Believing What You Believe

As Christians we make some bold claims about what we believe. We say that we believe that God created the world in six literal days and rested on the seventh. We say that we believe Jesus was born of a virgin, was crucified on a cross, buried in a grave and rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. We say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. And we say that salvation is a free gift from God that we can never earn.

We say a lot of things. I wonder how many things we really really believe. I am not really talking about things like salvation. But how much do we believe in and trust God’s love and provision towards us. As you continue to read the remainder of chapter four, you see a story unfold that describes a man that in the face of undeniable obstacles, had an unwavering trust in God. All of Abraham’s experience would have gone against what God was telling him. Yet he chose to believe God. And this belief drove Abraham to action.

Notice what the writer of Hebrews says.

ESV Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The faith that the writer is talking about is not simply that God exists, but that the God of the Bible exists. The miracle working, all powerful, all merciful, all loving God that blesses us, not because we deserve it, but because He desires to glorify himself. Furthermore, notice that the writer continues to declare that that kind of faith believes that this God rewards that earnestly seek after Him. Abraham would not be detoured, because he believed in a God that had only good intentions towards him, that would ultimately reward him, no matter what the present circumstances looked like.

This is called believing what you believe. Do you truly believe that you are the object of an infinite love? Do you believe that an infinite God is truly molding you into His image? Do you believe that if you continue to submit to His leading hand and look to Him for all that you are that you will ultimately receive His reward?

Do you? I mean, really, do you?

Ed<><

Moving On To Chapter Four

We had a great discussion this passed Sunday. We missed you guys that couldn't be there. But now we are going to move on to Chapter four.

As you are reading through this chapter, take note that according to my Greek New Testament, the paragraph break is between verses 12&13. The NIV puts new paragraphs at verses 4, 9, 13, 16 & 18. Please remember that it is the words that are inspired and not the punctuation.

The main point is that Abraham is not the father of just the righteous Jews, but also of the righteous gentiles. Paul is using Abraham as a case study to prove that salvation is not of works but of faith.

There were three things that the Jews were very proud of: 1.Abraham as father 2. circumcision 3. their religious system. Paul is demonstrating that it was not Abraham's circumcision, nor his religious system that justified him before God. It was his faith.

Here is the thing. All religious systems are works based. [True Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship.] God is not calling anyone to religion. He is calling us to a relationship with Him. As has been revealed, this relationship can only be gained and maintained through faith. It is also VERY EASY for us in the church, even the true church, to drift away from relationship and shipwreck ourselves on the rocks of religion. We begin to focus on what we are doing, instead of for whom we are doing. As soon as our eyes get off of God, He gets small and we get big.

Look at what Paul says in verse 4. A works based religion puts you in the driver's seat. It puts God in a place of owing you something. God is never our debtor, but we continue to be His.

Furthermore, works religion makes us the goal. It is focused on what we do and the one that does the most and the best wins. Therefore, someone could say, "You need to be like me." But we are not the goal. Jesus Christ is the goal. Our job as missionaries, and we are all missionaries, whether we walk across the street or fly across an ocean, is not to make people that look like us, but people that look like Jesus.

Your thoughts please;

Ed<><

Let's get on with it.

Well I think we have ridden this horse long enough. We have looked at it every way we know how and still come up with the same conclusion. All men & women, boys & girls, young & old, black, white, yellow, red & any other color you can come up with are BAD! As such, Paul makes the declaration of 3.20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Thus Paul can now move to the central truth of the Christian faith. Justification before God does not come through good living, but through faith in Jesus Christ. Really try and digest verses 21-25 this week. A simple out line of these verses goes something like this:

[21] The Plan of Justification
[22] The Prerequisite of Justification
[24-25] The Price of Justification
[26] The Pronouncement of Justification

Since Justification is a work that rests completely in the work of God, Paul is then able to declare that there is no room for personal human pride in the presence of the cross.

Then Paul makes a startling statement in verse 31. He states that faith in Jesus Christ is not a nullification of the Law, but an establishment [NASB] of the Law. How is it that our faith in Jesus Christ upholds and establishes the Law?

Ed<><

Game Night

Since we talked with Karen & discussed NAME this past Sunday we will just plan to discuss Romans Chpt 3 this Sunday.

But I also just want to remind everyone that we are having a get together this Saturday night at our house. We will be having Pizza or something and just a good time together. If you want to bring a friend, please do so. And if you need directions to the house just give us a call.

We will be getting together about 5:30 or so.

Hope to see you all there.

Ed<><

What does Michael Jackson & You have in common?

We have been having some great discussions these past few weeks. This next week we want to look at Romans 3.5-20.

Verses 5-8 finish up Paul's thoughts about our sin and God's glory. Some argued that Paul was saying: If our sinfulness highlights God's righteousness and thus glorifies God, shouldn't we sin all the more that God's glory would be shown? Forget the fact that that is just stupid. Why should we seek to live a righteous life before the Lord?

In verses 9-20 Paul makes his final argument against mankind. It is a very depressing statement. How should it effect the way we look at the people around us?

Now to Michael Jackson. One of my favorite modern preachers is John Piper. This video was made quite a while back. It is based on one of his sermons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-GxkAJ1OBU

Ed<><

Will Church Folk go to Hell too?

We had a good discussion this Sunday, and man weren’t the worship services awesome! We got through about 2:24. So what do you see in the rest of this chapter and into chapter three?

Paul is still talking to what I would call the “church folks.” What kind of things would physical circumcision correspond to today? What is circumcision of the heart? And if going to church can’t get you into heaven [can it or can’t it] what good is it?

All really good questions to ponder as you look at the rest of Romans Chapter Two.

Ed<><

Continuing In Romans Chpt Two

OK guys;

I think we had a good discussion this past Sunday. In the verses one through sixteen, Paul proves that "moralism" will not justify you before God. By the way, I have not read it yet, but I notices that Al Mohler has a new blog entry entitled "Why Moralism Is Not The Gospel & Why Christians Think It Is." It should be a good read.

Anyway, we move on. Let's look at the rest of Chapter Two this week. Paul moves from the Moralist to the Religionist. The context is an argument against the Religion of the Jews. However, we can clearly see the application to to our modern church.

I once heard Dr. Vines, from FBC Jacksonville say, "People call me one of those narrow minded Baptist who think that only Baptists are going to heaven. No, I am more narrow minded than that. I don't think all Baptists are going to heaven." The Jews did have the LAW. But possession of the LAW is not enough.

In order to fully appreciate Paul's argument, you will really have to continue reading on to 3.8.
My office day is coming to an end. So I will continue this thought tomorrow.

But what do you think?

Ed<><