November 15/16, 2014
Romans 6-8
There are some who compare Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians as the Himalayas of the Bible. They also cite Romans 8 as the Scripture’s Mt. Everest. What could be higher or more glorious than, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:38-39)
Having said that, I know several Christians who were unable to draw near to Jesus until they read Romans 7 and, with their own eyes, saw the Apostle Paul’s own admission that he struggles with sin: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do.” (Romans 7:15) They told me, “I thought you had to be perfect to be a Christian. Knowing that even the Apostle Paul struggled with sin allowed me to receive the grace of Jesus.”
Having said that, what Paul teaches about baptism in Romans 6 opened my heart to the power of the gospel. In baptism, especially adult baptism by immersion, we are witnessing a replay of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And what’s more, we understand that in baptism we IDENTIFY with Jesus, that, in a sense, we die with Him to sin, that the old us is buried with Him, and that we are raised with Him to new life and a new righteousness!
How can I choose among these three glorious chapters; I love ‘em all. In Romans 6, I learn that I must die to sin and become a “slave to righteousness.” In Romans 7, I learn that the struggle with sin continues, but that there is hope in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 7:25)! In Romans 8, I learn about walking in the Spirit, instead of walking in the flesh, and that God’s goal is for me to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29).
No, there’s nothing higher.
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
NOVEMBER 14 ROMANS 4-5
November 14, 2014
Romans 4-5
Paul takes great pains to explain how a person is made right with God through faith. So, he goes back to the first Jew, Abraham, for his lesson. Some said that Abraham was made right with God by the obedience of circumcision. God had appeared to Abram, gave him the covenant name, Abraham (father of nations), and outlined how he was to keep the covenant: “Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised.” (Genesis 17:12)
But circumcision is NOT how Abraham, or anyone else for that matter, is made right with God. Two chapters and some years earlier, God had appeared to Abram. Abram asked God about God’s promise to give him descendants. God took him outside, showed him the stars and said, “If you could count them, so shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) And Abram’s response is described in the next verse: “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness!”
Paul reminds us in Romans 4 that Abraham believed God BEFORE he was circumcised (Rom. 4:10), therefore he was justified (counted righteous) by faith. And so Abraham is the father of all who believe!
In Romans 5, Paul celebrates this justification through faith, and the peace and hope and joy that flow from it. This salvation is the free gift that came to us in Jesus Christ, while we were still powerless (5:6), while we were yet sinners (5:8), and while we were yet his enemies (5:10). Jesus died to reconcile us to God! Spiritual death came through Adam, spiritual life came through Jesus!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Romans 4-5
Paul takes great pains to explain how a person is made right with God through faith. So, he goes back to the first Jew, Abraham, for his lesson. Some said that Abraham was made right with God by the obedience of circumcision. God had appeared to Abram, gave him the covenant name, Abraham (father of nations), and outlined how he was to keep the covenant: “Every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised.” (Genesis 17:12)
But circumcision is NOT how Abraham, or anyone else for that matter, is made right with God. Two chapters and some years earlier, God had appeared to Abram. Abram asked God about God’s promise to give him descendants. God took him outside, showed him the stars and said, “If you could count them, so shall your offspring be.” (Genesis 15:5) And Abram’s response is described in the next verse: “Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness!”
Paul reminds us in Romans 4 that Abraham believed God BEFORE he was circumcised (Rom. 4:10), therefore he was justified (counted righteous) by faith. And so Abraham is the father of all who believe!
In Romans 5, Paul celebrates this justification through faith, and the peace and hope and joy that flow from it. This salvation is the free gift that came to us in Jesus Christ, while we were still powerless (5:6), while we were yet sinners (5:8), and while we were yet his enemies (5:10). Jesus died to reconcile us to God! Spiritual death came through Adam, spiritual life came through Jesus!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Thursday, November 13, 2014
NOVEMBER 13 ROMANS 1-3
November 13, 2014
Romans 1-3
For five days, we read Romans. I pray we read it slowly and thoughtfully. Of all Paul’s letters, it is his most complete and powerful description of the good news (gospel). And what is this good news? Sinners though we are, we can be made right with God (we can be justified) through faith in Jesus Christ, and we can live the life of love through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Now, these first three chapters don’t sound much like good news. They are somewhat depressing. Chapter 1 warns us of God’s wrath against all wickedness, and how God “gave folks over” to unrighteousness because of their futile thinking and foolish hearts. Chapter 2 reminds us that, because of the law, we sinners are without excuse! Chapter 3 gathers together the Old Testament testimonies that “there is no one righteous, not even one;” and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
These first chapters set the stage for Paul to describe the gospel in in fuller detail. But even here, we read two brief summaries of the good news:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17-18)
“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.” (Romans 3:23-24)
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Romans 1-3
For five days, we read Romans. I pray we read it slowly and thoughtfully. Of all Paul’s letters, it is his most complete and powerful description of the good news (gospel). And what is this good news? Sinners though we are, we can be made right with God (we can be justified) through faith in Jesus Christ, and we can live the life of love through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Now, these first three chapters don’t sound much like good news. They are somewhat depressing. Chapter 1 warns us of God’s wrath against all wickedness, and how God “gave folks over” to unrighteousness because of their futile thinking and foolish hearts. Chapter 2 reminds us that, because of the law, we sinners are without excuse! Chapter 3 gathers together the Old Testament testimonies that “there is no one righteous, not even one;” and that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
These first chapters set the stage for Paul to describe the gospel in in fuller detail. But even here, we read two brief summaries of the good news:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17-18)
“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.” (Romans 3:23-24)
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
NOVEMBER 12 ACTS 27-28
November 12, 2014
Acts 27-28
These two chapters form one of the most exciting stretches in Scripture.
Storm at Sea
Paul, still a prisoner, accompanied by Aristarchus and Luke (note the “we”), is put in the custody of a Centurion named Julius, and off they go, on board a ship heading west. After several stops, they arrive at Fair Havens along the south coast of Crete.
Then the adventure begins. Against Paul’s advice, and the portent of rocky weather, the ship-owner decides to head for Rome. As they sail away from Crete, a gentle south wind turns into a violent “northeaster.” Days and days they sail in the dark and are at the mercy of the storm. They give up all hope, until Paul assures them of God’s watch-care: “Only the ship will be destroyed; you will survive.”
Shipwreck
On the fourteenth day of their distress, the sailors sense they were nearing land, and some of them sought to abandon ship. Paul told Julius, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” And his soldiers cut the ropes that held the life-boats.
Then Paul urges them to eat. When they do, they throw the rest of their grain into the sea. The next morning, they see land and a sand bar, where they think they might run aground. They did, and the ship begins to break apart.
Even then, they might not have survived, for the soldiers thought they should kill all the prisoners to prevent them from escaping. That would have been the end of Paul. But their leader, Julius, prevents them. The swimmers swim ashore and the non-swimmers hold onto pieces of the ship. Everyone makes it!
Snakebite
The islanders welcome them by building a fire. While Paul is gathering wood, he disturbs a viper that attaches itself to his hand. The people think he’s cursed, done for, but when he shows no ill effects, they change their minds and say: he’s a god. The island is Malta, and while they are there, Paul praysd for the chief official’s father, and he is healed!
On to Rome
Three months later, they sail to Rome in a ship called “Castor and Pollux.” They are welcomed by the church, but Paul must remain under house arrest until his trial. But he certainly makes good use of the time, preaching and encouraging all who come. With these two chapters, we come to the abrupt end of Acts. We want to know what happens next. And many a Bible teacher has said: the book doesn’t really end, for the “acts” of the Holy Spirit continue through us!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Acts 27-28
These two chapters form one of the most exciting stretches in Scripture.
Storm at Sea
Paul, still a prisoner, accompanied by Aristarchus and Luke (note the “we”), is put in the custody of a Centurion named Julius, and off they go, on board a ship heading west. After several stops, they arrive at Fair Havens along the south coast of Crete.
Then the adventure begins. Against Paul’s advice, and the portent of rocky weather, the ship-owner decides to head for Rome. As they sail away from Crete, a gentle south wind turns into a violent “northeaster.” Days and days they sail in the dark and are at the mercy of the storm. They give up all hope, until Paul assures them of God’s watch-care: “Only the ship will be destroyed; you will survive.”
Shipwreck
On the fourteenth day of their distress, the sailors sense they were nearing land, and some of them sought to abandon ship. Paul told Julius, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” And his soldiers cut the ropes that held the life-boats.
Then Paul urges them to eat. When they do, they throw the rest of their grain into the sea. The next morning, they see land and a sand bar, where they think they might run aground. They did, and the ship begins to break apart.
Even then, they might not have survived, for the soldiers thought they should kill all the prisoners to prevent them from escaping. That would have been the end of Paul. But their leader, Julius, prevents them. The swimmers swim ashore and the non-swimmers hold onto pieces of the ship. Everyone makes it!
Snakebite
The islanders welcome them by building a fire. While Paul is gathering wood, he disturbs a viper that attaches itself to his hand. The people think he’s cursed, done for, but when he shows no ill effects, they change their minds and say: he’s a god. The island is Malta, and while they are there, Paul praysd for the chief official’s father, and he is healed!
On to Rome
Three months later, they sail to Rome in a ship called “Castor and Pollux.” They are welcomed by the church, but Paul must remain under house arrest until his trial. But he certainly makes good use of the time, preaching and encouraging all who come. With these two chapters, we come to the abrupt end of Acts. We want to know what happens next. And many a Bible teacher has said: the book doesn’t really end, for the “acts” of the Holy Spirit continue through us!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
NOVEMBER 11 ACTS 24-26
November 11, 2014
This day has double significance for me. First, it is Veteran’s Day. Thank you to veterans of all our armed conflicts; we honor your service! Second, it is/was my mom and dad’s anniversary. They were married on November 11, 1951, in Dwight, Illinois, at the Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church, and—if Dad were alive, would have been married 63 years today!
Acts 24-26
These chapters outline Paul’s two years in custody before finally being sent to Rome to stand before Caesar.
(Acts 24) After being moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea, Paul appeared before Governor Felix after the accusing Jews had had their say. Though Felix and his wife were both curious about faith in Christ, they did not do anything to speed Paul’s case along. Two years, he languished in prison, because Felix wanted to appease the Jews.
(Acts 25) When Festus succeeded Felix, Paul’s case came up again, and he appealed to Caesar. Festus had no choice but to send him. While awaiting departure, King Herod Agrippa and his wife came to greet Festus. Upon hearing about Paul, they asked to hear him.
(Acts 26) Here, Paul makes his famous defense and testimony before Agrippa. He feels that Agrippa is interested in “these things” and tells him so. Agrippa balks at Paul’s efforts to “make him a Christian” in so short a time. And Paul freely admits that he would like nothing better than to see Agrippa come to faith in Christ! As Agrippa leaves, he says off-handedly to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Too bad, we think. But going to Caesar and to Rome is just what Paul had been praying for!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
This day has double significance for me. First, it is Veteran’s Day. Thank you to veterans of all our armed conflicts; we honor your service! Second, it is/was my mom and dad’s anniversary. They were married on November 11, 1951, in Dwight, Illinois, at the Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church, and—if Dad were alive, would have been married 63 years today!
Acts 24-26
These chapters outline Paul’s two years in custody before finally being sent to Rome to stand before Caesar.
(Acts 24) After being moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea, Paul appeared before Governor Felix after the accusing Jews had had their say. Though Felix and his wife were both curious about faith in Christ, they did not do anything to speed Paul’s case along. Two years, he languished in prison, because Felix wanted to appease the Jews.
(Acts 25) When Festus succeeded Felix, Paul’s case came up again, and he appealed to Caesar. Festus had no choice but to send him. While awaiting departure, King Herod Agrippa and his wife came to greet Festus. Upon hearing about Paul, they asked to hear him.
(Acts 26) Here, Paul makes his famous defense and testimony before Agrippa. He feels that Agrippa is interested in “these things” and tells him so. Agrippa balks at Paul’s efforts to “make him a Christian” in so short a time. And Paul freely admits that he would like nothing better than to see Agrippa come to faith in Christ! As Agrippa leaves, he says off-handedly to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Too bad, we think. But going to Caesar and to Rome is just what Paul had been praying for!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Monday, November 10, 2014
NOVEMBER 10 ACTS 21-23
November 10, 2014
Acts 21-23
All along the final leg of Paul’s Third Mission Trip, people were warning him NOT to go up to Jerusalem as he had planned. One prophet, named Agabus, tied himself up with Paul’s belt and said, “This is what will happen to the owner of this belt, if he goes to Jerusalem.” Paul replied, “Do you think I’m not ready, not only to be imprisoned, but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus?” (21:13)
And he almost did.
After consulting with James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, Paul submitted to a seven-day purification rite. But this did little to appease the strict Jews of Jerusalem, who thought that Paul was undermining the law and the temple. He was accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple; he was seized, dragged out of the temple and beaten. The only thing that saved Paul’s life was getting arrested. Even then, he tried to address the mob. Paul made it through his testimony, but when he told them how God had sent him to the Gentiles, they shouted him down! When the soldiers had stretched Paul out for a whipping, he revealed his Roman Citizenship, and they desisted.
The next day, he appeared before the Sanhedrin, where he wisely played the Pharisees against Sadducees by siding with the Pharisees on the issue of the Resurrection of the dead. Finally, he was sent back to jail, where the Lord Jesus Himself came to Paul at night and encouraged him, saying that Paul would indeed testify about Him in Rome!
While in custody, Paul survived a Jewish assassination plot. When his nephew overheard the plans, Paul sent him to the Roman authorities, who moved Paul to safety in Caesarea in the middle of the night. There, Felix, the governor, received him. Paul was inching his way closer to Rome, and the fulfillment of Christ’s encouraging words!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
Acts 21-23
All along the final leg of Paul’s Third Mission Trip, people were warning him NOT to go up to Jerusalem as he had planned. One prophet, named Agabus, tied himself up with Paul’s belt and said, “This is what will happen to the owner of this belt, if he goes to Jerusalem.” Paul replied, “Do you think I’m not ready, not only to be imprisoned, but to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus?” (21:13)
And he almost did.
After consulting with James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, Paul submitted to a seven-day purification rite. But this did little to appease the strict Jews of Jerusalem, who thought that Paul was undermining the law and the temple. He was accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple; he was seized, dragged out of the temple and beaten. The only thing that saved Paul’s life was getting arrested. Even then, he tried to address the mob. Paul made it through his testimony, but when he told them how God had sent him to the Gentiles, they shouted him down! When the soldiers had stretched Paul out for a whipping, he revealed his Roman Citizenship, and they desisted.
The next day, he appeared before the Sanhedrin, where he wisely played the Pharisees against Sadducees by siding with the Pharisees on the issue of the Resurrection of the dead. Finally, he was sent back to jail, where the Lord Jesus Himself came to Paul at night and encouraged him, saying that Paul would indeed testify about Him in Rome!
While in custody, Paul survived a Jewish assassination plot. When his nephew overheard the plans, Paul sent him to the Roman authorities, who moved Paul to safety in Caesarea in the middle of the night. There, Felix, the governor, received him. Paul was inching his way closer to Rome, and the fulfillment of Christ’s encouraging words!
Your fellow traveler through the New Testament,
Pastor Gary
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