The Believer and Suffering, Romans 5:3-5

Posted on February 10, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

When I’m biking I occasionally see deer grazing on the surrounding hills. I love watching them bound uphill, gracefully jumping over brush. If only I could painlessly leap over problems like that, I think to myself. But that rarely—if never—happens, unless God removes the obstacle(s). It’s not that God doesn’t grant strength, He does when asked. But rough terrain is par for the course during our earthly journey.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA In fact, the Bible doesn’t promise believers that problems and trials will dissolve once we place our trust in Christ. Rather, God challenges us to embrace suffering as a source of joy (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7). Why? The results from Christian suffering bring spiritual maturity. This is another benefit of justification (God’s act of declaring us “not guilty” for our sins), along with a new relationship with God, access to God, and peace with God.

A New Understanding in Suffering

In this passage Paul—who was no stranger to suffering—outlines a linked-chain process of Christian suffering:

“Suffering produces perseverance” (vs. 3): Suffering translated is pressure, distress from outward circumstances.
“Perseverance produces character” (vs. 4): Character translated describes the quality of being approved. “Endurance brings proof that we have stood the test” (vs. 4, NEB).
“Character produces hope” (vs. 4): Paul tells us that this hope “does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” (vs. 5).

So What?

My NIV Study Bible says it well: “In the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that will help us grow. We rejoice in suffering not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to grow our character.”

What is the Law? (Romans 6:15)

Posted on February 7, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

Shall we sin because we are no longer under Law but under grace?” Romans 6:15

Again, Paul answers: “By no means!”

Source: 2wired2tired.com

Wait . . . Rewind . . . Repeat that again? We (believers) are not under the Law . . . .? I admit, this sounds more like a riddle, especially when you look at passages like Psalm 19:7, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”

It helps to know that this section deals with sanctification: God growing the Christian in holiness. But the question remains . . . .

Which Law is Paul referring to?

The following excerpt from the NIV Study Bible helped me sift through this confusing topic:

Part of the Jewish Law included those laws found in the Old Testament. When Paul says that Gentiles (non-Jews) are no longer bound by these laws, he is not saying that the Old Testament laws do not apply to us today. He is saying certain types of laws may not apply to us. In the Old Testament there were three categories of laws:

Ceremonial Law: This kind of law relates specifically to Israel’s worship (see, for example, Leviticus 1:1-13), its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ. Therefore, these laws were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial laws, the principles behind them—to worship and love a holy God—still apply. The Jewish Christians often accused the Gentile Christians of violating the ceremonial law.
Civil Law: This type of law dictated Israel’s daily living (see Deuteronomy 24:10-11). Because modern society and culture are so radically different, some of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands should guide our conduct. At times, Paul asked Gentile Christians to follow some of these laws, not because they had to, but in order to promote unity.
Moral Law: This sort of law is the direct command of God—for example, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). It requires strict obedience. It reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies to us today. We are to obey this moral law not to obtain salvation, but to live in ways pleasing to God.

Which Law do you think Paul is referring to in Romans 6:15?

And What About Grace?

Another analogy found in the NIV Study Bible helped clarify Romans 5:20, “The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“As a sinner separated from God, you see his law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get to God. Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced on one or two rungs. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up. In either case, what relief you should feel to see Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, to take you directly to God! Once Jesus lifts you into God’s presence, you are free to obey—out of love, not necessity, and through God’s power, not your own. You know that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead you will be caught and held in Christ’s loving arms.”

I hope this makes sense. Although I’m not an intellect like Paul, his teachings challenge me (in a good way).

I hope you’re enjoying summer!

Dead to the Law, Romans 7:1-6

Posted on January 1, 2015 by KD Manes under Bible Study

I, Jody, take you, John, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse . . . ‘Till death do us part.”

(stylegrace.com)

Sealed with a kiss, this vow—in the covenant of marriage—is valid as long as the husband is alive.

Paul’s readers understood that a violation of this law would disgrace Jody as an adulteress. If her husband dies, however, she is free to marry another man.

This is the picture Paul gives us to compare Christians and the Law. Not only do believers die to sin, but also to the Law, thus cancelling the Law’s “lordship” or claim over the believer (vs. 4).

Similar to the picture of baptism, death to sin begins when the believer places his/her trust in Christ. By identifying with the crucified Christ and joining in union to Him, the resurrected Christ becomes the believer’s new “husband”. The Holy Spirit enables the believer to produce good fruit for God.

So What?

Because of Christ’s sacrifice, the way to God is open through faith. No longer trying to earn salvation through an external code of law keeping or following Christian customs, the believer is free to serve God with a new heart out of love and gratitude.

Assurance of Salvation, Romans 8:31-39

Posted on December 25, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

More than the comfort of southern fried chicken . . . More than the carefree feeling of sifting warm sand through your toes . . . More than the sweet taste of hot cocoa and wrapping up in a fleece blanket on a cold, wintry day. This passage offers—more.

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On the heels of Paul using weighty terms—predestination, calling, justification, and glorification—to set up God’s redemptive purpose in verse 30, he asks: “What, then, shall we say in response to this?”

His answer—squeezed into one word—HOPE.

3 Reasons for Assurance of Salvation

Shepherd’s Notes identifies three reasons believers can have assurance of salvation:

Our assurance is based on the heavy investment that God has already made in our redemption (vs. 31-32).
Our assurance is based upon God’s acquittal and Christ’s continuing intercession for us (vs. 33-34).
Our assurance is based upon God’s love for us in Christ, which guarantees that nothing will be able to separate us from Him (vs. 35-39).

Paul concludes, after listing the many assailants of God’s people, that “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” This gives the brilliant backdrop for a dearly loved affirmation in the faith:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –vs. 38-39

So What?

Although believers face earthly trials, we can rest in hope and confidence. Nothing can separate us from God’s love because of Jesus’ faithfulness. Our salvation is firmly secured because of Jesus’ work on the cross.

What are some of your favorite encouragements promised for believers in chapter 8?

The “Israel” beyond Israel, Romans 9:19-29

Posted on December 22, 2014 by KD Manes under Bible Study

Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.” – Romans 9:1, NIV

This passage—like last week’s—is difficult to understand.

After Paul attributes God’s dealings of mercy and judgment by using Moses and Pharaoh as examples, he continues his defense as if he is sparring with an imaginary opponent.

Paul writes (of his imaginary opponent): “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists His will?” (vs. 19).

Paul answers: But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?

“Then I went to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord. ‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” – Jeremiah 18:3-6, NASB

“Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (vs. 20-21).

In this context Paul asks the hypothetical question in verses 22-24: What if God makes His power known to those He bestows mercy through His judgment on those destined for His wrath?

Paul refers to Old Testament passages in verses 25-29 to show: 1) God will redeem some Gentiles (Hosea 2:23; 1:10), and 2) only a remnant of believing Jews will be saved (Isaiah 10:22-23; 1:9).

So What?

Paul isn’t implying that some people are more valuable than others. But his tone does suggest: “God is God. Who is eligible to measure His actions and decisions?” Like the sculpted pottery, our very existence and function depend upon God.
God chose Israel to serve His sovereign purposes. Everything in God’s redemptive history can be attributed to His faithfulness to the promise He gave Abraham and his descendants.
God has graciously extended an invitation to all people, (Jews and Gentiles), to become part of His family through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.