Archive - November, 2009

Romans 6:1-4

November 30, 2009 in Romans with 0 Comments

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Keep On Sinning

Paul is now turning his attention to the Gentiles in the Roman Church. So far, most of his correction has been directed at the Jewish Christians, who were trying to make others obey certain aspects of the Law (such as circumcision). He’s made it clear that if you try to follow one aspect of the Law, then you will be held guilty for all of it. In other words, it’s all or nothing. Either the Law is the standard of judgement or it’s not. Either Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law or he didn’t.

The Gentiles were very comfortable with the notion that Jesus fulfilled the Law. They believed strongly that the Law no longer held any control over their lives. It is the era of Grace, after all. However, they went further and believed that it didn’t matter what you did. Any behaviour was acceptable because Christ has already paid the price. Some Gentiles were even taking yesterday’s passage and suggesting that since God shows up with more grace in places where there is more sin, then the more we do, the more opportunity to show off God’s grace!

Paul wants to address this way of thinking. He’s wants to reveal the ridiculousness behind the statement. And the first thing he address is the idea that we can do whatever we want as Christ followers.

At Bikers’ Church we define a Christ follower as someone who believes that “He is God, I’m not.” And then lives according to that principle. In other words, they live life as if someone else – God – is in control. We’re no longer in charge. We give that over to God. Therefore, we lives our lives not for our own pleasure. Not to fulfill our own desires. Instead, we live with the desire to honour God and to fulfill his purpose and desire for us.

Paul suggests the same thing in this passage. We die to ourselves when we turn our lives over to God. He’s in charge. Are you living that way?

My prayer: God, forgive me that far too often I try to take back control of my life. I crave, desire, and want, and then do things that do not honour you. I am selfish. I know it. Forgive me. My heart truly is to live for you. To do your will. To see your purposes lived out in my life. And yet, I cannot do it without you. For you are God, I am not. And so, I ask you again for help. Give me the strength to live each day for you. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

Romans 5:20-21

November 29, 2009 in Romans with 0 Comments

20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Grace Abounds

I have a friend who is starting a church in Las Vegas. He was a fairly successful church planter in Virginia Beach. That church grew fairly quickly. Heck, he even wrote a book. But then, he felt God leading him to take his wife, two kids, and his “stupid dog” and move to Vegas. To start a church. On the strip. You know that strip. You can read about his adventures by clicking here. Keep him in your prayers.

I went to Vegas as part of my twenty-five day road trip. You can read about my experience in Vegas here. But, for those too lazy to click on the link, let me sum it up by saying that it was obvious to me why they call it “sin city.” It was also very obvious that there is a lot of pain and hurt in Vegas. The Vegas strip is all about hiding from the pain and hurt. Pushing it down. Pretending that life is just a party and who cares about the issues that keep trying to surface. Gamble, drink, and snort them away.

It’s a city like Vegas that makes me love this passage even more. The more people sin, the more evident the grace of God is revealed. The more people try to hide their pain, the more God wants to penetrate the broken heart and pour in his hope. It’s why Vegas needs someone as God-loving as my friend. To bring a message of hope.

But if we’re honest, pointing to Vegas when we talk about people sinning more is really a cop-out. After all, those people who are sinning more in Vegas? They’re not usually from Vegas. They’re from your town. And mine. In some cases, they may even be you or me. They come from all over the world. Why? Because all over the world there are people who sin more, cry more, despair more. People who need the grace of God to abound more.

I’m so thankful that God doesn’t get scared when he sees a lot of sin. He doesn’t cower when the level of sinfulness rises. Instead, he just shows up with even more grace. More mercy. More hope. More love. He’s bigger than anything that can try to come against his message. And that’s good news.

My prayer: Lord, I’m so glad that even in my darkest of days, you are there. When sin seems to overwhelm me, you are there. When all seems lost, you are there. Your grace abounds even more. And more. And more. I take hope in that today. I celebrate your grace. I’m amazed. Amen.

Until tomorrow.

Romans 5:12-19

November 28, 2009 in Romans with 2 Comments

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

The Second Adam

The doctrine of “original sin” is somewhat unique within Christian theology. The nature of The Oil Change makes it impossible for me to adequately explain in it’s entirety. However, in very simple terms, the doctrine of “original sin” states that we are all born with a sinful nature. That sinful nature is passed on through generations and can find it’s origin in the fall of Adam (and Eve) in Genesis 3. Adam’s sin brought upon us all the judgement of sin.

Many argue, and I am one of them, that you don’t have to look far to find the fruit of the sinful nature. A child naturally tests the rules and guidelines of parents. We have to teach our children to be generous because it is natural for them to think of themselves first. I am always amazed when a parent first realizes that their child has attempted to lie to them about something minor. Many parent’s are horrified that their kids have been so terribly influenced by their friends to disobey. And yet, it comes naturally for them. It’s in our nature. And it’s been passed on since Adam.

Jesus breaks the bondage caused by original sin. Theologians sometimes refer to Jesus as the Second Adam because he came to break the curse of the First Adam. Jesus doesn’t reverse Adam’s sin, but he does provide us with the ability to walk free of it. When you turn your life over to Christ and invite him into your life, the Bible tells us that your nature is changed. We become a new creation, a new person (see 1 Corinthians 5:17)

I’m not a big fan of the phrase, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” If you’re a Christ follower, that’s simply not true. You were a sinner. But that was before you were saved by grace. You are no longer a sinner, because your nature has been changed. Paul never refers to the Church as sinners. Most of the time he calls his readers “Saints.”

Imagine how differently people would behave if they stopped seeing themselves as “sinners saved by grace” and started to view them more biblicaly as “saints who occasionally sin.” I don’t know, it’s just a thought.

My prayer: Lord, far too often I see myself in a way that is much different than how you see me. I see myself as a sinner. As unrighteous. As bad. While I may do bad things, may behave unrighteously, and often sin, you don’t see me the way I see myself. You see me as holy, righteous, and good. In fact, you see me as a saint. Not because of anything I’ve done, but because of Jesus Christ. Would you help me see myself the way you see me? Amen.

Until tomorrow.

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