Day Shapes and Jesus!

So, I've passed 6 of 7 sections of my E-6 board for my surface warfare qualification. One section (Operations) didn't show up and we are still waiting to reschedule. As I was praying this morning, God revealed to me how there really are no obstacles, only opportunities, when we seek to honor Christ.

Day shapes are literally shapes like balls and diamonds that are flown from the main mast to allow approaching vessels to know things that could be very relevant to the safety of both vessels. Here are some of the day shapes and the thoughts that God spoke to me this morning about them.

One black ball: If you see this flown, it means that the ship is anchored. Obviously, an anchored ship isn't going to move out of your way, so you might want to go around it if you are continuing to approach! As Christians, we should be anchored. We should be so grounded in Christ that we are clearly seen to be flying one black ball. We should clearly communicate through our lives that we are firm and will not be nudged off course of following Christ.

Two black balls: Two black balls means that the vessel is not under command. Unlike being anchored, we should never be flying this day shape as Christians! If we ever appear to not be under the command of Christ, it is because we have lost touch with the truth. God help us! Our vessel should always appear as one with a supremely capable captain at the helm.

Three black balls: This day shape means that the vessel is run aground. What a sad day if we are ever taken out of the race or caused to sit along the sidelines during this life! How could our vessel ever run aground if Christ is at the helm? Impossible...INCONCEIVABLE!

One black cylinder: Last but not least, this symbol means that the vessel is constrained by draft. In other words, the ship isn't floating right and is bogged down for whatever reason. How many of us feel like we are bogged down? I feel safe to say that we all do from time to time. Fortunately, the problem always ceases to exist when we possess the true perspective of Scripture. There is no need to be afraid or worried or upset or anxious about anything! Any burdens this vessel has can be laid at the feet of Jesus Christ who's yoke is easy and who's burden is light!

I am so thankful for the reality of Jesus Christ in my heart and in my life.

I'll close with this verse. I know Paul isn't talking about a sailing vessel, but I think you'll see the parallel.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:21

Can I Rejoice?

This question has been on my heart today since shortly after I woke up. As I look back on this underway, I have faced some new challenges and some old ones as well. I knew at the outset of this deployment that I would be challenged by ship life because I always am. I also knew that it would be a time of great growth if I remained grounded in Christ. As I've seen countless times in my life, God is always faithful. I have continued to see that truth on this cruise.

There have been some low times in the past two months. I have worked hard for things that at times don't seem to have an end. I have sought to energize myself and others while feeling alone or distanced from others. I have tried honoring God in everything that I've done.

In the midst of these efforts, I have at times tried to do it myself. I've tried to strap all of these problems on my back and failed to remember to come to Jesus with my burdens. How badly I yearn to have rest for my soul! How silly I can become when I fail to see that Christ offers that rest now. God has shown me that on this cruise.

So...can I rejoice? Can I rejoice when I'm tired? Can I rejoice when nothing is going right? Can I rejoice when it seems that I have worked hard for the right reasons and honored God and not seen the results that I expected to see? Was I really in it to honor God if I am anxious about the end or the results? Am I really a humble person? Or does pride destroy that at every opportunity?

Can I rejoice when I see the depravity of my flesh? Can I rejoice when the new life I have in Christ meets the nasty, filthy flesh that still battles for control?

By the grace of God, I can. And by the grace of God, I will.

I have been reading the Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. As always, God has perfect timing and methods of speaking to me when I need Him to the most. I want to close with a couple of comments Lewis makes that are very encouraging to me.

"They say of some temporal suffering, 'No future bliss can make up for it,' not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory." pg. 69

"'Ah, the Saved...what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery turns out, when they look back, to have been a well; and where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.'" pg. 70

What does suffering bring? It brings hope. It brings us into the reality that God is so good to see us through the very worst that this world can throw at us. It brings us great joy knowing that this isn't reality, and this isn't the end!

May we all be mindful of the truth that these light and momentary troubles are acheiving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all!

Romans 5:1-11

I must confess that I have slacked off royally in my study of Romans. Honestly, I just got lazy for awhile there. It is amazing how fast and easy it is to slide back into a complacent state instead of an energized and excited state of fellowship with Christ. With that being said, I will press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus!

I didn't have a chance to finish all of Chapter 5, but I wanted to share some thoughts on the first 11 verses. The first half of Chapter 5 has some amazing truths that really give me joy. Paul discusses a lot of wonderful truths and I'm excited to write about them. He also stacks a lot of things in this section and uses words like "more than that" frequently to add to an already amazing truth of God.

Peace with God Through Faith (v1-11)
At the end of Chapter 4, Paul says that the words "counted to him as righteousness" were not only for Abraham's benefit but also for the benefit of all those who believe. He begins Chapter 5 by saying "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I find this first statement very profound. We have peace with God! Alleluia! Why? Because we have been justified by our faith. How? Through Jesus Christ our Lord. When I think of peace, I think of a two way idea. From God's perspective, we are at peace because the penalty of our sin has been atoned for. From our perspective, we are at peace because we no longer have to be worried about whether or not we have done enough to appease God. Peace. We have it. Does it feel like it all the time? It doesn't always for me, but I can rest assured that it isn't God who has changed or the promise of peace that has disappeared. Reminding myself of God's truth is the fastest way I have found to get back in close fellowship with Christ after wavering for any length of time.

In verse 2, Paul says that in addition to peace with God, we have also obtained access into the grace in which we now stand. Again, this is through Jesus Christ and again it is by our faith in Him. The grace that Paul is speaking about is the Gospel. We stand in the Gospel.

What does it look like to stand? In Biblical terms, standing is generally a term of security, assurance, and being anchored. Firm. I believe this is how Paul is using it here in Romans. Take at look at the following verses:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand. 1 Corinthians 15:1

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Be strong. Be of good courage. Do not waiver. Stand firm. This is what grace allows us to do! I think also of the account of the one who builds his house on the Rock. No matter what the world or evil throws at that house, it remains. It is our responsibility to cling to Christ and God's grace so that we stand firm and tall. We will always stand. Let's live like we believe it!

At the end of verse 2, Paul gives us the first of three reasons in this passage to rejoice. He says "and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." I think Revelation 1:12-16 offers us a great picture of what the glory of God will be like:

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around Hischest. The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full strength.

Imagine not only this image, but also the emotions that might possibly go along with seeing the living God on His throne! We can always always rejoice in the glory of God!

Verses 3-5 give us the second reason to rejoice: our sufferings. Paul traces suffering to endurance, endurance to character, and character to hope. Connect the dots and see that suffering leads eventually to hope. And this is not just any hope or wishful thinking. This is the hope that does not put us to shame. It is as guaranteed as if it had already happened.

If hope does not put us to shame, what does it in fact offer? It offers joy. It offers peace. It offers contentment. It offers motivation. It offers Christ. Real hope in the midst of a hopeless situation is what God has offered us freely through His Son. Thanks be to God!

How can Paul (and we) be so sure of this? Because God's love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Stop and consider the magnitude of this truth. God has poured His love into our hearts. For us who are in Christ, we have the same love of God that sent Christ to the Cross. We possess the love of God. How are we manifesting that love in our lives to the world? Matthew 12:34 tells us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. In our heart, we are abounding in the love of God! We just need to tap into the source and let it overflow. It's there! We have it!

Paul backtracks in verse 6 to describe the love God has for us. While we were still weak, God justified us. Colossians 1:13 tells us that God delivered us from darkness. The Greek word for delivered means rescued. While we were weak doesn't mean that we were just a bit ill-equipped. We needed rescuing!

At the right time, Christ died for us. It was in God's perfect timing. In the exact perfect moment, Christ died for us. Just as God knew us before the foundations of the world, He knew the exact moment that His Son would take on the sin of the world. At the right time, Christ died for us.

Christ died for the ungodly. He died for the murderers. He died for the adulterers. He died for the greedy. He died for the gluttons. He died for me. He died for all of us.

Paul further illustrates this point in verse 7. Who would die for a righteous person? That person is righteous. He doesn't need atonement. He doesn't need help. Why would anyone die for that man? Maybe one would think of dying for a good person. That one who is good might deserve justification. He worked hard and did his best. He's good.

However, that is not who Christ died for. Verse 8 tells us who Christ died for:

but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We weren't righteous. We wouldn't have needed Christ. We weren't even good. We were sinners. We were creatures of wrath. God loved us when we spat in His face and turned our backs on His Word. (Let's remind ourselves that the love of God is poured into our hearts.) I cannot begin to imagine how God could love us. His love truly is indescribable.

Since verse 8 is true and we are justified by the blood of Christ, surely we will be saved all the more from God's wrath. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says "For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." How much more shall we be saved now that we are justified if while we were sinners, Christ died for us?! Enjoy the peace that God offers. Don't try and think too hard, because it doesn't make sense. Just rest in Christ and rejoice!

Verse 10 is a similar, yet separate, truth. Christ's death brought justification while we were still sinners. Christ's life brings salvation for all who have been reconciled. This is a clear description of what Paul will continue to elaborate on in Chapter 6: the fact that through the death of Jesus, we are made righteous and through His life we are now new creations.

Paul concludes this section by giving us a third, and the most glorious, reason to rejoice and the focus of our rejoicing. More than all of that wonderful news, we rejoice in God through Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Amen! We rejoice in God. How? Through our mediator, the God-man, Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that we have now received reconciliation and our fellowship with God has been restored. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Know Him and know God.

How amazing it is to know Jesus.

My Jesus Never Failed a Clear and Bright Test

One of the things that I've had to learn for my Surface Warfare qualification is all of the different tests that fuel oil has in order to ensure its consistency and performance abilities. One of these said tests is the clear and bright test. Clear means that it is free from sediment and debris. Bright means that it is free of water.

As I was thinking about it more, I realized that God would never fail this test.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

How awesome it is that we can rejoice knowing that God is perfect and unchanging! Jesus never sinned and filled His life with "debris." He never had false motives and never clouded His heart with harmful "water." He is the clearest of all and the brightest of all.

I praise God today for that.

Romans 4: The Boiler Steam Cycle...I mean Abraham: The Father of Our Faith

I'll be honest. I'm writing this entry as I contemplate how much studying for my surface warfare qual I have to do in the next three days. I have antennas and the steam cycle and anchor weights stuck in my head and I feel like I've only begun to scratch the surface of what I need to know. I guess I can remember back to when I felt like that with Scripture, and I definitely still feel that way at times. But regardless of how much I have to learn for ESWS, I'm determined to remain faithful to God and my goal of writing a commentary on each of the first 8 chapters of Romans during this underway period. I think I might be a little bit behind, but I don't want to give up! Prayers for both ESWS and my Romans study are appreciated.


Before we get into Chapter 4, it is critical to understand a bit about the faith and promise that Abraham received from God in the account in Genesis. In Genesis 15:4, God tells Abraham that his own son will be his heir. Two verses later, Scripture says that Abraham believed God. This one verse will be the basis of much of Paul's words in chapter 4 of Romans.


There are two things from the Genesis account that I find interesting about Abraham. Even though he believed God, he still tried to take matters into his own hands to "help God out." He slept with his wife's servant and she became pregnant. As the story continues, it is obvious to Abraham that God has other plans.


The second fascinating thing that I thought about a lot is from chapter 17. God comes to Abraham and says "walk before me and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you and may mulitply you greatly." I'm not sure what Abraham was thinking, but allow me to speculate based on his response. Abraham falls on his face. I can easily think of two other times in Scripture when men appeared before the Lord and fell on their faces (Isaiah 6 and John in Revelation).


When one is in the presence of the righteous God, the only response is muscle failure and a face plant. These men clearly saw the majesty of God and were overwhelmed by the contrast between God's awesomeness and their sinful, puny selves. I believe that Abraham's reaction was the same as these two men. Amazingly, God's response is the same each time. With Abraham, the next words out of God's mouth were the words that would establish God's covenant with Abraham (who was still Abram until this meeting)! God tells Abraham to be blameless, Abraham falls on his face, and God makes a promise and gives Abram the name Abraham or "father of a multitude."


Abraham got it. He realized the impossibility of God's command to walk blameless before Him. He realized his sinfulness and utter dependence on God. Once he came to that point, God was able to establish His covenant with Abram based on Abram's faith apart from any works that Abram did.


This is where we will venture into Romans to find Paul speaking of the father of our faith, Abraham. The main idea of chapter 4 is this:


Abraham was justified and made righteous by his faith. His faith led to the realization of the promise of God that he would be the father of many nations. As Paul will explain, the family of God hinges on Abraham believing God's promise.


Abraham Justified by Faith (v. 1-12)

After concluding in chapter 3 that we should uphold the law even though man is justified apart from it, Paul focuses his efforts on Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh. What was gained, Paul asks, by Abraham? How was he justified? Surely there must have been some works involved! Not according to Scripture. Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 in verse 3. "Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness."


The idea of believing God really intrigued me during my study. There are a few verses that I'd like to look at that expand on this idea of believing God. Later on in the chapter, Paul will expand specifically on the idea that Abraham believed God (v. 18-22).


Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'whoever believes will not be in haste.'
Isaiah 28:16


And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.
Whoever believes in Him is not condemed, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 3:14, 15, 18


Notice that without belief in the proper One, believing really doesn't matter. To the one who believes God, justification results. Righteousness results. Eternal life results. The promise is guaranteed.


In verses 4 and 5, Paul restates the fact that works do not save. Verse 4 should bring a couple of previous thoughts to mind. First off, justification is a free gift (3:24). Secondly, by works of the law no man will be made righteous (3:20). If someone is working towards salvation, he will receive his wages, but they become his due not a gift. Paul will address this specifically in chapter 6 when he says "the wages of sin is death."


Thanks be to God that as Christians, we understand that we belong to a different category. We aren't putting our hope in the works of the law. We are putting our hope in Jesus Christ and believing God when He says that eternal life is knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Verse 5 restates this idea. "And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness." This is Abraham. This is all of us who put our faith in Jesus Christ. It is a belief that requires faith. It is a belief that requires understanding that we are ungodly and need a righteous man to take the penalty of our sin on Himself. Only God can do that and He has!


Thinking about this really made me think about what believing in Jesus Christ really looks like. When is our belief "enough" to truly belong to the Kingdom of God? How do we determine that we really believe? To me, I am starting to see how much each and every decision will reflect one way or another what I believe. Let me just cut right to the chase. If I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, I will have joy. I will have peace. I will have contentment. I will long to know Him more. I will feast on His Word daily. I will fellowship with Him in prayer. I will rejoice in suffering knowing that it makes me more like Him. I will gladly give up anything of this world for a better glimpse of my King. I will gladly sacrifice my very life for the sake of the Gospel.


Am I at that point in my belief? Some days I am. Some days I can rest in Christ and see a consistency of devotion to Him. Some days I seem to fail with each step I take. Thankfully, the truth is that God is faithful and the work He is doing in my life will be accomplished.


I challenge you to consider how you are living and compare it to what you say you believe. Are you defeated? Do you have low self esteem? These things should not exist in a child of God! Don't allow satan to bring you down. Believe Jesus when He says that He came to give us life in abundance! Believe that.


Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning His Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
1 John 5:10, 11


Do you have the testimony in you? If you said yes, if you haven't already, start acting like it.


Verses 6-9 reference the words of David in Psalm 32:1, 2. The first verse of the Gospel of Matthew lists Jesus as the son of Abraham and the son of David. Paul is building the credibility of his argument by quoting another divinely-inspired author of the Old Testament. Abraham and David, two Old Testament giants, were both shown to believe that God justifies the ungodly.


David writes "blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin." Those are the words of a man who understands the reality of human nature and the awesomeness of God's grace!


The remaining verses (v. 9-12) of this section deal with the Jew vs. the Gentile, the circumcised vs. the uncircumcised. Paul asks "is this blessing only for the Jew?" Was this faith counted to Abraham before or after he was circumcised? It was before he was circumcised.


Paul breaks down circumcision like this:
-It is the seal of the righteousness that was counted to Abraham through his faith.
-Abraham became the father of the uncircumcised by faith.
-Abraham became the father of the circumcised who also walk by faith.


One man became the father of faith for all who believe both Jew and Gentile. Paul proves this through the Old Testament Scriptures. How important it is to understand how the New and Old Testaments fit together and provide one cohesive message of hope for mankind.


There is only one thing left for Paul to do before he moves his focus to glorious reality of new life in Jesus Christ. He must show that not only was Abraham justified by faith but the promise of God was also accomplished through his faith.


The Promise Realized Through Faith (v. 13-25)

Paul transitions from talking about being justified by faith to speaking in regards to the promise of God to Abraham. Paul begins by saying that the promise was made through the righteousness counted to Abraham by his faith. Just as salvation doesn't have anything to do with the law neither does the promise.

In verse 14, Paul again reminds us that no one is righteous through the law, and if the law was the origin of the promise, faith would not mean anything and the promise certainly wouldn't matter. It has to be like this: saved by grace through faith (justified/made righteous) then receive the promise. That is how it worked with Abraham and how it works with us too.

Verse 15 brings us back to the fact that the law brings the wrath of God against everyone. I'm not sure the second half of the verse specifically means this, but it brought a thought to mind. I can see how this verse could be another contrast of the law versus grace. "Apart from the law, there is no transgression." If faith justifies us and makes us righteous, God has said that he will separate our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. That's grace!

Verses 16 and 17 are heavy.

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, 'I have made you the father of many nations'--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Praise God! Because the promise of God does not depend one iota on our flesh, it can be guaranteed to all who walk by faith in Jesus Christ! There is only one adherent to the law, Jesus Christ, who shed His blood for our sins. We can rest assured that God will fulfill His promise to us because Jesus Christ was the once for all sacrifice that paid the debt of sin. Our father, Abraham, gave life to the Jew and the Gentile because of his unwaivering faith. That is the power of God, plain and simple.

That is the power of God that "gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that do not exist." I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians when Paul takes it a step further to say that God brought to nothing things that exist in the world by things that do not exist in the world. Isn't the power of God amazing?

As I considered this idea more, a question came to my mind. Was faith one of those things that didn't exist that God called into existence? It definitely wasn't required in Eden when God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve. Abraham was the father of faith. And faith is a free gift of God. I don't really have an answer, but it definitely is something I am now curious about!

It also strikes me that the promise was made in the presence of God. This isn't some promise to take out the trash that you make with your mom. This promise didn't lack eye witness validation. This promise was made in the presence of God who knows all and sees all. We can have complete confidence in this promise.

Verses 18 through 22 are Paul's expansion of the text "Abraham believed God." This was not a wavering belief. It wasn't half-hearted. It was 100% belief in God's decree.

In verse 18, Paul gives the specific promise "so shall your offspring be." In hope against hope, Abraham believed. He was 100 years old and Sarah was barren and too old. And yet Abraham believed God. Verse 19 restates it. Abraham believed God even when he considered how weak and frail he was. Verses 20 and 21 are the grace of God in action:

No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.

No distrust. Abraham believed God. He didn't waiver. Abraham believed God. He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. Abraham believed God. He was convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. Abraham believed God.

I find it interesting how Abraham grew strong in his faith. It was by giving glory to God. Praising God, rejoicing in the Lord, and being awestruck by God's awesome power are how we grow in faith. We don't question God and grow strong. We believe God and then see Him use us for His work! I'm reminded of Matthew 19:26 when Jesus tells His disciples that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a right man to enter Heaven. He says that it is impossible for man, but that all things are possible with God. That's believing God and that is what Abraham did.

Why was faith counted to Abraham as righteousness? Because he believed God! Believing God should take on a deeper meaning for all of us after examining Paul's expansion on the phrase.

Paul concludes the chapter by saying that the words "it was counted to him" were not only for Abraham's sake but for our's as well. Just as Abraham's faith was counted to him as righteousness so will our faith in Christ be counted to us as righteousness! Believe God. Believe that He raised Jesus from the dead and believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life and took on the sin of the world so that we might become the righteousness of God.

Believe God. The results are divine.

God Speaks in the Middle of the Ocean

I want to praise God today and share a great revelation from my quiet time this morning. I want you all to know that God hears the cries of His children and answers them in His perfect way and time.

I have been burdened lately and haven't known what to do. As someone who has spent a great deal of time in the Word in the last 18 months, I've seen God do a great work in my life. In this same period, I have seen others struggle and done my best to encourage them. It seems so easy to me that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in the Word of God and through Jesus Christ. It has been my aim to point people to the Word and encourage them to seek the same solutions that I have found by studying and meditating on the truths of Scripture.

But, I can't do the work for anyone. I can't change anyone's thinking, and I can't make them read the Word or believe it. That is between them and God. So at times, I question whether God has really called me to full-time ministry when I can't even seem to help others get on track with their faith lives. I end up feeling like Timothy who must have been mocked because of his youth for Paul to write him and say "let no one despise you for your youth." I've asked God why it is that my words seem to fall on deaf ears at times when I know that I'm right because it isn't my advice, but God's advice. I'm just the vessel.

Ultimately, I conclude that God will use me for His glory how He sees fit. I trust in that enough to continue to encourage when no visible fruit is seen. This morning, God answered my plea for help in a big way.

I turned to Psalm 1 which is one of my favorites. Basically it says that the one who delights in the Lord and meditates on His law is blessed. It then relates that person to a tree planted by a stream that bears fruit in its season, has leaves that never wither, and is successful in everything he seeks to accomplish.

God really spoke to me about one's season in life. What if I have been expecting fruit out of season? What if I have erroneously believed that I was in a different season of life than I really am? Could that produce an unnecessary burden? As only God can do, the very next passage I opened to (which to me was random) was 2 Timothy 4. The first thing I read was "preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season"

It seems interesting that one who prepares for the harvest should be ready for a harvest in the middle of winter. But isn't that exactly what God is telling us from this passage? Preach the Word. Be ready in and out of season. Do we know when the harvest will happen? Do we know when the Word will fall on good soil? That's up to God isn't it? But, regardless, be ready! God told me to be ready this morning. Maybe it isn't my season to harvest or to see the fruit that I desire to see, but be ready and preach the Word. That much is clear.

As I continued meditating on this idea, I turned to Ecclessiastes chapter 3. There is a time for everything. The words in verse 11 hit me hard. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." In its time. Not one moment earlier or later. Jesus spoke this way a lot. The hour will come for the Son of Man to be lifted up. The hour is now here. The writers of the Bible made many comments to this effect as well. The Day is coming and is now here... God's timing is perfect, and He will make everything beautiful in its time, including the fruit that we seek to bear as Christians.

So what season am I in? I believe God has told me to wait. As we sang yesterday at chapel, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases his strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

What season are you in? Is it one of harvest? Is it one of waiting? Is it one of action?

May God bless us with an understanding of the season we are in and give us the strength to joyfully walk in it. Amen!

Romans 3

Well, if you haven't been able to tell from the first two chapters of Romans, I've been looking forward to spending some quality time in chapter 3. It has been a real blessing over the past week to see Paul conclude a major part of his thoughts on the first half of the Gospel: humans are sinful to the core and stand condemned before a righteous God. In addition, chapter 3 gives man the only means of justification which comes through faith in Jesus Christ.

As I try to consider the magnitude of this letter that God wrote through Paul, I can't help but wonder what Paul may have felt as he was drafting this letter. I imagine that I myself would be shaking with excitement and conviction and yet probably burdened as well knowing full well that most would not accept what is being written. Well, without further ado, let's dig in!

Paul has just finished speaking of true obedience coming from the heart. He now turns to answer questions that skeptics had (and still have!) regarding Paul's argument. The first eight verses are a sort of Q & A session in which Paul silences the critics.

God's Righteousness Upheld (v.1-8)
1. What advantage has the Jew (if circumcision is not merely outward)?
Clearly Jews have been given a great privilege of possessing the Word of God and being God's chosen people. I find it interesting that Paul says "to begin with" but yet never elaborates further. I'm sure he figured that being entrusted with the oracles of God would be sufficient enough to answer the doubters.

2. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
By God's very nature, He is faithful! As one commentary I read put it, if every single man who ever lived cried out against God, God would still be faithful. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His faithfulness endures apart from creation's grumblings. To elaborate further, Paul quotes Psalm 51 "that you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." God will always prevail because He alone is sovereign.

3. But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?
Paul clarifies that he is using a human argument just in case anyone is questioning his reasoning for presenting these questions. These questions to me seem to be getting more far-fetched. Imagine being asked, "So if when I do bad things, it makes you look better, doesn't that mean I can keep doing bad things?" "Why are you mad that I stole your car? It makes you look good because you don't steal!" How foolish. And how much more foolish it is to think that God is wrong to judge those who have sinned against His holy name.

Paul retorts, if God were unjust then how could He judge the world? 2 Timothy 4:8 tells us that the Lord is our righteous judge. Only the righteous can judge the world.

4. But if through my lie God's truth abounds to His glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?
The first question here sounds like whining, doesn't it? It's not fair! Why am I getting in trouble when I prove God to be God?! The second is one that Paul has had to confront because of liars slandering the gospel that Paul is speaking. He makes it known that they are slanderers, and he proceeds to clarify his entire position in the remainder of the chapter. While Paul doesn't answer this last question immediately, he devotes an entire chapter to the idea later (chapter 6). He simply ends by saying "their condemnation is just."

No One is Righteous (v. 9-20)
This section is hard-hitting. Paul cements his argument with Old Testament Scripture and makes it impossible for anyone to debate man's sinfulness further.

Verse 9 starts with Paul reiterating that all men are on equal footing. We are all under sin whether Jew or Greek, black or white, tall or short. It doesn't matter. We are sinners. Galatians 3:22 offers another angle by saying "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin..."

Verses 10-18 are the quoted Scriptures that Paul uses to prove his point. Verses 10-12 show that no one is righteous. Verses 13-17 show the bitterness of man's words and the evil of his actions. Verse 18 explains why the previous 7 verses are true.

As it is written...
None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one.

I can imagine that crickets would be the only sound after being reminded of these verses. God must have known that man would argue this so He put almost the same verses in Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. The two Psalms also go on to say that man becomes convinced that there is no God. I know a few people who live under that ridiculous notion. We need to be sure not to exalt ourselves though since we were definitely included in the "no one" category before the call of Jesus Christ. Let this reality soak in. It is critical to growing in Christ. As we mature as believers, we should see an increasing need for salvation rather than a decreasing need. For apart from God, we can do nothing.

Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Psalm 5:9, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 10:7

The truth hurts. It hurts so bad that most people will never except it because of their prideful hearts. Most could never imagine being labeled with such harsh accusations. But if God calls the Christian's righteous deeds filthy rags, what hope does the one seeking righteousness through the law have of fairing better?

Their feet are quick to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.
Proverbs 1:16, 3:15-17; Isaiah 59:7,8

In addition to what Paul quotes, Proverbs goes on to say that the greed of man takes away his life. Isaiah professes that the thoughts of man are thoughts of iniquity. This message is not new. This message existed in the Old Testament. Even Cain was warned by God that sin was crouching at the door. Sadly, Cain didn't listen just as all of us at one time didn't listen.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Psalm 36:1

Here is the root of the problem. In the folly of man, he has declared himself to be wise. God's Word, however, says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is insight (Proverbs 9:10). Man has foolishly denied this truth and catastrophic evil has been the only result.

The above verses bring about an array of emotions. I am saddened when I consider the hearts of men, especially those who are close to me. I am humbled by the reality that I did nothing of my own to change the reality of condemnation. And I am on the edge of my seat awaiting the glorious pronouncement of justification that Paul has masterfully worked towards and is now so close to being shared.

But first, imagine being presented with this reality for the first time. Imagine that up until Paul came along, you felt pretty good about yourself. Imagine what it would be like to realize that you are in fact not a good person at all. Really, quite the opposite is true. What would that hopelessness feel like? I guess this isn't so hard for a Christian to imagine since we all arrived at this hopelessness in order to accept what God offers us. Can you remember that day? That hour? That moment? Praise God for the realization that we are sinful! The hope of Christ overwhelms the hopeless feeling and remains until His return!

Verses 19 and 20 close out this section of chapter 3. The first half of Psalm 36:1 that Paul didn't quote provides the perfect segue into verses 19 and 20. It says "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart." Man knows that he is not good. We know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose wrong.

Verse 19 says that the law speaks to those who are under it. Let's not forget verse 15 in chapter 2 that says that the Gentiles show the law of God is written on their hearts. So all are under this law whether it be the Jew who has the Bible or the Gentile who has the law on his heart. For this reason, each and every person will stand before the Righteous Judge and have nothing to say in response to God's judgment. There will be silence. Since we are all under sin, God is just to hold the entire world accountable, and He will.

In verse 20, Paul summarizes his argument and uses it to springboard into the solution delivered by God in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ.

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

There is little else that needs to be said. This is the reality that Paul has so expertly presented in chapters 1-3. This verse represents half of the Gospel. It shows the depravity of man and the hopelessness of redemption through the law of good works. Finally, Paul presents the solution to our sin condition.

The Righteousness of God Through Faith (v. 21-31)

Paul begins this section by saying that the righteousness of God is available apart from the law. In order to preserve the integrity of Scripture, Paul makes it clear that even though righteousness is not found through them, both the Prophets and the Law testified to this righteousness.

There are three New Testament passages from the Gospels that I'll add to confirm this.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John--Matthew 11:13

Isaiah said these things because he saw His glory and spoke of Him. John 12:41

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. John 5:45, 46

I'm also reminded of Isaiah 52:13-53:12. Fifteen verses that speak of the righteous Christ taking on our sins and removing them from us. Clearly the Old Testament law and prophets are crucial in the understanding of God's righteousness.

Verse 22 gives us the answer. It is the righteousness of God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. I love this verse because it speaks of the inclusive nature of salvation. All who believe will be saved. What a refreshing thought, isn't it? What does God ask of us after all of His effort in redeeming us? Just believe in my Son and let me take care of everything. Of course, believing in Christ requires us to continually grow in fellowship and obedience, but God gives us everything we need when we believe in Christ.

Verse 23 is a quick return to the reality that all fall short of the glory of God. Paul is very deliberate in continuing to bring this to the readers' attention. Verses 22 and 23 really offer a summary of the Gospel. Man is sinful and needs redemption; God provides the solution.

In the verses that follow, Paul will expand on the glorious offer to mankind. There are a couple of "big" words that need to be understood in verses 24 and 25. Let's break them down a bit.

In verse 24, Paul speaks of being justified. The word justification occurs a lot in Romans and is important to understand for both Scriptural understanding and sharing the Gospel. Justification is the first of three parts of salvation (the other two being sanctification and glorification). Justification is a moment in time. In fact, it is the most significant moment in time of all believers' lives. It is the moment that one receives Christ. Instantly, he/she is made a new creation and becomes one of God's children. The moment of justification is the moment a person is made righteous.

Paul says that we are justified by His grace as a gift. That moment of being made righteous is a gift from God. It is without cost. It is the greatest gift anyone could ever know. It is by the grace of God that we are offered this gift, and it is by God's grace that we receive this gift. Amazing, isn't it?

We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption of Jesus Christ. As I come to understand the Gospel more and more, I see more clearly why it is only through Jesus Christ that any person stands a chance. If Jesus Christ walked this earth, (which He most certainly did!) then it would be outrageous to think that being hung on a Cross and bearing the weight of the world's sins would allow for other religions' beliefs to make one righteous. The reality of it is this: either we are saved by grace as the Gospel says or we have to work our way to Heaven. I've been alive long enough to know that often times I am not a very good person. I can convince a lot of people by behaving well, but internally there is hate, lust, greed, envy...you name it. These things exist in the heart of all men. That is why works just don't get it done. Even good works are motivated by evil, selfish desires. It's only through Jesus Christ.

As I thought more about this verse, the question "To what are we being redeemed?" rang in my mind. The answer is fellowship with God. Jesus has torn down the curtain that prevented man from experiencing and knowing God. Isn't that glorious?! Take a look at the following verses:

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:3-5

Wow. Why would anyone want anything but the truth? It is beyond my imagination to think about what awaits! Man is God's prized creation and He wants to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. That's why Jesus joyfully endured the Cross. That's why He is the way, the truth, and the life. That's why He alone saves.

In verse 25, it says that Jesus is who God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. Propitiation is a big word that simply means "a cover" or "reconciliation." It is important that Paul clarifies "by His blood" since the Old Testament law was clear that the shedding of blood was the only way to cover sins. The great parallel is that Jesus Christ becomes the final sacrifice. Former animal sacrifices only provided temporary help and ultimately were used to foreshadow Christ's death and its permanent covering of sins.

Verse 25 is the second time of three that "faith" is used in verses 21-26. Each time, faith is associated with Christ. In a similar fashion, righteousness is used 4 times and each time it refers to God's righteousness.

Paul goes on to say in v. 25 that God has graciously passed over former sins. This is alluding to the sins of those who died before Christ, which probably served to keep the question regarding their salvation from being asked. When I think of forbearance, I think of my student loans. The loan company has been nice enough in the past to postpone payment of my loans while I am in school or when I went off to boot camp. In much the same way, God, knowing the future work of Christ on the Cross, postponed the payment of the debt that the Old Testament saints owed. In chapter 4, Paul will get into how exactly they were saved as well.

Verse 26 again refers to God's righteousness. I like the thought "that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Not only is God alone the one who justifies man, but God is just in His judgments. I've heard people say a lot that it isn't fair. How come God doesn't save everybody? Sadly, I feel this is a poor understanding. I agree that it isn't fair, but from the opposite perspective. It's not fair that I have found favor with God. It's not fair that I'm going to Heaven because I don't deserve it! Fair would be me spending eternity apart from God in Hell. I rejoice in the truth that God is not fair because if He was, I'd have no hope!

We're almost done! I promise. :)

In v. 27, Paul makes it clear that we have no room to boast in anything. It has been thrown out because of the law of faith. It has nothing to do with our works. The more I understand this, the more significant Christ becomes to me.

Verse 28 is a big verse that is really a reiteration of chapter 1:16, 17. Paul writes this: For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. It's by faith. It's by faith. It's by faith.

Verses 29 and 30 split the Jew and the Gentile and then rejoin them. The Jew is saved by faith and so is the Gentile. I rejoice in God's impartiality!

Paul concludes in v. 31 by keeping his audience in check. If salvation is through faith, why keep the law? Let's go out and get crazy! Paul reminds his readers (and will continue to remind them) that the law is good and needs to be upheld because of faith.

Fascinating stuff! I pray that for those who have read this whole thing that it has been a blessing to you. I have been blessed a great deal in the time I've spent in chapter 3. Next time we'll look at the father of our faith, Abraham.