Decent People

Text

"So when you, a mere human, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?" —Romans 2:3

Bible Reading

ROMANS 2:1-11

Devotional

In chapter 1 of Romans we read about people who sank to the depth of idolatry and immorality. But the world is not made up only of people who live like pigs. As long as we have some form of society, most people have to live fairly decent lives. Romans chapter 2 is addressed to decent people who condemn filthy sinners.

The gospel operates with a new understanding of sin. God is not interested in whether you are a bad sinner or only a moderate sinner. God condemns you because you are a sinner.

That does not mean that all the different kinds of sin are equally bad. Robbing a bank is still worse than dreaming about it. But both the robber and the dreamer are sinners.

It isn't robbery or adultery that makes us sinners. We commit robbery and adultery because we are sinners. All lechery, thievery, and lying are symptoms of an evil that is in all of us. And until the Bible points it out, we don't even recognize this evil within us.

Our sin is that we don't love God above all and don't love our neighbor as ourselves. Sin is missing the mark. It is not being what you are supposed to be by God's design and calling.

All people (nearly all) can recognize certain deeds, such as murder and theft and whatever else is considered immoral behavior, as sins. Christianity explains that we don't become sinners by such sinful deeds; we do such deeds because we are sinners.

In the light of the gospel, all our traditional distinctions between good people and bad people disappear. "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else" (v. 1).

God places all of us under the conviction of sin so that all of us may know that we need Jesus.

REFLECTIONS

How convinced are you that you are a sinner? Why is this so important to recognize?

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I am reminded everyday that I am a sinner. I could never cast the first stone (John 8:7). If I point out sin in others, its most likely because its an area of weakness for me and I don't want to see others fall into that pattern. Or its because its an area which grace has helped me to conquer by the continual process of sanctification. Nonetheless, I am far from perfect and fail everyday. There are days when I am reminded of my sin and I get very overwhelmed and feel the urge to actually cry over the things I've done.

Understanding and recognizing that you are an imperfect sinner is essential to your everyday walk with the Lord. Those who remain aware of their shortcomings and pray for God's help to overcome them, I believe, will in turn live a more humble life. It will also encourage you to not remain in that sin, to turn it over to Christ, to be continually sanctified and allowing the Lord to prune imperfect pieces from you. "Our sin is that we don't love God above all and don't love our neighbor as ourselves. Sin is missing the mark. It is not being what you are supposed to be by God's design and calling."

I am learning to love God more and things of this world less and less. I am learning to love my neighbor has myself. I am learning to aim for that mark which the LORD has placed. And I long to learn to be what I am supposed to be by God's design and calling. But I don't think I'd have that longing and desire to do these things, if I didn't truly remember my sin and what God has saved me from. Sin does not define my life, but denying that I do sin is foolish and naive. We ought to remember our sin and allow grace to flow through our lives and help us to grow from those shortcomings. Grace&Peace.

Filthy Sinners

Text

"God gave them up.... God gave them up.... God gave them up...." —Romans 1:24-28, NRSV

Bible Reading

ROMANS 1:18-28

Devotional

You and I are not to judge those who prefer to live like pigs. They themselves will be the first ones to tell us that their way of living is none of our business.

God is their judge—and ours. God is also the great voice who addresses them in starlight, in dewdrops, and in the depth of their (human!) being. Certainly, they have heard God. But they did not want to listen. Therefore they are "without excuse" (v. 20) when God judges them.

Damnation and salvation are not only future, they are also present— although neither one is fully present. Some people are already walking revelations of God's wrath (v. 18), just as others are already experiencing God's power for salvation (v. 16). The beginnings of both are here and now.

When people suppress the inner voice of which everyone is conscious, the road to hell begins. When they succeed in shutting off the voice of God, they begin to listen eagerly to the voice of their own lusts. Finally they attempt to rewrite God's laws for living: they set their own standards for their own lives. Then the words "God gave them up" are fulfilled before our eyes.

In the year 58, when Paul wrote these words, and in the year when you are reading this page, thousands of people are racing to hell. They began by suppressing the truth God has revealed to all. They follow through by disobeying God's laws that are written in creation itself. When they do what they "like," the Word is fulfilled and God "gives them up." God no longer withholds or restrains them but allows them to have what they wanted all along.

Only the gospel has the power to pull pigs from the mire. It's hard to believe how far God has gone to save filthy sinners. But when Christ hung on the cross, the Word was fulfilled: "God gave him up for us all" (Rom. 8:32).

REFLECTIONS

Do we have an obligation to bring the gospel to people who are "filthy sinners"? Why or why not?

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What do you all think? I need to read this a few more times. But in short, I believe it is our obligation to preach the Gospel. Christ did. And without Christ, we're filthy sinners with no hope of cleanliness. Grace&Peace.

Gospel Power

Text

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...." —Romans 1:16

Bible Reading

ROMANS 1:8-17

Devotional

God gave us much of the New Testament through the apostle Paul. And the fullest statement of the gospel, as Paul preached it, is in his letter to the Romans. Romans is the gospel according to Paul.

The letter was written a long time ago, in the year 58. At that time Rome was the capital of the Roman Empire. The emperor himself lived in Rome. But he and most other important Roman citizens were not aware of the small group of Christians in their city who one day received a letter that would outlast the empire. God had determined that this one little letter would have a greater influence on human history than all the Roman armies.

The church of God in Rome sat down to read the letter. "Paul is coming to Rome," they exclaimed. "And here he writes the gospel as he preaches it."

This small Christian church in Rome would soon be in big trouble. The emperor and the other important people in their city were about to take note of these Christians. They would not tolerate them serving Jesus as Lord instead of Caesar. They would throw the Christians to the lions. But the empire would not defeat the Christian faith. Christianity would win the empire—because the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation.

Whenever Christians have scored victories in the course of history, a rediscovery of the gospel in Romans was usually the secret of their strength. A careful reading of Romans will always bring the church fresh insight and give new power to those who represent Christ in this world.

We are "not ashamed" to recommend the reading of Romans. It is the Christian gospel, "the power of God that brings salvation" to everyone who reads and believes. By means of this letter, the saving power of God gets to work here and now, wherever there is faith.

REFLECTIONS

What concerns and anticipations do you bring to reading and studying the book of Romans?

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The book of Romans is my absolute favorite book. Its full of the truth about sin and our sin but then it goes into redemption and grace. Its full of everything I think every Christian should understand and be aware of. What do you think? Grace&Peace.