Romans 6 - What Shall We Say Then?

At the end of chapter 5 Paul leaves us with the idea that where "sin increases, grace increases all the more," which naturally leads to the question of whether or not sin can be desirable, in an effort to make grace abound.  Paul deals with this immediately and decisively at the beginning of chapter 6.

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?  By no means! (v. 1-2)

Our old self was crucified with Christ (v. 6) so that the body of sin is dead.  We have been set free from sin (v. 7).  We must not offer our bodies to wickedness, but rather as servants to God and slaves to righteousness (v.13).  We are reminded that sin = death (v. 23).  

OK, so sin is bad and never to be embraced.  Got it.  Simple as that seems, why does it get more complicated as we live out our lives?  Why does sin hold appeal?  How do we become slaves of righteousness?  I'll be reading the next few chapters with those questions in mind.

Romans 5 -- So Much to Talk About

Continuing on the theme of chapter 4, that our right standing God comes only through faith in Christ, we see in the first couple verses of chapter 5 that we are "at peace with God" and that we have "gained access" to Him and His grace by faith. 

Then we took at two issues that become major themes in Paul's writing and the rest of the New Testament:

1.  Struggles and trials are to be embraced and celebrated.
2.  Our Heavenly Father's love for us must be absolutely off the charts amazing for Him to send His Son to be punished for our justification.  Verse 8 is a well-known, often quoted verse to that effect.

In verse 10 we are described as God's enemies.  And yet, the Son of God is offered as a sacrifice to save those enemies.  I picture a battlefield, and some soldier laying down his life and taking a bullet for someone on the other side of the battle lines.  But not just for someone on the other side, but actually EVERYONE across enemy lines.  It's crazy if you think about it.  But that's just it -- God's love for us is totally crazy from our worldly perspective, where we really have no idea how to love the way He does. 

Finally, Paul positions Jesus as the new Adam.  Jesus is the one through whom all can be made righteous, since through Adam all are born sinful.  And in verse 20, we see that where sin increases, the grace of God through Christ increases "all the more".  That's something of a controversial statement that Paul will address in chapter 6.

Romans 4 -- Justified by Faith

Paul makes it pretty clear that our right standing with God -- our righteousness and justification is a result of faith rather than actions/works on our part.  Using Genesis 15 and Abraham's story as a proof text, we see that "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." 

So the teaching of the New Testament is that Abraham's righteousness came through faith (Romans 4:14), and interestingly, so does ours (v. 23-24).  Seems like good news to me.  So what's the catch?  Faith costs nothing, so right standing with God apparently is free.  So why doesn't it feel that way sometimes?  Why do I try to earn my way toward Him?  Why is my obvious unworthiness so discouraging? 

Where will Paul lead us from here? 

Romans 3 -- The Gospel Coming Into Focus

Paul's letter to the Romans is heavy, deep theology.  No doubt about that.  But sometimes I think it helps to simplify the message.  Here's what I see in chapter 3.

God is inherently good.  Men are inherently sinful.  No one can be declared righteous, or in right standing with God as a result of following His law, mostly since "all have sinned".  This is for Jews and Gentiles alike.  Finally, God provided an atoning sacrifice in the person of Jesus Christ, and we are justified only by faith in Him. 

Not too complicated.  See you next week.

Romans 2 -- Glory, Honor and Peace

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).

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.

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?