I thought we would walk through Romans for the next several days. Understanding that we won't cover every aspect of each chapter, I will be looking at it from a high elevation. If we dug into every verse and studied every implication of the theology, we would change the Blog title to "crawling through Romans." :)
Romans 1 begins with a greeting which is customary in the writings of the times. Paul probably wrote this letter to the Romans near the end of his third missionary journey, from Corinth, around AD 56.
In vv.1-6, Paul declares that he is a bond-servant of Christ. This is a not a slave who was compelled to serve, but one who volunteered for the task. The same Jesus Paul served, called him as an apostle (a sent one/missionary), being set apart for the sake of the gospel. Paul sees his service as reasonable since Jesus is who He is (the Son of God- declared by the resurrection- v.4).
V.7 tells us that Paul is writing to believers in Rome, a place he has wanted to go but has never been. Paul's desire to go there was so that he might bear fruit among them, encourage them in their faith and to be encouraged in his faith (vv.11-12). He has tried to come there in the past, and been prevented from doing so by spiritual opposition. This is not some "fancy" of Paul's, but is the outworking of his "obligation" to preach to the gentiles (v.14-15). What drives Paul, is the nature and power of the gospel, which changed his life and was the agent that changed the lives of those he preached to (v.16-17).
When I read this this morning it connected well to me that Paul's desire was to go to them to bear fruit among them and for both he and they to be encouraged by one another's faith. It reminded me of the testimonies of those who have gone on short-term trips, come back, and spoken of the benefit they received.
In most bibles, the translators place a subheading between vv.17-18. It accurately notes a change in thought but the two thoughts are intimately related. Paul speaks of the gospel and how through it the rightousness of God is revealed. Then he moves to speak of how in the world without Christ, man's unrighteousness was on display because God gave sinful people over to their own devices as they rebelled against Him. The unrighteousness of man is on display in the world in the conduct/actions of the people.
They ignored the obvious revelation in the world of the presence of a Creator God and exchanged the pursuit of Him for the worship of created beings (v.23.)
They exchanged the pursuit of knowledge in God's revelation for the pursuit of knowledge in human philosophy (v.21-22). They pursued human passions as the highest ideal- even to the point of embracing homosexual relationships (v.26). [Note: Homosexuality is the symptom of the sinfulness of the human heart...it is not the judgment of God. Homosexuality is the exchanging of God's created purpose for man's sinful passions.] The homosexuality is a characteristic lived out that demonstrates that people had rejected God...just like the list in vv.29-31.
(Sidenote: You can think what you want about the list of characteristics of those who have rebelled against God, choosing their path over his...but I find the list interesting in several regards. It is curious to me that "gossips" and those who are "disobedient to parents" are included in the list with murderers and haters of God. Sometimes we want to categorize some sins as less serious than others. According to Scripture...these two sins (along with the others) make one "worthy of death" (v.32). )
Not only do these characteristics indicate that individuals have chosen rebellion over righteousness...but the approval/acceptance of their conduct in society is an indicator of culture's unrighteousness. To be accepting of sin is not to be "tolerant" or "understanding" or even "advanced intellectually;" rather, it is to display cultural unrighteousness and separation from God!
Proverbs 7:2 is the takeaway today. "Keep my commandments and live, and my teachings as the apple of your eye."
It is not enough to know God's instruction/commandments...we must KEEP them, that we might live. Keeping God's commandments (not just the 10 on the tablets, but all of God's instructions and precepts) is the key to life. Without them, abundant life cannot and will not be realized. Keep the "teachings" (applications of the commandments) as the Apple (pupil) of your eye. Have you ever though about how you keep the "pupil of your eye?" You protect it, you shield it, you recognize it as precious and essential. You guard it as precious. In the same way, we are to treat the application of God's word to our lives.
Grace,
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2 comments:
At first glance I am excited about reading in Romans but whoa it is a mindfull... glad we are looking from a high elevation.
My only question is in v.28 my bible says 'Futhermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he (meaning God?) gave them over to a deprave mind, to do what ought not be done.' So does this mean God gave up on them because there was no hope. Or He already knew what they had choosen. I know God has been known for harden some hearts in past times. Thanks for your thoughts.
Amanda,
Nothing that occurs ever "just occurs" to God. God has perfect knowledged of every event past, present, and future. We experience life like a movie. We move from one event to another. God sees life life a snapshot that encompasses the whole movie. He sees everything at the same time. So...God certainly knew; however, the picture here of God giving them over in v. 28 (see also v.24, 26) is more of God not restraining them and allowing them to continue their course. It is not that He "gave up" on them per se, but that He, allowed them to continue their course.
The whole hardening thing is a little more complex from my view. Some view God's "hardening" as God acting in the heart/mind of the individual and superceding his will SO THAT the person will reject God and ultimately fulfill God's purpose. I get uncomfortable with that...because the proponents of this view also say that God has everything orchestrated in such a way that He is the CAUSE of all outcomes. I see the hardening you refer to as more of a permissive hardening. Sort of like when I preach on Sundays. There are many people who have heard the gospel message so many times and resisted it...that they have become somewhat calloused to the message. It is much easier to not respond now than it was then. So...did God harden them or did their rejection of the message harden them. I lean toward the latter.
Just as a final caveate: This is a very complex issue in theology and I have just explained it in 3 sentences...which makes me a genius or a moron. (no response please.) Actually it is more involved than what I wrote...I was just skimming the surface. We can visit and talk in person about it if/when you like. I think I can draw it out for you a little easier than writing about it.
Grace,
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