Lots in this chapter about judgment, wrath, and God giving "to each person according to what he has done." Verse 9 tells us "there will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil." Unfortunately, that includes all of us, at least at some level.
The chapter also gives us glimpses of hope as we see there will be "glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good". I don't know about you but I'm interested in reaping glory, honor and peace as opposed to trouble and distress. But I do evil. I am selfish. And the end of the chapter we see that the transformation in my life that God desires happens on the inside. He's not impressed by outward appearances. He is moving us toward integrity; when my inner and outer lives are congruent with each other. I can be so far from that sometimes, but in this chapter we begin to understand that despite the severity of our human condition, God is working to make things new as He circumcises my heart (v. 29).
Friday, November 25, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Romans 1 -- A New Beginning
Straight from the Men's Devotional Bible..."Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome isn't his first correspondence with a church. However, this letter perhaps represents the most complete expression of his message."
So there you have it. Romans is a big deal in the scheme of New Testament teaching and understanding of the gospel. And chapter one gets right into it. We have a weighty introduction in verses 1-7 (check out v. 2-5 in particular). Paul then spends a few verses encouraging the Roman believers:
"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you."
"I long to see you...that you and I may be mutually encouraged."
A brief but powerful declaration of the power of the gospel in verses 16-17 is followed by a vivid description of man's current state in v. 18-32. It's not a pretty picture. Fortunately, good news is on the way.
So there you have it. Romans is a big deal in the scheme of New Testament teaching and understanding of the gospel. And chapter one gets right into it. We have a weighty introduction in verses 1-7 (check out v. 2-5 in particular). Paul then spends a few verses encouraging the Roman believers:
"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you."
"I long to see you...that you and I may be mutually encouraged."
A brief but powerful declaration of the power of the gospel in verses 16-17 is followed by a vivid description of man's current state in v. 18-32. It's not a pretty picture. Fortunately, good news is on the way.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Acts 28 -- Pressing On to an Anticlimactic Ending
With this being the final chapter in Acts, I'm going to take a week off and then keep going through the New Testament. Romans chapter 1 will be posted on 11/18.
The last chapter in Acts continues the adventures of this group, including Paul, making their way to Rome so that Paul can stand trial there. We have a shipwreck, a horribly poinsonous snakebite that has no effect, kind islanders, miraculous healing, and finally the arrival at Rome.
Paul is permitted to call together the leaders of the Jews in Rome and shares Jesus with them, as he "From morning till evening explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (v. 23) As usual, some are convinced, "but others would not believe". Paul brings the truth down on them when he quotes Isaiah in verses 26-27.
After all his travels and adventures over many years, we get no conclusion to the story of Paul other than he stayed in Rome for two years in his rented house, presumably under guard, and preached the kingdom of God to all who visited. Then it ends. We know from history that Paul ends up being executed in Rome, that he never leaves Rome, but in Acts we get none of that. If nothing else, that's powerful evidence that the account is reliable. Who would make up a story like this and not finish it?
The last chapter in Acts continues the adventures of this group, including Paul, making their way to Rome so that Paul can stand trial there. We have a shipwreck, a horribly poinsonous snakebite that has no effect, kind islanders, miraculous healing, and finally the arrival at Rome.
Paul is permitted to call together the leaders of the Jews in Rome and shares Jesus with them, as he "From morning till evening explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (v. 23) As usual, some are convinced, "but others would not believe". Paul brings the truth down on them when he quotes Isaiah in verses 26-27.
After all his travels and adventures over many years, we get no conclusion to the story of Paul other than he stayed in Rome for two years in his rented house, presumably under guard, and preached the kingdom of God to all who visited. Then it ends. We know from history that Paul ends up being executed in Rome, that he never leaves Rome, but in Acts we get none of that. If nothing else, that's powerful evidence that the account is reliable. Who would make up a story like this and not finish it?
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