Romans (Written)

Monday, 13 January 2014

And again he says:
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” Romans 15:10

This is a direct quote from Deuteronomy 32:43 which comes from the Song of Moses. This is the last verse of the Song of Moses which is a poetic snapshot of the coming history of the nation of Israel. In particular, this song is actually a scathing indictment on the apostasy Moses foresaw would come upon them. It speaks of their rebellion, turning away from the Lord, and His resulting judgment. And after all of the strong words of condemnation and doom, the song ends with restoration –

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And render vengeance to His adversaries;
He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

What is clear is that God is faithful and covenant keeping, even when His people turn away from Him. He will never reject them or utterly destroy them, thus violating His promises to them. This glorious God who is truthful to His covenant people Israel (verse 15:8) is also merciful to the Gentiles (verse 15:9). And so together, Jew and Gentile are asked to “receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God (verse 15:7). The idea is that truly, in Christ, there is no favoritism. He is the Lord of Jew and Gentile and therefore we are to receive each other just as Christ has received us.

It is important to not separate what Paul is trying to tell us from the overall context of what he has been giving instruction on. Throughout chapter 14 and the opening of chapter 15, he has been educating the church on “doubtful matters.” These come about based on who we are as individuals coming into the body of Christ. Jews may find some things difficult; gentiles other things. We are to accept one another’s shortcomings just as Christ has accepted us. If He has received someone, then how can we reject them? And so Jew should not look down on Gentile nor should Gentile look down on Jew over doubtful matters. Instead, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.” Together, we can all give glory to God for His truth and mercy.

Life application: Instead of tearing others within the body down over “doubtful matters,” let us glorify God who has called us, despite our failings, into the body of Christ. Let us glorify God for His bestowal of favor upon His people.

Lord God, You received me despite my many years of failing. I walked a crooked and unsound path in life and yet You washed those years and those many sins away. And even now today, how often I fail You! But in Your rich mercy You sent Jesus to cover it all. In Him is pardon and in Him is full-redemption. I have no fear, just gratitude… immense gratitude. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.

Sunday, 12 January 2014

“…and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”‘ Romans 15:9 

In the previous verse, Paul showed that “Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.” But now, he will demonstrate that even the Old Testament, which was predominantly directed to “the circumcision,” also showed that Christ would come to be glorified among the Gentiles as well. He begins by quoting a portion of David’s writings. The quote is actually found in both 2 Samuel 22:50 and Psalm 18:49. Paul amends it for the purpose of explaining the gospel. The original is recorded as –

“Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.”

Romans 15:8 & 9 are actually one unified thought which have been divided into two verses. By linking them together as he did, Paul is showing that Jesus is God’s truthful fulfillment of the Old Testament to the circumcision as well as the merciful embracer of the gentiles apart from the law in the New Testament. In this then, praises should flow to God through Christ from the Jew for His fulfillment of their law and praises should likewise flow from the Gentiles for His grace upon them apart from the law. There should be a harmonious chord of rejoicing that both Jew and Gentile are saved by the work of Christ and freed from the constraints of the law. Both can now participate in the covenant community by faith in His work alone without reverting to that which He has fulfilled.

It is evident that what God did in Christ completed two different actions – one towards Jew and one towards Gentile, but it doesn’t result in doing two different things. Rather, it results in one gospel. This is why Paul said in Romans 10:12, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.”

The intent of God’s work in Christ was not a resulting Jewish community of believers who would continue to failingly adhere to the Law of Moses and a separate Gentile community who would be granted heaven’s access completely apart from the law. Rather, the work of God in Christ is the fulfillment of the law for both Jew and Gentile. And so the Jew is told to not remain under the burden of the law, but to rest in the work of Christ alone. In Hebrews 13:12, 13 the Jew is thus instructed –

“Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

There can be no “one foot in the law and one foot in Christ.” It is all Christ or it is no Christ, for Jew and for Gentile. As obvious as Paul’s writings are, many fail to see and receive the pure gospel which is the work of Christ on behalf of all. The re-imposition of the law on Jew, or the imposition of the law upon Gentile, can only lead to condemnation. There is no longer a sacrifice from the law which is acceptable because Christ is the end of the law for all who believe.

Life application: It has become popular in many circles today to place the stress back on the law as a necessary part of one’s Christian walk. This is particularly so in many Messianic communities. But this is not the truth of God in Christ. Christ is our rest and in Him alone can we rest. Do not be led astray by those whose terminology twists the purity of the gospel of Christ.

O God, today I want to reaffirm the principle tenets of my faith: I stand on the Bible alone as the word of God and no other teaching or church tradition is necessary to my faith; I stand by faith alone in the work of Christ with nothing added to it for my justification; the grace of Christ is my only plea before You, my hands are empty and I will boast in nothing but the cross of Christ; my hope is in nothing more and nothing less than the work of Jesus Christ. Thank You, O God, for the all-encompassing and all-sufficient work of Jesus. Amen.

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, Romans 15:8

In verses 8-12, Paul is going to make an observation concerning the all-encompassing work of Christ for and toward the people of the world, both Jew and Gentile. As he said in the preceding verse, we are to “receive one another, just as Christ also received us.” This includes both Jew and Gentile and he will demonstrate this now. And so he begins with “Now I say…” He is affirming in advance what he is about to relay. His words in Greek are comparable to “I say indeed…”

“Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision…” The word “Christ” in Greek means the same thing as the Hebrew word we translate as “Messiah.” And both words literally mean “anointed one.” Paul is saying that Jesus is this anointed one of God and in this role as the Messiah of the Jews, He became a “servant to the circumcision.” The term “circumcision” specifically means the covenant people. The rite was initiated in Genesis 17 to confirm the covenant between God and Abraham. This covenant line went through Isaac, Jacob, and to the 12 sons of Israel.

Had Jesus not been born through the Jewish people, He could not have been the Messiah of the Jews because the covenant line was defined through them. But being born of this line, He was so qualified. And so as a member of this covenant community, He became “a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God.” He left His exalted heavenly position and, as Paul tells us in Philippians 2:7, 8 –

He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

This humbling of Himself had to occur in order “to confirm the promises made to the fathers.” The Old Testament is filled with promises of One who would come to correct the fallen state of man. The first promise was made to Adam just after the fall. After him, they continued to be made to the fathers – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, etc. The promises continued in the prophets as their proclamations clarified the role of this coming Messiah. These promises are so numerous and so detailed that ultimately only one person could ever meet them all. This then is one of the purposes of the gospels. They show that Christ is the fulfillment of the promises.

The book of Acts continues to demonstrate this and then the epistles explain His work as the “servant to the circumcision for the truth of God.” God spoke; God fulfilled. His word has proven itself both true and reliable. But the work of Christ did more than fulfill the promises to the people of the circumcision. There was another group to be included in Messiah’s work. Paul will continue to explain the details in the verses ahead.

Life application: If the Bible is from God, then it will be reliable, infallible, and inerrant in all it proclaims and teaches. The things it claims will happen will surely to come to pass. Because it meets these standards, it demonstrates that it is truly the word of God. And so, what it expects of us is authoritative. It is to be the guide for our life and doctrine. Let us continue to apply its precepts to our lives, to the glory of God.

Lord Jesus, it seems as if trying times are never far away. For each day of joy and happiness, one comes along that reminds me this isn’t really my home. I know that You have something better in store for us than the ups and downs of this daily life. And because of that, I will keep my eyes on You and my hope and heart in what lies ahead, not in the temporary and quickly fading pleasure of this world. I long for the day You gather us to You. Amen.

Friday, 10 January 2014

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.Romans 15:7

“Therefore” asks us to again stop, consider, and then act. Based on the preceding 6 verses of chapter 15 as well as the entire scope of thought which was relayed in chapter 14 – all dealing with the same basic subject, we are to “receive one another.” Concerning “disputable matters” some have failings and some have strengths and they may be in differing areas so that the one who is strong in one area may actually be weak in another. And then there is the added context of the previous chapters of Romans which address issues more directly to either Jews or Gentiles based on their previous state.

The Jews came from a point of knowledge about the true God which the Gentiles lacked. However, the Gentiles came from a point of freedom in what are now “disputable matters” which were clearly forbidden under the law, but which are now set aside in Christ. And so the stronger has actually become the weaker in many ways if they remain uninformed or conscious-stricken over the liberties we may now exercise. Because of this, we are asked to “receive one another, just as Christ also received us.”

How did Christ receive the Jew? As a Jew who was observant to their laws. Paul, on the road to Damascus, wasn’t told first to give up his identity and then Christ would reveal Himself to him. Instead, He came in all of His glorious radiance to a man who was bent on punishing those of the faith. And the Holy Spirit didn’t come down on Cornelius’ house in Acts 10 after making them go through many rites of purification and instruction on what foods they could and couldn’t eat. Instead, He came down upon them as a group of gentiles with no specifically recorded knowledge of the Jews’ law.

In these and in every other instance in church history, Christ has received His people in the state they were in. Some have been miserable alcoholics, sexually depraved souls, arrogant finger-pointers, greedy money-grubbers, and etc. But there was a moment when Christ touched their hearts and changed them. Each of them came with all of their previous baggage and He converted their souls.

The things which required changing because they are mandated by Christ (such as drunkenness, sexual immorality, etc) are the things they were told to leave behind. But there are other things that are not delineated in the word – what foods to eat, what day(s) to worship on, etc. In these things, and for Jew and for Gentile alike, there was a receiving of the person by Christ and no demand for change.

And so we are asked to accept them in like manner. Who are we to judge what Christ has already accepted? Who are we to reject the one whom He has already received? Are we in the place of God? Some may think so, but the answer is “No.” This has been the constant theme of chapters 14 and 15. We must allow what is not forbidden and we must forbid that which is not allowed, but we must know which is which and, therefore, we need to know the Bible as given to us by God. In doing so, and in acting in accord with its precepts, we will receive others “to the glory of God.”

And this is the end goal of all of redemptive history – God receiving the glory that He is due. This is not a vain, self-seeking glory, but God allowing us to share in His glory by seeing the Son in His rightful position at the right hand of the Father and our fellowshipping with Him for all eternity.

We can realize a small portion of that now by accepting others without dispute over doubtful matters. In so doing, we acknowledge the greatness of Christ who has already accepted them – from the jungles of Southeast Asia to the plains of Africa, from the large cities of Europe to the coastal hamlets of Latin America. People from all over the world are coming to Christ with unique languages, interesting styles of music and instruments, unusual foods they eat, and so on. And yet, they are members of the body of Christ. He is glorified through the diversity, and our acceptance of those things reflects this. What Christ has received, let us look at with great pleasure.

Life application: Instead of judging others for the things they do differently as worshippers of Jesus, let us look at their traditions and modes of worship as wonderful aspects of the overall splendor of what Christ has earned, purchasing people from every tribe, tongue, and nation – each with unique abilities and offerings.

Jesus, You accepted me just as I was the day I heard the gospel. Since that time, You’ve continued to refine me and bring me in line with Your word, and yet you’ve allowed me to continue to be myself. My style of music, the clothes I wear, the activities I enjoy – I can go on enjoying. What a demonstration of love… You have accepted me for who I am. Thank You Lord. Amen. 

Thursday, 9 January 2014

…that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6

The previous verse asked us “to be like-minded toward one another.” And in the completion of the thought, the reason is given to us in verse 6. The ultimate goal of our lives and conduct should be directed to the glorification of God. The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks and answers as follows –

What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Man’s chief end is truly to glorify God, but how can we do this when there is divisiveness, backbiting, and finger-pointing over matters in which He has allowed us the freedom to choose. In the Bible are many directives we are asked to obey. These are given by God, both for our good and for His glory. When we fail in these things, we fail to glorify Him. And so learning doctrine and applying it to our lives has the end goal of glorifying Him. And those issues which are not prescribed and have been left up to us to decide on are matters which will allow us to glorify Him through our freedom to express them as we wish.

And so, considering it from that perspective, how can we glorify God with a freedom we have been granted if it is turned into a mandate? We cannot. If one can think through such issues from this perspective, we can see how destructive legalism is. It is a system which actually denies God the glory He is due. This is why, “with one mind and one mouth” we should glorify God, not with the imposition of pet peeves on others, but with gratitude for the liberties He has granted us and obedience to the things He has directed us. In so doing, we will “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our family relationship in Christ is seen in a tender and beautiful way in Paul’s statement here. God the Father accepted Christ and His death on our behalf, proving it in the resurrection. When we are found in Christ, we then are found to be children of God. As God’s children, just like the children of any family, we honor our parent through obedience, but we also honor our parent through family love and harmony. When divisiveness rears its ugly head in a family, it reflects negatively on the parents; how much more so when divisiveness is a prominent feature of the church of God’s people!

Life application: Paul is in no way compromising doctrine in his writings during Romans 14 and 15; he is upholding doctrine. But he is also showing us that those issues which are left unstated must be considered as freedoms for us to enjoy without divisiveness and in-fighting.

O God, how long shall I wait on You and remain faithful to You? I will never stop waiting and I will never give up my faith! Even if enemies surround me or sickness eats away at me I will remain steadfast in You and in Your promises. Only Jesus prevailed over the grave, so why would I put my hope in anything else. My debt is paid, my future is secure. I will wait on the Lord. Amen.