Mission Faithwalk

For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.            Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but

Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness. Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!   And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised. It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. (Romans 4:9-13)            Is the blessedness of forgiveness available only to those who keep the law? It could be argued t

David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Romans 4:7-8)           Paul continues with the Jewish heroes. Yesterday, we considered faith and works with Abraham as our example. Today, the hero with Paul’s attention is David, the greatest king of Israel. Now, if you asked David for which of his acts he most wanted to be remembered, I’ll bet he would say either “designing the temple and collecting the building materials,” or “bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem,” or perhaps “defeating Goliath.” If you were to ask most people today, they would probably say either “his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband,” or “defeating Goliath.”            David understood what it meant to have sins forgiven. He committed a few that we consider “big

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Romans 4:1-5)             Let’s talk about heroes. Heroes are good things. We admire them, we want them to rescue us, and we want to be them (as long as it doesn’t cost too much, hurt too much, or place longstanding requirements on us.) Abraham was a hero for the Jews, so it was logical for Paul to mention him. Paul begins to clear up a misunderstanding about Abraham in today’s passage. He finishes the job in a passage we’ll consider in a couple days.             On what basis was Abraham justified? Acc

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law . (Romans 3:27-31) Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)             Sing it with me, “I did it myyyy way.”           Don’t you just love that song? (Even if you hat

God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26)             Saturday afternoon, I went to a painting class at my church. Our subject was a pair of dandelions that had gone to seed, one of them with part of the seeds blown into the wind around the line “Be still and know that I am God.” This is my fourth time taking one of these classes. I learn a little about technique each time, but I can tell you with absolute assurance that I am not an artist. I enjoy the activity but it’s also frustrating because it didn’t turn out R.I.G.H.T.            What’s right? I’m not sure, but probably what they are calling “hyper-realism.” If not that, then at least that is not only more than I accompli

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24)             But. Most of the time, but is a bad word. I was once told that when you say “but,” everything before it is a lie. In this case, all the stuff that comes before the “but” was and is absolutely true. The “but” is a relief. After all the bad news of the past several blog posts, and all the condemnation, “but” brings hope. “But” lets us breathe a sigh of relief. We have screwed up. Even our best attempts don’t succeed, but righteousness is possible because God provides it. This is the difference Jesus Christ makes. This is the reason Christianity is not just another in the many religions in

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)             Throughway driving can be such a bother. I’ll grant that sometimes the same thing happens on local streets, but it’s on the highway that I notice it most. As I drive along the onramp, trying to make sure no one is in my blind spot, trying to match speeds with the traffic with which I want to merge, trying to find a spot big enough to merge into, and thinking about where I’m trying to go; invariably I don’t see a speed limit sign. I’m not sure the stupid things are even there but if they are, who can pay attention to a sign when there are so many more urgent matters? One I get settled into my place in traffic, I keep an eye out and I always seem to be going too f

             What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”            “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”            “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”            " Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”            “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.”            “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:9-18)   Here it is…equality…justice…fairness. You, I and everyone else are worthless. There are no Disney Princesses, no one who makes the grade. No participation trophies. The only way that everyone is included is in worthlessness.

But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim that we say— “Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is deserved. (Romans 3:5-8) At some other moment, I might be able to think of a perfect example of what Paul is talking about. At this moment, the examples that come to mind aren’t perfect, because they are secular, but I think they’re heading in the right direction. I’ve been told that when police or government agents question suspects, they are free to lie, they have to lie in order to get the truth from the suspect. Several years ago, a book was published that chroni

What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?   Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God.   What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:1-4)             Yesterday, the conclusion was that religious ritual doesn’t make the grade with God. Circumcision, baptism, and even synagogue/church attendance is not what makes one a Jew or a Christian. Some people understand this and their response is “Great! No more church.” I understand the response. At some point in elementary school, I decided that if my parents didn’t go to church, I didn’t need to either. I was one of those loner kids. I participated in activities but didn’t have any friends. It was easy to walk away. I didn’t return to church until I went

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. If those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God. (Romans 2:25-29)             There’s an old question: if you walk into a garage, do you turn into a car? If you put on makeup that makes you look like an alien, or someone of a different ethnic heritage, does that make you an alien or a person of a different ethnic heritage? If you have surgery, whether ci

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:17-24)               Here we go, the topic the world can’t wait to discuss: the hypocrisy of religion. I mean, everyone knows that those folks who think they have a right to tell everyone else how we ought t

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) (Romans 2:12-15)   “What about those who have never heard?” Let’s make it a little clearer a challenge. “How dare God condemn people to Hell when He hasn’t made the rules absolutely clear to everyone.” To this, Paul answered in Romans 1 that God has made the rules clear enough for people to recognize that they are condemned. There are some people who claim that all religions are basically the

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:7-11)           Wait. Stop. God doesn’t show favoritism? Doesn’t this passage show that He does show favoritism? If you’re a goody-two-shoes, you get glory, honor, immortality and peace. If you’re not, you get wrath, anger, trouble and distress. And we all know that both the Jews and the Christians (and religious people in general) are the worst sort, don’t we?           In Mere Christianity , Professor Lewis says that one of the things the existence of the moral law reveals to us is that the power behind it and the

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” (Romans 2:1-9)             To some people, the point of this passage is “Thou Shalt Not Judge,” and they are quick to scream out condemnation to anyone they notice is judging – apparently without realizing that sc

Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickednes

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (Romans 1:20-23)                   In any general population, 68.2 percent of the population acts within a certain range of behaviors. Another 27.2 don’t fit into the first category, but aren’t too far off. Only 4.6 percent fall outside those two groups. Professor Jonathan Haidt, in The Righteous Mind , explains that Liberals tend to base their judgments on what he describes as liberty, caring and fairness. Conservatives see those values but add loyalty, authori

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)             Yesterday morning, I woke up with news that the eye of hurricane Irma passed over the town I’m moving to in 18 days. All the people who stay there all year were well. Dad and I were waiting to hear whether his motorhome fared as well, and this passage came up as the passage to be discussed next. Three weeks ago, my dog was diagnosed with Lyme disease and less than two weeks ago, a friend’s husband had a heart attack before she finished radiation treatments for breast cancer. He went through triple bypass surgery, the tough kind. Th