Take Away - SOM 8

 I am still processing the Sermon on the Mount. I have gone through the 25 posts and edited them for clarity and to revisit them for myself. Now I want to look at the applications I should be making for myself.

SOM - Part 8

I find this to be a critical section of the sermon. Jesus knew the hearts of men. He knew how some would twist His words and try to use them against Him. He knew that they would attack this "new" teaching. So Jesus clarifies something important. He was not bringing something new. He was not here to say that God had got it wrong, and that the prophets had misinterpreted what God wanted. He is not here to reinvent the laws of God, or explain why they don't mean what they say. In fact, He is going to take them to a level they had never been taken to before. He is going to demand a stricter adherence than any of the leaders of the Jews. He is going to clarify the purpose of the law.

For centuries the Jews had understood the law to be their pathway to God. If they could follow the law, then they could reap the reward of eternity in heaven. The problem was, they knew they could not be perfect, so they altered the law to make it more attainable. So the very thing they would like to be able to accuse Jesus of, they had already been doing.

This is why Jesus says in verse 20, For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Their righteousness was not God's righteousness. Their righteousness was to earn their way to God, to in a way put God in their debt so that He would have no choice but to grant them entrance to heaven. This kind of righteousness will always fail, as there is no way that we can put God in our debt. 

Jesus knows that this kind of righteousness does not work. From the moment of the fall of man in the garden of Eden, it would fail. Once stained by sin, no amount of righteous behavior will cleanse us. Jesus knew that this is why He came, He would have to do for us what we could not do for ourselves. The righteousness of the leaders was not enough because only the righteousness gained through faith in Jesus would be enough.

Take Away: There are a lot of things I need to take away from this. A big one is the knowledge that my efforts, no matter how good, will never be enough. This should be humbling to me, which happens to be one of the characteristics Jesus spoke of in the Beatitudes. Humbling to the point where I see myself as God sees me, a sinner in need of a Savior, as a Saint, only because I am washed in the blood of Jesus. It also means that I see others as God sees them, which is the same way that He sees me, as sinners in need of a Savior. It is why Jesus will encourage me to not only love my neighbor, but my enemies as well. It is why I should not sit in judgment of others, for I fall short myself. It is why when I pray for forgiveness, I ask to be forgiven as I forgive others. 

Jesus said in Matthew 11:29,30, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” How is this so, when He seems to be taking things even farther than the Scribes and Pharisees had ever imagined? The answer is that He is there with us. Just like oxen yoked together, we are yoked with Jesus. Think a mouse yoked together with and elephant. We know who is doing the majority of the work. We know that the elephant does not need the mouse and could do the job by himself. We rejoice in the thought that together, in spite of our inability, we are a team who will reap the reward together. 

Sermon on the Mount - Part 8

Today I want to look at verses 17-20, once again focusing on who Jesus was speaking to, and on the context of the entire message.  

Matthew 5:17-20

(17)“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (18)For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (19)Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20)For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

These verses are crucial to understanding what is going on in the Sermon on the Mount. Some think that Jesus came to bring something new to religion, when in fact that is not true at all. What He did want is to restore things to where they were in the very beginning, before man got a hold of religion and corrupted it. Jesus is not saying at any time, as He was accused of, that the law did not apply to him. In fact, He says in these verses that not even the smallest piece of the law will go away until it is all accomplished. But it is important that we distinguish between the laws that were given by God and those that were added through tradition or interpretation by the Jewish leaders.

Jesus makes a statement, that "whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." I wonder if those listening realized that when the leaders altered the laws that they were doing this very thing. Take Matthew 15:1-6 for example. God said honor your parents, but they said they could give to God instead of caring for them. Using their gifts to God as a way to avoid what God commanded. Brilliant, if your goal is to get what you wanted, even if it means abusing what God states. If seeking to do the will of God, however, not so brilliant.

Jesus goes on to say, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The people viewed their leaders as the holiest of all people, surrendering their lives to the pursuit of God. And yet He says that to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must be more righteous than them. They gave all they had and it was not enough? Yes, exactly! No matter how much I try, I cannot put God in my debt, let alone can I hope to repay the debt I owe. For God to be in my debt He truly would be sixpence none the richer. Such a statement might seem as removing all hope for anyone. But Jesus is not seeking to remove hope, rather He is seeking to restore it. The self-righteousness of the leaders was not enough. In fact, it stood in the way of real righteousness. The righteousness that it takes to enter heaven must exceed that of the leaders of the time. Real righteousness comes by faith in the son of God. It comes by relying on the righteousness that Christ gives, and not on our efforts. (Romans 1:17, 3:21-31; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:21; 3:6; Philippians 3:9; Titus 3:5) 

This is not to say that we are not accountable for our actions. It is just that our actions alone to not make us righteous or unrighteous, but they do reveal our righteousness, along with  the motivation behind them. Actions alone do not determine our status, nor does faith alone. Jesus will actually deal with this idea later in the sermon, so we will come back to this idea later.

as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Edited 2/4/2022

Sermon on the Mount - Part 5

 Today I want to look at verses 6-9, focusing on who Jesus was speaking to, and on the context of the entire message.

Matthew 5:6-9

(6)“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
(7)“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
(8)“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
(9)“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

In verse 6 he talks about hungering and thirsting for righteousness, which I am sure the leaders thought they were doing. After all, the followed the law to a "T". But in verse 20, Jesus says, "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven," so what is he saying? The leaders took pride in their righteousness, which was really self-righteousness, and not the righteousness of God. To hunger and thirst for righteousness for Jesus meant going beyond just the action and included the motivation. Are you seeking to gain salvation (a good thing but a selfish motive?) or are you seeking to honor and praise God, the maker and creator of the universe? How can you be satisfied if your goal is to earn God's favor? Can you ever really do enough to satisfy God? If you are going to be honest, you have to answer no here. But if your response is just to love God and honor Him, relying on the righteousness given in the grace of Jesus, you can find satisfaction. It is a weird paradox, knowing that you can never do enough, yet what you do is sufficient because Jesus picks up the slack. 

Verse 7 speaks of being merciful. There is no other appropriate response to seeing the love and mercy of God than to be loving and merciful to others. (Matthew 18:32-33) We can see again and again in the gospels how this was not a quality of the leaders of the Jews, from their dealing with John the Baptist to the crucifixion, and so much in between.

Verse 8 tells about being pure in heart. I see this as speaking of not having ulterior motives. The leaders were full of ulterior motives, most of which revolved around themselves. They wanted power, they wanted to be worshipped by the people, they loved being in control. It is almost as if they had wandered so far in to religion as to forget why they were there. Their religion was not a response to God, but all about what it provided for them. The pure in heart remember why they are there. They seek to honor God first, foremost, and only. These are the ones who will see God. They are probably the only ones looking for God. To not be pure in heart then, is to be blind. (Matthew 15:12-14; John 9:32; John 9:39-41) God can grant sight, and will to those who seek Him.

Finally for today, Jesus speaks of the peacemakers. Or as I like to compare them to, peace keepers. Peace making requires negotiation at times, and sometimes force. Jesus said, "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16) Wise and innocent, there are 2 characteristics of peace makers, I think also of the peacekeeping forces, such as those on the border between North and South Korea. Armed and ready to protect freedom even at cost of life. That is a peacemaker's role too. Someone who defends peace, not the bully who wants to take it away. I see the leaders that were in the audience as the bullies, using the law to control, putting cumbersome burdens on the people, robbing the people of their freedom. The peacemakers are the ones who are called sons of God. 

Jesus came to set things right. To restore what had been corrupted. Yet even as He did, that corruption continued to work its way into His work. I think of what I have read in Luke 4:13, "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time." Even as Jesus is working to restore us, Satan is looking for opportunities to take us back. That is what we must be aware of and why we must be on guard. It is why, in addition to having the qualities of mercy and purity, in addition to hungering for righteousness, we must also be vigilant as peacemakers.

Edited 2/4/2022

1 Thess 4:1-8

SCRIPTURE

1 Thess 4:1-8

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;  that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,  not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;  that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.  For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.  Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Comment

I heard a video on You Tube where someone was talking about all of the expectations that are set forth for Christians, and how faith alone is not mentioned in the Bible. Sounds a lot like the kind of stuff Paul was combating in Galatians, where the Judaizers were all clamoring for circumcision.

Yes, there are plenty of passages that talk about what true Christianity should look like. Like this passage. But these are descriptive passages, because it is important that we have a good look at what Christianity should be about. They are not prescriptive, telling us how to live in each and every situation. That would be law, and we are no longer under the law, but under grace.

Now there are some who abuse this too, saying that since we are under grace, we can do as we please. They are also wrong. They are the very reason for the need of passages such as this. 

Such teachings, in either case, go against the Holy Spirit. If you can't see that, maybe read and pray a bit more, or maybe just get your head out of da Nile. 

 Descriptive, not prescriptive

Romans 16:17-18

SCRIPTURE

Romans 16:17-18
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

COMMENT

This makes some interesting points. One is that the Galatians were apparently taught an important doctrine. And this doctrine was important, and some would seek to teach doctrines that are contrary to it. The words, "create obstacles contrary to..." lead me to believe that he is talking about the same issue here as in Galatians, where some added certain works to the saving faith proclaimed in Christ. The ones who do this do it to satisfy their own appetites, whether those appetites be for profit or power. And they know how to get what they want, smooth talk and flattery. I think of many preachers I have heard, who are more concerned about how people will react to their message rather than what the content of that message is.

We are told to avoid them. I do not believe that this is a command to blindly follow Paul, but rather done out of concern that hearing their message will deceive many, so don't give them a foothold. Don't give them an audience, for in doing so you may encourage others to be deceived.

I pray for the church, because I believe we have wandered far from the time when doctrine was important. I wonder how many even have a system of belief today. It just seems that for so many, they will follow whatever sounds right and feels good. I fear that false teaching is such a norm today that the division seems to be coming from those who hold to the true teachings of Jesus.

No wonder that Jesus said, "when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith?"

Will He?

Romans 15:1-7

SCRIPTURE

Romans 15:1-7
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

COMMENT

That first phrase says a lot. If you claim to be  strong Christian, then you are willing to put aside some of your freedoms for the sake of other who are weaker. If you aren't, then it sounds to me like it is saying that you are the weaker Christian. Ouch! Why give up some of your freedoms? Because even Christ did not live to please Himself. He took the penalty of our sin, on the cross. So you can give up that beer, or whatever, and still survive.

Romans 14:13-19,23

SCRIPTURE

Romans 14:13-19,23
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

COMMENT

This is an interesting passage to try and understand, because you could take the idea of being a stumbling block to extremes on either side. On the one hand you could seriously try to avoid anything that someone else might deem sinful, alcohol, R-rated movies, cursing, near cursing (darn it), PG-rated movies, lack of tithing, not working on Sunday, etc. I think to live such a life would be a joyless, anxiety filled existence. So on the other hand, you could just do as you please because Jesus "got your back." You don't have to worry about what others think, because they are not your master, Jesus is. If Jesus wants you to drink, you do it. If you want to curse, you do it. Etc. I think to live such a life as a Christian is not really living a Christian life.

I think the truth lies in the middle, but it is a hard middle to define. I don't decide to put a stumbling block in the way of a brother. In other words, I limit my freedom with intention. Where that intention lies is an individual decision, but one that is made with my brother's interests at heart, because doing so ultimately puts Jesus's interests at heart. I know that nothing I eat is unclean, but for my weaker brother's sake, I do not eat it because that is not acting out of love for him or my Savior.

Do not destroy your brother, who is weaker in faith, by intentionally doing things that he believes are wrong.  If you know it offends, you sacrifice your freedom for his sake. That does not mean that you cannot do anything anyone might find offensive, that is legalism, and Paul has very strong words for legalists, just read Galatians. But as Paul states, the kingdom of heaven is a matter of righteousness and peace. Righteousness and peace are about relationships, and we cannot have either if we do not love our brothers. Remember Christ's teachings about adultery, how even looking at a woman lustfully is wrong? Remember how our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law? If we sacrifice a freedom in order to save a brother, that pales in comparison to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. That is a tough teaching, but I believe it is the truth.

Romans 13:8-10

SCRIPTURE

Romans 13:8-10
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

COMMENT

The one who loves has fulfilled the law. But what if one has a messed up notion of what love is? I have heard a lot of different ideas of what love is. Have you ever heard, "Love means never having to say you are sorry?" I can't think of a much more messed up idea of love than that. You hurt someone, then I suppose they are just supposed to forgive you without ever discussing it. Sounds like something made up by an abusive spouse. It says in this passage, that love does no wrong to a neighbor. Is that why we never have to say, "Sorry!" How many of us can love like that?

I believe that to love is to admit your shortcomings, to talk about the times that you may have been hurt or hurt someone else. Love is the delicate balance between giving everything for others without becoming a doormat. But maybe my idea of love is messed up.

Commandments are mentioned, let's just take the first one, don't commit adultery. Jesus said that to look at another woman lustfully was to commit adultery. What about not committing murder? Jesus said to insult your brother makes you liable to the council, to call them a fool and you are liable for hell. I hope you get the idea. Love is more than just obeying the law.

Romans 12:9-21

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

COMMENT

For someone who preaches against those who would have us live up to a law standard, Paul sure likes to tell people what to do. But look at what he is asking. Love, don't be lazy, rejoice, pray, be generous, etc. Perhaps he is not telling us what to do, but instead is sharing what a living sacrifice looks like. If repentance is more than just turning your back on sin, if it is turning your sights on God, then people who have spent their lives living for themselves need to hear this.

Jesus spent a lot of time telling people how to act as well. Look at the Beatitudes, in fact, the entire Sermon on the Mount. Jesus takes the law to the next level. Not only is adultery wrong, but to look at a woman lustfully is too. This is a standard no one can accomplish! It is also a standard that requires a change of heart.

Paul seems to echo this kind of thinking toward the end, where he talks about not repaying evil for evil, but overcoming evil with good. This is not a natural human tendency! It requires a change of heart and a change of thinking. It is why we need instruction on what it means to call ourselves Christians.

Romans 12:1,2

SCRIPTURE

Romans 12:1,2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

LANGUAGE

Appeal (Vs 1)  παρακαλέω parakaleō; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke  — beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.

COMMENT

Let's begin by talking about the interpretation of this verse. The word "appeal" (ESV & RSV) is rendered "urge" (NIV, NASB, & HCSB), beseech (KJV & ASV), and "encourage" (CEB). How you interpret Paul using this word seems to determine your understanding of this passage. It Paul issuing a command or is he inviting others to join him. As I look at the Greek meaning (above), and from what I gather of Paul in the context of what he is saying, this is an invitation to join him in his journey as a follower of God. The "therefore" in my opinion, refers to what Paul has been saying in 11:33-36, where Paul is basically singing in praise of God, and how He is superior to us in all ways, and is as such deserving of all praise. So he invites us to present ourselves before God as a living sacrifice because of the mercy of this all powerful and all knowing being, who has provided salvation. This is why we worship. It is not, and cannot be a command to earn God's favor. That is what the world says and offers, pay your penance and give God His due so that you can get your due. But our offering is always going to fall short. Do you want to know what God's will for you is? Love Him, then you will know his will for you.

Hear Me or Not (Romans 10:20-21)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 10:20-21
Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,
“I have been found by those who did not seek me;
I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

COMMENT

This is an interesting passage to me. What does Isaiah mean when he says that "I have been found by those who did not seek me." What does Paul hope to show by quoting it? I think the answer to the second question is Paul is seeking to validate his words from the previous chapter about the gentiles, "who did not pursue righteousness have attained it." They were not looking for it, did not seek it, but God has shown it to them. Whereas Israel, those who had the law of righteousness, who pursued it not through faith but on their own merits, failed.

I often wonder, are we the now new Israel? Have we deserted faith and are again seeking to obtain grace through our own merits. I think back to a church we attended. Every sermon was about doing better and trying harder. Every activity sought to lift up the church itself. Go, pick up trash at the river on community clean up day, and before you go, be sure to get your church shirt with the church logo and a cute saying about service on it. Not that this is a bad thing, but if done to obtain God's favor, it is just another filthy rag on the pile. Not quite an acceptable offering. Jesus told us, "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," but if some there happen to see those shirts, they will know where you came from. And if the media picks up on this, all the better. Soon, we will have a group of good people doing good things. But if that is the gospel we preach, I fear we have missed the mark. It's not that we do good things to merit God's favor, it's that because we have God's favor we do good things. To some, it seems like splitting hairs. Others might not even see the difference. But God know. After all, He has to keep cleaning those rags off the altar.

Mindset (Romans 8:5-6)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 8:5-6
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

COMMENT

Scientific research shows that our minds have a powerful affect toward our ability to accomplish a goal. The more likely we believe we can do a task, the more likely we are to get it done. It is called "growth mindset," and directly affects our ability to learn, and therefor e to grow.

In this passage, Paul seems to be discussing mindset. We have a choice, set our minds on things of the flesh or things of the Spirit. Setting your mind on the flesh leads to death (failure), while  setting your mind on the Spirit leads to life and peace. I think this also goes to the idea of what God desires when He calls us to repentance. It is not a matter of turning your back on sin, which for may it would seem is focusing on the flesh and on what we should not be doing. It is more about turning to God (and the Spirit of God), and seeing how His grace will enable us to be successful.

Free to Serve (Romans 7:6)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 7:6
But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

COMMENTS

Here is what I want to take away from this verse: We still serve!

I know there are some who say that since we are not under the law, we have the freedom to do whatever we want. Paul handles this thought on several occasions, and the answer can be summed up with the words, "by no means!" But then there is also a group that preaches that we are not under the law, but under grace, who are accused of saying that we don't have to do any good works. Who accuses them? Those who would put them under works. Here, Paul makes it clear that works are still important, we still serve, but in a new way. The old way had a list of rules, laws, commandments, so much so that no one could follow them. The new way was to be in the Spirit. This is not some mystical set of feelings that lead the believer, it is the Spirit of love, the Spirit of grace. It is the Christian's heartfelt response to salvation from God. I always go back to Romans 12:1,2. This teaches that we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice because of (as a response to) the mercy of God. This creates transformation, which in turn gives us discernment as to what God desires from us.

Is there a danger here? Absolutely. If we are not honest with ourselves, we could say what we want when it comes to what God wants from us. Jesus addressed this with the parable of the wheat and tares when he told them not to pull the weeds, lest they destroy some of wheat in the process. He said to let them grow together until the harvest, then let God's judgment resolve the issue.

That is tough to do, but I believe that there is so much wisdom in that.

Don't Misunderstand (Romans 6:1-11)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 6:1-11
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
   For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

COMMENT

This is not an argument that should come from true Christians. It is an argument of manipulation. Those who would say this are twisting Paul's words to say something else. Or, they do not understand if we give the benefit of the doubt.

Manipulators:  So, Paul, you say it is only faith that matters and not my works. I believe, therefore I can do anything I want, no consequence from God.
Paul:  No, that is not what I said, boys. What I said was faith comes before works. You don't use your works to please God, you use your faith. That faith should then motivate your good works, which are then an expression of your faith and love for God.
Manipulators: But you said, "Our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God!"
Paul: Context, friends. I said, "But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means!" Did you catch that. BY NO MEANS! That is not a valid argument! I also said that those who think such things deserve the condemnation they get.
Manipulators:  But you said, "None is righteous, no, not one."
Paul:  Exactly. Which is why we need faith rather than works. It is only through faith in Christ that anyone can be found righteous before God. Even our righteous acts are nothing before God!
Manipulators:  But you said all fall short of the glory of God.
Paul:  ...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
Manipulators:  You seem to have an answer for everything.
Paul:  Well, I did write most of the New Testament.
Manipulators:  New Testament? What's that?
Paul:  Never mind. We should have an answer when questioned about what we believe, and that answer should be based on faith, not human desires. That is why I talk about dying with Christ that we may live. That is why I talk about the old self being crucified, that we might walk in newness of life. That is why I speak of dying to sin and being alive in Christ. It is not all prettiness and ease. It is not about you and your best life now, it is about Christ and your best life in Him.
Manipulators:  But that is not what we signed up for!
Paul:  I know. But I would not be a servant of Christ if I did not speak the truth. I pray that you will hear and believe it.

This manipulation was not just for the early church. Remember Jesus's words for those who thought they were doing the right things, "‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:23) Those words should serve to scare and wake up many so-called believers.

Say What? (Romans 5:1-5)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

COMMENT

If we listen to what many preach and teach as the gospel, this passage would never be found. At least not part of it. Sure, we like the idea of being justified by faith, as long as by faith you mean a one time affirmation that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Not if you mean that true belief in that fact necessitates a change in my behavior, because I actually now adore Him for the great sacrifice He made on my behalf. We live in a generation that loves to be in charge, or at least think that they can be in charge. Grace does not play in to that. Grace puts God in charge. Completely. A very scary thought for many. Works, my part, now that is something many can take a strange kind of comfort in, but it holds no weight before God.

There is another part of this verse that you won't hear in what many preach and teach as the gospel either. The part that says we rejoice in our sufferings. For many, God and/or Christianity is supposed to remove our sufferings. Instead of church being a refuge, many see it as a happy place. We should be experiencing our best life now! But if you are not, it is because you don't have enough faith. And by faith I mean works, and by works I mean money, and by money I mean sending it to my ministry. That way, at least someone is having their best life now.

I'll wait while you scratch that itch in your ear. Satisfied now?

It appears that suffering is a part of the process that produces sanctification. Now there is a word that you don't hear very often. Sanctification. If we heard it and understood it, we would understand that faith is not something intended to be a one time thing. It is not something to be stagnant. Look at the early church. They had to hide, as do Christians in many countries today. I guess they just need more faith.

Couldn't Have Said It Better! (Romans 3:21-31)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 3:21-31
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

COMMENTS

Job had it all, and in that life he worshiped God. Satan saw him, and challenged that he only worshiped God because of the fact that he had it all. In fact, Satan challenged that God had placed a hedge around Job, to protect him and perhaps in essence keep his praise and worship. God knew better, He knew Job's heart. So God allowed Satan to peal away Job's blessings, yet Job continued to praise God, although he also struggled with what was happening to him.

That is faith. And righteousness comes through faith. A child-like faith. I want to share something I ran across while reading some old blog posts from a while back.

My 9 year old son and I were driving to the county fair, listening to the radio. A man was on who had witnessed many atheists and those who had given up their faith. He said that in his experience, people who rejected God on a rational basis always had a painful past that led to this attitude. As he spoke, he mentioned one who had rejected God because his fiance had gotten ill, and even after much intense prayer, she died. I was not aware how intently my son was listening, but suddenly he burst out, "That's ridiculous! You shouldn't hate God just because your fiance dies! God can't do everything! Well, He can, but He does not have to. You shouldn't hate God just because you don't get what you want!"

 Faith like Job. Faith even when things don't go our way. Faith even when our prayers are not answered the way we wish. Our righteousness comes through faith, and we are justified by His grace as a gift. This displays God's righteousness. But do you see what works does in this example? It does not earn or lose salvation for the man who lost his fiance, it reveals that his faith didn't really exist. It was evidence, in this case of a lack of faith.

What if his fiance had been healed? He perhaps would have gone on worshiping not God, but the gifts of God. Maybe until some later time when another intense prayer was not answered. Maybe a parent or sibling dying of cancer? God is not righteous because He gives us everything we want. He is proved righteous because He offers salvation based not upon our works, but upon what Jesus did on our behalf. We are not justified by works, but by faith. Not a one time confession or even a one time ritual, but by a life-changing belief that God, through His Son, has given us what we could never have attained through any other means.

Is Paul Now Preaching Works? (Romans 2:5-10)

SCRIPTURE

Romans 2:5-10
But because of your hard and impenitent (unrepentant) heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

COMMENT

First, think back to verse 4, where God's patience and kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, and not happiness, prosperity, or other such self-centered things. It all goes back to the idea of repentance. When we hear the gospel message of what Christ has done, that He suffered and died a horrific death on our behalf because of His great love for us, that should have an impact. It should change us. It should take us out of our self-centered lives and put us in a life that worships and adores the one who saved us. Repentance!

Now let's talk about verse 6, because this verse confuses some people. He will render to each one according to his works:  What? I thought we were not saved by works! We are not, but works do play a part in our judgement. Think of it this way, according to Jesus, the mere though of wrong doing makes us guilty of sin. (See Matthew 5:27-28 for example) So in standing before God, our guilt is already there. It is our actions that act as evidence, not determining our guilt, but revealing it.

Many think of judgement day as a day when all of our actions are set before us, and put on a scale, and if the good outweighs the bad we get into heaven. But the Bible says that even our good deeds are like filthy rags before God. (Isaiah 64:6) So how does that balance out any bad that I have done? Judgement day is not about determining our guilt or innocence, it is about revealing it. God already knows, but I think some people will be surprised on that day. That prayer you said, or that altar call you responded to, or that call to be baptized was not salvation. Sorry, that fire insurance policy has lapsed. Judgement day is when God reveals to us, based on the evidence, whether or not we are guilty. And here's the deal, we're all guilty. Our actions only condemn us. But for those who are in Christ, those whose actions show that they have repented, have turned their lives around and live for Christ, they have an advocate. It's not that we are innocent, it's not that we don't deserve punishment, it's that our advocate has already paid the price by taking our punishment on Himself.

I believe on that day many will say, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?" (Matthew 7:22) Or they might say, "I said the prayer, I went to the altar, I was baptized by the preacher," etc, but Jesus will respond, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:23) Now look at verse 24. "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Wait! weren't the ones whom He just said He did not know doing? Well, yes, but their deeds, their works revealed that in their doing they were only serving themselves. The real doing that Jesus is talking about is not the actual works, but the heart behind those works, and that is what God judges.

Read Romans 2:6-8 now, and if you are honest, you cannot say that Paul is preaching a works-based faith. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 

The reward awaits (verses 9-10), but it awaits those who believe, those who have repented, those who accept the gospel and are changed by it because one cannot help but truly be changed when they truly hear and understand the gospel. I pray that you have ears to hear.

Bad Karma (Galatians 6:6-10)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 6:6-10
Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

COMMENT

For this section, I want to focus on verse 7. Here it is: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. I want to start by saying this, this verse does not teach karma! I have heard people reference this verse when wanting to say that the Bible does agree with karma, but I wholeheartedly believe that it does not!

Karma:   (car-ma) is a word meaning the result of a person's actions as well as the actions themselves. It is a term about the cycle of cause and effect. According to the theory of Karma, what happens to a person, happens because they caused it with their actions.

In the idea of karma, one might say, "What goes around, comes around." In other words, if you do good things, good will ultimately be your reward. Likewise, if you do bad things, bad will ultimately be your reward. This takes us right back to the idea of law, and how we must earn our salvation, and even our rewards in this life. (insert upchuck emoji here)

What this verse does teach is that choices have consequences. If you play with fire, you might get burned. If you live in bitterness and anger, expect the consequences of bitterness and anger to be a part of your life. This is different that the idea of karma, which says that if you live in bitterness and anger, and equal amount of bitterness and anger will be your penance.

The motivation for doing good in karma is to receive that amount of good in return, to be rewarded for that good. The cause is how you live, and the effect is what you receive as a result. In Paul's economy, the cause is living by (seeking to please) the Spirit of God, and this is done even if it is difficult or we do not receive a reward for those actions in this life. This is why is says "let us not grow weary of doing good." Our reward, the effect, will be realized "in due season." Our reward will be spending eternity in the presence of God, not because we have earned it via good works, but because of actions we have displayed because of our faith in God. By grace you have been saved through faith! (Ephesians 2:8)

Because I Say So...Not (Galatians 6:1-5)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 6:1-5

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

COMMENT

So on the surface, it seems as though Paul is now preaching a type of law based Christianity. But in light of everything he has said prior to this, that does not make sense. I think the critical understanding here comes from how you interpret the word transgression, and who is doing the determining of what a transgression is. I note that Paul says that those who are spiritual should be doing the restoration, so I assume they are also doing the determination of what is a transgression. The ones who are spiritual are those who are led by the Spirit, and not under the law. But just because there is no law against something does not mean that all things are beneficial, and they would know this. So their determination would not be based upon a set criteria or set of rules, but rather on what is most beneficial for the individual involved and the cause of Christ. The danger here is that some who think they are spiritual will also think that they have the authority to tell others what to do. I think this is unavoidable. This is why Paul tells them to keep watch. Not, perhaps that they will be drawn into the sin of the one caught in transgression, but rather that they will get a big fat head seeing themselves as spiritual and able to tell others what to do. Look at the words that follow: Bear one another's burdens (put yourself in the place of the one whom you are trying to restore), and if you think you are something when you are nothing (big head syndrome), you are fooling yourself! Now when he says that each will have to bear his own load, he is not contradicting what he just said, he is simply stating that if you seek to take the roll of helping someone, you had best do it correctly, not in a burdensome way (legalistic), for that is a load that each must bear on their own.

Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26)

SCRIPTURE

Galatians 5:16-26
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

COMMENT

Everything Paul has been saying in Galatians is the precursor to these verses. Paul has been fighting the idea of those who wanted to put some kind of conditions on salvation in addition faith in Christ. I believe their problem was fear. Fear that telling someone that faith alone is all it takes would lead to some form of licentiousness. Paul answers that fear in verse 16. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not gratify the flesh. Those who walk this way are not under the law. Want to know if you are walking in the Spirit, it should be obvious, but Paul gives some examples of living by the flesh. He then goes on to show what it should look like if we are living by the Spirit. In all of this, Paul does not feel the need to give a list of rules.

Truth is, there will be those who will take advantage of the gospel, who will here only what they want to. Paul knew this could not be avoided. So do I. You will always have your Osteens and Battersons etc. who prey in one form or another on others. Who prey on those who want to hear a particular message because of their own bias or desires. Those whose ears are itching for salvation, but not in the form of the gospel. Their condemnation is still deserved. Those are difficult words to speak and to hear, but I believe that that is exactly what Paul is saying in Galatians. Guard your privy parts!