I will be preaching on Rom. 6 this weekend culminating with verse 23 which says, "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So, since last week and our exposure to the word 'gift' in Rom. 4 and 5 have you been thinking about what if could refer to? As I preach on this concept this weekend here are some questions that will enrich our conversation:
1. List ever time the word 'gift' is used in Romans 4, 5 and 6. Also include any qualifiers that accompany it.
2. Where else in Scripture is the word 'gift' used in a similar manner?
Think about these questions?
1. What gifts does Scripture tell us that God gives to us?
2. How do we receive these gifts?
3. Why do we receive these gifts?
4. Which 'gift' is this passage refering to?
5. What is the nature of---a gift?
6 As a recipeint of a gift--what are our options and obligations?
Have fun and shoot me any questions that pop into your studies.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
response to Regena's questions about heirs of the world
Thank you for your questions becuase it is quite obvious that as a communicator I did not do my job. You may also see on the blog spot commnets that my son Ryan also had some questions about what I wrote.
1. As I understand it, there is understanding about the first question--who are the heirs? all those who like Abraham--believe.
2.Its the second point where the confusion comes. Let me see if I can clarify. In talking about two possibilites, there really are two different possibilites about what this word 'world' could mean. Sometimes in the Scriptures it refers to Creation, the created order, the sticks and stones of earth. When this is the understanding of the word--'world' then I agree with Ryan that yes--we do re-inherit the 'world'--Creation and we will be restored as the stewards of this created order as part of our inheritance. In other words--this created earth is not refuse nor to be discarded, nor taken lightly. But there is another use of the word 'world' in the Pauline letters and it is a usage that is not refering to the creation, nor the sticks and stones of the created order but to the cultures, values and energy of the 'world' which are opposed to God. (See Eph. 2:2)
So what I was trying to say was not--that Creation is rotten or bad--it is fallen just as we are--but it will also be redeemed and restored as shall all who trust in Christ but the usage of the word 'world' in this particular verse was refering more to the world that is made up of values and practices that are opposed to God.
I landed on this particular usage of the word 'world' primarily because of Rom. 4:17 where Paul refers to the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." In other words, the entire passage is using Abraham as as an example of one who believed that God could supernaturally do what the 'world' could not fathom and would call foolish. So I was led to the conclusion that we are the heirs who have come out of the world. What I was trying to say is that while I am very eager to inherit the Creation restored to its God planned grandeur, I am not desiring at all to inherit those things of the world--her cultures, values and energies (that are opposed to God)(that do not believe that God can, when man can't) this is NOT the inheritance that I want. What I want to inherit is more of the presence of God, more of His power and more of His love in my life--none of which the 'world' can provide for me.
Finally trying to figure out what God is saying in His word is not a matter of thinking that Holy Spirit has changed his mind or said something different. It is trying to understand (free of my own fleshly interpretations and wisdom) what He means in each and every Scripture. I seek Him, I pray and I think--then I speak or write. I do not presume to own the only interpretaion possible but I do know that the Holy Spirit also resides in me and I am thankful that He directs and aids me as I go-just as He does each of His children as they seek Him. Hopefully this helps clarify. If not lets keep on dialoguing.
1. As I understand it, there is understanding about the first question--who are the heirs? all those who like Abraham--believe.
2.Its the second point where the confusion comes. Let me see if I can clarify. In talking about two possibilites, there really are two different possibilites about what this word 'world' could mean. Sometimes in the Scriptures it refers to Creation, the created order, the sticks and stones of earth. When this is the understanding of the word--'world' then I agree with Ryan that yes--we do re-inherit the 'world'--Creation and we will be restored as the stewards of this created order as part of our inheritance. In other words--this created earth is not refuse nor to be discarded, nor taken lightly. But there is another use of the word 'world' in the Pauline letters and it is a usage that is not refering to the creation, nor the sticks and stones of the created order but to the cultures, values and energy of the 'world' which are opposed to God. (See Eph. 2:2)
So what I was trying to say was not--that Creation is rotten or bad--it is fallen just as we are--but it will also be redeemed and restored as shall all who trust in Christ but the usage of the word 'world' in this particular verse was refering more to the world that is made up of values and practices that are opposed to God.
I landed on this particular usage of the word 'world' primarily because of Rom. 4:17 where Paul refers to the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were." In other words, the entire passage is using Abraham as as an example of one who believed that God could supernaturally do what the 'world' could not fathom and would call foolish. So I was led to the conclusion that we are the heirs who have come out of the world. What I was trying to say is that while I am very eager to inherit the Creation restored to its God planned grandeur, I am not desiring at all to inherit those things of the world--her cultures, values and energies (that are opposed to God)(that do not believe that God can, when man can't) this is NOT the inheritance that I want. What I want to inherit is more of the presence of God, more of His power and more of His love in my life--none of which the 'world' can provide for me.
Finally trying to figure out what God is saying in His word is not a matter of thinking that Holy Spirit has changed his mind or said something different. It is trying to understand (free of my own fleshly interpretations and wisdom) what He means in each and every Scripture. I seek Him, I pray and I think--then I speak or write. I do not presume to own the only interpretaion possible but I do know that the Holy Spirit also resides in me and I am thankful that He directs and aids me as I go-just as He does each of His children as they seek Him. Hopefully this helps clarify. If not lets keep on dialoguing.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
heir of the world
Here is my shot at understanding Romans 4:13 without the use of commentaries. The first question is who is the heir?
In Gal. 3:16 Paul refers to Abraham's seed as singular (not plural) and relating to Christ. In that context it makes perfect sense but here in this part of the Romans arguement, Paul has just been making the case that not just those who are Jews and have the Law are Abraham's descendants but also those who like Abraham believe God and have had it reckoned to them as righteousness. (4:3)So in this case I believe that the term offspring is meaning to refer to all those both Jew and Gentile alike--who have faith in Jesus Christ. So the identification of the 'heir' is all those, like Abraham, who have believed God. We are not heirs by virtue of works of the Law but we are Abraham's offspring when we trust God.
The second question is, What does 'of the world' refer to?
As I think it through there are two primary possibilites. First, it could mean, the heirs (those who trust God), what they inherit is---the world. This reminds me of Matt. 5:5 where in the Sermon of the Mount Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." I also remember Jesus saying in Matt. 6:33,"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."So if this is the case it would mean something like 'for the ones who trust God, who believe Him and do not rely on works of the Law for righteousness, these shall receive from God, as an inheritance--(something we get out of the situation)--the world.
This could be the correct interpretation but it doesn't sit well with me. When I trust God in reality I give up the world with all my silly gropings to try and hold on to it. When Abraham believed God--he did so in spite of the world that would say--your body is to old to have sex and your wife has been barren for decades. It was the wisdom of the world that Abraham had to forego and he had to trust that God was able to do what the world said was impossible. So for the one who believes God (which at least in part entails giving up the world) I find this second possibilitiy for what 'of the world' means to be more compelling. Here then is that second choice.
Grammatically 'of the world' could also mean--out of all the world, these people, (those who believe God as Abraham did) these are the ones who are heirs. Actually I kind of like that. It is after all what I wanted when I trusted God. All i have ever wanted when I trusted God was His abiding presence. If you are here God, everything will be okay. If I turn it over to God, then because He is good, everything that comes from His hand is good (even if I don't like it) You see when I trust God, it is not the world I was hoping to get out of that trusting relationship. In fact it is just the opposite of that. In trusting God Abraham hoped to get out of that trust--what God could bring to the table that the world could not. That is it exactly. As an heir (one who trusts God) what I want is God Himself and all the power His presence brings. I don't want the world. It looks bleak and barren. I want God who brings life out of death. Vitality out of drudgery. Hope out of despair.
When we trust God and don't rely on our efforts within this world, we become heirs within this world who receive the power and presence of God who is beyond this world and Lord over this world.
That's where the Holy Spirit has led me. What do you think? Keep living in Romans.
In Gal. 3:16 Paul refers to Abraham's seed as singular (not plural) and relating to Christ. In that context it makes perfect sense but here in this part of the Romans arguement, Paul has just been making the case that not just those who are Jews and have the Law are Abraham's descendants but also those who like Abraham believe God and have had it reckoned to them as righteousness. (4:3)So in this case I believe that the term offspring is meaning to refer to all those both Jew and Gentile alike--who have faith in Jesus Christ. So the identification of the 'heir' is all those, like Abraham, who have believed God. We are not heirs by virtue of works of the Law but we are Abraham's offspring when we trust God.
The second question is, What does 'of the world' refer to?
As I think it through there are two primary possibilites. First, it could mean, the heirs (those who trust God), what they inherit is---the world. This reminds me of Matt. 5:5 where in the Sermon of the Mount Jesus says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." I also remember Jesus saying in Matt. 6:33,"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."So if this is the case it would mean something like 'for the ones who trust God, who believe Him and do not rely on works of the Law for righteousness, these shall receive from God, as an inheritance--(something we get out of the situation)--the world.
This could be the correct interpretation but it doesn't sit well with me. When I trust God in reality I give up the world with all my silly gropings to try and hold on to it. When Abraham believed God--he did so in spite of the world that would say--your body is to old to have sex and your wife has been barren for decades. It was the wisdom of the world that Abraham had to forego and he had to trust that God was able to do what the world said was impossible. So for the one who believes God (which at least in part entails giving up the world) I find this second possibilitiy for what 'of the world' means to be more compelling. Here then is that second choice.
Grammatically 'of the world' could also mean--out of all the world, these people, (those who believe God as Abraham did) these are the ones who are heirs. Actually I kind of like that. It is after all what I wanted when I trusted God. All i have ever wanted when I trusted God was His abiding presence. If you are here God, everything will be okay. If I turn it over to God, then because He is good, everything that comes from His hand is good (even if I don't like it) You see when I trust God, it is not the world I was hoping to get out of that trusting relationship. In fact it is just the opposite of that. In trusting God Abraham hoped to get out of that trust--what God could bring to the table that the world could not. That is it exactly. As an heir (one who trusts God) what I want is God Himself and all the power His presence brings. I don't want the world. It looks bleak and barren. I want God who brings life out of death. Vitality out of drudgery. Hope out of despair.
When we trust God and don't rely on our efforts within this world, we become heirs within this world who receive the power and presence of God who is beyond this world and Lord over this world.
That's where the Holy Spirit has led me. What do you think? Keep living in Romans.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Romans 3
In Romans 3 the use of the word redemption is found in verse 24. I am intrigued by how American our view of this verse is. If redemption is the redeeming of our lives from ownership of another master, we become so thankful that in Christ, we no longer are slaves to sin nor under the curse of death. Christ has saved us from this and paid the price in full for our freedom--I'm FREE!!!! So goes our thought process.
...from. No God redeemed us in Christ from the power of sin not just to set us free from a terrible tyrant, but to bring us under His loving and gracious Lordship.
...;. So if this be true--and I believe it is---what day to day impact might this have on our decisions, attitudes and actions? What do you think?
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