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<><
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That video is a good reality check... reminds us that we're all in the same boat. Even if we're a teacher or a leader, everyone is 'bad'-- we are sinners in need of grace and salvation.
ReplyDeletePaul points out that through the law we see our sin, but even by adhering to the law, we cannot achieve righteousness. So even if you think you're 'good,' you're still 'bad.' So I guess for us, even though we go to church and follow our religious habits which make us appear to be better than the late MJ, we're still in the same boat: sinners incapable of achieving righteousness on our own.
This should also have an impact on how we view other people. In my case I should be a lot less judgmental. When I realize from where I've come and I realize what I'm capable of, I can only find comfort in Christ and not in myself. I can no longer compare myself to others and think I'm better, because I'm not. As Paul said, even what I think is goodness is in fact nothing compared to the righteousness of Christ. So yeah, let's embrace the goodness that Christ has given us and go love some people because we're not better, we just have Jesus! (and He's the best!)
peace.
I think it is really hard for us to understand just how far from God we were. Paul says in Romans 5.10 that we were enemies of God. Thoses are fighting terms. We were at war with God and He crucified His Son that we could be reconciled! That is an amazing thought and makes God's grace just that much more sweet.
ReplyDeleteNo we cannot be judgemental towards non-believers. But we also must remember that they are enemies of God [just like we were]. They are anot people who have just made some bad choices or have just not made a "decision for Christ." They are enemies that are doomed to feel the full brunt of God's wrath if they are not reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ, just as we were.
No we cannot save anyone. Just like you can leade a horse to water. But you cannot make him drink. As a church and as individual believers, our mission is clear that we ought to at least be leading as many as we can to the cross, so that they will have that same chance at reconciliation.
Ed<><