Bible Truth Daily Devotion

September 7, 2010

The Enemy and the Hope

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 8:58 am

Romans 5:1-5

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. Who are the enemies of God?  (v. 1)
  2. If the Christians can boast, what should they boast about? (v. 2)
  3. What has God given believers to show his love?  (v. 5)

 

Commentary:

Romans 5:1. Paul has taken steps to show that humanity have become diametrically opposed to God.  Paul explained in chapter 1 and 2 that not knowing God causes us to go our own ways or to boast of our good deeds, and Paul concluded in chapter 3 that no one is righteous.  He then illustrated the wicked ways of some of the unrighteous.  Later on this chapter, he would describe believers as previous enemies of God.  James also said that friendship with the world is hostility toward God (James 4:4). 

To have peace with God, one must stop boasting about themselves.  Internal recognition of one’s insufficiency precipitates the need of a Savior.  Knowing that justification cannot be achieved through work; one sets out to find the grace of God.  God has only the grace in Jesus Christ.  No other religion is grace based.  That is why reconciliation with God must be through Jesus Christ.  When one believes in Jesus Christ, then he/she is justified by faith.

Romans 5:2.  Jesus Christ is the only way to God (John 14:6).  He is like a bridge that brings us over the bottomless pit, and He provides us access to God.  Jesus is the way. 

Jesus is also the grace of God.  The word “stand” in this verse is associated with a courtroom setting.  In the court of God, we can either plead innocent or guilty.  No one can plead innocent and be justified because everyone violates the Law of God.  If guilty, what can people plead?   Believers can still plead innocent because we stand on Jesus—the grace of God. 

Believers will be justified because of faith.  We have genuine hope that we will in the presence of God.  We can exult about that hope.  The word “exult” is the same as the word “boast” in 2:17, 23, and 27.  In 2:27, Paul said that Christians should never boast; that refers to the work that we do.  Instead of boasting about ourselves, Paul teaches us that we can boast about the hope we have in Christ.

Romans 5:3-4.  In addition to the hope in Christ, we boast about our tribulations.  Why?  That is because tribulation is not the end in itself.  Tribulation eventually would bring hope, which leads us right back to the hope we have in Christ Jesus. 

Romans 5:5.  The hope of Christians is genuine and is rooted in God—what God has done for us.   Holy Spirit has come into us when we first believed.  His presence is the assurance that God loves us.  Jesus’ work on the cross is also the assurance that God loves us. 

What is the character of God’s love?  That is the subject of the devotion of tomorrow.

 

Meditation:

The enemies of God have no peace.  They do not know what their life purpose is.  They struggle to have lasting genuine friendship.  They have no assurance of what tomorrow holds.  In contrast, Jesus offers his followers peace that transcends the world and understanding.  That is why Christians should boast daily because we have peace through Jesus Christ. 

In boasting, be careful that we do not confuse God’s work with our own merit.  We should be aware the two things that Paul lists out.  The first is our hope in heaven.  It is never about our merit but is entirely God’s grace. 

The second is the struggle we have.  It is not about what we can do but about the assurance we have in God. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful that you send your Son to seek us out while we are still enemies of yours.  We thank You for the free gift we have in Christ Jesus.  We pray that we will boast only in the two ways that Paul has taught us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

September 6, 2010

The Faith of Abraham

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 10:26 am

Romans 4:17-25

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. Name at least two things that Abraham believed God can do?  (v. 17)
  2. How is the faith of Abraham same as the faith of Christians? (v. 17)
  3. What is an example of the faith of Abraham? (vv. 19-21)

 

Commentary:

Romans 4:17. There are two important facts in this verse.  One is the promise of God to Abraham.  The phrase “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU” is taken out from Gen. 17:5.  There God expanded on an earlier promise to Abraham to include that his future offspring would become many nations.    This was important because Abraham had only Ishmael at the time.  It was important also because Abraham have not yet had circumcision until after this promise.  This fact supports the earlier passage about Abraham is the father of gentile believers.  Therefore, gentiles do not need to have circumcision after their conversion.

Another important fact is the faith of Abraham.  Paul demonstrates that Abraham believed that God has the power and authority to perform two great miracles.  The first is that God can give life to the dead.   This faith has at least two implications.  One is that God transcends spiritual and physical limitation.  God can put the spirit back into a dead person and revive the physical life of that person.  Modern medicine still cannot revive a dead person and may be capable of duplicating a person in DNA, but it can never retrieve the spirit of that person.  God’s miracle is beyond science; it shows that God is sovereign in both spiritual and physical realms. 

The other implication is that God has the authority and power to resurrect His Son from the dead.  This is a critical part of Christian faith.  Paul proclaims that God’s salvation belongs to the ones whose mouths confess Jesus as Lord and whose hearts believe that God raised Him from the dead (Rom 10:9).  Abraham’s faith is the model for all Christians. 

The other fact is that Abraham believes that God can also make something out of nothing.  Abraham believes that God is the creator.  It harkens back to chapter 1 of Romans and stands as a stark contrast to what the pagan world believes. 

Romans 4:18.  Abraham has strong faith.  His faith demonstrates the essence of Hebrew 11:1—“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” His hope on the Lord is against the worldly hope (that is what in hope against hope means). 

The phrase “SO SHALL … BE” is taken out of Genesis 15:5.  It is the earlier promise to Abraham that his decedents would be countless like the stars in the sky. 

Romans 4:19-21.  The real example of Abraham’s faith is shown in these verses.  Abraham knew that he could not perform (v. 21) and that Sarah womb was dead.  Yet he trusted God and followed through with God’s command of his circumcision.

Romans 4:22. The word “therefore” is a conclusion conjunction connecting the evidence and the conclusion.  Paul has shown that the faith of Abraham is great, so he concludes that Abraham’s faith is the basis for him being credited as righteous. 

Romans 4:23-25.  The faith that saves Abraham is the same faith that can save everyone who believes in the Lord.  Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that God has power and authority over death.  The resurrection is also proof that God has accepted the sacrifice of his Son and would justify the believers.

 

Meditation:

Do I believe what Abraham believes?  How do I have Abraham’s hope and faith that defy common understanding? 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we want to model the faith of Abraham.  He is truly the father of faith.  We pray that we too have strong faith to live a life that defies human hope and in Godly hope.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

September 5, 2010

The Function of the Law

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 4:10-16

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. When did Abraham get circumcised, before or after he believed God? (v. 10)
  2. What does a Jewish person have to do to be saved?  (v. 12)
  3. Why cannot God use both the Law and the grace for justification?  (v. 13-16)

 

Commentary:

Romans 4:10.  Verse 10 is an important question to ponder.  It has a lot to do with the gentiles.  If Abraham were circumcised before he was justified, then incorporation of his Jewish identity would be mandatory as a part of Christian faith.  In other words, circumcision would be part of the Christian rituals, like baptism and Holy Communion. What follow would have been other Jewish activities, observing the dates and the festivals.  Furthermore, keeping the ceremonial laws then would have been required. 

Fortunately, Abraham was circumcised 29 years after he was declared righteous.  This time frame is the determined by Jewish rabbis.[1]  The great implication of this fact is listed in the following verse.

Romans 4:11.  Abraham’s belief system is the faith model of all God’s children.  When Abraham was credited as righteous, he was not circumcised.  Therefore, the circumcision that he had is a spiritual one.  He had a circumcision of the heart.  Consequently, Abraham is the “spiritual” father of all believers. 

Romans 4:12.  Circumcision then just remains a Jewish ethnic ritual.  It does not have any spiritual implication for believers.  The Jews need to follow the steps of the faith of Abraham. 

Romans 4:13-16. Paul sets an antithesis between the Law and the righteousness of faith.  If the Jewish people attain perfection and become the heir of Abraham by keeping the whole Law, then it will unfair to have people justified by faith.  They also demonstrate that the work in the flesh has much effect.  Then all other people should follow their footsteps and observe the Law as well.  In other words, the Law and the righteousness of faith are mutually exclusive. 

Is it then possible for people to attain perfection through keeping the Law?  This subject was examined in the end of chapter two.  Paul examines the same issue with a different perspective of what the function of the Law is.  The Law is designed to tell people what is acceptable and what is not acceptable.  Consequently, its very existence ensures that someone will violate the law.  With the sinful nature, everyone is going to violate a part of the Law.  Hence, the Law will reveal the sins of human and will cause people to face the wrath of God. 

God is merciful.  God has made His grace available.  If people accept the grace, they will become the heir of Abraham.  They will have the promise that Abraham had.

 

Meditation:

Great civilizations prosper because they have good laws.  The Babylonians, the Romans, and even the United States are known for their good laws.  Without the law, any society would become chaotic.  In the same way, God’s law is meant for good.  Nevertheless, the focus of Paul is not about civil order but about sins.  In that regard, the law causes utter misery for mankind.  No one can be righteous because of the Law. 

That is why we need to appreciate the promise of God.  God has made forgiveness available for those who believe.  Those who accept the grace of God would become heir to Abraham.  They will enjoy the kingdom of heaven that God has prepared for Abraham and his spiritual children. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace.  Thank you that you have provided a way for us, so we can have the forgiveness of sin.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

[1] Moo, Douglas J. The Epistle to the Roman. Grand Rapids, Mich. :Eerdmans, 1996.  p. 268.

September 4, 2010

The Credit in Righteousness

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 4:6-9

 

 

 Let’s say I’m a doctor.  I am a good one too. I have healed many patients, but occasionally I got other people worse off.  And then there are times I did not like some patients, so I gave them placebos.  Eventually, I got caught doing that and was brought before a judge. The judge asked me how I plead.  I told the judge that I was a good doctor.  I healed more people than I got people sick or dead.  I asked the judge to let me go free because I have done more good work than my wrongdoings.  If you were the judge, would you let me go?  Chances are you will not. 

If we can judge this simple case as such, how can anyone agree that good work will be the basis for getting into heaven?  If good work cannot get us into heaven, what is the alternative way?  The credit in righteousness is how God does it.  We are going to look at the issue of credit in righteousness in this passage. 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. Beside Abraham and Moses, who is an important person in the Old Testament? (v. 6)
  2. How is righteousness credited?  Does God start giving us some merit for work that we did not do?  (v. 7-8)

 

Commentary:

Romans 4:6. David is the most successful king in the history of Israel.   His military campaign completed the conquest of Canaan and expanded the boundary of the nation.  Many nations were subdued and paid tributes to Israel.  More important to his military might is his theological understanding and his heart for God.  He is called the man after God’s heart.  He wrote the most psalms in the book of Psalms.  He was the most quoted king in the New Testament.  Paul is going to quote David about being credited with righteousness. 

Romans 4:7-8. In the eye of God, being credited with righteousness is not about doing something right.  Contrary to that, being righteous is about being forgiven for the transgression.  David, in Ps 32, made clear that he had transgression.  He did not try to do more good work to outweigh his wrongdoings.  Instead, he went to God to confess (Ps 32:5).

Righteousness is credited when God does not go after the sin. The previous verse says that the sins are covered.  The word “covered” expresses the same idea like the propitiation, although it is not the same word.  The sin is in the life of believers.  What God has done is to cloth us with Jesus with we believe and be baptized (Gal 3:27).

Romans 4:9.  The next question is if the righteousness of Abraham was before his circumcision or after.  The answer will be discussed in the next section.

 

Meditation:

Everyone has done wrong one time or another.  That would include you and me.  Knowing how the world judges us, most conscientious people would try to do more good than bad.  At times, Christians extend this worldview into our spiritual walk.  We forget that our righteousness is never earned.  As told by David and reminded by Paul, our righteousness is a credit from God.  The Lord forgives us our transgressions and covers our sin in the blood of His Son. 

We need to continue to walk in faith.  New Christians need to continue the growth through the obedience of baptism.  Baptized Christians need to join in the family of God in all activities and to testify the grace of God through words and deeds.  Mature Christians need to lead and to nurture others.  All need to read the word of God daily, pray unceasingly, and go and make disciples of all nations. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for you credit us in righteousness.  None of us deserve your grace, but you love us and give us your son.  We thank you for the forgiveness of transgression and the covering of our sins.  We pray that we fully know the love of Christ.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

September 3, 2010

The Belief System of Abraham

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 4:1-5

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. Who is the forefather of the Jews? (v. 1)
  2. How was Abraham justified?  (v. 2)

 

Commentary:

Romans 4:1. All Jews recognize that Abraham is the forefather of their nation and of their system of belief.  Their belief should be a copy of Abraham’s.  Therefore, Paul would examine what Abraham has found in his justification.  Is his justification based on work or faith? 

Here, Paul is very careful about the issue of spiritual and earthly matter.  He uses the phrase “according to the flesh” to signal that the flesh is different from the spiritual.  He would later argue that Abraham is much more than just the father of the Jews but is the father of all who believe like he did. 

Romans 4:2. Referenced back to 3:27, 2:17 and 2:23, Abraham did not boast like the Jews would.  The reason is that he knew that he was not righteous.  He was justified before God because God counted him as righteous.

Romans 4:3.  Genesis 15:6 is the referenced scripture in this verse.  Genesis is the first book of the Law, the Torah.  In this foundational book of the Old Testament, the founding father of the Jewish system of belief is credited to righteous because he believed God.  The justification of Abraham is entirely faith based. 

Romans 4:4-5.  Paul concludes here the faith of Abraham is for all mankind.  Abraham did not earn his justification.  If Abraham worked for his righteousness, he would not need God to give that to him as a favor.  In fact, he would have been offended because God did not give him his due.  Abraham’s justification is entirely based on his belief in God.  His faith is all that there is to his righteousness. 

Justification by faith is true for everyone. No one can work enough to earn the righteousness.  Just one violation of the law would render anyone a guilty verdict.  Only faith and faith alone is needed for righteousness. 

 

Meditation:

It is important that Christians remember well how we become righteous.  As pointed out by Paul, no children of God can boast about themselves because none of us has any work to show for our justification.  Not by work but by faith keeps us humble.  Humbleness is an important part of Christian life.  Thomas Moore, an 18th century Irish poet, said, “Humility, that low, sweet root, from which all heavenly virtues shoot.”

No doubt every Christian who is saved comes through the believing of what Jesus has done.  Unfortunately, after awhile, some of us tend to forget that.  Maybe we work in the trenches, like the kitchen, for too long, but more often than not the reason we forget is something else.  It is the work of glory, like me standing in the pulpit, the worship team leading people to praise God, or the deacons making important decision, that gets us to think that we are good.  We may be good, but we are never good enough to earn our salvation.  

Today, let’s remind ourselves that even Abraham, the father of faith comes through believing.  It is not his work that earns him the righteousness.  Like him, Christians can bring nothing to the table for our righteousness.  It is the grace of God that we are who we are. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are thankful that you give us eternal life as a gift.  We pray that we will forever remain faithful.  If we ever stray or get boastful, Lord, we ask that you teach us and admonish us.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

September 2, 2010

Justification

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 3:27-31

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. What is justification? (v. 28)
  2. Who needs the free gift of God?  Is it the Jews, gentiles, or everyone? (v. 29)
  3. Is the Old Testament abolished because of the work of Jesus Christ? (v. 31)

 

Commentary:

Romans 3:27.  The word boasting may appear to be out of place in the discussion of redemption and propitiation set forth.  But Paul is actually about to pick up the discussion of Jewish confidence in the Law again.  The word “boast” was last mentioned in 2:17 and 2:23.  In those verses, Jews boasted in the Law and in God.  In contrast to the boasting of the Jews in doing works, believers of Jesus Christ have not any ground for boasting.  Since salvation is by grace through faith, the right into heaven is a gift.  Paul concludes that boasting of work is excluded in the law of faith. 

Romans 3:28. The word justified appears in 2:13, 3:4, 20, 24, and here in 28.  There are two ways to be justified.  In 2:13, Paul established the first way that man can be justified by keeping the Law.  Yet in 3:20, he repudiates that notion because no one can keep the whole Law.  In 3:4, God is justified because He kept his words.  In 3:24, the second way of justification is through the gift from God. 

Is justification earned by work or received freely?  The word “justified” is δικαιόω; it means to pronounce righteous, to validate, or to establish as right.  It is a term used in the court of law and is often associated with the last judgment at the great white throne.  Justification at the last judgment can never possibly be earned.  So justification is pronounced or inferred upon a person because of his/her faith.  Justification is a future event that has a present effect on believers. 

Romans 3:29-30.  There is only one God.  God is not restricted by race, nationality, or ethnicity.  God chose the Jews to reveal Himself, and God calls all men unto Jesus Christ.  Therefore, the gift of God is made available and is received by faith for both Jews and gentiles. 

Romans 3:31.  The Law is not abolished because of the gift of God.  Jesus said that he came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17).  The law is upheld because God has fulfilled it through Jesus Christ dying on the cross.  Likewise, the New Testament (NT) does not abolish the Old Testament (OT) but validates what the OT established.

 

Meditation:

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are justified. Although we have not done anything that merits God’s favor, our faith in Jesus Christ is our basis for salvation.  By faith, believers know that they will be in heaven; that view has two important implications as listed below:

Work is apart and a product of the saving faith.  No amount of work is needed for salvation either before or after we are saved.  We do not have to do any work to earn our ways into heaven.  In other words, Work does not earn credit for going into heaven.  Salvation is purely a grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  What then is work?  It is a natural response to our new found identity in Christ.  If we work, that will be because we love our Lord.  Work has nothing to do with salvation but with our heart condition.  Hence, a saved person would have the evidence of work because justification changes a person outlook of life and God.   

Boasting of self is never the law of faith.  Boasting that we would be in heaven, however, is never about ourselves.  Salvation is the work of Christ.  We speak about our justification not because our work justified but because Jesus has paid the price.  Hence, we should boast in the glory of the Lord.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that we were, are and will be justified.  We pray that we live a life consistent with that status and give glory to your name.  For you alone is the God of all men and the God who saves. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

September 1, 2010

The Redemption and Propitiation

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 3:21-26

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. What is the righteousness of God? (v. 25)
  2. What does redemption mean? (v. 24)
  3. What is propitiation? (v. 25)

 

Commentary:

Romans 3:21. The word “now” is νυνί  in Greek.  It is the first use of the word in the book of Romans.  It turns the page on the last subject.  More importantly, it signals a new era has dawned on the darkness of human sins.  The new era is the appearance of the righteousness of God; it is provided apart from the Law.  The word apart is χωρίς in Greek; it means apart from, separated, far from, without.  The righteousness of God is separated from that in the Law, which is the Torah or the first five books in the Bible.  Nevertheless, it is still based on the Scripture.  In fact, the Torah and the Prophets, which is the sum of the Old Testament (OT), witnessed the righteousness of God. The word “witness” would be better understood if it is translated as “testified.” 

How does the OT testify it? The coming of the Christ was prophesized more than 300 times in the OT.  The uniqueness or the prophecies zeros in on Jesus.  The prophecies show that Jesus is the Messiah and excludes anyone else to lay that claim.  They also acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of Son and Savior of mankind. 

Romans 3:22.  The righteousness of God is provided for those who believe through faith in Jesus Christ.  It is not restricted to the Jews only; it is for everyone.  Why everyone?

Romans 3:23-24.  As proven in earlier text, no one is righteous on their own merit.  Everyone has failed the law that God has given to us either in the Bible or on our hearts.  We are guilty and speechless in front of God and will not be able to enter into heaven.  Yet God has grace.  Therefore, God provided a gift in Jesus Christ. 

The gift is redemption from our unrighteous state.   In English, redemption is the act of buying back.  In Greek, the word means to be free from.  The life of all human beings is enslaved to sins and is subject to the consequence of sins—which is death.  (Note that we are not enslaved by Satan.)  When Jesus shed his blood on the cross, he made a payment or “redemption” for all mankind to be free from sins and death (Eph 1:7; 1Pe 1:18-19).  (Note that sins and the consequence of sins are one of the same.  It is not possible to be free from death if someone still wishes and continues to cling onto sins.)  This payment is ready to be claimed by anyone who wishes to rid the sins in their life.

Romans 3:25-26. Propitiation is alternately called atonement.  While atonement is an OT word, the English word “propitiation” is found only in the NT.  The word in the OT comes from the sacrificial act of the shedding of blood.  To propitiate is to turn away the anger of God by offering a gift. 

The Greek word of propitiation is used in the OT.  It is the word for the mercy seat on the ark.  In the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to sprinkle the blood of the bull onto the mercy seat for himself and the blood of the goat for the assembly. The act cleanses them from their impurities (Lev 16).  

Propitiation is also used to describe the action of covering of the ark with pitch by Noah (Gen 6:14).  With this pitch, the ark was able to withstand the flood, which was the result of God’s punishment for sins.  While everyone outside of the ark perishes, the family of Noah survived because of the covering. 

In the NT, the blood of Christ fulfills all the types in the OT.  His blood replaces the blood of the bull and the goat on the Day of Atonement.  His blood turns away the anger of God.  His blood covers the believers, so we would survive the punishment of sins while other perishes.  Jesus is the mercy of God.

God is righteous because He is merciful.  He passes over our sins and provides the propitiation for us.  The righteousness of God is displayed publicly through Christ Jesus and His work.

 

Meditation:

Jesus loves us tremendously.  He provides us the redemption and the propitiation by shedding his blood and dying on the cross.  This is love that we can see and feel.

Yet how often we meditate on it?  I mean how often we let this thought of Christ’s love dominate us?  Perhaps, many of us do not think about it enough to show it in our life.  If we do, we would love to read the Bible, love to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, love to pray, and of course, love to tell other people about Jesus our lover.

We know that love is not a feeling but an action from 1Cor 13.  Let’s mediate on what Jesus has done for our life in a moment by moment basis.  Then let’s respond by praising Him in the church, by loving brothers and sisters in Christ, by reaching others with Jesus’ love. 

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your righteous displayed through the sacrifice of your son—Jesus Christ.  We are thankful that we are free from sins and the control of sins.  We pray that we will live in the love of our Lord and display His awesome work in us through action of love.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

August 31, 2010

The Law and Its Work

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 3:9-20

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. Can any man be saved based on his own merit?  Why or why not?
  2. Are there any good people in the world?
  3. How do people sin against God? 

 

Commentary:

Romans 3:9.  As laid out in the last passage, the Jews have advantages because of the oracles of God.  Yet they are not better because of it.  Let’s understand what the word “better” means.  The English word “better” implies superiority.  The Jews were shown that they are not superior in 2:17-29.  But the phrase “are we better than they” is actually a single word προέχω in Greek.  The word means “to have an advantage.”  Commentators suggest the exact meaning of the word is difficult to determine.  The context dictates the readers to consider if the Jews were better off due to the Law.  The answer is negative because Paul has shown in 2:17-29 that all men have sins, whether they are under the Law in the Old Testament or the law in the heart. 

Romans 3:10. Paul quoted Ps 14:3 to support his conclusion.   Even in the OT, the prophet recognized that both the Jews and the gentiles were not righteous. The scripture emphatically concluded with the phrase “not even one.”

Romans 3:11-12.  Paul continued to paraphrase Ps 14:2 in v. 11 and 14:3 in v. 12.   

The word useless is ἀχρειόω.  It means to make useless or to become unfit.  It is translated as corrupt in the Psalm.  The word is different from the word of corruptible in Romans 1:23.  It most likely refers to the Jews becoming useless even when they had the oracles. These two verses, nevertheless, point to the whole human race.   Human beings have become unfit to enter the kingdom of God because none does good.  Men have no desire to seek after God and go after the wrong way. 

Romans 3:13-18.  The quotation continues but the focus has shifted from universal sins to specific sins.  Verses 13-14, describe the verbal sins against God, while verses 15-17 describe the lawless action of men.  Verse 13a, from Ps 5:9, consists of the throat and the tongues.  Verse 13b, from Ps 140:3, is the lips.  The mouth concludes the vocal system in Verse 14, a quote from Ps. 10:7.  Verses 15 to 17, quoted from Isaiah 59:7-8, symbolize sins committed in action.   The words and deeds form a complete package of sins.  Taken from Ps 36:1, verse 18 summarizes the mentality of sinners. 

Romans 3:19-20.  The Law is designed to convict people.  Everyone, both Jews and gentiles, have laws that reveal the sins at heart and transgression made.  Just like a defendant becomes speechless by the overwhelming evident against him in a court, all men, both gentiles and Jews, will be guilty and speechless before the great white throne.   

 

Meditation:

According to the Scripture, there is not anyone who is good.  No one is good enough to enter the heaven on his merit.  Because we have fallen short, God has provided the way to heaven through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way, but men in the postmodern viewpoint want to have choices.  God giving only one way is against their idea of freedom.  Men, wanting the freedom of sin, turn aside and choose the wrong way.   Some even contradict the word of Jesus Christ the Lord.  They claim to be Christians but do not think Jesus is the only way.  In so doing, these men deceive others and themselves.  They have turned aside from the way.

The law of God will convict everyone.  The only way is to throw ourselves at the mercy of God and accept the only provision by God through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the only way.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are thankful for the scripture.  It points out the sins in us and the hopelessness in accomplishing righteousness on our own merit.  We thank you for giving us your son Jesus Christ.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

August 30, 2010

Can God Be Unfaithful?

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , , , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 3:1-8

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. How do people equate the behaviors of the Christians to the veracity of God?
  2. Should a good God judge good people?

 

Commentary:

Romans 3:1. Throughout the book, Paul would ask questions the readers may raise and answer them. These two questions in v. 1 are the response a reader may have from reading 2:17-29.   Surely, if the Jews have to keep the whole Law to be considered righteous, will they be better off if they become the gentiles, who have less of the Law?

Romans 3:2.  Paul thought that being a Jew has many advantages.  The phrase “first of all” was perhaps there to begin a list, but the list stopped at one.  Namely, the Jews had the oracles of God.  So perhaps, Paul meant to say the oracles of God were the most important one and the oracles of God encompassed many advantages.  The oracles were prophecies or words spoken by God.  They included the promises and blessings from God.  The Jews knew how God had given them many blessings and performed miracles to fulfill the promises.  Moreover, the silent period of 400 years before Jesus made the Jews longed for the word of God like wanderers in the desert longing for water.

Romans 3:3. The question in this verse harkens back to the central point of the previous passage.  If a Jew or a number of Jews failed to keep the Law, would their unbelief render the faithfulness of God null and void?  The word unbelief is literally “unfaithfulness” in Greek.  The unfaithfulness of the Jews stands in contrast of the faithfulness of God.  So here Paul wants his readers to consider if the unfaithfulness of the elect would render God to be unfaithful as well.

Romans 3:4.  Paul uses the term “May it never be” to emphatically say no to that thought.  He quotes Psalm 116:11 to emphasize that God would be true even though the very last man on earth lies.  Paul further quotes Psalm 51:4 to show that God’s oracle, which is the word “word” in Greek, proves that God is justified.  God’s promises, blessings, and judgment are consistent with what he prophesized.  Hence, the faithfulness of God includes the judging of the unfaithfulness of the Jews. 

Romans 3:5. In similar thought, Paul suggests that God’s bringing punishment, as a form of God’s wrath, to His people, all the more shows that God is impartial and righteous.   Putting this thought in contrasting form of a question, Paul asks if God is unrighteous to give the punishment to His people.  The underlying thought is that the Jews are God’s elect and God’s people, He should go easy on them and that the Jews are by and large better than the world.

Romans 3:6.  Paul again uses that phrase “may it never be” to emphatically reject the notion that God is unrighteous.  Paul counters the question with the known prophecy among the Jews.  The prophets proclaimed in the Scripture that God is going to judge the world.  The thought that God must be impartial and true in vv. 3 and 4 is brought back here to show that failure to judge the Jews would render God a lair and unfaithful thereby unable to bring judgment to the world.  In other words, if God is not good enough to judge His own or the good Jews, what makes God qualified to judge anybody else?

Romans 3:7-8.  Paul then took a step back and discussed his situation.  His detractors called his words lies.  Yet if Paul’s action only resulted to give glory to God, wouldn’t Paul be doing a good thing?  Paul reiterated his enemies’ false accusation that he taught people to sin more so that grace might abound.   Paul would postpone his response until chapter 6.

 

Meditation:

Paul showed us that some would think that God was not faithful because the Jews were not faithful.  The thinking may be wrong, but even people of today think similarly.  Our failure to keep God’s command projects our Lord as being unfaithful.  In light of that thinking and in our love to keep our God’s name glorious, all the more we need to keep our life holy.  Reflect on what areas in your life are the stumbling blocks for others. 

In addition to that, Paul recognized that God’s words include both blessings and judgment.  God is completely unified.  If God is faithful in fulfilling His promise, He will also be faithful in carrying the punishment on sins. Reflect on the things you can do to receive the blessings in your life.

 

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are faithful.  We pray that we are faithful in our walk with the Lord. We ask that the Holy Spirit would remind us on the path of righteousness daily.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

August 29, 2010

Superiority

Filed under: Devotion in Romans — Tags: , , — Pastor Brian Cheung @ 1:00 am

Romans 2:17-29

 

 

Let’s reflect on some important questions before we dive into this passage. 

  1. How does one’s race and custom become one’s identity? 
  2. In what way can a Christian dishonor God?
  3. According to Paul, what makes a person a Jew?

 

Commentary:

Romans 2:17-20.  These four verses are statements of what a Jew in Paul’s time was like.  There are six elements.  They show that the Jews really had confidence the Law and felt superior because of it.  The word “essential” is the Greek word διαφέρω   diapherō.  In its intransitive participle form, it means “different” in a way that is superior, more excellent, or really matter.  The Jews, therefore, thought they were guide, corrector, teacher, and a light to those in the darkness.

Romans 2:21-23. Paul then asked four rhetorical questions that would lead to his main point.  The Jews went yes, no, no, and no to the first four questions, and then they came to the last question in v. 23.  The obvious answer to that is “Yes, breaking the Law would dishonor God.”

Romans 2:24.  Since no Jew could keep the Law perfectly, then all Jews indeed dishonored God.  No matter how lofty and perfect the Law might appear, the breaking of the Law by the devout, religious Jews made a mockery of it.  That would give the gentiles reasons to look down and profane the name of God.  (The capital letter indicates that the verse is a quote of another verse in the Bible.  In this case, verse 24 comes from Is. 52:5)

Romans 2:25-26.  Then Paul declared that the practice of circumcision would not make a person a Jew.  Only the keeping of the Law would make a person a Jew; the failure to keep the Law would render a Jew to be a non-Jew.

Romans 2:27.  The Jew’s sense of superiority based on his race or his knowledge of the Law is false.  It is the conduct that matters (2:13).  If conduct of a Jew is inferior to that of a non-Jew, the Law-keeping non-Jew actually would have the authority to judge the Jew. 

Romans 2:28-29.  Paul declared that a Jew is not the one that has the Jewish blood or the circumcision.  A person is a Jew in the spirit when he has the circumcision of the heart. 

 

Meditation:

The Jews in Paul’s day felt superior because they knew God and the Law.  What they had was indeed superior to what the others had.  The problem was that they neglected to keep the whole Law.

Christians today also can have that feeling of superiority.  We participate in mission trip.  We have these miracles to tell others.  We also “go” to church.  What we neglect to do is to keep our life clean as we ought to.  How many Christian kids you see or hear swearing, using the symbols or the actual words?  Or how many Christians under 14 are on the Facebook?   How many Christian parents would say one thing in the church and do another at home?  How many Christians would tattoo themselves with some unknown pictures or patterns, while there is little in their life exemplifying Christ? 

All day long, these “Christians” dishonor our Lord Jesus Christ.  The non-Christians see the behavior of these Christians and know that their faith is not real.   In America, Christianity is viewed negatively in comparison to other religions for good reasons.  These bad testimonies dishonor the name of our Lord.

Only concrete good behaviors bring credibility to our faith.  Let all superiority be given to Christ, because the blood of our Lord redeems us. If there is any feeling of superiority in ourselves, let it come from how well we confess our sins and how fast we run away from sins.   

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for those of us who have gone astray.  We ask that your Holy Spirit bring discipline to them, so they would repent.  We pray that we would do good work for your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

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