Summer Has Arrived!

After yesterday's WONDERFUL weather, how can the weather change so drastically overnight.  I would dare to say if we all had our druthers, we would have all days like yesterday.  Not to hot, not to cold, light breeze and no humidity.  But then we go to bed and get up the next morning to find that yesterday has gone and in comes the heat.  If you were like me I was saying to myself, if the weather will just stay like this I can get some yardwork done, take a walk around the block without being miserable or go to the park and not burnup.  But......................

Many times our Christian life will be the same way.  Once in awhile we get a great day or a season where burdens seem  light and then all of a sudden, wham!  What happened to those easy, nice days.  Most of our Christian life though is spent battling for what is right while living in the world that is corrupt and full of sin.   Oh, how we long formany  more "WONDERFUL" days, but there is coming a day when every day will be perfect.  That is our hope in Christ and Christ alone.  Heaven is for real!  Heaven is a real place!  What hope it brings to our souls knowing we will live eternally with our pure desires filled and in the presence of His glory.  Heaven will not be boring nor mundane.  It will be exciting, beautiful, perfect, never ending and we will be with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have also made a decision to make Christ Lord of their life.

When Rich and I left CA 7 years ago and did not know what was before us, only that God was behind us and guiding us, we stepped out and walked in faith.  Not once have we thought it was a wrong decision.  Our life is the Lord's and we go where He wants us to go.  But, without knowing what God'sWord says, who God is and what He desires for us, it is hard to step out and walk in faith.  I challenge you to study God's word as you never have before.  If you need help on learning how to study, please let me know.  I just found a great resource that will enhance your learning God's Word and it is free.

Thank you also to Nelson and Denise for a wonderful cookout last Sunday evening.  I was amazed at how it was all organized and their willingness to provide all the meat, buns, condiments and serving ware.  I was blessed by their generousity.  For those of you that couldn't come, we missed you.  Our class is awesome.  I don't know what I would do without all of you.  You have left an imprint on my heart.

Study up on Romans 3 and we'll see you this Sunday.
Blessings to you dear friends, Deb

Romans Lessons #4 "What about 'God's People'"?

What about “God’s People”?

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 2:17-3:8

Thus far in the Roman letter, we have discussed a number of relevant items. We opened with Paul introducing himself to these Roman churches by introducing the gospel message that he was “set apart” to. The conversation continued with a discussion of the sinning Gentile, the non-Jew, and his situation before God. In our last lesson, we were introduced to the ways that God judges. Those ways differ from those of the judging sinner in that His judgment is based on a foundation of righteousness. Let’s continue the discussion now as it relates to the sinning Jew and his situation before God.

I.                   An Analysis of the Jewish Position Before God – Part 1   Romans 2:17-24

a.       Paul undoubtedly had the Jews and moral Gentile in mind when he addressed those that were “judging” in 2:1. But in the passage that followed we had only a few clues that the target group included both of these groups. We had the conclusion of chapter 1 and its continuation to include the “gentile”, but we had to depend on other clues to include the Jews. We had the national pride of the Jews, that would have most likely prompted this type of judgment on others; and we had Vs. 6, which came from the Old Testament and would have been familiar to the Jewish reader.

b.      But we don’t have to wonder at all about who this portion of the chapter is written to. It is revealed in Vs. 17. The focal group here is without question the Jews, God’s chosen people. Again, there would have been tremendous pressure culturally to believe that the Jews, as God’s chosen people, would have tremendous advantage in both knowledge and position before God.

c.       The text before us makes no effort to deny that God’s people are a “chosen” and “special” people. In fact, Paul takes right off in the passage before us noting some of the advantages that the Jew would have felt that he had because of this special relationship to God. Verses 17-21 share some of the “advantages” to the Jewish mindset of the time:

                                                              i.      They were Jews! – They were in fact God’s chosen people and the “apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8)  (17)

                                                            ii.      They were the receivers of the Law – God had not chosen any other people to receive and possess the Mosaic Law given at Mt. Sinai. (17)

                                                          iii.      They were boasting in their relationship with God – Different from so many of the cultures of the time, the God of Israel was not an idol or an image. (17)

                                                          iv.      They knew the will of God – They were the ones that had special revelation from God of His plan for them. (Ex. 4:22)  (18)

                                                            v.      They approved what they thought to be superior – Dietary laws, lifestyle restrictions, and worship instructions were at least part of that discussion. The Jews had a narrower view of life than those of their neighbor; a view that they deemed superior.  (18)

                                                          vi.      They were instructed by the Law – Psalm 119 extols the merits of God’s decrees as those that direct the steps of man. The Jews relished God’s instructions, so much so that they would eventually make up hundreds of decrees of their own to go along with His, even preferring theirs over His.  (18)

                                                        vii.      They were convinced that they were the guides for the blind, the light for those that were in the dark, an instructor for the foolish, and a teacher to the children or immature. 19-20)

                                                      viii.      They felt that in the Law they had the embodiment of knowledge and truth – Psalm 19:7-9 give a snapshot of the Jewish mentality towards the Law. (19-20)

d.      It is understandable, but not excusable, that Israel could be tempted to think of themselves as better than the rest of humanity. In terms of privilege and possession, they had a chosen place. But in terms of practice, they failed just as frequently as the Gentiles. In verses 21-22, we see another listing of things that were on the Jewish “ledger” if a true accounting were to take place:

                                                              i.      They taught others, but did not teach themselves. (21)

                                                            ii.      They preached against stealing, yet they stole things themselves. (21)

                                                          iii.      They preached against adultery, yet they committed adultery. (22)

                                                          iv.      They hated idols, yet they stole robbed pagan temples. (22)

e.       This behavior would have the worst of results. Look at Vs. 23-24. The result of this behavior would be that, because of this esteemed position before God and everyone’s knowledge of it, the sins of the Jews would actually dishonor the name of God! Verse 24 is actually a combining of Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:20, though not exactly quoted.

f.       It is worth taking a moment to consider not only the Jews and their privilege before God, but to consider our own nation’s privilege and blessing at the hand of God before continuing.

                                                              i.      Do you feel that we as Americans have enjoyed the blessing of God throughout our history?

                                                            ii.      What is the responsibility of that blessing?

                                                          iii.      How have we dishonored the name of God as a nation?

                                                          iv.      How have you dishonored the name of God as one that lives in this nation?

II.                An Analysis of the Jewish Position Before God – Part 2    Romans 2:25-27

a.       As Verses 17 – 24 described the position of the Jew before God as it related to the Law, the verses before us will continue that discussion with circumcision as focus. The circumcision of a Jewish male was an incredibly important and symbolic gesture. The Jews saw the circumcision as a sign of the covenant that God had made with His people (Leviticus 12:3). It was God’s appointed “sign of the covenant”, which signified Abraham’s covenanted commitment to the Lord – that the Lord alone would be his God. Genesis 17:14 tells us that to break this covenant would be the same as being uncircumcised and being “cut off” from his people

b.      Verse 25 tells us that this outward sign, circumcision, is only of value if you keep the Law. But if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become of no value. It gets even worse for the Jew in the following verses. Verse 26 says that the opposite of this truth is also true. While the Jew with the outward sign of circumcision, if he sins, is counted as one that is not circumcised; the gentile that keeps the Law, though uncircumcised, will be counted as one that was circumcised and in relationship with God. And it gets even worse than that in Verse 27. It says that he who is physically uncircumcised will actually “judge” the circumcised Jew in that his actions and deeds will in fact condemn the Jew who had the better set of standards in the Law.

c.       In other words, there is only one way to garner spiritual profit in God’s eyes: obedience to Him. Again, we are not talking about salvation; we are talking about how someone is judged before God. And the sinning Jew is guilty, just like the sinning gentile.

III.             The “Circumcised Heart”    Romans 2:28-29

a.       Again, the Jew is faced with the fact that his heritage will not give him a “pass” when it comes to the judgment of God. While he has some incredible advantages to his position, he is not outside of the eye of God.

b.      The verses before us show this fact with great clarity. The Jew is not in an advantageous position because of his outward gestures of obedience. In fact, genuine circumcision is not even the physical rite itself. Rather, a genuine Jew is one inwardly; and the circumcision that occurs is one that happens in the heart, by the Spirit.

c.       Some of the Jews followed the Law’s regulation outwardly, but their hearts were not right with God. The truly circumcised heart is one that is “separated” from the world and dedicated to God.

d.      This person’s praise is not the praise that comes from man. It is a praise that comes from God Himself as He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

IV.             The Bottom Line for the Jews    Romans 3:1-8

a.       With all of this discussion in the rear view mirror, Paul addresses the question that would be on the mind of every Jewish reader of this letter. That question is, “Then what advantage does the Jew have?” In connecting the previous passage to that before us, Paul answers the question from the perspective of the Law and then from the perspective of circumcision.

b.      Is there any value to being a Jew? Absolutely! The list begins here in Vs. 2, but it will not be continued until chapter 9:4-5. The list does begin here with the fact that the Jews had been entrusted with the “oracles of God”. Can you imagine the advantage of being entrusted with the “list”? But here sadness takes over in that this idea of “entrusted” has to do not only with being the ones that received the teachings of the Law from God, but it also has to do with obedience to them. On that point, the Jews failed. But this did not take away from the tremendous advantage and privilege that they had as God’s people.

c.       In Vs. 3-4, we have an argument to this “advantage”. If some to whom God’s promises were entrusted did not respond to them in trust, will their lack of trust destroy God’s trustworthiness? (Stott) In other words, if God’s people are unfaithful, does that necessarily mean that He is? Paul’s answer is “May it never be!” The outrage of this possibility is confirmed in Psalm 51:4 (quoted here) where David says that he would be judged a sinner so that God could proved right in His judgment.

d.      With the following “logic” in mind, Paul makes his final two arguments in Vs.5-8:

                                                              i.      Major Premise: When God forgives sinners, His grace is made known.

                                                            ii.      Minor Premise: I am a sinner.

                                                          iii.      Conclusion: The more I sin, the more opportunity for Him to manifest grace.

e.       Vs. 5-6 asks the question, “If God warranted sin to display His righteousness, how could He judge sin?” That argument, says Paul, could only come from a depraved mind (human). God, as the rightful judge of the world, could not do that.

f.       Vs. 7-8 continues this line of thinking by asking the question again of, “If sin somehow demonstrates the glory of God, why is He still judging those that lie?” And if the conclusion is to keep sinning that His grace might be more fully known, Paul says “NO, their condemnation is just!”

V.                An Application For All Of Us

a.       The Jew, while having incredible advantage in privilege and position, will not escape the judgment of God.

b.      America and Americans have had incredible blessing showered on them and have a responsibility before God to understand that blessing and live with gratitude.

The true Jew is one whose heart has been circumc

Romans Lesnon #3 "How God Judges"

“How God Judges”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 2:1-16

As we open chapter 2, we will be continuing the argument that was began along with its results in chapter 1. But we will also be taking a moment of “parenthesis”, a pause in part of the argument, to discuss the judgment of God. What has been discussed thus far is the need for the gospel, in the first 17 verses of chapter 1. What followed was a look at the gentile (non-Jew) sinner and the trajectory of his or her sin. It would seem that the Jew would be discussed next in the argument, but Paul takes a moment to discuss the need for all people to look at God, not just the sinning gentile or the supposed moral Jew. This look will be followed by the discussion of the Jew in more specific ways.

I.                   A brief discussion on judgment itself    Romans 2:1

a.       Before jumping into a discussion on how God judges, the  chapter opens with some connecting remarks to the previous one. Chapter 1 ended with an explanation of the trajectory of the mind and actions of the gentile sinner. There is a specific “they” to most of the discussion. “They” is the person who does not embrace the gospel and continues to live for himself or herself. That person will be “given over” by God to their own ways and their results. Are those that chose this way somehow victims of a mean God? No, they have chosen their way and even celebrate it in their hearts and with others that have chosen the same plan.

b.      Romans 2 will ultimately discuss the Jew and his or her situation before God beginning in Vs. 17, but that discussion is preceded with an overall reminder that all of us were and at times continue to be like the persons discussed at the end of chapter 1.

c.       Our desire is to make a 3^rd column of people; sinning gentiles, sinning Jews, and some other group of moral onlookers to all of this mess. This 3^rd group does not exist in Scripture. All of us need the  provision of the gospel, whether Jew or gentile (non-Jew). There are no exceptions to this need.

d.      There would have been huge cultural pressure on the part of the Jews to see themselves as “the exception” to this need. Because they were God’s people and had the God-given Law for their compass, it would have been easy for them to have fallen into the trap of judgment of these “others” that were not under God’s authority or plan. But Vs. 1 is not just applicable to the Jew. It is a “not very subtle” reminder that anyone can fall to the temptation of self-righteousness, which will have its results both in harshly judging others and not judging yourself.

e.       Judgment in general assumes that you have the information and knowledge necessary for this activity. That person would have to possess both knowledge of right and knowledge of wrong to judge adequately. And if you have this information or knowledge necessary to judge others, logic would say than you must also have the information and knowledge necessary to judge yourself rightly. But this rarely happens amongst the self-righteous.

f.       The phrase at the end of verse 1 is particularly stinging. It says that those that are involved in this self-righteous condemnation of others are, in fact, practicing the same thing! Not only that, but will also be condemned just  like one of “them”! What a hypocritical and ignorant response for a person that supposedly has the information and knowledge necessary to judge rightly!!

g.      So, in light of this indictment against the Jew and the “Jew” in all of us, we now need some insight into how God judges. The balance of the passage will give us insight into this important matter before continuing our discussion regarding the sinning Jews.

II.                How God Judges: Truth    Romans 2:2-4

a.       The first thing that is said about God’s judgment is that it is done from truth. It is done “rightly”, according to Verse 2. To help these that are mired in self-righteousness and self-deception, Paul offers the fact that God’s judgment is done from a platform of truth instead of these former non-virtues.

b.      This person that is seeing themselves as auditor and judge of another is reminded in this passage that he or she should, because of their “ability” to judge, be able to see their own predicament. But they don’t! This person somehow sees themselves as the exception from the judgment of God.

c.       Verse 3 asks a question that has to hurt. Do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? The self-righteous and self-deceived one would initially say that they aren’t in that “sinner” column like these others and that they don’t deserve the same indictment or judgment.

d.      Verse 4 even makes it worse on this self-righteous and self-deceived person. It accuses him or her of “thinking lightly” of the reason for God’s kindness, tolerance and patience: repentance. God’s seeming “non-judgment” of sin in the moment is neither a sign of the Jews lack of security or a sign of His weakness to do it. It is an opportunity for the offending one to repent and go another direction.

III.             How God judges: What a person has done    Romans 2:5-11

a.       From the beginning of this point being made, it is important to note that Paul is not saying that a person is being saved based on what he or she does. He is saying that a person is judged based on what he does. This is important in that it does not teach a “works” salvation, nor does it make Paul the promoter of such an idea.

b.      Verse 5 reminds us of the person that God will judge. He or she is one who is stubborn and unrepentant in their hearts. In addition to the wrath of God which is being demonstrated in His “giving over” of this person to their own ways and results, there will also be a final judgment for this unrepentant person where each of their deeds will be exposed and judged by God. When this type of unrepentant behavior is the pattern and lifestyle, than there is a “storing up” of wrath in addition to the rightful trajectory and sorrow of a life lived for self is lived out.

c.       This wrath is executed on the individual, as is quoted in Vs. 6. This verse is another clue to the fact that this section is being pointed towards the moralizing Jews in that it is a quote from the Old Testament scriptures, namely Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12.

d.      It is important to note that God’s righteous judgment would require that if a man or woman could live a perfect life than He would be rewarded with eternal life according to Vs.7. But there is none that can do this according to Romans 3:23. There are neither those that can live a perfect life nor are there any that are as bad as they can possibly be. So everyone is living somewhere between the two ends of the continuum.

e.       In contrast to those that hypothetically live a life of persevering perfection and are judged righteous and given eternal life, there is another group that is noted in Vs. 8. These who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth by chasing unrighteousness will receive both wrath and the anger of God.

f.       Verses 9-10 restate this in an interesting and shocking way to the Jew who might have been convinced that he or she was the exception to this entire argument. These verses say that your destiny is not dependent on whether you are a Jew or a Gentile. Tribulation and distress are the judgment of the evil, while glory, honor and peace are the judgment of the perfect if there were any that were perfect.

g.      Verse 11 answers the follow-up question of “why”. The reason is that God is not partial. He does not play favorites in relation to judgment. The same criteria will be used for all, even those that might think that this doesn’t apply them.

IV.             How God judges: Insight received    Romans 2:12-16

a.       God’s righteousness will not allow for a person to be held responsible for what they have never possessed. Paul has already made it clear that every person possesses knowledge of God in 1:19-20. Therefore, everyone will be accountable to God for their response to Him. The Jews would seem to have a distinct advantage in this department in that they were God’s people and did receive the compass for living from God in the Mosaic Law.

b.      Verse 12-15 continues the argument by noting again both the Jew and the Gentile. The sinning Gentile who did not receive the Mosaic Law will perish not because of his failure to keep the Mosaic Law, but because of his rebellion to the law written on his heart and conscience. Similarly, the sinning Jew is condemned by holding on to of the Law that he or she did receive, the Mosaic Law. The Mosaic Law which no Jew can completely obey is their undoing and judgment.

c.       But how can the Gentile do the work of the Law without the Law? Because of what God has written on their hearts. But this “natural revelation” has no ability to save him or her. And it is not lasting. This conscience will sometimes defend them and will sometimes condemn them.

d.      So, in the end, God will judge based on our response or lack of response to the gospel. In verse 16, Paul says that response to the gospel will “judge the secrets of men”. What the compass of a man or woman’s life is will be measured by the gospel and a person’s reception of it. It will not be our lineage, or our heritage, or our ability or non-ability to adhere to the Mosaic Law or the law written on our hearts. It will be our response to God through the gospel. Note that Paul refers to the gospel as “my” gospel”. Remember in 1:1, where Paul said that he was “set apart to the gospel”. He also noted his obligation to this gospel in Vs. 14. Paul is so connected to this gospel by which God will judge all that he even refers to it as his own. 2 Corinthians 5:19 speaks of this “ownership” of the gospel when Paul again notes that this “ministry of reconciliation” has been entrusted to us by God. WOW!

V.                An Application For All Of Us

a.       We are kidding ourselves if we think that we don’t sin in the same ways as the “sinners” noted in Romans 1:18-32.

b.      All that are outside of the protection of the gospel will be judged by God in 3 ways:

                                                              i.      According to the truth.

                                                            ii.      According to the works that they have done.

                                                          iii.      According to the insight that they have received.

c.       We who have received the gospel and are followers of Christ are owners of its truth and are to be “ambassadors of reconciliation”, according to 2 Corinthians 5:19.

Romans - Lesson #2

“Our Sin Reveals The Wrath Of God”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 1:18-32

As we enter the first section of doctrinal discussion in Romans, we must do it with a mind for what we have just considered. As the theme of Romans was unveiled in 1:16-17, the “righteousness of God” expressed uniquely in the Good News of Jesus Christ, we now see the reason or need for this provision in Christ. The problem is sin, not just the presence of it, but also our love of it. In this section, we will see the ongoing wrath or disdain of sin by God and mankind’s reaction to His desire for us to live a life of faith which evidences His righteousness.

I.                   The Wrath of God Is Revealed    Romans 1:18-23

a.       Just as the righteousness of God is revealed “from faith to faith”, God’s wrath is revealed in the ungodliness and unrighteousness of man. The word “revealed” is the same in both cases, meaning “to uncover, to make known”. In other words, God’s righteousness is made known or uncovered in our righteous living and His wrath is made known or uncovered in our sinfulness.

                                                              i.      Ungodliness – Not an atheist, but to act as if God doesn’t exist. Craig Groschel refers to this as “practical atheism”.

                                                            ii.      Unrighteousness – The result of ungodliness. We do these things because we disregard God.

b.      It is important to understand that God’s wrath is not like ours. One of the reasons that we have such a hard time with a God that demonstrates wrath is that we think He demonstrates it for the same reasons that we do. That is not true. God’s wrath has its origin in His righteousness, not His sin since He is sinless in His nature. Even though it is possible for us to display a righteous indignation and anger, we most often do it from a platform of sin. God’s wrath is exhibited in a holy revulsion against what is contrary to and opposes His holy nature and will.

c.       So who is this wrath revealed against? The balance of this section gives us the answer:

                                                              i.      Those who suppress the truth in their sin – (Verse 18) The truth of the Good News is suppressed, restrained or hindered, by the sinful actions of man. The witness of the gospel in a believer’s life is hindered when sin is allowed to reign.

                                                            ii.      Those who deny God’s revelation of Himself in nature and Creation – (Verses 19-20) No one, even those that have not heard of the Bible or of Christ, has an excuse for not honoring God, because the whole created world reveals Him. The term for this is natural revelation, and even though it is not enough to save a person it is enough to point a person towards the  God who can save. That is why we must continue our missionary efforts to the entire world.

                                                          iii.      Those who have exchanged His glory for a fake – (Verses 21-23) This lack of recognition of Him, lack of gratitude towards Him, and ultimately their futile and foolish hearts drove them to “exchange” one thing for another; the real God for a fake god (themselves and deities that they have invented for themselves, in other words idols).

II.                How Is This Wrath Revealed?    Romans 1:24-32

a.       As we look at this section, we must consider 2 demonstrations of the wrath of God:

                                                              i.      Future – This is the wrath that we most often consider. This is the wrath of God against sin in the life to come.

                                                            ii.      Current – This is the wrath of God that is demonstrated in our lives today. This is the wrath that we are considering in this passage. It is a “turning over” of the sinner to his ways and the results of those ways. The sins would now be allowed to run its course as an act of judgment. What a sad reversal of God’s plan in giving us free will. That free will was supposed to be so that we could choose Him, but now it is being used to choose sinful behaviors and acts.

b.      As we now consider this “giving over”, we must remember that these that commit sin are not somehow victims. They are actively pursuing sin and God is grieved over it. Because of the sin that was considered in the previous verses, God now turns these that have sinned (all mankind, but predominantly the Gentiles in this portion of the argument) over in 3 ways:

                                                              i.      He gives them over to the lusts of their hearts – (Verses 24-25) This is the forbidden things of their hearts. Why? So that the results of these forbidden things would in fact even be looked down on by those committing those sins. Some commentators say that Vs. 25 helps us to understand this particular sin as that of some cultic prostitution. Paul would have been aware of this sin as he writes from Corinth.

                                                            ii.      He gives them over to degrading passions – (Verses 26-27) In these verses, we have one of the most clear insights into the sin of homosexuality. The homosexual will see this verse and say that the condemnation is toward a heterosexual person engaging in homosexual activity (unnatural) and it being alright for them because it is natural for them and not unnatural. Of course, this is a very poor translation of this text and is only evidence to the whole argument.

                                                          iii.      He gives them over to a depraved mind – (Verses 28-31) This is a mind that is “not as it ought to be” according to the definition of depraved in the original language. The evidences of this are noted in the verses that follow. Look at all of resulting sin that comes from not acknowledging God and His righteousness.

c.       In Verse 32, we have one of the saddest portions of this entire passage. All of this sin is not a result of ignorance of what God requires or desires. It is a result of self-will and rebellion in the heart of the sinner. And it not only is celebrated with the knowledge of the penalty of this rebellion (death), but it is done with the most blasphemous and rebellious spirit. This spirit not only celebrates its own sin, but also the sin of those that are doing the same things. In other words, the sinner applauds the sin of others.

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       The wrath of God is just as real as the love of God.

b.      Just as the righteousness of God is revealed as we live righteous lives, the wrath of God is revealed in our sinful living.

c.       We are not victims of sin; we choose it.

d.      The Good News that Paul is speaking of will be the only antidote to the wrath of God against our sinfulness.