Psalm 119:97-104

⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!
   It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
   for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,
   for your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged,
   for I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹I hold back my feet from every evil way,
   in order to keep your word.
¹⁰²I do not turn aside from your rules,
   for you have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;
   therefore I hate every false way.

Just when you think the Psalmist had said everything he could say about the Word of God…he comes out with more gold. He just keeps digging deeper and deeper – a seemingly inexhaustible supply of gold to lay in front of our eyes – it’s almost like he really wants us to understand what he sees!

For me, the verse before this passage, v96, was the climax of the psalm so far; “I have seen a limit to all perfection; but your commandment is exceedingly broad“. In other words, if you were to compare the Word of God to that which is ‘perfect’ – were there even such a thing in this universe – the ‘perfect’ thing would appear to be bounded and limited compared to the Word of God. That changes everything. If we were to get that, and I pray that we would, we would say what the Psalmist goes on to say here in today’s passage;

⁹⁷Oh how I love your law!
   It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
   for it is ever with me.
⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers,
   for your testimonies are my meditation.

It makes sense doesn’t it? This here is the natural response of a heart that has beheld the infinite wonder and glory and riches of the instruction, wisdom and word of God. He loves it. He exclaims his love for it. It is his meditation all day, it sits on his mind, and makes him wiser and more discerning than all around him. We are to be people of the word - the word that is all about Christ, and so ultimately, we are to treasure and meditate on Christ as revealed in the word - for he is the Word. Then we will indeed have understanding and wisdom. Any lesser response to v96 is simply unthinkable (but so common in my life).

 ¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste,
   sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴Through your precepts I get understanding;
   therefore I hate every false way.

How sweet are the things of this world to my taste! Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through the world I get understanding, therefore I love every false way. Don’t you feel these verses grating against your conscience? I certainly do. What is the sweetest, most delightful object of pleasure and joy in your life? What could you listen to, or sit in front of, or do, in place of anything else in the world? For me, it is not the bible. It is not God’s very words entering my mind. 

But there is no other way to get understanding, and there is no other way by which we will come to truly hate those sinful false ways which we feel deep down should be hated, but aren’t. So what are we waiting for? Become a man or woman of the Word, of Christ revealed in Scripture, the very words of God, sweeter than honey, giving life, understanding, discernment and wisdom to all who would come and read it.

What am I waiting for? Most of the time, I’m waiting for an excuse to leave it sitting there on the coffee table. 

Who is strong enough to turn this worldly heart of mine towards it daily and constantly?

Praising and loving the Christ to whom I pray,

Matt.

Psalm 119:89-96

89Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 91By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. 92If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. 93I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. 94I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. 95The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. 96I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Here’s what I’ve noticed recently; my view of God’s Word is way too small. Too flippant. Too wishy washy. And I think there’s a chance yours might be too, at least in comparison to the Psalmist. In a Psalm all about the word of God, the precepts and commandments of God, and the law of God – this little section elevates it the highest point so far - we have here a crescendo of praise for the Word of God. So, how does the Psalmist go about painting his impression of God’s word? This is what he says of it;

It is eternal. “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (v89). What God says, stays said - forever. It is firmly fixed, like a giant rivet in a bridge, so is the word of God bolted in and firmly fixed in the heavens themselves. It is not about to move. When God speaks, he does not speak rashly or without thought – no, he says things that he knows he will be accountable to for all eternity, more than that – which will account for all eternity. For as we will soon see, nothing that is, was not brought into existence by his eternal word.

It is faithful. “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast” (v90). Closely connected to the fact that God’s word is never-fading, is the fact that it is never-failing either. The earth itself, which was established by His word (as Genesis 1 makes clear), is a testament to this, it stands fast, so does his promise. We can be sure that God’s word and promise to us in Christ will be brought to completion, for the faithfulness of God’s word endures through all generations – including yours.

Through it God masters the world. “By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants” (v91). The heavens and the earth came into being by his spoken word, his ‘appointment‘ – and so they continue to remain to this day. The sun did not rise this morning because it ‘always does’ – no, it only rose because God appointed that it should and would, for the sun is his servant (or the rotating earth is his servant, whichever you want to look at it!) We must not get into thinking that God set creation off like a clock, and only intervenes when he desires to, or when he wants to ‘do miracles’. Rather, we must hold to the teaching that all things, at all times, are held in their exact place by his appointment. And last time I checked, you make appointments by your word. So it is with God; he masters the world and makes it subservient to his every desire; all by his word.

It is the psalmist’s delight and salvation. “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies” (vv92-95). Do we, like the Psalmist, consider the law and word of God the one single thing that saved us? Do we pick up our bibles and think, ‘the only flotation device in the universe for drowning sinners’? It is very simple. If the law of God is not our delight, we perish. If we forget the precepts of God, we do not have life. If we do not seek the precepts of God, and give our lives to him – we will not be saved. If we do not consider the testimonies of God, the wicked one will destroy us. The Psalmist is not choosing ‘one of many paths’ in these verses, he has chosen the one single path to life – the word of God. If you think otherwise, then tell me this - how did you become a Christian if it were not through the reading, seeking, preaching, teaching, revelation or remembrance of the word of God? Where else is the gospel of Jesus Christ found?

It is infinitely large. “I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad” (v96). This really is the only proper conclusion to the above facts. The Psalmist, looks back on what he has just written, and compares the word of God to everything else. You can’t go any deeper or further than this comparison. The word of God vs. everything else conceivable. Here’s the result. Even that which is ‘perfect’, in the world, in the universe, in the lives of mankind – it has a limit. But your commandment is exceedingly broad. Everything you can conceive of in the universe, even that which is ‘perfect’ has a limit, in comparison to the boundless and all surpassing greatness of the word of God. Let that sink in for just a moment. That. changes. everything. Re-evaluate that little black or brown book sitting on the table over there. It contains the most valuable, eternal, faithful, saving and inconceivably massive entity or message in the entire universe. And you have it sitting right there, translated in your own language. What are you going to do when you get up from this computer? 

Heavenly Father, my view of your word is so small. I treat it so insignificantly, as just a part of my day, often not at all in my day. Please forgive me, and teach me now by your word presented, in part, here. Thank you that your word is eternal. Thank you that your word is faithful. Thank you that your word upholds the world, my breath, my future and my past. Thank you that your word is my salvation. Father, help me to say with the Psalmist that your word is my delight, that I might, with him declare that everything else I can conceive of in comparison is limited – but your commandments are boundless beyond comprehension. I ask then father, that you make the study of your word my delight, my food, my daily bread. Send my eyes and thought and tongue constantly back to your word and constantly singing its praises to all the world. I pray this that the eternal Word, Jesus Christ, might be glorified through me. Amen.

Asking myself why I am so blind and dumb to miss the best thing in all the universe,

Matt.

Psalm 119:81-88

⁸¹My soul longs for your salvation;
   I hope in your word.
⁸²My eyes long for your promise;
   I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
   yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure?
    When will you judge those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
   they do not live according to your law.
⁸⁶All your commandments are sure;
   they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
⁸⁷They have almost made an end of me on earth,
   but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸In your steadfast love give me life,
   that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

I thought it would be good to return to Psalm 119 for a few posts – I should have thought it would be  ’fantastic’ to return, for this passage is simply awesome.

You’ve heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” – I want to change it to, “When the going gets tough, the tough get praying”. We read here in this passage, a desperate prayer of deep trust. That sounds a little contradictory, but it is not. The Psalmist is clearly in the midst of some serious suffering, “They persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth…”  (v86-87) – thus, the desperation. But it is a desperate prayer flowing out of a deep seated trust in his God, for he always sets his suffering within an immovable framework of trust in God. At every point he is pained, or at loss, or desperate – he falls back on God. Let me demonstrate what I mean by unpacking the verses;

^81“My soul longs for your salvation” - The Psalmist longs to be freed from his bondage to decay on earth – like a thirsty soul in a desert, he longs for the oasis of God’s life giving salvation. What do I do at these points in my life? Usually I grumble or complain, or lose my hope and joy. What does the Psalmist do? He places his suffering within an immovable framework of trust in God, and says, ”I hope in your word.” I turn to your promises, I hold on to your words. I turn my eyes from the devastation of life, to the unshakable foundation of your word.

^82″My eyes long for your promise;” - The Psalmist, having turned his eyes to the word of God and seen the promises within, now longs to see them with his eyes. I think his response to this longing is significant. He does not ask, “Why haven’t you brought it yet?”, or “Will you ever bring it God?”, or even, “What does this promise look like?” – I think he asks the most trusting question he could ask at this point, “I ask, “When will you comfort me?” It is a question that affirms his framework of trusting God, for he confesses it is God who will bring the comforting, and it is not a question of ‘if’, as though he doubts it is coming, but a question of ‘when’. He is crying out, “How long O’Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:3). I am always led to ask ”will you comfort me”, inferring that I require the comfort now. But the Psalmist asks ”when will you comfort me” – and I take it he is willing to trust God and God’s timing.

^83″For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke” - I haven’t the foggiest idea what exactly it is like to be a wineskin in the smoke, but it certainly doesn’t sound like a good thing. What does the Psalmist do while he is in this horrible predicament? He does the last thing I usually do, ”yet I have not forgotten your statutes.”

⁸⁵ “The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law.” – The Psalmist looks around at the world, and all he can see are insolent people digging holes for the righteous – godless people who forget God and do not live according to his laws. This is exactly what I see. I read yet another depressing Sydney Morning Herald article this morning, bemoaning marriage and purity, and parading the triumph of same sex relationships and pre-marital sex. I wasn’t surprised or shocked about it – it’s just another pixel in the picture of this sinful depraved, and above all, godless man-fearing world. I just get angry. But the Psalmist does something very important at this point. After observing the godlessness of the world, who have abandoned God’s laws, he says, “All your commandments are sure“. They are solid. They are good. They are right. They are not grey or unknown. They are plain, they are sure, and I will uphold them in a godless world.

⁸⁷They have almost made an end of me on earth“  - the Psalmist is under some serious persecution here, much like a great deal of Christians today. He has almost been killed, perhaps even he fears death is soon. What does he do at this soul-crushing, anxious filled, deflating moment? Well, we know one resolution he has made - but I have not forsaken your precepts. That is amazing trust in God. That is what it looks like to place your suffering within a greater framework of trust in God. It is so clear, that he is willing to give up absolutely everything before he gives up obeying God. Are you?

Finally, and most breathtakingly, ^88″In your steadfast love give me life”  – The Psalmist, seeing that death could come at any moment, asks God to give him life – in line with his steadfast love. Is this perhaps a little selfish? Is this not perhaps a little to covetous of earthly things? Isn’t he willing to give up his life for eternity with God? Does this fit with the rest of the picture of this man? It sure does. For look at why he asks God to extend his life – it is for one reason only, “that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.“

His one reason to keep on living, to keep on living his life of suffering and persecution…is so that he can obey God.

That makes God look glorious beyond all measure.

Will you resolve to be like the Psalmist today? Will you resolve to place your suffering, your persecution and all your life, within a greater framework of trusting your good and steadfast God?

Praying that we will,

Matt.
 

Romans 5:9-11

⁹Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

We ended the last post with Paul’s doctrine of assurance, summed up by the wonderful v9. He now wraps up the section by giving us an assurance of why the assurance is assured (I assure you). We see him fleshing out v9 in v10, For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Here is Paul’s logic; If God sought to reconcile us, to bring us into friendship and peace (5:1), and sought this reconciliation to such an extant that he gave his Son in death – doing all this while we were his enemies, then, now that we are reconciled, and now that Christ is not dead but alive, shall we not much more be assuredly saved from the wrath of God? That was long winded, so I’ll try to condense; How could the wrath of God possibly fall on us - since it is we who were reconciled as enemies by the death of Christ, and are now at peace with him – as surely as Christ lives, how can we possibly not be saved?

One more time, even shorter now; If it were Christ’s blood that was shed for us, and that blood shed for enemies to make them friends with God – why would God do anything but welcome us home? The timing and nature of our salvation is the key to its assurance.

This is one the foundations of the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. Once you are bought by the blood of Christ shed for enemies, you cannot be ‘unransomed’, or ‘unjustified’, or ‘unreconciled’. It is inconceivable, and evidently from Romans 5 (and especially Romans 8), it is un-biblical. So no, a Christian cannot fall away. And yes, Christian, you are going to heaven. Embrace the truth with joy.

Paul does, for he replies to this wonderful doctrine of perseverance with v11, More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Those who are justified by faith and know they have peace with God (v1), who have obtained access by faith into grace (v2), who know that all things, even sufferings, lead to greater hope (v3-4), and into whose hearts the love of God has been poured out through the Holy Spirit (v5) – the love of God demonstrated in Christ’s death on the cross for sinners while they were sinners (v6-8), who know therefore that they have been justified by that blood of love and have complete salvation from the wrath of God (v9), and know the certainty of this assurance rooted in the nature and timing of this salvation (v10) – how could these people, and Christian this is you - how could these people be held back from always rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ? How is that conceivable? It is endlessly absurd to the extreme!

To think that one of these people could be held back from rejoicing in God!? That would be a contradiction, it would be an illogicality, an unacceptable response – it would be foolishness – it would have to come from such sinful motives, it would be completely unjustifiable, an outrage! No wonder Paul says in Philippians 4, Rejoice in the Lord always, again, rejoice in the Lord. It would never be right for them to choose anything other than rejoicing in their God through their Lord Jesus Christ. Never.

And yet…and yet, dear Christian – do we not find a thousand ways, a thousand justifications, a thousand reasons not to rejoice in God? 

There is not a Job in Sydney, dare I say this whole nation, who, once God had taken everything from him, every joy and comfort and luxury and health and happiness from his life - still rejoiced and blessed the name of his God. I am living proof of that. Just take one thing from me and, *click*, any hint of joy in God is gone.

Resolve now to rejoice. Repent of your joy-lessness in God, for it flows out of nothing but worldliness and sin. And return to your reconciler, your redeemer with a life of praise and worship today.

Heavenly Father, how can we your redeemed people, your reconciled by the blood of Christ people, not rejoice in you through Christ? And yet Father, we grumble and complain, rejoice in worldly things, and forget you always. We do not live lives marked by joy in you. Our joy is bound up in so many things other than you. We confess them now______, and ask for forgiveness. Help us to dwell on the truths of Romans 5, that we might evermore live to your praise and glory, always full of joy despite the circumstances, despite the pain, despite the loss - transform us we ask, that by the power of the Spirit, we might live radically glorify lives that clearly demonstrate that you are our joy, reward, prize, delight and all encompassing love. We pray this in the precious name of Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Rebuked,

Matt. 

P.S – Would love to hear from you if you are still following and reading. Please leave a comment on either this post or the front page – www.romans1133.wordpress.com - Thanks!

Romans 5:6-9

⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

This is if course an incredibly well known passage, often preached during evangelistic sermons – and understandably so. However, it is rarely preached in context, and therefore rarely understood as a non-evangelistic passage (which, as we shall see, was how it was actually meant to be read). The usual omission by evangelistic preachers being the word ‘for’ at the start of v6; it is either ignored or left out entirely.

What is the ‘for’ there for? Well, we were left at the end of v5 with Paul saying that he rejoices in all his life, including sufferings, for suffering leads to more and more hope (and hope is the chief foundation of his rejoicing), and that hope is a safe and solid thing to rejoice in because it will not put us to shame – it will not fail us, it is not in vain. He knows this because God’s love has been poured into his/our heart by the Holy Spirit (v5). The question we were left with was, “How can Paul be so sure that God loves him?” The rest of this section in Romans then, is looking at the connection between the loving action of God towards us, and our assurance of salvation. Paul wants us all to know the certainty of our salvation, and therefore, that our hope is not in vain and will not put us to shame.

So, to make the ‘for’ at the start of verse 6 work, let’s give Paul a question for him to answer; “Paul, you say in verse 5 that your hope will not put you to shame because God’s love has been poured into your heart by the Spirit – how are you so certain that God’s actions towards you are that of love?

⁶For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thanks Paul. You’ll notice in these verses a simple ABA logical structure; How is Paul certain of God’s love for us?

A: For it was while we were weak/sick/powerless that Christ died for the godless (v6)

B: People very rarely die even for good people (v7)

A: But Christ died for us while we were sinners (v8b)

Therefore, Christ’s death is a demonstration of the love of God towards us (v8a). It is when we behold our sinfulness and depravity that the death of Christ makes no sense – except as an act of love, an act of unmerited grace. It’s the only way you can make sense of the motive of the cross – it must have been the love of God. It is not a love rooted in the beauty of the beloved, for there was simply nothing lovely about us – we were godless, weak and sinful – terms that should not be taken lightly in remembrance of Romans 1-3. No, the love of God is rooted entirely in God’s character of love. He loves because he loves. It is not a satisfying answer, yes, but it is the only answer that makes sense in the end. It is a love that takes the words out of mouth, and leads us to fall before him and offer our lives as living sacrifices, for we cannot offer anything else – or anything less. It debases us so we are unable to take anything from God except his grace, and debases us so we are obliged to give him all the glory, and keep none ourselves. We get all the grace, he gets all the glory. That’s the way things are meant to be.

What shall we conclude from this love of God towards us? We should conclude with exactly the point Paul set out to make from these verses; Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. (v9)

Paul didn’t write verses 6-8 for us to use in evangelistic sermons, but in sermons to Christians. He didn’t write it to evangelise, but build up and encourage Christians. Will our hope put us to shame? No. Can we be certain that our hope is not in vain? Yes. Why? Because if we have been made righteous by Christ’s death (his ‘blood’), and therefore we have been saved by God’s love, how much must we be certainly saved from the wrath of God! God’s love has been poured into our hearts, the love of a dying saviour dying for unworthy sinners. If that is the way God has worked towards us – why on earth would we think that our hope will be put to shame by the world, Satan or anything else in all creation?

This is not an evangelistic passage, but a passage to get us evangelising – your hope is secure, therefore, go take up your cross, risk a thousand risks of love for the gospel of the love of God! Give your life for the king and his kingdom.

Singing the praises of the lamb with you,

Matt.

Romans 5:1-5

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I find that one of the easiest things to do in life is to lose my joy in God; to stop rejoicing. A little sickness, a little useless moping over sin (as opposed to repentance, which leads to joy), a little thing to make me impatient, a bad night’s sleep, a little folding of the hands in laziness – I could go on. I thank God that he hasn’t put me through a time of intense, prolonged suffering in life yet – because I think I’m under-prepared spiritually to deal with it. But God isn’t going to wait till I’m ready, and he won’t wait for you either, we have to be ready now.

The one with the umbrella ready to go when the storm hits, will ride out the storm better than the one who didn’t think about bringing an umbrella. For the storms in life will come, if they haven’t already. And it’s always much harder to put the umbrella up when you’re lost in the storm. We need to get it out now. We need to read passages like Romans 5:1-5 now.

We need to understand first and foremost that suffering is not a curse from God, but a blessing. We need to step back and see the bigger picture between us and God. Remember, since we have been justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God (v1). That means, that if you are a Christian, and you are diagnosed with cancer, God is acting towards you peacefully. The proper response then, in all circumstances, is to rejoice in hope of the glory of God- for we stand in grace and the promise of eternal life in heaven is guaranteed by the work of Christ. No earthly suffering or trial compares to that. None of it affects the way God acts towards you.

But some might object – How can I rejoice when my body is in constant pain? Or, How can I possibly rejoice in hope of the glory of God when my life seems so hopeless? How can I rejoice, when God has taken so much from me? They are real, honest, brutal questions; ones that you might be feeling right now, and ones I do not wish to cast aside lightly. But have a look how Paul answers such objections;

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

How is it possible to rejoice when your child dies? How is it possible to rejoice when cancer comes? It’s possible if you put the suffering in its place. That’s really hard to do sometimes – but it’s the only way you’ll find your joy, the only way you’ll find a song, or a prayer or a life of praise and joy on earth. For when we see that suffering produces endurance, and that endurance produces within us character, and that character produces hope – we see that the design of suffering is not a dead end – we can actually win more hope. And hope is the stuff of rejoicing is it not? To say with Paul, “I rejoice in this suffering, this affliction, this trial – for I can see its God given design, I can see its effect, I can see its fruit…it changes my character…it fuels my hope…and I rejoice knowing that my hope, does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (v5).

Paul is saying, I don’t just rejoice when things are good. No, more than that, I can see the end of this suffering is hope. Hard-won hope. It doesn’t come by the road of ease and comfort. No, as I endure and press on through hardship, I am transformed, and my hope, my vision is lifted ever higher. And so I will rejoice, for I know my hope is not in vain, for I know the love of God for me, the love that was poured into my heart by the Spirit. I know that love…even in the depths of despair. Why then, should I not rejoice in God my saviour, God my hope?

Knowing the love of God for you puts steel in your hope. And having a hope of steel means you can rejoice no matter what. 

But how is Paul so sure that God loves him? Stay tuned for the next part of Romans 5.

Fighting for joy in suffering with you,

Matt.

Romans 5:1-2

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ²Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

“All we are saying is give peace a chance”, cried Lennon. Well, we’re nearly half a century on, and it still doesn’t look like the world is going to give peace a chance. Of course, as Christians we know this world will never know peace amongst itself until it has peace with God. For it is only those who belong to the Spirit-indwelling community of Christ can truly experience peace amongst themselves – across all age, gender, race and cultural divides, for they are one with Christ, who broke down all the walls of hostility (Ephesians 2-3).

Surely to have ‘peace with God’ is the greatest of all possible relationships. To be friends with the creator, to have no hostility with your maker and judge. To have him look on you with approval, rather than disdain – to have him accept you as his own, and to be able to relate with him. And to be able to do this without needs of penance, or constant self-belligerant sacrifice. Is that not what we want?

Well actually, no it isn’t. It’s the last thing we want, and that’s the problem. We would rather have power and glory than peace – and so we either ignore God and set ourselves up as King, or we write a new relationship contract with God based on our merit and works. Unsurprisingly, both result in enmity with God – and that is where we all stand before our maker and judge, as enemies.

And yet, Paul boldly states that since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The logic is simple. Since we have been declared innocent (justified) by faith, (and not law), we have peace with God – for such a justification rests entirely on the work of Christ on our behalf. The work of Christ fully satisfies the requirements of the law – for how else could those who have faith in him be declared innocent – and therefore, there is no longer any basis for enmity between Christians and God, but perfect peace. Ponder that for just a second. There is no longer any basis for enmity between those of faith and God. There is no reason for God to be anything but peaceful towards them. The perfect, righteous and holy Father, who hates sin with vengeance and wrath, at perfect peace with those who desire nothing more than to be at war with God. That is simply incredible. Therefore, what the Lord Jesus Christ did was simply incredible. for it is through him that we have this peace with God (v1).

v2 fleshes it out a little further; Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Why do those who have faith in Christ have peace with God? Because, Christ is the door into grace. And we enter through the door of Christ by faith in him. And so we now stand in the place of grace. We are swimming in an ocean of endless mercy and love! There is no better place to stand than in God’s grace! For those who stand in God’s grace spend their lives, and all eternity doing one thing, rejoicing in hope of the glory of God! We get the grace, God gets the glory! God gives the grace, we get peace with him! We stand in the room of grace – in the room of gift, not works – we stand in the room of peace, not enmity – we stand in the room of joy.

This is the first time in Romans that Paul has used the pronoun ‘we’. He is speaking to the church in Rome, and ultimately, to all the church of faith in Christ. Can you replace ‘we’ with ‘I’? Can you say, “Through Christ I have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and I rejoice in hope of the glory of God”?

If you can’t, if only you would accept grace rather than fight for glory!

If you can, rejoice and live today in hope of an eternity of glorifying God.

Standing joyfully on grace,

Matt.

Romans 5:1

¹Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have reached another key structural verse in Romans. You might remember from way back, I introduced the helpful method of joining these key verses, and removing everything in between, as a good way to get our heads around the overall flow of the letter. Let’s give it a go;

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (1:14-17)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (1:18)

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. (2:6-8)

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
    “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. (3:9-11)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 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, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (3:21-25)

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. (4:3-5)

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (4:20-25)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (5:1)

 We could make it even shorter if we like – 1:17, For in it (the gospel) The righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith…2:22, The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…5:1, Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I hope you can see now, the core theme of Romans 1-5:1. It is all about righteousness, faith and justification through Christ. This is what the gospel is all about. There is on offer a righteousness from God, to sinful and hopeless humanity, that is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ’s gracious works – the end result of which is the deceleration of justification from God upon the sinner, which of course means eternal peace with God (5:1). 

I hope that was helpful in simplifiy these chapters for you, I encourage you now to read over them in your own time. We’re out of room in this post, so in the next post we’ll begin to explore these first few verses of chapter 5, and look at what it means to have peace with God.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word, we thank you for its truth, its life giving truth. We thank you for your indwelling Spirit by which we read it. Please continue to help us understand it, love it, treasure it and make it known. Thank you for the wonderful good news of justification by faith in Jesus Christ. Help us never to let it go. In Christ’s good name. Amen. 

Wrestling with the Word alongside you,

Matt.   

Romans 4:16-25

¹⁶That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, ¹⁷as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. ¹⁸In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” ¹⁹He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead ( since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²²That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” ²³But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

We are BACK ON AIR! After several false restarts since the last post on the 31st of March, and after my two biggest readers asked for a comeback – I finally got typing. Please pray that such a break will not be repeated!

We return to Romans at the close of chapter 4, beginning at verse 16, which says, “That is why it depends on faith…” What is it and why does it depend on faith? Very simply, the it were the promises given to Abraham (see previous post for more details about the promise). Why do the promises given to Abraham depend/rest upon faith? Because, the previous verse said, “For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression…v16..THAT is why it (the promises) depend on faith“. If the promises rested on law, on Abraham’s ability to keep a set of rules, the only promise he would have seen was God’s just wrath against him. Therefore, for Abraham to actually receive the promises of God, God would have to design his relationship with Abraham so it was based on faith – otherwise his promise would not be kept – and God usually keeps his promises!

But why would faith guarentee the promises? Doesn’t that still mean that the promises still rested on Abraham’s ability to keep the faith? How is that any different from law and works? The answer is simple and given in the rest of v16 – “That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring.” You see, faith is not a work – maybe in our eyes, but certainly not in God’s eyes. It isn’t a law. It is the simple and broken trust of a sinner who falls upon the perfect gracious love and work and power of God to save. When Paul says the promsies depended on faith, he doesn’t mean that Abraham is the one holding it together – that would be ridiculous! No, when we say, as sinners ourselves, that our eternal life depends on our faith, we mean very clearly, and joyfully, that our eternal salvation depends on the grace of God alone. We were mere sinners drowning in the waves of sin and death with no hope, but God worked through Christ and swam out to save us. He simply said ‘trust me, take my hand Abraham/sinner’ – and we did. Our salvation was thereby guaranteed! Because it was not I who swam back to shore, but Christ who rose from the dead and dragged me there. Look at Abraham;

²⁰No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. ²²That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”

That is what faith is! Knowing that God has promised you great promises, and being fully convinced that God was able to do it, and will do it! You don’t have to squeeze your eyes really tight and think, “I am FULLY CONVINCED that God can do it” – just simply reflect upon God. Can he do it? Yes! Not because of who we are, but because of who God is and what God has done for us through Christ. Abraham didn’t consider how old and broken his body was, it didn’t matter – God had promised him children, a nation, a land – and all he did was grow stronger in faith – and that made God look glorious. Thus, this faith was counted to him as righteousness. And this same simple faith in the promises of God will make us righteous before him too. How can that be!? For, the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, ²⁴but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, ²⁵ who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Are you fully convinced that Jesus died for your trespasses, died to bear the wrath they deserved? Are you fully convinced that Jesus rose from the grave to declare once and for all that all who trust in him are justified and will rise over death leading to eternal life? Do you believe in him who raised this dead Jesus our Lord, do you believe he can save you by his might and power and promise? You should! And if you do, then you are a truster. You are throwing yourself on God’s grace alone. You are a Christian. And, incredibly, you are therefore, perfect in his sight.

Heavenly Father,
Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to your cross I cling. Naked come to you for dress, helpless look to you for grace. Stained by sin to you I cry, wash me Saviour or I die. I fall upon your grace Father. Thank you for Christ, thank you for grace. Help me to declare the end of works and law to all the world, and help me declare your never-failing grace and power to every nation. In Christ’s name. Amen

Worshipping God’s grace this morning.

Matt.

Romans 4:9-15

⁹Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ¹¹ He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹²and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.¹³For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. ¹⁵For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

In today’s passage, Paul continues his case study on Abraham,  the man of faith. Sadly, some theologians don’t believe that Romans 4 is of any benefit to modern Christians, since they think it only deals with Jewish arguments Paul was having at the time. I was disappointed to find my name sake, C.H. Dodd (a mildly famous, yet from my experience, not the most faithful theologian), saying, “(Chapter 4) has little interest and no weight for us…the whole exposition seems remote and unenlightening”.

I’ve got to heartily disagree. I’ve been finding great treasures in this chapter, as you’ll especially find in my last post on v1-8, but also here in 9-15.

Having stated clearly that Abraham’s righteousness was not a result of his works, since his works would be worthless in God’s sight – Paul continues by now asking whether Abraham’s righteousness came as a result of his circumcision, or through the obedience of the Jewish Law. The answer to both is a resounding ‘no’.

Paul asks whether the blessings of righteousness to the sinner (v8) comes to the circumcised or the uncircumcised (v9). To answer, he looks at Abraham. “How then was it (righteousness) counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? it was not after, but before he was circumcised” (v10). It’s a very simple arguement – he can’t have been declared righteous because of his circumcision, because he was declared righteous at the moment he believed and trusted God – not the few years later when he had the snip. They are different events. The later circumcision was merely a ‘seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised” (v11) Don’t be alarmed by the world ’seal’ – as though it were the basis of his assurance. Paul clearly states, (as the OT clearly states), that Abraham already had this righteousness by faith. It was his already by faith alone.

God designed the order of events like this for a very important reason. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised (Gentiles), so that righteousness would be counted to them as well – we can be fully assured of receiving the same righteousness by faith apart from circumcision or any outward Jewish practice because Abraham was treated like that, and God doesn’t change – and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith of our father Abraham had before he was circumcised (v11-12). God’s wonderful design means that Abraham is also the father of the holy Jewish people of the OT. They trace their roots back to him and the original circumcision – but we Gentiles of faith also trace our roots back to him. He truly is the father of us all!

But the real striking thing you might have noticed is that he is not the father of those who are merely circumcised. You can’t just be one of God’s people by cutting some skin. v12 makes that clear, and v13 continues that theme, “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.” vv14-15 echo chapter 3 in their horrible summary of life by law, “The promise is void“.

We must be people of faith, who do not work but trust him who justifies the ungodly. Look to Abraham for encouragement. And whatever you do – don’t look to yourself for salvation.

There be wrath down that path,

Matt.