An Open Door...

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 - Romans 9:19 - 33

The Gentiles/Greeks responded to the good news of being reconciled to God through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. In contrast, fewer in the Jewish community had come to that same faith in Christ.

Paul was pointing out that God had been patient and was showing mercy to all so that they might come to faith in Christ. God could have judged and shown no mercy. But God wanted reconciliation with all people and was willing to work/wait patiently for it to occur.

In the Old Testament scriptures, a remnant in Israel was to endure and return to both God and the land. The Old Testament scriptures also hinted at others joining with Israel as being God’s people. For Paul these others were the Gentiles/Greeks that responded in faith to the good news of Christ as Lord and savior.

The promises of God belonged to those of faith whether they were Jew or Gentile/Greek.

Monday, October 17, 2011 - “After Thoughts & Other Thoughts” on Sunday, October 16, 2011 – “The Love of Christ” – Romans 8:31 – 39

Sunday's passage also reminded me of when Jesus talked about the immense care God has for us in Matthew 6:25 – 34 when Jesus tells us not to worry.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor
or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Friday, October 14, 2011 - Romans 9:6 - 18

I have changed the length of today’s reading and included quotes from other commentaries to shed light on these verses.

“The major theme of this whole section is the faithfulness of God to his word. God has made promises that Israel would be the chosen people of God, playing a special role in God’s plan for the blessing of all peoples (Genesis 12:1 – 3 and Isaiah 42:1, 7 – 7), and this word of God is still valid.” People’s New Testament Commentary by Eugene Boring and Fred Craddock, p. 491).

Another commentator writes: “Paul … is making a statement about how God dealt with Israel, and continues to deal with it, even when it rejects his Son; namely he deals with it in mercy, even when it deserves wrath…the same gracious purpose at work in the election of Israel is now at work in a new chosen people to whom we can now belong, by that same gracious purpose of God. The passage is about the enlargement of God’s mercy to include Gentiles...” (Romans, Achtemeier, pp. 164 & 5).

Israel has been chosen/elected. God is patient and merciful toward all.

Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Romans 9:1 - 5

In the next three chapters, Paul talks about Israel and God’s covenant, law and promises to the people. If Gentiles are now made right with God through Jesus, where does that leave the Jewish people? Did God abandon the plan with them?

Today’s reading is an introduction to the next chapter as well as a pouring out of Paul’s heart in anguish and concern for his people, the Jews. He would give up his own relationship with God if he could to secure Israel’s relationship in Christ. Israel was given ‘adoption; divine glory, covenants, law, temple worship, promises, patriarchs’ which resulted in the Messiah. They were given so much, yet most did not believe Jesus was their long-promised and long-awaited Messiah. Paul is heart-broken for them.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011 - Romans 8:31 - 39

This passage is the text for next Sunday’s sermon and next Monday’s ‘after thoughts & other thoughts’…so I want to take us in a totally different direction than we’ll go on Sunday and Monday.

When I read the lists of things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ ( trouble, distress, harassment, famine, nakedness, danger, sword, death or life, angels or rulers, things present or future things, powers, height, depth, or any other thing), I am reminded of Psalm 139!?!

Just as Romans 8:31 – 39 teaches us that nothing separates us from the love of God and the love of Christ, Psalm 139 teaches us that God’s presence is always with us. There is no where we can go where God is not with us:

⁷ Wherecan I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

Amazing scripture passages teaching us of the amazing love and abiding presence of God in our lives!

Tuesday, October 11, 2911 - Romans 8:18 - 30

Let’s have a short recap:

The life we have in the Spirit is a gift and a grace.

While still in our physical bodies, we struggle.

In the midst of struggles, we have hope and wait eagerly for our full redemption and the full redemption of all of creation.

We hopefully, eagerly wait, knowing that in all things God works for our good.

God knows us, calls us and restores our relationship with him through Jesus.

Life is full…peace, love, grace, hope…are ours abundantly.

Monday, October 10, 2011 - After Thoughts & Other Thoughts - on Sunday, October 9, 2011: “The Spirit Intercedes” – Romans 8:26 & 27

I have always loved these two verses.

I don’t always know how to pray. I don’t always know all the ins and outs of situations in order to pray wise prayers. I find it difficult to know what God’s will is.I am grateful for the presence/person of the Holy Spirit at these times.

I thank God that I as I pray and sift through options and possible outcomes of situations, I know that the Spirit is with me, helping me and even praying the prayers for those concerns. I am grateful that I can rest, in the midst of my confusion and difficulty, trusting the Spirit to intercede.

Friday, October 7, 2011 - Romans 8:1 - 17

When my daughter, Amanda, was little, I trained myself to tell her what I wanted to have happen for her rather than what I didn’t want to have happen…for example…I would tell her to ‘be careful’ rather than ‘don’t fall.’ I would tell her ‘remember to wash your hands’ rather than ‘don’t forget
to wash your hands.’

Therefore, when I read today’s passage, I found myself focusing on what I/we are and receive from God as people who have faith in Christ and walk in the Spirit:

Ø we are set free from the law of sin and death

Ø our minds are set on what the Spirit desires

Ø our mind, when controlled by the Spirit, has life and peace

Ø the Spirit of God lives in us

Ø the Spirit gives life

Ø we will live if, by the Spirit, we put to death the misdeeds of the body

Ø we are children of God

Ø by the Spirit we are adopted into sonship/daughtership

Ø by the Spirit we cry ‘Abba, Father’ to God which indicates an intimate relationship with God

Ø we are heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ

Quite an incredible list of what is our through the Spirit of God, don't you think?!?

Thursday, October 6, 2011 - Romans 7:7 - 25

Today’s passage is one of the most difficult in Romans.

There seems to be two types of ‘law’ in this passage. There are the laws given so we could know what God’s will and ways were like. Then, there is the law of sin which resides in our flesh and is at work in us. It struggles and fights with the good law of God.

The battle is a pre-Christian battle. At some point in our lives…perhaps at a point of crisis over our helplessness to live good, faithful lives with God, we look for a way out of the struggle with sin. Sin shows us our need for a Savior. Our personal faith in Jesus puts an end to the battle and opens the way for us to have life in the Spirit, freed from the law.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 - Romans 7:1 - 6

Just as in chapter 6 the Romans were freed from sin, so also, according to Paul in chapter 7, they were freed from the law through Christ’s death.

Paul utilized an analogy from the first century, Jewish marriage laws. Just as a wife was legally bound to her husband until he died, so the Romans were bound to the Mosaic law until it was put to death through Christ’s death. Therefore, freedom from the law was gained through Christ’s death. The Roman believers were to serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code of law. Both the Jewish Christians and the Gentile/Greek Christians were given life in this new way of the Spirit.

Life in the Spirit belongs to all followers of Jesus.