Romans 3:9-18

“What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:

"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes."

This all kind of sounds like – how many different ways can Paul say the same thing?
But, what I think he’s trying to get us to understand is, unless you know and admit that you are a sinner, you don’t know you need a savior. And this is hard for people to accept because one of the results of being sinful is treating sin lightly. But, we need to come to terms with this. Without an accurate knowledge of our sin we will never come to know the meaning and extent of God’s grace. God’s grace is total.
Our efforts don’t add to it or take from it.

Otherwise we would be able to boast in heaven. Martin Luther wrote, “Our only proper role is humbly to acknowledge our sin, confess our blindness and admit we can no more choose God by our enslaved wills then we can please Him by our sullied moral acts. All we can do is call on God for mercy, knowing even as we seek to do so that we cannot even call for mercy unless God is first active to convict us of sin and lead us to Christ for salvation."

More on Romans 1:16-17

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed — a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

These two verses are really the whole theme of Romans. They are the heart of Biblical religion. The gospel is power. It’s not about God’s power and it doesn’t point the way to power. It is the power by which God accomplishes salvation in those who are being saved.

Hebrews 4:12 says “The Word of God is living and active.”

Of all the things going on in the world this minute, the preaching of the gospel is the most important. The spirit of God is a work.

When the gospel is preached, people are delivered from the bondage of sin and set free spiritually. Lives are transformed. God isn’t simply just telling us about salvation. God Himself is providing salvation through the gospel. And Paul is saying that his trust in God’s power and goodness has not been misplaced, nor his hope in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice been disappointed. (That’s what he means by “not ashamed”.)

The second part of verse 16 is equally important to everyone who believes. In the book of Acts, Peter declared at Pentecost, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” The entire Bible actually ends in Revelation with the verse, “Whoever is thirsty, let him come” “whoever wishes, let him take of the free gift of the water of life.”

God doesn’t reveal His righteousness so that we look at Him and try and try and try to be like Him and fail and fail and fail. It was revealed as God’s free gift through Christ. The only work involved is opening your hand to receive it.

Martin Luther and the book of Romans

Because Martin Luther was so greatly influenced by the book of Romans, you might say the book influenced the Lutheran denomination.

Martin Luther was a pious monk who had no peace in his soul. He desperately wanted to please God and be accepted by Him. But, the harder he tried, the more elusive the salvation of his soul became. He found himself drawing away from God.

Then he began to study the book of Romans and in chapter 1 verse 17 he read something that made a light bulb go off in his head:

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed — a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

He realized that the righteousness he had been trying so hard to earn on his own was freely given by God to all who would receive it. It was by faith, taking God at His word. Not by striving to do good works, but by resting in Christ’s finished work.
Luther did this and said he felt himself to be reborn and to have entered Paradise.

Later he called Romans, “the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest gospel.”

General Background on the Book of Romans

Paul wrote this letter from Corinth about AD 56-57. Unlike the other letters he wrote, he didn’t start this church. He didn’t know the people there and hadn’t even been to Rome yet. It was probably started by Jews who had come to faith during Pentecost. So he introduces himself in the beginning.

His aim was to convince his readers that whether they came from Jewish or pagan backgrounds, they face the same issue – how to enter a right relationship with God.
The gulf between human sin and guilt and a divine holiness and perfection cannot be bridged by any mortal effort, only by Christ.

Based on scripture, Paul argued that by God’s action in Christ, the church has become the new Israel, receiving both the promises and the mission of the old Israel: the gift of salvation and the call to proclaim it and lead others (both Jew and Gentile) into a common community of faith.

Because God shows no partiality and values us equally, we likewise should treat one another as equals. Though human sin has a variety of expression, all are rooted in a common rebellion against God.

The basic breakdown of Romans is:

- Paul introduces himself
- He presents the facts of the Gospel
- He declares his allegiance to it
- He tells of the lostness of all mankind and the necessity of God’s intervention
- He presents the good news, “Salvation is available to all.” “We are saved by grace through faith in Christ and His finished work. Only through Him can we stand before God justified.”

Commissioning Sunday School Teachers

Today in church all of the Sunday School teachers for the coming year went up to the alter to be commissioned. I loved what they had us read:

“As children of a faithful God, we who will teach Sunday School this year commit ourselves to journey together with each other and with those who come to learn. We will seek to grow in our own understanding of God. We will offer compassion and caring. We will celebrate. We will listen and share and laugh and cry. We will plan carefully and teach wisely. We will pray. We will sing, and we will make joyful noises when we cannot sing. We will stretch our intellect to new heights, and we will sit on the rug to tell stories to the children. We will expect more of ourselves than others expect of us. We will offer ourselves for the journey so that others may glimpse God. We will give fully of ourselves because we know that God in Christ gives fully of self to us.”

Ken Medema

John and I went to maybe the most fun concert ever tonight. Ken Medema, a blind, Christian songwriter singer was at St. Luke’s in Hickory. He was just wonderful. Beautiful songs; he had people rubbing shoulders and dancing in the aisles. He also asked people to come up and tell a story about someone that inspired him or her in their Christian walk and then he would immediately write and sing a song about that person. In looking at his schedule on his website it looks like he’s going to be all over the United States in the next few months. So go see him!!

Here’s his site: http://www.kenmedema.com/index.asp

Part II of The Journey

We all know the story of Abraham. We all know there are consequences to any action we take. What we do can set into motion a series of events that may continue long after we’re gone. Unfortunately, when we are making decisions most of us only think of the immediate consequences. These are often misleading because they are short lived.

Abraham had a choice to make. His decision was between setting out with his family and belongings to parts unknown or staying right where he was. He had to decide between the security of what he already had and the uncertainty of traveling under God’s direction. All he had to go on was God’s promise to guide and bless him.

Abraham could hardly have been expected to visualize how much of the future was resting on his decision to follow God, but his obedience affected the history of the world. His decision set into motion the development of the nation that God would eventually use as His own when He came to earth Himself.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, God’s promise was fulfilled: through Abraham the entire world was blessed.

You probably don’t know the long-term effects of most of the decisions you make. But, shouldn’t the fact that there will be long term results cause you to think carefully and seek God’s guidance as you make choices and take action every day?

Abraham never doubted that God would fulfill His promise. Although Abraham’s life was still marked by mistakes, sins and failure it was also marked by big wisdom and goodness. He constantly trusted God and his faith was strengthened by the obstacles he faced. His life was an example of faith in action.

Abraham left a flourishing city, a city which had 2 story villas each with 13 and 14 rooms, whose walls were whitewashed plaster. A city where education was of a high standard. But, in spite of this advanced civilization Ur was steeped in idolatry.

God called Abraham to “leave your country and your people…and go to the land I will show you.” Taking his father Terah, his nephew Lot and his wife Sarah they traveled 600 miles from Ur to Haran. They stayed there for some time; his father died there and then, again, God called Abraham. He was to leave this place – another city noted for its idolatry and they went another 600 miles south to Canaan. Abraham set out on an adventure completely dependent on God, but blazing a way that generations would follow.

Part of our journey is to be spiritually fruitful. Jesus said in John 7:37-38: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." As Christians we can be living water satisfying people’s thirst by pointing them to the source, Jesus Christ.

We may be asked along our journey to realize we love God more than anything else – by God asking us to give up something or even not asking – just allowing it to be taken –

You remember the story of Isaac. God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son.
God probably won’t tell you to kill your child, but do you cling too tightly to your spouse’s or child’s time when they may be used for others who need to know God through them?

Other sacrifices to consider: have you ever given a monetary gift that was a sacrifice? Opened your home to a needy person just because you love God? Have you sacrificed your own time?

Some things you may need to give up may be: habits, sins or ambitions that hinder you and your family from obedience to God.

On our journey we will come to forks in the road where we will have to make decisions. For instance: should we stay close to a church where our family may best be taught and molded in God’s work or follow some wordly pursuit?

We need to be watchful and aware. We need to think about the things that happen, not just go through life in a fog. We need to live life on purpose.

Here are a few more thoughts about walking with Jesus –

If I go for a walk with a friend and when we get to the end of my driveway she turns left and I turn right – we aren’t walking together. If we go the same way, but I walk really fast and she walks really slowly – we won’t walk together. Part of the reason for the walk is to enjoy time together.

It’s also easiest to travel lightly on a journey. Not carry a lot of “baggage” –which can either mean carrying around our past, unforgiveness or sins or being tied to material things.

Abraham’s journey was one step at a time – that’s all we need to do – we take a step in faith and God will lead us.

God calls us to walk with Him. To learn from Him and have a relationship with Him. Our fullest spiritual maturity is to be like God in character – we’re not done until we achieve that.

Will you commit yourself to follow Abraham in a new walk of faith – the highest walk of faith, that of sacrifice and love to God?

Part I of The Journey

This is the message I wrote for a church retreat

In our modern world of high-speed travel it’s easy to hop into a car or on a train or plane and race to our destination with little regard for the experience of travel.

My dad worked for United Airlines my whole life and for the first 22 years of my life I flew on an airline pass. My sisters and brother and I were expected to dress up. Girls wore dresses, my mom wore nylons and my dad a suit. We were usually bumped up to first class and the trip was as special as the destination.

Fast forward a couple decades to me going along on some my husband’s business trips to: Singapore, Sao Paulo, Europe or Malaysia. We flew business class because he was on business (and I was a travel agent!) – which was nice – but the attitude of the people boarding the planes was “lets get this LONG flight over.” I remember one lady even changed into a sweatsuit right in the aisle!

Although nowadays, when we think about travel time – it’s usually with impatience to arrive, somewhere a saying became popular: “the journey is as important as the destination.”

If we were to look back over our lives as a journey, then every experience would become significant and every step a bridge from one stage of life to the next. A journey is not just leaving point A and arriving at point B. Much happens in between!

I invite you today to view your life as a journey. There have been and will be roadblocks, maybe a few accidents, hard to climb hills, curving roads that make you a little sick to your stomach, but with God as your navigator you know you’ve been on the best road and will be on the best road. And you know you’ll arrive at your destination!

On our journey we need to live life on purpose. We need to set Biblical priorities. To look for the good in trials so they can be used for our growth and God’s glory.

We need to establish routine habits of worship, prayer, study, fellowship and righteous behavior. We need to get away from temptations and examine our hearts regularly and confess all known sin. Sin interferes with our relationship with God. Personal purity and moral integrity is the standard for Bible believing Christians.

We need to develop a support system. Cultivate deep spiritual friendships. We should chose as our models and friends those who are godly and truthful. All of these things take purposeful thought and then action.

No matter how many years we live on earth, compared to eternity our journey is short! We should live life for God today. Then no matter when our lives end, we will have fulfilled God’s plan for ourselves.

God has given us much direction on how to have a great journey. He tells us in countless ways, everyday that He has plans for us and will never forsake us – if we will just stop, look and listen to Him.

He puts the Holy Spirit into all believers. In a way the Spirit can be likened to our conscious, reminding us to do something right or stop doing something wrong.

The Bible is full of advice about how to live life in such a way that gives us a clear conscience and makes us pleasing to God. Micah 6:8 tells us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. Isaiah 56:1 tells us to keep justice and do righteousness. Isaiah 33:15 says to walk righteously and speak uprightly, to despise gain of oppressions, not accept bribes or look at evil.

Read the book of Exodus. This book is about going forward. About hoping what you are going to is better then what you left behind. It’s also a book about learning that the only way to be truly free is to put God first in your life and to treat other people justly.

When the book of Exodus was written there were many people who thought there were a large number of gods and goddesses. Others thought there might be one creator-god, but that he was too far away to be concerned with the everyday affairs of people’s lives. The writer of Exodus makes it clear he believes there is one God and that He is a God who comes near to people. Who makes Himself known. One who has a purpose for men’s lives and He makes it known to them.

Proverbs 23:7 tells us, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” And to that end Paul tells us in (PHIL 4:8) "Finally, Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

John 8:29 is a great goal for our lives: “I always do what is pleasing to Him.”

There’s a saying you may have heard: “Be true in the small things – it is on those who faithfully and ungrudgingly accept the simple duties of life that the world is built. It is never to be forgotten that in the everyday duties of life we make or mar a destiny and we win or lose a crown.”

A true servant of God is someone who helps another succeed. 1 Thess. 5:11 tells us; “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” You can never speak a fine word too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

On our journey we should learn all we can from our personal problems, so that we can fulfill a ministry of comfort, just as Jesus did. We are surrounded by hurting people. We should be approachable and available to them.

And rather than just give personal advice, how much better would it be for Christians to share God’s loving promises.

Our natural tendency when we have a problem is to rush into a quick fix. Do something right away to get rid of the problem.

God tells us clearly in the Bible to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

That’s the first thing a Christian should do in any situation. Being still is asking for God’s direction and then listening to what He says. He may want to teach us something through our trial to tell someone else. Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark speak in the daylight.” (Matthew 10:27) We are called to love others, comfort them and show them that God loves them.

When we are hurrying and busy, we are only thinking of ourselves. When we stop and let God order and guide our thoughts, they turn first to Him. Thinking of Him first is natural and gives us peace. We were created to be in a relationship with our creator.

Walking in Faith

Read Romans 4: 1-25

If the way to salvation is faith, then our journey to salvation must be a journey of faith.

Paul uses Abraham as an example that the gospel of salvation by faith not works is true. Abraham is the father of all the faithful and God declared him righteous not because of anything he did, but because He said so and Abraham believed Him. We are counted as righteous because we believe God’s Word concerning salvation in Christ.

Our faith is a channel through which God can pour His grace. Salvation is a gift. When we try to earn it, it’s like saying that what Jesus did on the cross wasn’t enough. God said it was enough and we believe Him.

When Abraham left his home to obey God he didn’t know all the joy and riches God would increasingly give him. He didn’t know where he would end up. He just knew the direction of his next step. And that there was no going back.

God has blessings, joy, love and fulfillment in store for those who fully respond to Him, which far exceed our expectation when we first set forth deliberately to commit ourselves to receive His promise by faith and to follow where He leads in complete obedience at any cost. But, we can’t experience it until we take the first step in faith.

Abraham was promised a blessing, but was also called to be a blessing to others. We are called to be a blessing to our family, our church, our workplace and our neighborhood too. Abraham’s blessings were not only to himself and his ever-increasing family, but also to generations. Our lives can be a blessing to future generations also.

When we start to live life on purpose. When we stay focused on God. We too can live lives that reach into eternity.

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Make every step we take one that is in Your direction. May every step show others our complete trust in and love for You. Help us stay the course and be a blessing to the world.
We ask this in Your Son’s Holy Name,
Amen

A Christian’s Life Journey

Read Hebrews 11:1-40

One of my favorite Christian songwriter/singers is Steven Green. His songs are like mini sermons. Look at the words to this one:

“We’re pilgrims on the journey of a narrow road. And those who’ve gone before us line the way. Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary, their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. Let us run the race not only for the prize, but as those who’ve gone before us let us leave to those behind us the heritage of faithfulness passed on through Godly lives.

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe and the lives we live inspire them to obey.

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone and our children sift through all we’ve left behind, may the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover become the light that leads them to the road we each must climb.”

Part of the purpose of a Christian’s life journey is to set an example for those coming after them.

My application Bible says that Faith is the conviction based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely become. So we look at God’s history. We look at the journeys of the great and not so great Christian characters in the Bible. We look at Godly people in our church body.

Our journey, our walk, is a walk of faith. All we really know is where we’ll end up as a believer – in Heaven with God. But, we don’t know what twists, turns or trials we will encounter along the way.

We set out in faith, trusting God to see us through. Everything that happens to us along the way can be for our growth and God’s glory if we have the right attitude and remember we are examples to someone else.

The faithful people listed in the book of Hebrews died before they ever saw the promise of Christ’s coming: “they were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.” (vs.39)

This says to me that the journey itself is what’s important. Going in the right direction, trusting God and then inspiring others through our lives so they too can “run the race.”

All the people in this chapter kept their eyes on God’s promises and stayed the course. And God listed them by name in His book.

New Christian Clothing, Cards and Gifts Line

I added a new line to my Christian section at givitup today. I really like it: Jesus More than Enough in purple – the color of royalty. I’ve spent half of today writing ads for it and sending them out. Here’s what I say:

When a Christian can say, "God is all I want or need" he crosses a threshold. givitup's inspiring Christian t-shirts, stickers, magnets, cards and more help you be a positive influence to the world.

http://www.givitup.com

Jesus’ Death at Calvary

What ever we question about all the suffering in the world or why bad things happen to good people; God’s love for the people He created is proved at Calvary. He gave His beloved Son, the best He had, to prove His love for sinners so that we wouldn’t perish.

We need to take this seriously. God allowed His Son to be humiliated. To suffer too horribly for us to ignore the sacrifice.

Jesus mentioned hell in the New Testament more often then He mentioned Heaven. It’s a real place. And without belief, without an act of receiving this gift of salvation from God through Jesus Christ a person will perish. While God sent His Son not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved, it’s a two-sided coin: salvation for those who believe on one side and judgment for those who don’t on the other.

But, when we do accept, when we are born again, we are immediately in Eternal Life. It doesn’t even wait for our bodies to die, it’s already started.

The true moral state of our heart and mind is declared by the attitude we take of Christ, and the Bible that reveals Him. To believe in Christ is to believe that He is the Son of God who is given to save us from our sins so that we can live entirely for God as we were made to live. To lean on Him and love Him.

Nicodemus

Nicodemus is mentioned only in the Gospel of John, but he appears 3 different times there. He was an older man and not only a Pharisee, which was the strictest, most religiously informed sect, but also a member of the Sanhedrin and therefore a ruler among the Jews.

He came to Jesus in the night. He didn’t really know enough about Jesus to take a public stand for Him by meeting Him in broad daylight. He wasn’t willing to compromise his position with the other Jews (most of whom had rejected Jesus.) He may have also wanted uninterrupted time with Jesus.

Dark and light, day and night are used often in the Bible. Sin and worldly are dark. Jesus is the light of the world. Light equaled good. Dark equaled evil. Light is love. Dark is hate.

In Philippians we are told to be lights of the world. In Colossians we are told God delivered us out of darkness. Darkness is a life separated from God.

John 3:21 says, “Those who do what is true come to the light.” And Nicodemus was a man who came to Jesus. He came out of the darkness to the light.

Nicodemus makes what sounds like a statement, but it’s really a question. "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:2)

He can see that Jesus is a teacher from God. Mostly because Jesus had been doing miracles all over the place. But, Nicodemus wants to know more. Could Jesus be the prophet? The Messiah?

Jesus doesn’t answer his statement, but He answers his thoughts.

Nicodemus may have been hoping that Jesus would just answer his question and encourage him on the good way he was going, but Jesus’ reply showed Nicodemus that he wasn’t even on the path!

Basically Jesus told him that all his knowledge and social position were inadequate. If he kept on like he was he wouldn’t even see the kingdom of God much less understand it or enter it!

John 3:3-8 says, “In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

When Jesus says, “I tell you the truth” or in some translations, “Truly, truly” it always indicates some misunderstanding on the part of the hearer that He’s about to correct. So pay attention!

Born again. Jesus was talking about a new beginning that finds its origin in God.
Nicodemus probably wasn’t really asking if he could go back and physically be born again. He was smarter then that. More likely what he was saying was what we might ask, “How can a person like me start life over again? I can’t go back and undo my mistakes. I can’t relive my life, make better choices. When I was young I had dreams – now I’m older and that’s all they were! Tell me, Jesus – how can someone like me experience a new life?”

We can relate to him can’t we?

Many of us would like to change our past. We may keep trying to start fresh. Every New Year’s Eve we make those resolutions. Some of us try hard every morning to start fresh!

What Jesus is talking about is new life. In His water and spirit reference water shows purity and forgiveness. The spirit means power and new life. So it’s kind of two part.

We believe (accept) Christ and are forgiven and given His righteousness and then we are filled with the Spirit, the new life that gives us the power to live that new life. Some people claim to be Christians only because they had a “born again” experience in their past. But, if they don’t have the marks of the Spirit present in their daily walk with Christ, it was a still birth! It takes earnest spiritual discernment to hear God’s voice over the noise of our secular, materialistic world.



Click here to see all 150 products that say Live the Good News

John and his Gospel

John of course was a Jew. He was a native of the northern province of Israel called Galilee. The Galileans were more receptive to new ideas than the Jews of Judea in the south, who were oppressed by the strict religious authority of the Jerusalem based teachers of the law and the Pharisees.

The greater period of Jesus’ ministry was spent in this area.

We know that John had a brother James who was probably older then he was because James is mentioned first in the Bible. He had a father, Zebedee and a mother, Salome. Salome also followed Jesus. Matthew 27:56 tells us she was at the cross.

It’s thought that the family was somewhat affluent because Mark 1:20 refers to Zebedee’s hired men. And there are several places in the gospels that infer Salome had resources that she used to minister to the Lord.

John had a house of his own to which he took Jesus’ mother after the crucifixion and his family had some connection with the wealthy and influential high priest, according to John 18:16.

John became one of 3 disciples who were closest to Jesus: James, Peter and John were the 3 who witnessed the transfiguration, the raising of Jairus’ daughter and were at Gethsemane.

John called himself the disciple that Jesus loved. He wasn’t bragging, he was in awe of the fact that Jesus, the Son of God, loved him! And hung out with him! Just as today we should be in awe that He loves us and hangs out with us!

John had no recognized education, but his intimate relationship with the person in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge qualified him to write one of the most philosophical and mature books in existence.

The earlier 3 gospels simply recorded what Jesus did and what He said. John gives, in addition, a special emphasis on what Jesus meant. While the first 3 gospels recorded the miracles of Jesus and the effects of those miracles upon the people, John calls the miracles signs because each miracle had a spiritual significance and was in itself an outward sign of an inward truth.

John wrote his gospel after a lifetime of meditation. For nearly 70 years John had thought and taught Jesus, the Son of God. And day after day the Holy Spirit revealed to him the meaning of the words and deeds he remembered.