christians, we have a ministry to fufill. We must not allow offenses to cause us to give up and return to the world. We are called to separate ourselves from the world.
C. The ministry of dedicating our possessions (2Cor. 9:7) Even if we have been wronged by others in the church, we are still called to dedicate our possessions to God. Our christian stewardship is not unto men but unto God.
D. The ministry of celebrating our sufferings. ( 2Cor. 12:7-10). Paul says, "...therfore I willl rather glory in my infimities ( weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in my infirmities (weaknesses), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2Cor. 12: 9-10) Paul is saying, " If I am suffering in any way, for the gospel's sake, It will become a ministry of celebration because my suffering will be a living demonstration of the love of God as He delivers me from it.
When we have been wronged we have (1) lessons to learn, (2) attitudes to display, (3) ministries to fufill. Whatever wrongs we may have faced, we can say with Paul, "Now thanks be to God, which always cause us to triumph in Christ,....." ( 2Cor. 2:14).
Monday, February 25, 2013
The Most Excellent Way
You can live anyway you want to live. You are the only person who has the power to determine how you will live. You can be agreeable or disagreeable, a help or a hinderance, an asset or a liability to yourself, your family,your coworkers, and the kingdom of God. But Paul says, "Now I show you a more excellent way." The christian was never meant to be a good way even a better way, but rather the most excellent way!
Paul had just received a letter from the church at Corinth listing all kinds of problems that had arisen in their fellowship for one reason: They were not following the most excellent way. Paul is saying, " In light of your varied lifestyles and the difficulties, and heartaches they have brought upon the church, it is high time you recognize your need to follow the most excellent way!"
In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul gives four reasons why love is the most excellent way.
1. It;'s ministry of Healing. ( 1Cor 1:10-17)
The church at Corinth had written a long letter to Paul listing several or their problems. But one problemthat was not listed was divisions in the church. Paul learned of this problem from the relatives of Chloe, a wellknown member of the congregation. He is not secretive; he names the source of his information and then deals directly with the problem. The fact that he chooses to deal first with divisions in the church proves that of all the problems mentioned he considered this one to be the most critical. It is to this problem that he applies the healing ministry of love.
A. The healing ministry of love is realized when Christ is honored. ( 1 Cor. 1:12-16) In 1 Corinthians 1:12 we can see what Paul may be saying about each group that wanted to rally around some human personality. Some said, " I follow Paul." Paul did not take this as a compliment, nor does any preacher. In claiming to follow Paul the theologian they were claiming to be great theologues. Others said, "I follow Apollos." These were the "cultured vulture" who worship good speaking, since Apollos was prince of preachers. Still others said, "I follow Cephas [Peter]," the firey evangalist. This is the" tell- it- like- it- is" crowd. And the "super christians" said, "I follow Christ."
In light of these childish divisions, Paul turns to some wholesome humer. He makes fun of the situation as he singles himself out as an example. In verse 13 he asks a series of questions: "Is Christ fragmented? Tell me about it." "Was Paul crucified for you? I haven't noticed any nail prints in my hands...." Did Christ say in the great commision to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of Paul the apostle?" In verses 14-16 Paul expresses relief that he baptized just a few, lest that make them his followers.
B. The healing ministry of love is realized when the gospal is preached (1:17). The gospelis the good news about the healing ministry of Christ's love. Christ is the focal point of the gospel--not Paul or Apollos or Peter or any other man.
2. Its simplicity of language (1Cor. 2:1-2). Love is never concerned with impressing others with our importance, our knowledge, our intelligence, or our "eloquence or superior wisdom" (2:1). Love of self is vitally concerned with these things, but not the love that is the most excellent way. This kind of love is concerned with clearly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and His power to save.
If any man could have complicated the simple with multisyllable words, Paul could have. He certainly had the vocabulary and the intellect to do it. But Paul had been down the empty halls of acadamia as a Pharisee and found nothing until he encountered the most excellent way of God's redemptive love.
Someone has said, "It is nice to be important, but it is important to be nice." paul was nice enough to speak in love's simple language so everybody could understand. No wonder Paul says, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (2:4-5)
As long as our faith is based on "men's wisdom," it can fall. There will always be someone wiser than us who can undermine that faith. But when our faith rests " on God's power," no one on earth and no power of satan can cause that faith to fall!
3. Its competency for solving problems ( 1 Cor 5-12). In these eight chapters, Paul addresses himself to that long list of problems that the christians in Corinth had written. The problems included lawsuits, sexual immorality, marriage, food sacrificed to idols, the place of women in the church, abuses of the Lord's supper, and false piety. In all fairness Paul deals with one problem at a time. He does not rush through these problems as though they were not serious. Rather, he he devotes eight chapters to discussing them. But at the end of his discussion he informs the Corinthians that there is not one problem they have shared that love can't solve. Especially in the face of life's problems, Paul sees love as the most eacellent way because of its competency for problem solving.
A. The problem of sexual immorality (5:1-2). Paul is saying that when our christian friends fall into sin, we must confront them in love and ask them to turn away from their sin. If they refuse, we must cut off all association with them. because we love the church, we cannot allow the continuation of this problem to infect it. Love is the most excellent way to handle any form of sexual impurity. When we love others we won't use them to stisfy our own desires. We wont inflict the guilt and hurt of sexual immorality.
B. The problem with lawsuits (6:1-8). Love is the most excellent way to resolve differences. Paul says it is unchristian for fellow believers to take their differences to a court made up of unbelievers- to rely on those who know nothing of the grace of God to settle their problems. Paul notes that any problem between christians can and ought to be in the spirit of christian love.
C. The problem of abusing our christian liberty (chapter 8). Paul contends that souls are more important than steak. People are more valuable than meat. Lives are more important than our liberty. When we are tempted to say, " It is my right to do this or to say that," we must remember the words of Paul, who advocates the most excellent way: " All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient:..." (6:12)
There are certain times when we have every right to do a certain thing. But the most excellent way of love reminds us that if exercising our liberty cause even one brother or sister to stumble, we should renounce that liberty.
D. The problem of placing our piety on parade (chapter 12). When the more excelent way of love binds us together as the body of Christ, nothing can sever that unity. We care for onr another-- we rejoice with one another. Love is the most excellent way, becauseit removes any competitive or jealous spirit among God's people. It takes piety off parade and puts Jesus Christ on parade!
4. Its superiority of value ( 1cor. 12:31-13:13). Paul concludes chapter 12 by saying, " And yet show I to you a more excellent way." Then he sets forth the beautiful love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. And now these three remain: faith, hope,and love. But the greatest of these is love" (v13). Why is love " the greatest of these"? Why is it the most excellent way? Because of its superiority of value.
A. The the superiority of loves value is seen in the worth it imparts to the gifts of the Spirit ( 13:5-13). These gifts have no intrinsic value. The only value they have is the value love imparts to them.
B. The superiority of loves value is seen in the words used to describe it.
Paul ends his letter with these words: "Let all your things be done with love." (16:14). Then he closes with, " My love be with you all in Christ Jesus" ( 16:24) Love is the most excellent way because of its ministry of healing, simplicity of language, competency for problem solving, and its superiority of value.
Believe And Behave
"Believe and Behave" is the central theme of the book of Romans. Paul contends that what we believe has everything to do with how we behave. If our belief is wrong, our behavior will be wrong. And if our behavior is wrong, our belief cannot be right. Our behavior says more about our beliefs than does our verbal testimony or writtencreed.
We often tend to emphasize either belief or behavior to the exclusion of the other, which makes for a partial and imbalanced christianity. Paul, a man of balanced faith, assigns equal importance to each. The first eleven chapters of Romans deal with belief and the last five with behavior.
In the winter of A.D. 57-58, Paul was in Corinth at the end of his third missionary journey. He was soon returning to Jerusalem with and offering for the poor. A woman named Phoebe, who lived in a suburb of Corinth, was soon to sail to Rome. Paul saw an opportunity to send this letter to the church of Rome with her.
Because there was no postal service in the Roman Empire except for government business, personal letters had to be carried by friends. Paul was not sure he would get away from Jerusalem alive. Desiring to to leave a written explanation of the gospel of salvation in the hands of the christians in Rome, he wrote this letter, which Phoebe delivered safely to the church.
Realizing that this may be his only communication with the church so strategically located in the capital of the world, he stressed what he must have felt to be the two cardinal truths of the christian faith--the belief that results in salvation and the behavior that results from salvation.
1. The Belief That Results in Salvation. ( Rom. 1:16)
After a few brief words of introduction, Paul proclaims, " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ..." (Romans 1:16). What kind of belief enables us to receive salvation?
A. Belief in the unlimited power of salvation. Paul says that he is proud of the gospel of salvation. He considers himself privileged to preach it. What a strange statement considering all that had recently happened to him! At Phillipi he had been jailed, at Thessalonica he had been expelled, at Berea he had been smuggled out, and at Athens he had been scorned.
The gospel Paul preached in Corinth was considered "foolishness" by the Greeks and a "stumbling block" by the Jews. In spite of the opposition, Paul says the gospel "is the power of God unto salvation!" The unlimited power of the gospel made Paul victorious over every obstacle in his path
Whe Pual speaks of "the power of God unto salvation," he speaks from personal experience. At first he hated the christian faith; his heart was calloused against the call of God. He even planned a journey to Damascus to arrest and persecute those who were followers of Christ.
If ever a man were unbending in his conviction, Paul was that man. Nothing could change him--until he encountered the person of Jesus Christ. It was then that he discovered the unlimited power of God that can change any person, anywhere, in any condition! The belief that besults in salvation is a belief in the unlimited power of salvation.
B. Belief in the unrestricted availablity of salvation. Paul proclaims that this salvation is available to all who believe. Why does Paul say, "To the Jew first"? Because they were in the immediate proximity and had the best religious background for accepting the gospel. Then he says, "And also to the Greek." The gospel reached Greeks as well as Jews.
The Greeks were the intellectuals of the first century and were often cynical. Stoicism and Epicureanism were four hundred years old, and ineach the evcitement had almost gone out of the movements and decay had set in. Greek-Roman religion in the first century was confused and caotic, with so many gods and deitied that cities even maintained "catch-all" shrines to provide emanations that might be overlooked.
What caused Greeks to become christians? The answer is revealed in the opening of Pauls address on Mars hill: " The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands" ( Acts 17:24). In place of the randomness that Athens offered, Paul tells of a God who can speak for Himself and who is not contained in human thought. Jesus provides an unrestricted, universally available salvation.
In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul says that salvation is available without restriction because of several factors.
1. The "need" requires it. " For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). Since all have sinned, salvation is available to all. It is available without restriction because paople have sinned without exception.
2. The "grace" that provides it. " For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life though Jesus Christ our Lord" (6:23). Salvation is available without restriction not because of human goodness but because of God's grace. If salvation were available on the basis of our goodness, it could not be availabe without restriction.
3. The "price" that purchased it. "But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (5:8). How could God "prove His love toward us" through the death of Christ? Because " God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself" (2Cor. 5:19). Christ died for us, He deid on our behalf--voluntarily. "I lay down my life... no man takes it from me" (John 10:17-18).
A little boy made a toy boat, but soon he lost it in the street gutter in front of his home. It was swept down the street sewer. Later he saw it in the window of a pawn shop. He saved his pennies and paid one dollar for the boat. As he left the shop he said, " little boat, you're mine twice-- I made you and I purchased you."
We are God's twice. He made us and He ourchased us.
4. The "love' that ensures it. Robert Bruce, a disciple of John Knox, deid on July 27, 1631. That morning he had come to breakfast and his younger daughter sat by his side.
As he mused in silence, suddenly he cried: " Hold, daughter, hold; my Master calleth me." He asked that the Bible should be brought, but his sight failed him and he could not read. "Cast me up the eighth of Romans," cried he, and he repeated much of the latter portion of this scripture till he came to the last two verses: "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "Set my finger on these words," said the blind dying man; "God be with you my children. I breakfasted with you, and I shall sup with my Lord Jesus this night. I die believing in these words" (marcus loane, the hope of glory [ waco:word, 1969], 160).
For belief to be valid, it must accompany the right behavior.
2. The behavior that results from salvation (Rom. 12:1-2; 13:1-5; 14:21; 15:1-3)
Belief results in salvation- behavior results from salvation. In other words, belief saves us and behavior proves that we are saved. Paul points out that our belief in the gospel will affect three areas of our behavior.
A. Our conduct ( Rom. 12:1-2). " I beseech you therefore...." Whenever we see the word "therefore" in scripture we need to find out what it's there for. It always looks back on what has been said. Paul is saying, "In the light of the belief that results in salvation, I now set forth the behavior that results from salvation." You have believed, therefore you should behave!" He did not say "I command you!" He says, "I beseech you." After all, he is writing to those who have already believed in Christ and thus should of their own volition behave as believers.
There may be things we cannot do and much we cannot give, but by the grace of God we can behave!
1. Our conduct should be voluntary--"present your bodies" (v1)
2. Our conduct should refuse to be molded by others. "Be not conformed..."(v2). christians don't take the color of their social enviroment. Like their Savior, christians are distinctively different from those around them!
3. Our conduct should come from within. "But be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..."(v2). Until we have genuine belief that results in salvation, we lack the power to behave. But when Christ comes into our lives, we become new cretures. Christ becomes the center of our lives.
B. Our citizenship (Rom. 13:1-5). Our citizenship--the way we relate to people in elected positions of authority--may be the greatest testemony we have. In God's economy there is no place for the destuctive spirit of rebellion and anarchy.
C. Our concern. (Rom. 14:21; 15:1-3). In chapter 14 Paul says that salvation enables christians to place the concerns of others above their own self-ish interests. When we reach this level of behavior, the criteria is no longer merely "is it right or wrong?" but rather "will it cause my brother to stumble?"
If our belief in Christ is genuine, we will behave as Christ would. We won't be out to please ourselves, to prove out point, or to insist on our own way. Rather our lives will be characterized by the christian love of which Paul speaks in 1Corinthians 13: " Love is patient, love is kind.... It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs" (vv 4-5)
Believe and behave! Thats the message of the book of Romans. "Believe and behave--not Believe or behave. When we grab both of these truths so that they are both translated into our everyday lives, then Paul's letter to the church in Rome has accomplished its purpose both in the church of times past and in our time.
We Reap What We Sow
The eeger lad with exuberance on his journey. His stepa must have been lighter as he anticipated the experience of a new country. With the help of the Lord, Jacob immediately found the counrty where his mother's kinfolks lived. The adrenaline must have been flowing in his system, because when he saw Rachel, he was able by himself, to roll the stone from the well's mouth, a task that usually required several men. When he identified himself to Rachel, she was delighted to know him and ran to tell her father.
Jacob the schemer met his match in Laban, his mother's brother. Jacob remained as a guest for a month, but after that Laban suggested that a contract be drawn up for work. Jacob proposed that he work seven years for Laban's daughter, and at that time she would become his wife. However Jacob did not count on Laban's craftiness.
The wedding feast was a great one, with all the customs of that day. The morning after the wedding had been consumated in the darkness of the tent, Jacob discovered he had slept with Leah, Laban's elder daughter, rather than Rachel. Of course he raised a great objection, but Laban showed him the "fine print" in the contract and explained ti was the custom of their country never to give the younger daughter in marriage until the firstborn was wedded. As a result, Jacob had to serve another seven year term for Rachel. Naturayyl, Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. However, God blessed Leah with many children. It was a long time before Rachel even bore her first child, and then she died giving birth to her second one. Some great lessons stand out to be learned from this story.
1. God leads His children along.
How refreshing for us to know that in spite of our shortcomings and sins, God can use us. The Lord had chosen Jacob as the channel through which the Messiah would come. If we had been choosing, no doubt we might have picked Esau, for in many ways he was a more likable character. Yet Jacob, with all his indesirable traits, had a nature sensitive tp God's will. He did not always act in accordance with this knowledge, but he genuinely loved God in spite of his personal ambition and inconsistant nature. Esau, on the other hand, was a worldly wise sophistcate who felt no need for religious affiliation or divine support.
God blesses us when we are earnestly trying to do His will. He will lead us if we will just keep ourselves in tune with Him. He does not count our mistakes, but only our intentions. His is always ready to wipe the slate clean and give us a fresh start. The land of Laban was the place of "begiining again" for Jacob. We too can know the joy of starting afresh if we honestly seek the Father's face and His will.
2. The Web of Deception is a Tangled One.
A poet wrote, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." Jacob learned this truth firsthand. He started out as a supplanter. Nothing mattered to him except getting what he wanted. He did not care if he hurt anyone in securing the things he felt he must have at a given moment. Then he met someone who operated from the same base. Experts do not agree as to whether or not we inherit emotional qualities, but we cannot help bur wonder if Jacob's "craftiness" was from his mother's side of the family. After all, she helped him in deceiving Issac, and now we see that her brother has the same characteristics. Even Jacob the schemer was not going to gain the upper hand with Laban, because Laban had more resources to work with and therefore had Jacob at a disadvantage.
What do you imagine Jacob thought the morning after his wedding when he found Leah in his tent? Do you suppose that he saw any relationship between the darkness of the tent the night before and the darkness of his father's eyes when Jacob tricked to receive his blessing? The similarities are too great to go unnoticed. Jacob must have felt great remorse. We do not, however, see any repentance at this moment. Sin had stalked its victim! Jacob was now getting a dose of his own medicine.
3. God Always Sends Compensation.
The relationship between Jacob and his wives as an interesting one. God blessed Leah with children, which was the greatest honor that could come to a woman of the day. A man from Israel, reflected the feeling of his people even to this day as he suggested that Rachel was the "beauty Queen" who did not want to work, While Leah was the better of the two. Also, Rachel died earlier and was buried by the side of the road near Bethlehem. She never enjoyed the blessings and fruits of old age. Leah, however lived a long time and was finally buried in the cave of Machpelah with Jacob, her husband, and the other two patriarchs and their wives. Nearly four millenia have passed, but the grave of Leah is still honored. Also, God sent the Savior through one of Leah's sons, Judah. Life indeed has a strange way of sending compensating blessings for our inadequacies and adversities.
Jacob's life is a strange mixture, a paradox, a dilemma. On one hand he was a schemer and suffered for it. On the other hand, God stood within the shadows and kept watch over Jacob. He overruled Jacob's mistakes and sins and blessed him in spite of them. Aren't you Happy that we serve a God who, because of His mercy, forgives our sins?