Don’t drink the poison

by Charles Ligon

I listened intently as a friend shared about his loss of employment. According to him, he had done nothing wrong. It was all because of his “incompetent” boss. The friend complained to HR but got no response. Still, he was determined to pursue his grievance…even to the point of litigation, if necessary. And, he would not rest until his boss got the “blame” he deserved. You see, my friend was not reacting to an issue of dishonesty or illegality on the part of his boss; rather, he was basically blaming this man for his release. He was consumed with anger and had become bitter-to-the-bone. At that moment, my friend didn’t need revenge…he needed to forgive and to move on.

 

I once heard that “unforgiveness is the poison we drink hoping others will die” (Author Unknown).  Think about that…it is a very sad but true statement! Those who have hurt us do move on, but as long as we refuse to forgive, our hurt continues. A lack of forgiveness leads to bitterness, which becomes a source of bondage in our lives. This can lead to depression and send us in a downward spiral. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that the hurtful actions or events were okay–it simply means you have refused to drink the poison and have chosen to recover and move on.

 

Let me ask you, who have you not forgiven?

 

As Christians, we must live by the following principal: As Christ has been to me so I will be to others. Christ extended grace when we didn’t deserve it. Likewise, we need to extend grace and forgiveness to others even though they might not deserve it. In the Model Prayer, Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sinned against us” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus hung on a cross suffering for things He didn’t do. Still, He said “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Workplace Challenge: Decide now to forgive anyone towards whom you harbor bitterness. Decide now to stop clinging to the anger and resentment that keeps you in “victim mode” and renders you powerless. Stop letting those who have hurt you continue to do so. Let it go! Release the negative emotions that control your thoughts, feelings and actions. Don’t drink the poison. Instead, drink the antidote…the Grace of Jesus Christ!

Demonstrating His Love

by Charles Ligon

The elderly lady at the laundry mat asked me “why I did it” when I inserted quarters into the washing machine. I said “demonstrating the love of Jesus in a practical way”. I was part of a group of students who journeyed into the community to purposefully serve and practically demonstrate the love of Christ. We pumped gas, cleaned restrooms and paid for laundry. It was love-in-action with no agenda or expectation. We simply loved others because Jesus first loved us. And, we didn’t talk about our faith unless someone wanted to know more, at which time we were happy to share that our actions flowed from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do you serve others because of your love for Jesus? Do you look for ways to demonstrate His love at work? There are many ways to do it. One very important way is to walk with someone through a time of crisis. “Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family” (Proverbs 18:24). Other ways to demonstrate His love might include buying your co-worker a meal, mowing a neighbor’s yard, washing a friends car, baking a birthday cake for a colleague or providing a meal during an associate’s illness. You could refill the soap dispenser, tighten down a toilet seat, empty the trash or run an errand. You get the idea…be intentional, joyful and do it out of your love for Christ, expecting nothing in return…it is unconditional.

Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also ought to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

Workplace Challenge: Be intentional and find at least one way to demonstrate the love of Jesus in your workplace every day. Start by seeking out someone God has placed on your heart and serve them joyfully without any agenda. Simply love them for who they are, not for what they can do. Demonstrate His love because He first loved you. Do it today and do it for His glory!

Living Out Our Theology

“Living Out Our Theology”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 12:1-2

 

As we transition to another chapter of Romans, we are moving not only to another theological section of the letter, but we are moving from the distinctly theological to the distinctly practical. Some see these two things as separate, but they are not. Mark Dever says in “Theology for the Church” by Danny Akin, “Theology lived out in responsible action and obedience is worshipping God. When performed in faith, all the duties of the Christian life commanded in Scripture are means of worshipping God. Worship of God is the supreme end of the Christian church, whether considered locally or universally, or in the individual lives of its members”. Let’s see what this means in action as we enter the next section of this exciting letter.

  

I.                    Some Introductory Thoughts To This Section    Romans 12:1a & b

a.       There are many who would say that “theological” and “practical” are nearly opposites. While one is a bunch of facts and figures, the other is action. While one is that which is confined to the intellectual elite, the other is planned for those that can’t traffic in the “brainy”. There are those that say, “I’m no theologian, I just love God and do my best”. The terms seem to have very little to do with one another in a lot of people’s minds.

b.      But the Bible doesn’t teach that at all! The Bible teaches that our theology is critical to our actions. Without good theology, we have no basis for our actions and our philosophies for living.

c.       The beginning of Romans 12 does much to connect theology to practical living. In at least 2 ways, we are connected as we begin this section to the entirety of the letter to the Romans churches thus far:

                                                               i.      “Therefore I urge you” – Remember our old rule of thumb when it comes to Bible study: When you see a “therefore”, look to see what it’s there for. We didn’t have to wait past the first words of this new section to see the indisputable connection between theology and practical living. What Paul has been writing now for 11 chapters will be one of the reasons for moving forward into this action-oriented section of Romans. Paul is “urging” them to this living out of their theology. This word “urge” is interesting in that it means “to exhort, to beseech, to call alongside of”. That is what Paul is doing here. He is coming alongside them to “urge” them in living out what he has been teaching now for 11 chapters. And he points his challenge to the only ones that could possibly succeed in it, “brethren”. Only one who has Christ as his or her savior and the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering could have any chance of fulfilling this charge.

                                                             ii.      “By the mercies of God” – As this phrase is written out by Paul, we have a connection to one of the great themes of chapters 1-11. As recently as Romans 11:32, Paul noted that “all were shut up in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all”. It has been nothing but the mercy of God that has made salvation, sanctification, and glorification realities for any of us in the present or the future.

d.      In some ways, we see Paul’s “urging” as this chapter begins in a similar way to the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is coming alongside them to show them the practical application and implications of all that he has been teaching them thus far.

 

II.                 “Present Your Bodies A Living And Holy Sacrifice, Acceptable To God…”    Romans 12:1c

a.       The admonition of Verse 1 seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? But there are some wonderful details that need our attention.

b.      The 1^st of this challenge is “present”. This word contains the idea of “placing alongside, provide, or place at one’s disposal”.

c.       The 2^nd and 3rd words of this challenge are “our body”. What a neat thought! In light of all that we’ve studied thus far in Romans, we are urged by Paul and because of the mercies of God to place our bodies at the disposal of God! We are to place ourselves beside Him. The idea here is not putting all of your possessions, your talents, your abilities, etc. alongside Him. We are to place OURSELF beside Him! We are to place OURSELF at His disposal! What a powerful and strong challenge!

d.      Let’s continue looking at these theologically and practically pregnant words. The next words are “a living and holy sacrifice”. Without question, these words remind us of the Old Testament sacrificial system. While we are reminded of that ancient system of sacrifice, we are also reminded of a glaring difference between the old economy and the new economy.

                                                               i.      In the Old Testament economy, the offerings that were made were “dead” and the people were commanded to “make them”.

                                                             ii.      In the New Testament economy, the offering is to be “living”; in fact we are to “be” the sacrifice.

 

e.       With the thought before us of “offering a living sacrifice of ourselves”, let’s consider the last few words of the verse. “Which is your spiritual service of worship” completes this thought. WOW! We are reminded again of the Mark Dever quote from above, “Theology lived out in responsible action and obedience is worshipping God. When performed in faith, all the duties of the Christian life commanded in Scripture are means of worshipping God. Worship of God is the supreme end of the Christian church, whether considered locally or universally, or in the individual lives of its members”. In other words, when we present our lives as living sacrifices to God, we are worshipping in a powerful and a clear way to the One that we love.

 

III.               “Do Not Be Conformed… Be Transformed”    Romans 12:2

a.       As we consider Verse 2, we are presented with a couple of ideas right away that give us greater clarification on the challenge of the previous verse.

                                                               i.      The first is “do not be conformed to this world”. This has the idea of “fashioning oneself to another’s pattern”. But whose pattern? The verse tells us that it’s the world’s pattern. We who are making a “living sacrifice” of ourselves to the One we love, Jesus, are not to shape our thinking and our philosophies to the world’s pattern. How do we sometimes conform ourselves to this world? By embracing the thoughts of the world as our own without considering God’s plans and thoughts on the given subject.

                                                             ii.      The second is “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Instead of shaping our thinking and philosophies to the world’s pattern, we are to offer ourselves to the transforming of our minds. How would we do this? The Greek word has the meaning of metamorphosis, the changing of something from the inside out. We are reminded of this when we consider the caterpillar within the cocoon that emerges a beautiful butterfly. How do we engage ourselves in this ongoing “renewal”? By the regular intake of God’s Word and interaction with His people. What other thoughts would you add to this prescription for ongoing “renewal of our minds”?

b.      Why is the result of choosing “Option 2” over “Option 1”? As we present ourselves as living sacrifices to this second plan, we will “prove” what the will of God is. Again, WOW! There is so much discussion on the subject of “God’s Will”. What is it? The passage itself says that the will of God is “good, and acceptable, and perfect”. God’s will is “what God wishes to be done”. And while that conversation is well worth having, it isn’t discussed right here. What is noted is that “what God wishes to be done” is “good, and acceptable, and perfect”.

                                                               i.      It is good - Upright, honorable, acceptable to God

                                                             ii.      It is acceptable - Well-pleasing

                                                            iii.      It is perfect - Finished, complete, mature

 

IV.              An Application For All Of Us

a.       What a transition we are undergoing as we move from the intensely theological chapters 1-11 to the intensely practical chapters 12-16.

b.      But we must not forget that our theology, what we believe about God, will drive our actions and our philosophies.

c.       The separation that many try to make between the theological and the practical is just not there when you consider the teaching of the Bible.

d.      In the next 4 chapters, we will see this connection reinforced as helpful application is made in regard to many areas of living that we are engaged in.

 

You are in His thoughts

by Charles Ligon

“I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers”. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have uttered those words, but I must confess…there have been times when I failed to keep that promise. Though I have always been well intentioned, there are far too many instances when I failed to follow through on my promise or to even think about that person or circumstance again. I have forgotten so many times that God brings conviction upon me whenever I make that promise. “Be sure you do it” says the Holy Spirit. I praise God that the person or circumstantial outcome is not dependent on my promise.

Where I fail God doesn’t! I take comfort in the fact that in spite my forgetfulness, God doesn’t forget. The Bible says that His thoughts towards us are more in number than the sand on the seashore or the stars in the sky…more than we could ever number. In Psalm 139:17-18, the Psalmist writes, how precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. David writes, your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted…they are more than can be numbered (Psalm 40:5).

Wow! God continually intercedes (Romans 8:26) for us and thinks of us. That’s right, our heavenly Father, who created us and who numbered all our days, is thinking about us all the time…even right now! His thoughts of us are “precious thoughts” and are of love and adoration. They include thoughts of peace (good) and not evil, and thoughts to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

Workplace Challenge: If you are like me and occasionally forget to keep your promise to think of or pray for others, rest in the fact that God is already doing it. But, He still wants us to keep our promises. So, consider establishing some reminders. Utilize sticky notes or create a daily alarm on your outlook calendar or smart phone. It will help. Make today count for His Glory!

Romans 11

 

 I have some questions for you this evening after having sent out the remainder of the Romans 11 Sunday School lessons.  Please feel free to post answers if you would like.  Your answers could very much encourage others around you.

1.  Did you see anything new in the passage that you had never seen before?

2.  Did the Holy Spirit nudge you to change anything in your life due to studying Romans 11?

3.  What did you learn about God?

4.  Do you think you know more about God after studying this chapter?

“The Gentiles and God’s Elective Choice”

“The Gentiles and God’s Elective Choice”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 11:11-24

 

As we continue in chapter 11, we now concentrate our efforts on the Gentile (non-Jew). There has already been discussion of a “remnant” from National Israel that will be saved in each generation. There has also been discussion of a “hardening” that God has invoked on National Israel as well. Now we move on to continue the discussion about “the rest” of National Israel from Verse 7 that has not believed on Christ for salvation. What about them? And what about the Gentiles and their attitudes toward them? Let’s see what the passage before us has to say regarding these topics.

 

I.                   National Israel and the Gentiles    Romans 11:11-16

a.       Paul again anticipates and answers a question that he believes his readers would be asking as he continues to make his case for the Gospel in the book of Romans. National Israel has been and continues to be disobedient and obstinate towards God and His plan for salvation in the finished work of Christ. They still are holding on to their heritage and their obedience to ritual as their “ticket to acceptance and favor with God”.

b.      With the truths of a “remnant” from each generation, but a “general hardening” over the rest of National Israel, Paul now asks a question in Verse 11 that was very tough on the reader. That question is “Did National Israel go too far?” Are they that are not part of this remnant because of their unbelief without hope?” In other words, are they off God’s radar and out of His eternal plan because of their disobedience? This question is the question that has tied chapters 9, 10 and 11 together.

c.       Paul wastes no time in giving his answer. For the 10^th time in this letter (3:4, 6, 31; 6:2, 15; 7:7, 13; 9:14; 11:1) he says, “May it never be!” Paul will go on to make a case that this “stumbling” is only a miss-step and temporary. This will be discussed further in the rest of the chapter, so a final “fall” can’t be true to God’s plans for National Israel in the future.

d.      In fact, the verse goes on to say that their unbelief has provided an avenue for the Gospel to make its way to the Gentiles. When this verse is considered along with John 4:22, the Bible says that not only will salvation come through a Jew, Jesus Christ, but it will also come as a result of the transgression of His people. This is also a reminder of Acts 28:23-31 as it related to Paul’s ministry.

e.       So, the unbelief of the non-remnant National Israelites has made a way for the salvation of the Gentiles. This whole situation has a couple of divine purposes:

                                                              i.      The offer of salvation to the Gentiles, displaying the great grace of God.

                                                            ii.      The provoking of National Israel to jealousy and envy, hopefully prompting them to turn to God.

f.       Paul continues his thought in Verse 12 by saying that if the sin of unbelief has provided the Gospel to the Gentile world, how much more will their restoration (fulfillment, restoration) provide in the way of joy as God’s plan further unfolds in the future? This statement in itself proves the thought that Paul considered this “stumbling” as a temporary thing.

g.      He continues by noting who he is talking specifically to and his role in ministry to them. Verse 13 does not say that Paul is to only speak to the Gentiles regarding salvation, but he has a focus on them as the “apostle to the Gentiles”.  Remember, part of Paul’s motivation in “glorifying or magnifying” his ministry to the Gentile is discussed in Verse 14. His hope is that through his ministry to the Gentile some of his own flesh, National Israel, would be provoked to trust in the message of the Gospel for their salvation.

h.      The current rejection of Christ has made possible the reconciliation of the world. Verse 15 says that this is absolutely true. But Paul goes on to say that when the blindness of the eyes and hearts of National Israel is lifted in the future, their salvation will be nothing less than “life from the dead”. Their salvation will provide a testimony to all that witness it and the world’s heart will be affected by this incredible future event.

i.        The term “firstfruits” is in focus in Verse 16. The first portion of the verse comes from Numbers 15:18-22. The discussion is that of Israel offering a “first” portion of their harvest to the Lord in the form of a cake specially prepared as an offering. So, like the “remnant” that has come to the Lord in salvation, there will be a future harvest from National Israel. In a similar way, if the root (the patriarchs) were set apart to the promises of God, then the future will provide branches that depend on the promises as well.

 

II.                National Israel and the Gentile’s Attitudes    Romans 11:17-24

a.       Jeremiah 11:16 is in focus as we move on to Verse 17. There is a beautiful olive tree (Spiritual Israel) and a wild olive tree (Gentile Christians) in the picture and explanation before us. There are some “broken branches”, that is, individual Jews that have not yet embraced the message of hope in Christ as opposed to their message of obedience and lineage as a means to gain God’s approval. The verse goes on to say that there have been wild olive branches that have been grafted into the cultivated and natural olive tree. That is, Gentiles are being grafted into Spiritual Israel, even though they are not “naturally” a part. Verse 24 tells us that this direction (wild into cultivated) is not the natural way of grafting. The natural way is for a cultivated shoot to be grafted into a wild tree. But here we see the elective and merciful choice of God as He reverses the “natural” way for His way.

b.      The discussion goes on in Verse 18 to say that those that have been grafted (Gentile Christians) are not to be arrogant as a result of this elective choice by God. As the verse says, those that have been grafted in should remember that their salvation opportunity came as a result of the Jews and is accomplished by a Jew (Jesus Christ).

c.       The Gentiles might say that the unbelieving Jew was broken off so that the Gentile might be grafted in. Verses 19-21 affirm that statement, but also remind the Gentile that the unbelieving Jew was cut off because of unbelief so there should not be an arrogance or conceit in the Gentile heart, only a fear of God who will do right because of His character.

d.      The next statement, in Verse 22, is odd in its content to our ears. The words “kindness” and “severity” are not words that we naturally think of as travelling together. But when the conversation is about the character of God, both of these descriptions are necessary or you will miss an important attribute of His.

e.       But again, we are reminded of Paul’s thought that this “stumbling” is a miss-step that will eventually be righted as Verses 23-24 tell us that the unbelieving Jew is not doomed and without hope. He or she can believe and be grafted into Spiritual Israel as well. If those that are “wild” can be grafted in, then it will be even more natural to graft in the Jew.

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       God does have a plan for National Israel in the future. But the hero of the story will not be Israel; He will be the God of Israel!

“God’s Plan for Israel”

 

“God’s Plan for Israel”

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 11:25-36

As we close this incredible chapter of Romans, we need to understand a couple of things: God has not ultimately rejected His people (National Israel), the Gentiles (non-Jews in lineage) are the current group in focus as God’s church is built, and there is a plan for Israel that only the great God of the Bible could put together. While there are some differences in opinion as to the details, we can conclude this theological section of Romans with a better understanding of both God’s elective choices and His love for Israel.

 

Unique Words In The Passage

1.      Uninformed – To be ignorant, to not know

2.      Mystery – God’s purposes to also bless the Gentiles with salvation in Christ

3.      Hardening – The blunting of one’s mind

4.      All – The whole, used before a country or a people

5.      Saved – To deliver from that which keeps you them from receiving the Messianic promise

6.      Irrevocable – Not repented of, not regretted

7.      Unsearchable – Cannot be searched out

8.      Unfathomable – Cannot be traced out or comprehended

 

 

I.                   The “Mystery” is Revealed    Romans 11:25-32

a.       Paul continues his conversation with the Gentile readers in Verse 25. Paul’s desire is to let them know that God has a plan that includes both Israel and the Gentiles. He has cautioned them about arrogance that might come from the knowledge that for now Israel is in a “hardened” state to the message of salvation by grace to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

b.      He does not want his readers to be “uninformed” that is ignorant or unknowing of God’s plan going forward. He speaks of a “mystery”; something that has been previously unrevealed that is now being made known. He takes no time to “reveal” the mystery; that for now there is a partial hardening of Israel so that the Gentiles might come to salvation.

c.       Why does Paul want them to know this? He does not want them to be “wise in their own estimation”. He does not want them to be conceited or arrogant with the fact of their opportunity for salvation and the blinding of Israel for the time being.

d.      When we arrive at Verses 26-27, we will need to concede the difficulty of it in translation. At first glance, the phrase “all Israel will be saved” can be very problematic. We have already concluded that no one will be saved by either their works or their lineage from Romans 9:7-13. So what is being said here? There are a few thoughts on the meaning of “all Israel” in this passage:

                                                              i.      The total number of elect Jews from all generations. This would seem to not come to grips with the climactic nature of Paul’s argument here. While it is true that “Elect Israel”, the “True Israel” will be saved, this seems almost anticlimactic to the idea of “mystery” and Paul’s unveiling of God’s plans here.

                                                            ii.      The total number of the elect, both Gentile and Jew. John Calvin believed this, but the term “Israel” has not been used of Gentiles in these chapters.

                                                          iii.      The great majority of Jews in the final generation. “All Israel” should not be understood to say that every individual Jew will be saved any more that the term “Gentile” should mean every individual Gentile. The idea is not that at the return of Christ all Jews that are alive will be saved. F.F. Bruce really helps us here as he states, “All Israel is a recurring expression in Jewish literature. Where it does not mean “every Jew without exception”, it does mean “Israel as a whole”.

e.       Isaiah 59:20-21 is being quoted here. What Paul seems to be saying is that when the elect of the Gentiles have been saved, the hardening currently afflicting  Israel will be removed and all Israel will resume its position as the elect people of God before Him. At that point, salvation of individuals will occur as it did for Paul and always has – on the basis of personal faith in Israel’s Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ.

f.       From this information we can deduce 2 things:

                                                              i.      Israel’s “hardening” is temporary – The Gospel message will again be clear to Israel and many will be saved.

                                                            ii.      Israel’s “hardening” is partial – It will only last until the “fullness” of the Gentiles has come about.

g.      With that difficult passage somewhat cleared up, we return to the discussion of God’s elective choice. Verse 28 tells us that National Israel, while enemies of the gospel for our sake, are from God’s elective choice beloved and embraced. Why? For the sake of His own promises to the Patriarchs, the fathers of the nation of Israel. The next verse, Verse 29, goes on to say that both the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable; not a source of either repentance or regret.

h.      As we continue with Verses 30-32, we are told that the Gentiles were disobedient but still received mercy even as National Israel was disobedient. At this time in the future, National Israel will receive the same opportunity to receive mercy and the opportunity for salvation in Jesus Christ. This passage does not teach some type of “universal salvation”, but that there will be opportunity for both Jew and Gentile (equally separated from God by their sins) to receive by faith salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

II.                The God of this Revelation    Romans 11:33-36

a.       This passage of Scripture is beautiful and does such a good job of speaking about the God that in His elective choice has made salvation possible for both Jew and Gentile. Verse 33 speaks to God’s wisdom and knowledge, while also acknowledging the fact that the God that we serve is not completely understandable or traceable to us as humans.

b.      Isaiah 40:13 is quoted in Verse 34. The idea is that none of us can serve God as counselor or consultant.

c.       Job 35:7 and 41:11 are quoted loosely in Verse 35 to make the point that His plan is one of His own making, His own responsibility and His own sovereignty.

d.      Finally, Verse 36 really reveals the fact that Paul can’t even go on to his next idea in chapter 12 until he notes that God is the First Cause, the Sustainer, and the Final Source of our worship. There is really nothing else that can be said except, “To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

 

III.             An Application For All Of Us

a.       With all of the difficulties in understanding all of the details of chapter 11, we are left with the fact that God does have a plan for His people Israel that will be realized in the future. He is the author of all of our salvation, both Gentile and Jew alike. To Him be the glory forever! Amen!!