2Great in every respect. First of all, that A)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(A)they were entrusted with the B)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(B)oracles of God." it reminded me of people raised in the Church are taught God's word and that way of life from their birth, and for the most part it is just how things are for them. People who aren't raised in the Church often don't have this background.
3What then? If C)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(C)some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?
4D)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(D)May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found E)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(E)a liar, as it is written,
"F)" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">(F)THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS,
AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."
Loved verses 3-4. Even if we aren't faithful in God, or have no faith in Him, He is still faithful. Amazing.
V. 5-20: Everyone is sinful, whether you go to church, are a Christian, non-Christian, whatever. And we should remember that and not judge others who are of a different religion as being "more sinful". We are all sinful.
V. 21-31: God is everyone's God. There is one God, and he is there for everyone in the world. Jesus was given to die for everyone in the world and save us all. We must have faith, not just works. Paul has been talking (I think) in the previous chapters and this one about how Jews can follow the law and do all the work, but have no faith. We must have faith, it must start in our hearts, and our works should show what is in our hearts.
It is amazing that God is there for us all, even for those who don't believe. I don't think (based on what I've read) he ever writes anyone off...and neither should we.
4 comments:
Comprehending Paul… sometimes it is easier to comprehend the situation which was more familiar to us as readers: allowing Gentiles to be entitled to the same promise Jews came to know as exclusive, mine, members only, ipod, myspace etc.
So let’s boil it down. You get to the pearly gates and your name is in the book and you walk in, but just as you do, you notice someone coming up the road from behind. Frankly, at this point, you may be so overjoyed (as we should) to be “in” and not care. But let’s assume for a second that your human nature is still with you (since that is what this is really about). The person is someone you called a “friend from work” but never discussed religious matters with this person. You might categorize this person as someone with a lack of discipline, non Christian ethics, apathetic and/or worldly.
This person approaches the book and their name is in it as well. They run up to you ecstatic and overjoyed to see you as well. After an awkward hug and giddy talk the person runs off further into heaven to join everyone else praising God and worshiping with the saint and angels.
So in this situation, and it is a situation, how do you feel?
Did someone just get something you thought you had done everything right to receive?
Are you wondering if there truly are limits?
I think you would be hard pressed to lead me to believe you would not feel some question of the “system” if this occurred. Fact is, it could be just like that… I am not making the judgment in the end so it could be exactly like that.
Paul is simply saying everyone has the same opportunity, not by who you are, not even, to some extent of, what you believe (because most of what you believe is what you think judgment will be)… but by your heart.
Good comments Jennifer. I agree that God doesn't write us off. We write off God. The instant we want to truly come back, he's there to forgive and give us a clean start, but it does have to be genuine and God will easily see that.
I think when Romans 1 talks about God giving them over to sinful desires or shameful lusts, it is pretty much talking about how God doesn't hold you back from doing evil if that is what you want to do. He definitely doesn't want you to do evil but gives you over to that which you want.
Karl, I really liked your comments. I think it really does a good job of painting the social situation of the Jew seeking Christ & the Gentile seeking Christ.
Also, that "acceptance" of how the "system works" is demonstrated in Jesus talking about the workers receiving the same pay no matter when they started to work in the day. Why did they get same pay? Because when the workers were called, at whatever time it was, they came to work. Same with us. I may have been raised in the church environment since birth but I should understand that the person that walks in off the street can sign up to follow Christ and receive the same reward. My reward is no greater. His reward is no less. Just change your mindset to accept that God is such a freely giver.
Karl, I understand what you are saying when you say that a person's beliefs are more or less their thoughts about what they read. I can definitely see how you and I can read the same thing and understand differently, but I do believe that we can come to an accord. The greatest mission for the Apostles after Jesus died was to communicate that there was just one truth, Jesus'. What the Apostles taught was directly provided by Christ and was intended to be accepted as if Christ said it. In so many of the NT letters (like Gal, 1 Tim, Col, Eph), there is exhortation of coming together to believe alike or returning to what was once delivered or taught. This is a challenge but a requirement.
Two people may disagree or almost agree on a certain passage but if we can consider other passages in the scriptures we can narrow down the meaning. Now, I don't have this understanding of everything and how it all meshes exactly and so that causes me to not "know exactly what Jesus wants me to know". A little time and probably more experience in life will help in my understanding of Jesus' truth.
You are going to have to help me see the "difference" you speak of... I am not getting what you are illuding to.
I agree, God is a giver in ways we can hardly comprehend.
Really, the picture painted is in line with Jennifer's comments about Christian vs non Christian and our perception.
So help me understand what you see differently.
This is the part of your comment that I was addressing, Karl:
Paul is simply saying everyone has the same opportunity, not by who you are, not even, to some extent of, what you believe (because most of what you believe is what you think judgment will be)… but by your heart.
When I read this, I felt that you were saying that Paul is simply saying that everyone has the same opportunity at salvation not by who they are (I agree here) nor by what they believe since your beliefs are what you think (this is what I differed on).
I say that I differed on this because I was thinking you meant that your beliefs did not matter in regards to your opportunity at salvation. You could believe differently and still get the opportunity. That's why I said that we may come across ideas we differ on but experience, time, & study will help us come to the same belief. This same belief is the belief God wants us to reach. I'm thinking that I just misinterpreted this but I wanted us to make the point that the content of what we believe is important.
I know I use a lot of words many times but part of the reasoning behind me doing so is that it is hard to explain what I mean with words. I try to make it plain and totally clear and not imply meanings. I know, I know, I have more to work on in this regards.
Post a Comment