Tag: Romans

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

This is the start of a very sobering passage of scripture. “…although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him” – Here is the scary part…can’t this be those of us who claim to follow Jesus too? This is where the “Fear of the LORD” comes in. I do think Paul is talking about something more deliberate in the heart of those he is talking about, but it still gives me pause in terms of how the LORD sees this type of behavior and thinking that can come about in my life with distractions and life as an idol.

The LORD is so gracious and merciful that even when I find that an entire 8 hours has gone by, and all I have thought about is work, I still long for the fellowship and closeness of my Creator and Savior. I kick myself for not seeing and embracing how the LORD can be at my side and make me my best in honoring and glorifying Him, if I were to just include Him all along the way. It is during these times that I am embarrassed and humble in my prayer of confession and admitting that neglected the Spiritual Life the LORD has for me.

APPLICATION

LORD God, please help me to establish routines that never neglect to include You, to turn to You first, and to be that much more aware of the opportunities to share You with the world around me.

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Shorter write up today as it is really just a continuation of the final portion of verse 19 from yesterday.

The existence of God is clear. What I have heard from most of the scientist-like people I know is strangely 2 two statements – 1) “I only believe what I can find in the rocks” and 2) “I see intelligent design in nature, but I am unwilling to attribute that to the God of the bible.” This is a very scary place to be. It is really hard to see the complexity of the human eye, the birth of a child, the beauty in the things God has made, and not understand that there is a God. Then you look at all of the prophesy that has been fulfilled, the evidence in historical record, and the lack of conflicting historical accounts, to see that the God of the bible is the ‘Only God’.

APPLICATION

In my ministry and testimony, I need to speak to those areas in a person’s life that they have been imbued with a knowledge of the divine God. However, as I left off yesterday, I also need to have my own reverence and acknowledgement of God’s power and leading in my own life. This has me remembering what I wrote on my rock (on left in pic below) in Mexico this year for what I felt the Lord was laying on my heart to take home from there…an inclination to respond when the Lord was leading me to share His good news with people around me with boldness and courage.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Romans 1:18-19

We now enter into a very descriptive passage about the unrighteous. This whole set of verses taking us to the end of the chapter have helped me develop several bases of thought about the world we live in. 1) This is eerily descriptive of the world and culture we live in today and 2) it has positioned my heart in a posture of concern and a desire to see a revival in the hearts of those that are lost.

For today, Paul starts this passage with a declaration. The wrath that is revealed is not an impulsive outburst or anger aimed people God does not like. It is the settled, determined response of a righteous God against sin. When looking more closely at the word “revealed” it is more accurately translated -> ‘is constantly revealed’, meaning to uncover, make visible, or make known. Reading through John MacArthur’s commentary on this topic, there are 2 ways that God’s wrath is revealed; Indirectly (natural consequences) & Directly (intervention demonstrated in His response to Adam and Eve). Below are the various kinds of God’s wrath:

1. Eternal Wrath -> Hell
2. Eschatological Wrath -> Final days
3. Cataclysmic Wrath -> Like the flood
4. Consequential Wrath -> Principal of sowing and reaping
5. Wrath of Abandonment -> Removing restraint and letting people go to their sins

What we see here in Romans 1 is the 5th kind, Wrath of Abandonment – God’s abandoning the wicked continually through history to pursue their sin and its consequences.

Finally, we see the actual target of God’s wrath: ungodliness and unrighteousness, which lead to suppressing the truth. Ungodliness leads to unrighteousness – Although the presence of God is clear and irrefutable through His creation and His word, people choose to resist and oppose God’s truth by holding fast to their sin.

¹ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good. Psalms 14:1

APPLICATION

One of the greatest takeaways I had today was that God wrath is constantly being borne out. The types of wrath show that the entirety of wrath is not coming at some point but that some of it is happening right now. This draws me close to the Savior because if you notice, Paul did not separate any one type of person out. My actions and behavior that come out of not ‘fearing God’, are ripe for God’s consequential wrath. I am so thankful that God gave us the elimination of sin and death through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. In this life under the sun, I must continually confess and repent.

In true form, I did not mention that it was my birthday yesterday. I don’t like a big deal made of these things. 🙂 That being said, on Sunday, Marianne organized a dinner out for me as a ‘kind of’ surprise with my mom and dad, my brother and his wife, as well as Marianne, Sophie, Prim, and Brooklyn. We ate at Como at Carillon Point in Kirkland if you know what that is. It was super thoughtful, we had a ton of fun, and I felt loved and appreciated.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

Today’s snippet of Romans 1 is a well-known one. Paul asserts his unabashed embrace of the gospel. During his day, he came under a lot of adversity and persecution. Even he was one who persecuted Christians before the Lord got ahold of him on the road to Damascus.

The gospel is ‘The Power of God’ in terms of Salvation. It is God’s grace and gift alone that saves us from the pit because of what Jesus did on the cross (the gospel). This is for anyone who [truly] believes; shared first with the Jews and then the Gentiles.

This next phase is a little hard to wrap my puny human brain around, but I get the sense that Paul is continuing his comments on the teaching of the gospel and winning souls for the Kingdom. “For in it [the gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed” – meaning the fact that there needed to be a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all those that would believe, shows how pure, holy, and righteous God is. “…from faith, for faith” – which likely means that the righteous life of a believer lived out through their faith, produces faith in others…which then Paul points to with his reciting of the passage in Habakkuk.

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
    but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4

APPLICATION

I must be in constant review of my lived-out witness and testimony! First, I cannot be ashamed to share the very good news that saved me from what I so deserve. Second, I don’t save anyone, God does. It is only the Lord who can call someone to Himself and transform the heart of man. Finally, I need to be constantly thinking in a multiplication context. How can I share the Gospel with someone today? Who has the Lord put in my path to show them His love?

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. Romans 1:13-15

As a Roman citizen, Paul understood the mentality of the Greeks well. Greeks felt that anyone who did not speak Greek were uneducated, other than to be respected, and even barbarians. I read something funny (not sure if it is true or not) but the word barbarians came from the sense that whenever a Greek speaking person listened to someone who did not speak Greek, it sound to them like “bar, bar, bar-bar, bar-bar-bar, bar”.

Ever since Paul’s life adjustment on the road to Damascus, his charter had been to reach the Gentiles with the gospel. Although he longed to see the Roman church in person, he had to maintain his focus and energy on reach as far and wide as he could to reach as many Gentiles as possible with the Good News.

APPLICATION

As I read this today, my mind went to whether I am putting the right energies and focus on my primary ministry. “What is your primary ministry?”, you might ask. Well, first and foremost, I am chartered to lead my family well, be the husband and father God has called me to be. Secondly (I mentioned this the other day in my post), is to invest in people. That comes in the form of Discipling, Counseling, and Growing/Guarding/Guiding the sheep of Canyon Hills Community Church as an elder. Priority 0 is my relationship with Christ. So, I am compelled to keep the Big Things, the big things and be careful of the potential distractions as honorable as they may sound.

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:11-12

A little shorter one today – I just love this pointer to the importance of the gift God has given us in each other. Just yesterday Paul was talking about his gratefulness of the Roman church and how their faith was renown across the land, undoubtedly an encouragement to him and an admiration he had of them. Now here Paul is talking about the spiritual gift of instruction he is bringing them in this letter to strengthen them. So, the mutual encouragement is so powerful for both.

APPLICATION

I am so grateful for my wife and the men the Lord has placed in my life. My brothers on the church elder board, the pastors I serve alongside, the men I am able to disciple, and the men who have been so instrumental in my life (my dad, my Uncle Rich, and many others).

One of the things my Uncle Rich shared with me before the Lord took him home to glory, was – “Ben, after you have placed all of your hope and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and love Him with your whole mind, soul, and strength — then do this one thing…INVEST IN PEOPLE.” That, tested by scripture and guided by my walk with Jesus, has been something that has given me the perspective to LOVE others.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. Romans 1:8-10

In every letter that Paul wrote to the churches, he expressed his gratitude for those who would receive it…except one letter -> the letter to the Galatians. Their veering away from the TRUE gospel caused him to forgo the normal opening commendations of the church.

The piece that came out at me today was the notoriety of this Roman church’s faith. In fact, the Roman church’s faith was so great that 49 years after Jesus ascended, Claudius expelled all of the Jews because of the influence of “Chrestus” which was undoubtedly a reference to Christ. Since Rome was the center of the Roman empire (and the inhabited world at that time), whatever happened in Rome became known throughout all of the lands.

My mind goes to those saints who in the past and even today, have undergone so much persecution yet hold steadfast to their faith. Who am I to think that I am anything when I have not been asked or put into a situation where my life was on the line over my faith in Jesus? So, I may never have the opportunity to have that tested but in my everyday life, is my faith proclaimed? Not that I seek the fame or anything like that, so please don’t hear that in these convicting questions I am asking myself – but is my faith known by others as something both genuine and unshakeable?

APPLICATION

I believe time is short. I look at the state of the world and culture, the coming of Jesus must be near. If I am not living a life that consistently drips with a love for God, sharing about Him, what His Son did for me, and where my hope rests…then I am not doing enough. Today I am convicted that I am not being bold enough in my walk and witness. That I am in some cases fearful of man in terms of how I operate at work or what I am willing to risk sharing the gospel with some there. Time for a recalibration.

Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:4c-6

In my reading this passage today, the word “GRACE” is called out for the first time in this book and is a crucial part of the gospel message. The term ‘apostle’ was a unique way to refer to the 12 disciples but in the broader and less official sense it can describe anyone whom God has sent with the message of salvation. APOSTLE means “one who is sent”.

‘Obedience of the Faith’ is pointing to the TRUE saving faith that always produces obedience and submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. I am going to skip over the namesake of my post title really quick. Paul talks about the fact that he has a mission to bring this message and instruction on ‘obedience of the faith’ to the NATIONS including those in Rome who have had the effectual call of elect sinners to salvation. Those who just don’t believe in Jesus (even the demons know and believe who Jesus is) but those who place their trust in Jesus.

Why all of this? For the sake of His name, that’s why. Jesus is the center point of redemption, grace, object of our faith, and why we commit the rest of our lives to Him when we have been REDEEMED.

APPLICATION

I love God, I am so grateful for Him, and I want to serve Him desperately. I want my life to emulate His. I want to have enough evidence in my life to be convicted of being a follower of His. BUT, do I really internalize the power of His name. This name that is above all names. The one that will be emblazoned on His thigh when He returns. I need to fix my mind on how my daily actions and thoughts support ‘for the sake of His name‘. It seems like such a natural pivot, but I think it is a piece that only adds to the ‘Fear of God’ I should have as I walk through my day.

2 [gospel]...which He promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God Romans 1:2-4

Just able to get into verse 4 today of Romans chapter 1.

The biggest stand out to me in this passage today was how Paul reminds us that the Gospel was promised by the LORD through the prophets in the Old Testament. Not only that but that those scriptures (through the prophets) were all concerning the coming of God’s Son Jesus Christ…who was flesh (descended from David) and declared to be the Son of God (God Himself). These several verses are huge! So much theology! Who Jesus is to us today, as well as all that He has accomplished, was promised by God long ago!

APPLICATION:

There is no difference in these promises today than the way Paul communicated them in this letter to the Romans approximately 56 years after Jesus ascended into heaven. The good news to us was a promise before Jesus came. Jesus is both flesh like us (feeling during His lifetime, everything we feel) and God the Son at the same time. That is no different today than it was in the time of Paul. Jesus is no different today in His promises than His promises before ascending years earlier in the time of Paul.

Jesus was promised, He came to do what God willed, He paid it all, He rose to glory and is right now active and working in the world today, working in my life today, showing power in His Name today, and loving of me today.

Today I step away from my study of Mark to venture back to Romans for a discipleship study I am beginning with a dear brother in Christ at church. The first time I went through this book in a deep study I marked up my Thompson Chain NIV study bible pretty good. This time I will be working out of the John MacArthur (JMac) ESV Study Bible I received as a gift. As you can see from the image below, MacArthur had quite a bit to say in Romans.

I started this morning by reading through JMac’s introduction to Romans which was really good. It didn’t reveal anything I didn’t already understand about the circumstances of this book by Paul but it was nice to refresh my memory of all of the particulars.

These first 6 verses have got to be in the running for the longest ‘English’ translated sentence in the whole bible. Goodness! Given the time I have spent on the intro here today, I am only covering verse one in this post today.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God," Romans 1:1

In my JMac study bible today I circled “a servant”, “called”, and “set apart”. In this life that God has ‘called’ me to here on earth, is there enough evidence in the way I conduct myself, that someone could accuse me of being ‘a servant’ of Christ Jesus? Finally, if I have been called and I embrace and strive to be a servant of Jesus, have I been conveying the gospel of God? Am I just standing stagnate in my ‘set apart’ state?

APPLICATION:

I definitely feel ‘called’ by the Lord to a life in servanthood to Him…however, I need to be more conscious of the opportunities the King Jesus is putting before me to share the good news of His sacrifice and life at the Father’s right hand through the resurrection. A presence He has in advocacy for those who have accepted Him. Praying today that the Lord would give me the boldness and courage to be more forward and take advantage of every opportunity He lays before me to share the good news of His Son.