"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS" The Righteousness Of God Revealed (Ro 3:21-31) INTRODUCTION 1. A major theme in the book of Romans is the righteousness of God... a. It is mentioned in connection with the gospel of Christ - Ro 1: 16-17 b. It is the major subject of discussion in chapters 1-11 2. The phrase "righteousness of God" can be understood in two ways... a. God's own personal righteousness (i.e., His justice) b. God's system of making man righteous (i.e., forgiving man of sin) -- Both concepts are addressed in the book of Romans, but the latter in particular 3. In chapters 1-3, Paul describes man's need for righteousness... a. How the Gentiles are in need of salvation - Ro 1:18-2:16 b. How the Jews are in need of salvation - Ro 2:17-3:20 -- Concluding that all the world is guilty, even Israel who had the Law - Ro 3:19-20 [But now in our text (Ro 3:21-31), Paul explains how the righteousness of God has been revealed. It was revealed in part even...] I. BY THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS A. RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM LAW... 1. "A righteousness that does not spring from perfect obedience to law " - B. W. Johnson 2. "In a way different from personal obedience to the law." - Barnes a. "It does not mean that God abandoned his law; or that Jesus Christ did not regard the law, for he came to "magnify" it, (Isa 42:21) or that sinners after they are justified have no regard to the law;" - Barnes b. "But it means simply what the apostle had been endeavoring to show, that justification could not be accomplished by personal obedience to any law of Jew or Gentile, and that it must be accomplished in some other way." - Barnes -- I.e., a system of justification that does not depend upon one's perfect obedience B. WITNESSED BY THE LAW... 1. How? Through shadows and figures (e.g., animal sacrifices) - He 10:1-4 a. The need for animal sacrifices showed that man's perfect obedience was inadequate b. Of course, animal sacrifices themselves were not adequate, but a shadow 2. How? Through prophetic utterances - Gen 15:6; Isa 53:4-6, 10-12; Hab 2:4 a. E.g., that Abraham's faith was reckoned for righteousness b. E.g., that suffering Servant would bear our iniquities c. E.g., that the just would live by faith -- God's ultimate system of justification (making one righteous) was attested to throughout the law and the prophets! [But what was witnessed through figures and prophetic utterances has now been fully revealed...] II. BY THE GOSPEL AND THE APOSTLES A. DEMANDS FAITH IN JESUS... 1. God's way of making men righteous requires faith in Jesus Christ - Ro 3:22 a. We must believe in Him, or die in our sins - Jn 8:24 b. We must believe in Him, if we desire eternal life - Jn 20: 30-31 2. A way of salvation available to all who believe in Jesus - Ro 3:22-23 a. There is no difference (between Jew and Gentile) b. For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (chapters 1-3) -- It is not just faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins! B. INVOLVES JUSTIFICATION BY GOD... 1. Offered freely by His grace - Ro 3:24-25 a. Through redemption in Jesus (His blood, the purchase price) - Ep 1:6,7; 1Pe 1:18-19 b. Jesus offered as a propitiation (a sacrifice to appease God's wrath) - 1Jn 2:2; 4:10 2. Demonstrating God's righteousness - Ro 3:25-26 a. He is just (righteous) 1) How could God be righteous when He had "passed over" sins previously committed (the blood of animals did not truly remove sin)? 2) He knew that Christ would one day bear the sins of the world! - cf. He 9:15 b. He is the justifier (the one who makes others righteous) 1) His grace makes redemption possible! 2) His propitiation (Jesus) makes forgiveness possible! -- Yet this justification is only for the one who has faith in Jesus! - Ro 3:26 C. ELIMINATES BOASTING BY MAN... 1. Excluded by the law of faith - Ro 3:27-30 a. One cannot boast about the works they do - cf. Lk 17:10 b. That faith is required implies that works cannot save c. The "law of faith" (principle of faith) revealed that Christ's sacrifice was necessary 2. Establishing the principle of law - Ro 3:31 a. Justification by faith does not render obedience obsolete - cf. He 5:9 b. Whether it was the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant, or the Will of Christ under the New Covenant, God calls for obedience! - cf. Mt 28:20; Tit 2:11-12 c. "It does not mean that God abandoned his law; or that Jesus Christ did not regard the law, for he came to "magnify" it, (Isa 42:21) or that sinners after they are justified have no regard to the law;" - Barnes -- God's way of making man righteous by an obedient faith eliminates boasting in one's works, while upholding God's call for holy living! CONCLUSION 1. The mistake made by many Jews... a. Believing their obedience and animal sacrifices (i.e., the Law) was all they needed b. Failing to heed the Law and the Prophets, who bore witness regarding God's justification - cf. Ro 10:1-4 2. The mistake many people make today... a. Believing that faith only saves, and obedience is not necessary b. Failing to heed the gospel and the apostles, that the faith which saves is an obedient faith - cf. Ro 1:5; 6:17-18; 16:25-26 When one is careful to note "The Righteousness Of God Revealed", they learn that God saves those whose faith in Jesus prompt them to obey His Word. Their obedience does not earn or merit salvation, but receives the grace of God who has given Jesus as the propitiation for their sins. Has your faith in Jesus led you to obey His Word? - cf. Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; Re 2:10Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
August 18, 2014
From Mark Copeland... The Righteousness Of God Revealed (Ro 3:21-31)
The Thief on the Cross by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
The Thief on the Cross
| by | Dave Miller, Ph.D. |
Legion are those who dismiss water baptism as prerequisite to salvation on the grounds that “the thief on the cross was not baptized.” The thought is that since the thief was suspended on the cross when Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), he was being pronounced as saved by Christ without being required to be baptized. As one well-known preacher put it, “There was no water within 10 miles of the cross.” Please give consideration to two important observations.
First, the thief may well have been baptized prior to being placed on the cross. Considerable scriptural evidence points to this conclusion (Matthew 3:5-6; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:21; 7:29-30). If he was, in fact, baptized, he would have been baptized with the baptism administered by John the baptizer. John’s baptism was temporary (i.e., in force only during his personal ministry, terminating at the death of Christ). However, even John’s baptism was “for the remission of sins” (Mark 1:4) and, hence, essential for salvation for those to whom it was addressed. John’s baptism, like the one administered by Jesus while He was on Earth (John 3:22,26; 4:1-2), was unique and temporary. It was addressed only to Jews, and only to the Jews who populated the vicinity of Jerusalem and Judea. It was designed to prepare the Jewish people for the arrival of the Messiah. But John’s baptism must not be confused with New Testament baptism that is addressed to everybody, and that did not take effect until after the cross of Christ. If the thief was a Jew, and if he already had submitted to John’s baptism, there would have been no need for him to be re-baptized. He simply would have needed to repent of his post-baptism thievery and acknowledge his sins—which the text plainly indicates that he did.
Second, and most important, the real issue pertains to an extremely crucial feature of Bible interpretation. This hermeneutical feature is so critical that, if a person does not grasp it, his effort to sort out Bible teaching, in order to arrive at correct conclusions, will be inevitably hampered. This principle was spotlighted by Paul when he wrote to Timothy and told him he must “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). In other words, if one simply takes the entire Bible—all 66 books—and treats them as if everything that is said applies directly and equally to everyone, his effort to be in harmony with God’s Word will be hopeless and futile. For example, if a person turned to Genesis 6 and read where God instructed Noah to build a boat, if he did not study enough to determine whether such instruction applied to himself, he would end up building his own boat—the entire time thinking that God wanted him to do so! The Bible is literally filled with commands, instructions, and requirements that were not intended to be duplicated by people living today. Does God forbid you and me from eating a certain fruit (Genesis 2:17; 3:3)? Are we to refrain from boiling a baby goat in its mother’s milk (Exodus 23:19)? Does God want you and me to offer our son as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2)? Are we commanded to load up and leave our homeland (Genesis 12:1)? Moving to the New Testament, does God want you to sell everything you have and give it to the poor (Matthew 19:21)? Does God expect you to leave everything, quit your job, and devote yourself full time to spiritual pursuits (Matthew 4:20; 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:28)? Does God intend for you to “desire spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 14:1), i.e., seek to possess miraculous abilities? The point is that the entire Bible applies to the entire human race. However, careful and diligent study is necessary to determine how it applies. We must understand the biblical distinction between the application of the principles of the Bible and the specific details.
Here, then, is the central point as it pertains to the relevance of the thief on the cross: Beginning at Creation, all humans were amenable to the laws of God that were given to them at that time. Bible students typically call this period of time the Patriarchal Dispensation. During this period, which lasted from Creation to roughly the time of the cross, non-Jews were subject to a body of legislation passed down by God through the fathers of family clans (cf. Hebrews 11:1). In approximately 1,500 B.C., God removed the genetic descendants of Abraham from Egyptian bondage, took them out into the Sinai desert, and gave them their own law code (the Law of Moses). Jews were subject to that body of legal information from that time until it, too, was terminated at the cross of Christ. The following passages substantiate these assertions: Matthew 27:51; Romans 2:12-16; Galatians 3:7-29; Ephesians 2:11-22; Colossians 2:11-17. The book of Hebrews addresses this subject extensively. To get to the heart of the matter quickly, read especially Hebrews 9:15-17. When one “correctly handles the Word of truth,” one sees that the Bible teaches that when Christ died on the cross, Mosaic law came to an end, and patriarchal law shortly thereafter. At that point, all humans on the planet became amenable to the law of Christ (cf. Galatians 6:2). The law of Christ consists strictly of information that is intended to be in effect after the death of Christ. It includes some of the things that Jesus and His disciples taught while He was still on Earth. But as regards the specifics of salvation, one must go to Acts 2 and the rest of the New Testament (especially the book of Acts) in order to determine what one must do today to be saved. Beginning in Acts 2, the new covenant of Christ took effect, and every single individual who responded correctly to the preaching of the gospel was baptized in water in order to be forgiven of sin by the blood of Christ. Every detail of an individual’s conversion is not always mentioned, but a perusal of the book of Acts demonstrates decisively that water immersion was a prerequisite to forgiveness, along with faith, repentance, and confession of the deity of Christ (Acts 2:38,41; 8:12,13,16,36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:15,33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16).
The thief was not subject to the New Testament command to be baptized into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3-4), just as Moses, Abraham, and David were not amenable to it. They all lived prior to the cross under different law codes. They could not have been baptized into Christ’s death—because He had not yet died! The establishment of the church of Christ and the launching of the Christian religion did not occur until after Christ’s death, on the day of Pentecost in the year A.D. 30 in the city of Jerusalem (Acts 2). An honest and accurate appraisal of the biblical data forces us to conclude that the thief on the cross is not an appropriate example of how people are to be saved this side of the cross.
From Jim McGuiggan... The Image of God (3)
The Image of God (3)
I think that Man (humanity—male and female) is in the image of God in the sense that God made Man to represent him in the earth. It isn’t that God made Man out of the same "stuff" that he is "made of". It isn’t that there are some aspects of Man (like his mind, capacity for choice, capacity for moral fellowship) reflect God’s own makeup and it’s in those aspects that Man is in the image of God. In saying that a human is in the image of God I think we’re to think of the entire person, and not just some parts of him or her.Let me repeat, I think God made humans to function as his representative. God made Man to reflect his likeness and as Man lived before God he was to promote life, harmony and blessing. When Man did that he was fulfilling what he was made for and he was reflecting the image of the God that made him.
But in making Man, God made more than a tool or an instrument—he made a "son". Adam was a son of God (Luke 3:38). The animals were animals but Adam and Eve were sons and daughters of God. While representation is involved in imaging God there must be representation via relationship and in this case, the humans are in God’s likeness and they reflect him as sons and daughters are like and reflect a father.
The heavens (and trees and rivers and all else in creation) declare the glory of God (Psalm 19) but ruling over all these and doing it in the likeness of God was a son and a daughter. These two people (as representative of their entire family) were created to reflect as well as represent God’s likeness.
That they rebelled doesn’t change the fact that their God-given destiny, the reason they were made, was to reflect the glory of their Holy Father. That humans don’t care for God is an offence but it doesn’t alter the reason why they are here in this world as God’s creation. Whether humans recognise who and what they are does not affect God’s purpose in creating them. That they insist on dishonouring him and cheapening themselves doesn’t change what God wants for them and what he has a right to call them to. So even the humans that make themselves enemies of God are in the image of God (see Genesis 9:6 and James 3:9). That is, God created them and gave them dignity and destiny as humans so that the "image" is not in something that a human has in and of him/herself but in God’s investment in them.
It would follow, then, that choosing humans could say to God (essentially), "We acknowledge your purpose in us but we will not honour you in our lives and we refuse to reflect you in them." Nevertheless, what God purposed in creating them still stands and they will reap the results of their defiance, even as they now suffer the loss of privilege that’s involved in living to his glory!
The image of God is modelled to perfection in Jesus Christ and it is in Jesus that rebellious humans are realigned with both the heart and the purpose of the Holy Father.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.
Many thanks to Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.
August 16, 2014
From Gary... Bible Reading August 16
Bible Reading
August 16
The World English Bible
Aug.
16
Job
1-4
Job
1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man
was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away
from evil.
Job
1:2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
Job
1:3 His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand
camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a
very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the
children of the east.
Job
1:4 His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his
birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and
to drink with them.
Job
1:5 It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course,
that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning,
and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For
Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God
in their hearts." Job did so continually.
Job
1:6 Now it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present
themselves before Yahweh, that Satan also came among them.
Job
1:7 Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then
Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in
the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Job
1:8 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job?
For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright
man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."
Job
1:9 Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Does Job fear God
for nothing?
Job
1:10 Haven't you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and
around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of
his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job
1:11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he
will renounce you to your face."
Job
1:12 Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your
power. Only on himself don't put forth your hand." So Satan went
forth from the presence of Yahweh.
Job
1:13 It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating
and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
Job
1:14 that there came a messenger to Job, and said, "The oxen
were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
Job
1:15 and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have
killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have
escaped to tell you."
Job
1:16 While he was still speaking, there also came another, and said,
"The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the
sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped
to tell you."
Job
1:17 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said,
"The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels,
and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge
of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you."
Job
1:18 While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said,
"Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in
their eldest brother's house,
Job
1:19 and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and
struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men,
and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you."
Job
1:20 Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and
fell down on the ground, and worshiped.
Job
1:21 He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked
shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed
be the name of Yahweh."
Job
1:22 In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.
Job
2:1 Again it happened on the day when the God's sons came to present
themselves before Yahweh, that Satan came also among them to present
himself before Yahweh.
Job
2:2 Yahweh said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "From going back and forth in
the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Job
2:3 Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?
For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright
man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil. He still maintains
his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him
without cause."
Job
2:4 Satan answered Yahweh, and said, "Skin for skin. Yes, all
that a man has he will give for his life.
Job
2:5 But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh,
and he will renounce you to your face."
Job
2:6 Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your hand. Only
spare his life."
Job
2:7 So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job
with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
Job
2:8 He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he
sat among the ashes.
Job
2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your
integrity? Renounce God, and die."
Job
2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women
would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and
shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his
lips.
Job
2:11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had
come on him, they each came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite,
Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an
appointment together to come to sympathize with him and to comfort
him.
Job
2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't
recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore
his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.
Job
2:13 So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven
nights, and none spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was
very great.
Job
3:1 After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed the day of his
birth.
Job
3:2 Job answered:
Job
3:3 "Let the day perish in which I was born, the night which
said, 'There is a boy conceived.'
Job
3:4 Let that day be darkness. Don't let God from above seek for it,
neither let the light shine on it.
Job
3:5 Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own. Let
a cloud dwell on it. Let all that makes black the day terrify it.
Job
3:6 As for that night, let thick darkness seize on it. Let it not
rejoice among the days of the year. Let it not come into the number
of the months.
Job
3:7 Behold, let that night be barren. Let no joyful voice come
therein.
Job
3:8 Let them curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up
leviathan.
Job
3:9 Let the stars of its twilight be dark. Let it look for light,
but have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the morning,
Job
3:10 because it didn't shut up the doors of my mother's womb, nor
did it hide trouble from my eyes.
Job
3:11 "Why didn't I die from the womb? Why didn't I give up the
spirit when my mother bore me?
Job
3:12 Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should
suck?
Job
3:13 For now should I have lain down and been quiet. I should have
slept, then I would have been at rest,
Job
3:14 with kings and counselors of the earth, who built up waste
places for themselves;
Job
3:15 or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with
silver:
Job
3:16 or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, as infants who
never saw light.
Job
3:17 There the wicked cease from troubling. There the weary are at
rest.
Job
3:18 There the prisoners are at ease together. They don't hear the
voice of the taskmaster.
Job
3:19 The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his
master.
Job
3:20 "Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the
bitter in soul,
Job
3:21 Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more
than for hidden treasures,
Job
3:22 who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the
grave?
Job
3:23 Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, whom God has
hedged in?
Job
3:24 For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out
like water.
Job
3:25 For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid
of comes to me.
Job
3:26 I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but
trouble comes."
Job
4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Job
4:2 "If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved?
But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Job
4:3 Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak
hands.
Job
4:4 Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made
firm the feeble knees.
Job
4:5 But now it is come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and
you are troubled.
Job
4:6 Isn't your piety your confidence? Isn't the integrity of your
ways your hope?
Job
4:7 "Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where
were the upright cut off?
Job
4:8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow
trouble, reap the same.
Job
4:9 By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are
they consumed.
Job
4:10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the
teeth of the young lions, are broken.
Job
4:11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness
are scattered abroad.
Job
4:12 "Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a
whisper of it.
Job
4:13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep
falls on men,
Job
4:14 fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
Job
4:15 Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood
up.
Job
4:16 It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form
was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
Job
4:17 'Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more
pure than his Maker?
Job
4:18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels
with error.
Job
4:19 How much more, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose
foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
Job
4:20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish
forever without any regarding it.
Job
4:21 Isn't their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and
that without wisdom.'
From Gary... Too much of a good thing...?
Ascetically pleasing; the Guggenheim museum in New York City has the
distinction of being the most photographed place in the world (or at
least, is my sources say). To my way of thinking, it is just a huge
coffee cup, though. Aside from the building, I would hazard to say that
there are many fine things in there- things that most people would
really treasure to own. But collecting things has a danger associated
with it- greed!!! With that thought in mind, another quickly
followed...
1 John 2:15-17 NASB
(15) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
(17) The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
(15) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
(17) The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Its nice to have a few nice things, but take notice if you begin to want
them too much- that can be very dangerous!!! Like John said "Do not
love the world nor the things in the world.". But, I keep thinking
about that building... and then I noticed the following picture...
From now on, I think I will limit myself to 40 ounces of the stuff. Well, Maybe!!!
From Mark Copeland... The Goodness Of God (Romans 2:4-11)
"THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS" The Goodness Of God (2:4-11) INTRODUCTION 1. Many people live their lives with little regard to the goodness of God... a. Unaware of how gracious God has been and is willing to be toward them b. Unaware of how their neglect will one day come back to haunt them 2. Have you given much thought to the goodness of God...? a. The many blessings He bestows? b. The consequences if you fail to respond properly? [One passage of Scripture that ought to give us pause is the one written in Ro 2:4-11, in which Paul expounds upon "The Goodness Of God." From verse 4, we can glean some things about...] I. THE NATURE OF HIS GOODNESS A. HIS RICHES... 1. He is rich in grace - Ep 1:7 2. He is rich in mercy - Ep 2:4 3. He is rich in supplying need - Php 4:19 4. He is rich in giving things to enjoy - 1Ti 6:17 5. He is rich in the strength He provides the Christian - Ep 3: 16,21 B. HIS FORBEARANCE... 1. "Forbearance" (anoche) means "a holding back" - ISBE 2. We see God's forbearance... a. In the days of Israel - cf. Ps 78:38 b. In our present day (since the fullness of God's wrath has yet to come) C. HIS LONGSUFFERING... 1. "Longsuffering" (makrothumia) describes "a slowness in avenging wrath" - Strong's 2. We see God suffering long... a. In the days of Noah, prior to the flood - cf. 1Pe 3:20 b. In our present day, prior to the day of judgment - cf. 2 Pe 3:9-15a [The Psalmist summarizes well the nature of God's goodness: "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth." (Ps 86:15). As we return to our text in Romans, we are told of...] II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS GOODNESS A. SHOULD LEAD ONE TO REPENTANCE... 1. God's goodness is intended to cause man to repent - Ro 2:4 2. Based on Paul's description of repentance elsewhere, God's goodness should produce... a. Godly sorrow which leads to repentance - cf. 2Co 7:9-10 b. A change of mind (the actual meaning of metanoia, repentance) - Strong's c. A turn from sin to God (as evidence of repentance) - cf. 2Co 7:10-11 B. SHOULD LEAD ONE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD... 1. As just described, an indication of true repentance - cf. 2 Co 7:11 2. As later described in our text, it should lead to doing good... a. With patient continuance - Ro 2:7a 1) Where God was longsuffering (makrothumia) before 2) We are to do good patiently (hupomone) now - cf. Lk 8:15 b. Seeking glory, honor, immortality - Ro 2:7b 1) Glory and honor that will come at the revelation of Jesus Christ - cf. 1Pe 1:7; 2Co 4:16-18 2) Immortality (incorruption) that will be given at the same time - 1Co 15:51-54 [Thus "eternal life" will be given to those who are properly motivated by God's goodness to repent and do good (Ro 2:7). But what of those who spurn the riches of God's goodness...?] III. THE REJECTION OF HIS GOODNESS A. INDICATIVE OF A HARD HEART... 1. For they despise God's goodness - Ro 2:4 2. For they evidently are insensitive and unappreciative of God's goodness - Ro 2:5 3. For they remain impenitent in their heart - Ro 2:5 B. STORES UP WRATH FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT... 1. The wrath of God's righteous judgment - cf. Ro 2:5 2. A day of wrath involving indignation, tribulation, and anguish - Ro 2:8-9a 3. A vivid description of which is found in 2Th 1:7-9 CONCLUSION 1. Such is the end of one who does not properly respond to God's goodness... a. Especially as that manifested through the gospel of Jesus b. Which Paul will expound upon later in this epistle to the Romans 2. As we close, be careful to note: there is no partiality with God! - Ro 2:9-11 a. Those who do evil will be punished b. Those who do good will be blessed Have you allowed "The Goodness Of God" to lead you to repentance, especially that repentance called for in the proclamation of the gospel? - cf. Ac 2:36-39; 3:19; 17:30-31
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011
The Unique Church by Dave Miller, Ph.D.
The Unique Church
| by | Dave Miller, Ph.D. |
On Thursday night, April 21, 1938, in a public discussion in Little Rock, Arkansas, before an immediate crowd of 1,000 people and a radio audience of thousands more, N.B. Hardeman engaged the famed debater Ben Bogard on the subject: “The Establishment of the Church.” On that occasion, Hardeman articulated an extremely significant truth about the church of Christ when he stated: “The kingdom, friends, has always existed.… It existed in Purpose, in the mind of God; it existed next in Promise, as delivered unto the patriarchs, and it existed in Prophecy; and then it existed in Preparation; and last of all, when the New Testament went into effect, it existed in Perfection” (1938, p. 178, italics in orig.). More than sixty years have come and gone since that insightful observation. But it remains an accurate expression of biblical truth. Before Adam and Eve inhabited the Garden of Eden together; before the skies, seas, and land were populated by birds, fish, and animals; before the Sun, Moon, and stars were situated in the Universe; and before our planet Earth was but a dark, watery, formless mass—God purposed to bring into being the church of Christ.
Indeed, Scripture describes this divine intention as “eternal.” Central to the great purposes of God from eternity has been, not only the sending of His Son as an atonement for sin, but the creation of the church of Christ—the blood-bought body of Jesus and living organism of the redeemed. Listen to Paul’s affirmation: “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ephesians 3:10-11). It is difficult for human beings to fathom “eternal.” There are times when the notion of “everlasting” is abbreviated—like Jonah 2:6 where Jonah said he was in the fish’s stomach “forever.” It must have seemed like it to him. So the word can be used in an abbreviated way. In Philemon 15, Paul said Onesimus would be with Philemon aionion—“forever when he returns to you.” But the context limits the meaning to just until he dies.
But when we speak of deity (e.g., Psalm 90:1-2) or the church, we are talking about everlasting, eternal, forever. Hebrews 12:28 asserts confidently: “Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which...” will someday end? No! Rather, “a kingdom that is unshakable,” destined to be around forever—an eternal institution. No wonder Daniel was informed: “The saints of the most high shall take the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever” (Daniel 7:18). With that grand purpose in mind, God gradually began foreshadowing through promise and prophecy the eventual accomplishment of that purpose.
Some 750 years before Christ came to Earth, Isaiah announced the eventual establishment of the “Lord’s house” in the “last days” in Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:1-4). At about the same time, Micah enunciated essentially the same facts (Micah 4:1-3). Some 500 years before Christ, Daniel declared to a pagan king that during the days of the Roman kings, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). He also stated that the “Son of man” would pass through the clouds, come to the ancient of days, and be given an indestructible kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14). Thus, the church, which existed initially in purpose in the mind of God, now existed in promise and prophecy in the utterances of His spokesmen.
With the appearance of John the baptizer and Jesus on the Earth, the church of Christ entered a new phase of existence. Now, more than ever before, the kingdom was presented with a sense of immediacy, nearness, and urgent expectation. Now, God’s emissaries actively prepared for its imminent appearance. John exclaimed: “[T]he kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Jesus echoed His harbinger with precisely the same point: “[T]he kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). As John made preparations for the Lord (Matthew 3:3; 11:10; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1), so the Lord made preparations for the kingdom. He announced His intention personally to establish His church (Matthew 16:18). He declared that it would occur during the lifetime of His earthly contemporaries (Mark 9:1).
Just prior to His departure from Earth, Jesus further noted that the apostles would be witnesses of His death and resurrection, and would preach repentance and remission of sins in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. He would even send the promise of the Father upon them, which would entail being “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:46-49). This power was to be equated with Holy Spirit immersion (Acts 1:4-5,8).
Now that the kingdom had existed in purpose, promise, and prophecy, and in preparation, the time had come for the church to come forth in perfection. After urging the apostles to “tarry in Jerusalem,” Jesus ascended into a cloud and was ushered into heaven. The apostles returned to Jerusalem and for ten days awaited the fulfillment of the Savior’s words.
Then it happened. With stunning splendor, after centuries of eager anticipation (1 Peter 1:10-12), God poured out His Spirit upon the Twelve on the first Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2). This miraculous outpouring enabled these one dozen “ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20) to present a stirring defense of Christ’s resurrection, convicting some in the audience with the guilt of the crucifixion. Peter then simultaneously detailed the conditions of forgiveness and the terms of entrance into the kingdom of Christ. These terms consisted of being pricked in the heart, repenting of sins, and being immersed in water (Acts 2:37-38).
The church of Christ was now perfected into existence on the Earth, consisting of approximately 3,000 members—all of Jewish descent. From this moment forward, the kingdom of Christ on the Earth was a reality. To its Jewish citizenry, were added the first Gentile converts in Acts 10, when those of the household of Cornelius obeyed the same terms of entrance that their Jewish counterparts had obeyed some ten to fifteen years earlier. By the cross, Christ had made “in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body” (Ephesians 2:15-16).
This “one body” is totally unique, and is unlike any other entity on the face of the Earth. She is distinguished by several unique and exclusive characteristics:
First, she wears the name of her head, owner, and savior—Christ (Daniel 7:14; Matthew 16:18; Romans 16:16; Ephesians 1:23; 4:12; Revelation 11:15). Her members wear the divinely bestowed name of “Christian” (Isaiah 62:1-2; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16).
Second, her organization was arranged by God to consist of Jesus as head, elders/pastors/bishops as the earthly overseers or managers, deacons as the designated workers/ministers, evangelists as the proclaimers of the good news, teachers as instructors in the faith, and all the other members, who are active in serving the Lord (Acts 6:1-3; 14:23; 20:17,28; Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:1-4).
Third, her unique mission consists of bringing glory to God (1 Corinthians 6:20). As Peter explained: “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11). This task is accomplished by disseminating the Gospel of Christ to the human race (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 8:4; Romans 10:14; Philippians 2:15-16; Hebrews 5:12-14); by endeavoring to keep Christians faithful (Romans 14:19; 15:1-3; Ephesians 4:12; Jude 20-24); and by manifesting a benevolent lifestyle (Matthew 25:31-46; Galatians 6:10; James 2:1-17). In short, every member of the church is to strive for complete conformity to the will of Christ (Matthew 22:37-38; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 10:5; Ecclesiastes 12:13).
Fourth, her entrance requirements are unlike any other entity on the face of the Earth. The individual who is struck with the heinousness of sin, recognizing the purpose of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice through His death upon the cross, comes to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the New Testament as the only authentic expression of His will. This belief leads him to repent of his sins, to orally confess Jesus as the Christ, and to be baptized in water, with the understanding that as he rises from the waters of baptism, he is forgiven of sin and added to the church by Christ (Mark 16:16; Hebrews 11:6; Acts 2:38,47; Romans 6:1-6; 10:9-10). These terms of entrance were given by Jesus to the apostles, who declared them on the occasion of the establishment of the church (Matthew 16:19; Acts 2).
Fifth, her instruction manual is likewise exclusive and unique. The Bible, consisting of both Old and New Testaments, constitutes her one and only authentic and authoritative guide (Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; 2 Peter 3:16). These 66 books, written by some 40 men over a period of 1,600 years, are actually the product of the Holy Spirit, Who empowered the writers to pen only what God wanted written (2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21). The Bible is thus verbally inspired of God, inerrant, and all-sufficient.
Many other characteristics of the church of Christ could be cited. But these five are sufficient to show that the church is easily identifiable and not to be confused with any other religious group. It was inevitable that people would deviate from the simple guidelines given in Scripture (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1-2). The result has been the formulation of unbiblical doctrines, unscriptural practices, and unauthorized churches (Matthew 15:9,13; 2 John 9-11).
The Scriptures make clear that God never has and never will sanction such a state of affairs. The only hope of any individual is to be in the one true church living faithfully to God’s desires. Many in our day are working overtime to obscure and blur the distinction between the New Testament church and the manmade, counterfeit churches that exist in abundance. They seem oblivious to the fact that no denominations are ever found in the Bible. Many people do not seem even to be aware of the fact that the Bible describes a single church—Christ’s church.
Yet anyone who cares to consult the inspired guidebook can see that the church described in the Bible is easily identifiable today. The matter may be easily determined upon the basis of two criteria. First, can one know how to become a Christian? If so, then the church can be identified, i.e., those who have obeyed the one and only Gospel plan of salvation. Second, can one know how to live the Christian life faithfully and obediently before God? If so, one can identify those who continue to constitute the saved body, the church.
In light of these simple truths, no legitimate claim may be made by denominational bodies to consider themselves as churches of Christ. The pluralistic mindset that has permeated our thinking has prodded us to be more accepting of other viewpoints and to “lighten up” in our opposition to false religion. For some years now, we have been goaded and prodded into feeling guilty about claiming certainty about anything, let alone biblical truth. But the truth continues to be that denominations are manmade divisions, unmitigated departures from the faith.
Denominationalism is about the best thing Satan has come up with to subvert the truth of the Bible and to bring otherwise religious people under his influence. The world religions, as well as those who embrace humanistic philosophies like atheism, by definition, have rejected the one true God and have capitulated to Satan. So where do you suppose Satan is going to focus the brunt of his assault upon the Earth? The more he is able to muddy the waters and to obscure the certainty of the truth, the more chance he has of luring people into his clutches.
We are at a moment in history when Satan is making great inroads into the church, and scoring impressive victories against the cause of Christ. As the book of Judges records a cyclical pattern among God’s people of apostasy, punishment, repentance, faithfulness, and then back into apostasy, we are at the point in history where apostasy holds sway. This periodic purging process seems to be an inevitable recurrence. What God would have us to do is to stand confidently and courageously upon His will, unmoved and unintimidated by the overwhelming forces that pressure us to succumb. In this fashion, the justice of God will be made evident at the Judgment and, in the meantime, impetus is given to the redeemed to strengthen themselves in the struggle to stay loyal to the Master. Every possible soul must be “snatched out of the fire” (Jude 23).
While the Lord would have us to demonstrate concern and compassion for the lost denominational world, He also would have us exercise discretion in the extent to which we fellowship and affiliate with such groups. Regardless of the fashionable sentiments prevalent among some in our day, the Bible still delineates God’s disapproval of the righteous associating with error and false religion. When we become proud of our ability to mingle with denominationalism—manifesting acceptance and tolerance of their unbiblical beliefs—we are guilty of the very attitude that Paul condemned in 1 Corinthians 5:2, that Jesus condemned in Revelation 2:15-16, and that John condemned in 2 John 11.
We need to return to the Old Testament, and learn afresh the lessons that Israel failed repeatedly to learn. We need to stand at Elijah’s side and breath deeply his spirit of confrontation as he boldly distinguished between true and false religion (1 Kings 18:17-40). We need to follow Phinehas into the tent and learn to identify with his jealous intolerance of disobedience and defiance to the will of God (Numbers 25:1-15). We need to step across the line to stand at Moses’ side and witness the calm fury with which he sought to expunge sin (Exodus 32:25-28). We need to identify ourselves with the young king Josiah and feel the same sense of horror and tearful concern as we watch him burn, break, desecrate, destroy, cut down, stamp, and slay everything and everyone who represented unauthorized religious practice (2 Kings 22 and 23).
Perhaps once we have honestly filled our minds with these inspired accounts, and allowed these truths to penetrate and permeate our being, we will possess the proper frame of mind to view denominationalism, and all other alternatives to the one church, in the same way that God views them. Maybe then we will perceive counterfeit churches and rival religions with the depth of righteous anger and displeasure that God perceives them. Until then, we will be gripped by an unconcerned, blasé, live-and-let-live mentality that will allow Satan to proceed with his subversion of humanity. If we do not stand up and proclaim the distinctiveness of the one true church of Christ, nobody else will, and we will lose our souls along with them. If Noah had not been comfortable with standing in a minute minority in an effort to stem the tide, the tide would have swept him away in the Flood along with the rest.
Do you love the church for which Jesus shed His blood? Do you? Do you love the body of Christ deeply enough to temper your concern for the lost with a righteous regard for the purity and loyalty of that body? Rather than obscure the reality and identity of the unique church of Christ, we would do well to take note of the clearly defined borders of the kingdom, that we might be able to give our attention to bringing in those on the outside. Fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness is not the answer; teaching and exposing them is (Ephesians 5:11).
If we would truly fathom that the church of Christ is distinctive, exclusive, and unique; if we would truly view fraternization with the denominations as traitorous; if we would love the genuine body of Christ with the same fervency and jealousy with which Jesus loves her; then we would be in a position to proclaim with Paul: “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Ephesians 3:21).
RFERENCES
Hardeman, N.B. and Ben M. Bogard (1938), The Hardeman-Bogard Debate (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate).From Jim McGuiggan.... The Image of God (2)
The Image of God (2)
What does it mean that God created Man (that is,
humanity—male and female) in his image? Genesis 1:26-27 you remember,
says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them
rule...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them."
Since most of us don’t perceive of God as having a fleshly body we
immediately exclude the human’s physical body from the image. We tell
ourselves something like, "Well, God doesn’t have a body so when he made
us in his image he couldn’t have been thinking about our body. We need
to look for something about us that is like something God has." From
there some of us concluded that we’re in the image of God because we
"reason". God reasons, so do we—there’s the image. Others decided it was
our "choosing" capacity that imaged God. Many of us have concluded that
as well as a body "we have ‘a non-material spirit’ and it is our
‘spirit’ (or soul) that reflects the likeness of God. Others go for our
"moral" capacity—we’re like God in that so it isn’t our rational or
willing/choosing ability and such like—it’s our capacity to have moral
fellowship with God.
All of these have at least one thing in common—it’s a part of
the human that is in the image of God. Some things are excluded. Our
fleshly bodies, for example, our mortality, our need for food and water.
As we begin to list these things we realise that it isn’t an entire
human that is made in the image of God—it is some piece or pieces of a
human. So that (to over-simplify the matter),
it’s as though God said,
"I’ll make humans and I’ll make a part of them in my image."
That isn’t what he said.
If we imagine Adam (and later Eve) opening his eyes, newly created, it is Adam and not a part of him that is in the image of God. God could point to him and say, "He is in my image."
Should we conclude then that God has a mortal body and parts? Should
we conclude that every constituent element that makes up a human images
something in God? I don’t think so.
I don’t think the image of God in man deals with what he is made of. Following people like Edmund Jacob and J.D Smart I think we should see the meaning of the phrase "in the image of God" as functional and relational.
As ancient kings would put up lifeless images that represented them
in different locations that reminded the citizens of the glory and
dominion of their king so God created a living Man to represent Him
wherever humans went. God created humans with a destiny and a
mission—they were created to reflect God and in the Genesis 1 context,
they were created to reflect God in their exercise of dominion.
The entire chapter (whatever else it was meant to teach us) teaches
us that God exercised his sovereignty to bless, to make to flourish, to
generate harmony and completeness. If the Man lived with that commission
in mind he would be fulfilling his role as one in the image of God and
expressing the glory of God.
If this is the direction we should go then we would be able to look
at the entire human (not bits of him or aspects of him) as "in the image
of God." His entire person (body, soul and spirit, so to speak) was to
be taken up in living and reflecting God’s likeness. We wouldn’t be
required to say that God has a mortal body since "the image" has nothing
to do with substance or what the man is made of. We would
look at how he lived out his life and, say, in the unique case of Jesus
Christ, we would say, "he is imaging/reflecting God."
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.
Many thanks to Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.
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