THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN THE SALVATION OF MAN

Read Romans 9.

Grace—amazing, abundant, available—flowing from God’s choice to provide salvation.  He was not obligated to do so.  He purposed to give His Son—a plan ordained before there ever was a world created and a sinner in need of salvation. As we respond to the Gospel—and we must for we are not mere robots—we find that God has taken the initiative.  We speak of finding God, and yet, He has sought and found us—lost sheep, wandering without hope, until the Shepherd of our Souls brings us into God’s fold.

As Paul, deals in chapters 9-11 with how the Jews fit into God’s plan of salvation, the discussion begins with the sovereignty of God in the salvation of man.  We are human clay, and God is the Potter.  He shapes us and fits us for heaven.  Apart from His work, we could not be saved.  We do not even want to be saved.

How does all this fit?  In the eternal mind of God who knows all and His infinite power to accomplish all from a heart of immeasurable love that moves Him and unto His everlasting glory, He has brought the elect into His kingdom.  Yet, it is not against my will, but as His grace operates in my will.  He has made me willing.  Theologians develop systems to try to explain the inexplicable.  I resist that, finding myself incapable of knowing all that God knows.  Instead, I will speak what Scripture says, study and meditate on this amazing grace that saves wretches as we are, and share that message with the world.

Outside the door of salvation, there is a sign reading, “Whosoever will may come,” and when we walk through that door, we see a sign on the other side saying, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God.”  If we reach heaven, we will glory in the worthy Lamb of God who has selected us, sought us, saved us, sustained us, and secured us.  Praise His name!

BLESSED ASSURANCE!

Read Romans 8.

This is a chapter the commences with, “no condemnation,” and concludes with, “no separation.”  It highlights the precious promise of the perseverance of the saints.  “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (v.25‬).

This doctrine underscores the faithfulness of God that undergirds the fruitfulness of God’s children. It is rooted in His character and assures those who are truly born again of the grace we need for transformation—that the God who calls us, changes us, and confirms His work in us.  From start to finish, it is all of grace.  Paul puts it like this, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (v.29-30‬). In the all-knowing mind of God, and according to His almighty power, He saves us to the uttermost.

We will make it home.  God will hold us fast. Far from being an excuse to sin, this love and grace is the motivation and means for holiness. Even, these bodies of ours will be redeemed.  Our environment, now under the curse, will be liberated as Eden blooms again!

This is a chapter that contrasts groans with glory. We are not home yet.  There are groans (v.22,23,26). Those groans will—some golden daybreak—yield to glories (v.17,18,21,30). God is even using the things that make us groan to accomplish the glory He intends, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (v.28‬)

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.” (Fanny Crosby)

THE WAR YOU WILL NOT WIN

Read Romans 7. 

Despite the sin in us, God loved us and Jesus died for us.  The great exchange took place as our sins were laid on Him and Christ’s righteousness was imputed (credited) to us. That is what we have noted in the first five chapters.  Reaching chapter six, we discover that Jesus not only died for our sins, but we died in Him—the old sin factory that produced sin was dealt with, even as the sins which it made were blotted out. It is at this point in our Christian experience that we often falter, by rightfully engaging in a war but wrongfully using weapons of the flesh.  It is a war you will not win. 

Christians have been brought into the glorious liberty of being children of God (Rom.6:7, 14, 18, 22). Having been saved by faith, and now empowered to live in grace—the life of Christ in me—we often fall back into the bondage of rules and religiosity, trying to be holy through relying on fleshly effort and determination instead of on Christ’s work and the Spirit’s direction. Having been saved by faith, can we now be sanctified by works?  That is a war we cannot win.

Even so great a champion as Paul expressed his frustration. The very things he didn’t want to do, he did, and that which he should do, he failed to do. Can you identify?  He calls himself a wretched man—and it is a miserable place to be—to come to the end of yourself.

Yet, that is where God wants us!  For instead of trying to win the war, we surrender—not to sin, but to Christ.  Why would you try to beat the devil when you cannot win, and not rely on Jesus to do so, when He cannot lose?

Paul speaks of a law—the law of sin—at work in his flesh.  It is like the law of gravity, that continually pulls us down.  Try jumping up and see how long you overcome that law!  Yet, you can board a plane that weighs tons, and it will fly!  How?  There is a higher law—the law of thrust—that brings to bear the principle of aerodynamics, as the power of jet engines pushes wind over wings, and up you go.

Thus, Paul moves from cursing his impotence to celebrating Christ’s omnipotence. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” (7:25). Fighting a war against the flesh by the efforts of the flesh is a war we cannot win.  Relying on the power of Christ is a war He always wins, as we shall see in the next chapter, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (8:37)

DYING TO LIVE

Read Romans 6.

As you read the title, you may have thought this would be a meditation on heaven.  Although that is our ultimate experience of eternal life, it is but the pinnacle of what we can already experience—abundant life now, rooted in our union with Christ!

This experience is anchored in a truth we must COMPREHEND, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” (v.6‬). The reality is that our union with Christ is such that all He is and has done has come to be our experience.  When Jesus died on the cross, we died with Him!  When He rose again, we rose with Him!  Eternal life is simply the life of the Eternal God in us—all Jesus is for all I need.

Based on what we comprehend concerning our union with Christ, we must CALCULATE as true, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (v.11‬). Paul uses an accounting term here.  Let me explain this way—you have a dollar amount in the bank. You know this, not because you physically can see and hold cash in your hand, but you calculate by faith what the bank tells you and act on it as being true by using your debit card or writing a check. So, if you can trust a bank, can’t you trust God?  He says you are dead to sin and alive in Christ!

From comprehending this truth and calculating it as a promise from God, you then CHOOSE to live accordingly,  “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” (v.13‬). A dead slave would be free from his master’s control. Since we are crucified with Christ, the old master—sin—has no claim on us.  Yet, being raised from the dead in Christ, we have a new master—Jesus.  In the same way we once yielded our body for sin’s passions, we now surrender it for the Savior’s purposes.

In Christ you are free;
Free to be all He wants you to be;
Free, for we died with Him on that tree;
Free, for my life is the Risen Christ in me!

JUSTIFIED!

Read Romans 5.

What does it mean to be, “justified”?  Someone has said, “It is JUST AS IF I’D never sinned.”

Of course, we are sinners—Scripture makes that clear.  In this chapter, we are referred to as, “ungodly” (v.6), “sinners” (v.8), and “enemies” of God (v.10). Yet, by God’s grace and through faith in the work of Christ, we can be declared, “justified,” and “have peace with God” (v.1).  Our sins are blotted out.  The record of our crimes against God’s law has been expunged.  We were guilty, but now pardoned by the Judge!

The Triune God has undertaken to bring salvation to us.  By God the Father’s initiative, He has sent His Son to be our Savior (v.1). God the Son paid the price for our sins and reconciled us to the Father (v.6, 8-11, 15-21). The Son of God became the Son of Man, that the sons of men might become the sons of God.  Further, God the Spirit, has been given to us (v.5), binding our hearts to God with love outpoured within us (v.5). His presence assures us of the unfailing hope of heaven.  It is not only the death of Jesus, but His life within us that assures us, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by HIS LIFE.” (v.10, emphasis added).

What a reason to rejoice!  We “rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance character; and character, hope.” (v.2b-4). “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (v.11).

Christ on the cross, suspended between eternity and earth, has connected the two.  His arms outstretched, with one reaching to Holy God, and the other reaching to sinful humanity—that cross becomes the great “plus sign,” that equals reconciliation in God’s equation of salvation.

RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH

Read Romans 4.

No sinner has ever or will ever enter heaven except by the grace of God. That grace is available through faith rather than works.  It is based on what Christ has done in His work of redemption through His crucifixion and resurrection. By faith in Christ alone we have His righteousness imputed to us—that is, credited to our account. Our sins were placed on Him—the debit side of our life ledger being cancelled—and His righteousness deposited in our spiritual bank account—an inexhaustible righteousness to draw upon.

Paul illustrates this in Romans 4 by pointing to Abraham.  “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” (v.3‬). Long before the law was given on Mt. Sinai, the way of righteousness had been established. Before Abraham was marked by the covenant sign of circumcision, he had already been declared justified by faith.  The blessedness of David in being forgiven of sin, apart from his works, is mentioned also (read v.5-8).

Those of the circumcision—the Jews—wanted to think they were righteous because of a biological connection to Abraham, and their physical indication of circumcision, where Paul tells us that it is the spiritual connection with Abraham—our faith in the promise of God that saves us, as Jews or Gentiles (v.9-22).

Our part in salvation is that we do the sinning.  God’s part is that He does the saving. “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.” (v.23-25‬).

GUILTY!

Read Romans 3.

Paul has systematically laid out the case of crimes against God for the violations of His holy law. In Romans 1, the Apostle states the evidence for the crimes of the heathen—their blatant debauchery.  In chapter 2:1-16, he shares the proof of crimes by the hypocrite—having a veneer of morality, but rotten at the core. From 2:17-3:8, Paul lays out the facts for the guilt of the Hebrews—who having God’s law, nevertheless have not heeded it. So, he concludes by summarizing God’s verdict on all humanity—GUILTY!  We all have sinned. There is none good—not even one.  No flesh can be justified through their own effort.  We have missed God’s mark.  His glory—God’s perfection—is the bull’s eye that we must hit.  No matter how hard any of us try, the arrow of our effort falls short of the target. Most don’t even get close.  Some may not miss it as much.  One thing is true of all—none will, nor can hit it.

Imagine that God stood us all at the edge of the Grand Canyon and said, “If anyone jumps over it, I will allow you into heaven.”  Some poor old granny just falls over the edge.  I wouldn’t jump far.  A teen could jump farther.  An olympic long jump champion would jump much farther. But, one thing is true of all—we would all fall short.  It wouldn’t even be close—and the distance between sinful humanity and God’s holiness is much wider than the Grand Canyon.

So, what hope is there?  Hope for everyone!  For our guilt there is His grace!  “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Rom.3:21-26‬)

The righteousness demanded that we cannot get in our work, is given by Christ’s work.  We receive that grace through faith—not in what we do, but in what Jesus has done.  That is the promise of God!

DOES GOD GRADE ON THE CURVE?

Read Romans 2.

I loved teachers who would grade on the curve.  My IQ was high, but my study habits were not. I preferred hobbies to homework and sports to study. I thought school was for socializing instead of scholarship.  However, when the teacher graded on the curve, I could pass the class with little effort.  I wasn’t graded on the objective truths of the textbook, but the subjective comparison to other students. I would get A’s and B’s while breezing through the course.

Some people think God grades on the curve.  They will admit they aren’t perfect, but compared to many, they don’t look too sinful.  I mean they aren’t serial killers or bank robbers.  In fact, some people are very moral outwardly, and seem religious enough.

But, not to God.  God does not grade on the curve.  Paul is dealing with that argument in Romans 2.  He has pointed out the sinfulness of the heathen in chapter 1.  He knew a lot of folks would say, “Sure, they deserve the judgment of God!  Look at how bad they are! But, I’m a good person.”  So, now the Apostle will move to the guilt of the hypocrite—who says more than he does—who is comparison to unholy people seems good enough, but compared to Holy God cannot measure up.  If we read the text—the Bible—objectively, we flunk.

In chapter 1, Paul appeals to the witness of creation to God’s existence and power—a witness outside us, and now He points in chapter 2 to the witness of conscience to God’s existence and purity.  If we will get beneath the surface level, where we may not appear that bad compared to others, and consider the guilt we carry inside us, then we must admit our need of a Savior—and the good news is that we have One—Jesus Christ.

A GOOD NEWS WORD FOR A BAD NEWS WORLD

Read Romans 1.

We are going to get a bird’s eye view of the book of Romans by reading and reflecting on a chapter each day. Today’s devotional will set the stage for the study as we are introduced to the Gospel as a good news word for a bad news world.  Here’s the key text:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (1:16-17‬)

Four times in the course of this chapter, Paul uses the word, “Gospel,” (v.1, 9, 15, 16). The term means, “good news.”  The good news is that God loves us and sent His Son to die for us, so that by faith in the crucified and risen Christ we can be saved.

What makes the good news so good is that there is incredibly bad news.  It is like a jeweler who displays a diamond on a piece of dark velvet, which brings out the luster and beauty of each facet.  Paul will shine the light on the radiance of redemption by first laying out the dark contrast of our sin, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” (v.18-19‬)

As a prosecuting attorney, Paul will make his case, presenting the evidence before the Judge of the guilt of humanity.  In this chapter, he establishes the crimes of the heathen against God.  The pagan populace knew there was a Creator.  Creation bore testimony. But instead of glorifying God, they began to worship the creation, because of the depravity of their minds.  This depravity of belief became marked by increasing degeneracy in behavior.

What hope is there for such people?  The only hope for us all—the Gospel.  Jesus has provided a way for the heathen to get to heaven—the royal road of redemption.  It is the only way, and the Way is a person, Jesus. The sad news is a word of guilt and judgment, but the glad news is a word of grace and justification!

WHY CAN’T I GET THROUGH TO GOD?

Here are a few thoughts arising from my men’s discipleship study I have been doing this week:

Why will God not answer my prayer?  Haven’t we all asked that question?  Sometimes, the ways of God are inscrutable. We will not understand until we get to heaven. But, there are reasons for unanswered prayer that are told to us in Scripture.  One of those is an unforgiving heart.

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matt.5:23-24). The God who has forgiven us so much wants us to forgive others.  Unforgiveness is like a barrier that comes between us and our God.  When the communion between me and another is broken, the communication between me and the Lord is, also. Thus, the command is, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

The old Puritan writer, Thomas Watson, put it this way, “We need not climb up into heaven to see if our sins are forgiven: let us look into our hearts, and see if we can forgive others.”

Is this the reason there is no joy in your worship and no power in your prayer?

RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS

God has assigned his church to be agents of reconciliation. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (II Corinthians 5:18-20). Note, from God’s side, He is reconciled to mankind.  His heart is one of forgiveness, as He has provided in Christ all that is required for anyone to be saved.  The death of Jesus atones for all sin.  Yet, the benefits of that demand sinners be reconciled to God.  What is provided in Christ can only be possessed through Christ. This demands repentance for there to be a restored relationship with the sinner and His Creator.  It is vital for the church to proclaim the message, but also to present the model.

I have been tasked at times in ministry with counseling someone whose marriage is falling apart.  So long as one partner is willing to forgive, there is hope for the relationship to be restored.  Yet, if that hope is to be realized, the other partner must be willing, as well.  Repentance brings restoration. This is true in every broken relationship.  

Through the grace of God, an attitude of forgiveness is to be extended to all who sin against us.  “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25). Those who get grace are to give grace.

The attitude of forgiveness should lead to the act of forgiveness.  “Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3). A confrontation about the sin, ought to yield contrition for the sin—rebuke, repentance, and restoration of the relationship. It takes two for the relationship to be restored in the end, but it begins with one.

Is there someone you need to reach out to today?

THE PRISON OF UNFORGIVENESS

Peter was impressed with himself—that he would forgive someone seven times.  Jesus was not.  He told him to forgive seventy times seven—which really signifies an infinite number of times, since seven is the perfect number, the number of completion.  “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬).

Then, Jesus told a story as follows:

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.” (v.23-27‬). The king, is God, and we are the servant, who owes Him a debt of sin we can never pay.  Yet, in compassion, God has forgiven the repentant—at great cost, the death of His Son for us.

The Lord continued:

““But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.” (v.28-30‬). Would we refuse to forgive our fellow servant who has sinned against us a small amount compared to the debt we owe God who has forgiven us?  Too often, we do.

Jesus further said:

“So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.” (v.31-34‬). Unforgiveness becomes our prison, and we are tortured by bitterness.  We are not free until we are willing to release others of the debt we owe.

This was Jesus’ point, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (v.35‬). Let it go.  It is certainly to the benefit of your relationships with others.  It is demanded for our fellowship with God.  It is to your good to do so.

THE ROAD TO RECONCILIATION

What do you do when a brother or sister sins against you?  The relationship is too important to ignore. Jesus gives us the steps to take in Matt.18:15-20.

1.  GO TO THEM. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (v.15‬). Take the initiative.  Reach out in private.  And if they are still unrepentant?

2.  GO BACK WITH AN INTERMEDIARY.  “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’” (v.16‬). Perhaps, one or two other mature Christians can act as mediators. Should repentance not be forthcoming, then another step is taken.

3. TAKE IT TO THE CHURCH. “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. (v.17‬a). The witness of the church can be compromised by the conflict. So, the church must demand repentance.  What if he or she stubbornly refuses to repent at this stage?

4.  EXCOMMUNICATE THE SINNER. “But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” (v.17b). In rejecting church authority, they show that they are perhaps not even regenerate. Even so, this is not meant to be punitive but redemptive. Should they be a child of God, by casting them out, the Father will chasten them.  They have been delivered over to Satan to learn not to blaspheme (see 1 Tim.1:20).  If they repent, their membership is to be restored.  Should they not repent, and there be no evident discipline, then they are false converts, (Heb.12:8), and we reach out with evangelism, as we would to any sinner.

The church has been given this authority, when we prayerfully come together.  Christ is among us.  “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (v.18-20‬). Members are accountable to the local congregation.

For an actual case of church discipline, see. 1 Cor.5:1-6:11 and an excessive application of authority following in 2 Cor.2:4-11. The discipline had become abusive.  This is a sobering responsibility that few churches exercise today.

MERCY: GIVING IT AND GETTING IT

Mercy—it means that one does not receive what they deserve.  God has been so merciful to me.  I deserve hell.  I have been such a wretched sinner.  My crimes against heaven and humanity are too numerous to recount.  Yet, what did God do?  He loved me so much that He would send His Son to die in my place—to suffer the punishment I deserve, so that I might have an inheritance in heaven. What great mercy!

This ought to motivate the follower of Christ to be merciful. How can we claim to be Christians and fail to extend mercy?  You may argue, “But, you don’t know how they hurt me!”  I will not debate that.  I am not minimizing the hurt.  My question for you to ponder is, “How much hurt did Jesus know on the cross?  What did He do?”  His pain was the price for obtaining our mercy.

In fact, it is to our benefit to extend mercy.  According to Jesus, if we want to get mercy, we must give mercy. Knowing the mercy of God, and then refusing to be merciful to others, shuts off the flow of mercy to us.  Bitterness, vengeance, and hate will fill the heart of one who refuses to grant mercy, and there is no room in a heart like that for God’s mercy to be given.

In fact, the danger here is that should such a spirit dominate a person, it may well be that they do not have God’s Spirit.  Such a heart of hate may prove that we have rejected the mercy of God, and are unregenerate.

Would you receive mercy today?  Be merciful. How can you be?  Take a trip to Calvary and ponder deeply the mercy of God in Christ.  It is life-changing!

RELATIONAL HEALTH

How healthy are your relationships?  Whether, those relationships are with a spouse, another family member, a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker or fellow student, even a church member, are they healthy?  Paul gives us some vital signs to check in Ephesians 4:30-32 that register our relational fitness.

1.  RELATIONAL COMMITMENT IS PRACTICED. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (v.30). There are many ways we can grieve the Holy Spirit.  A chief way is through our lack of commitment to those we love.  He has sealed us—that is the Spirit has come into the believer as a guarantee of salvation, and He has promised to be ever-present.  When we walk away from a relationship because it is difficult, He is broken-hearted, for He will never do that!

2.  RELATIONAL CANCERS ARE REMOVED. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (v.31). If you are diagnosed with cancer, and the surgeon puts you under anesthesia and under the knife, the first question you will have for the doctor when you awake is, “Did you get it all?”  You know if any cancer remains, it will recur. Paul tells us to get rid of all relational malignancies.  These things will kill a relationship!

3.  REAL COMPASSION IS EXERCISED. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (v.32). Real compassion means I do acts of kindness toward others. It is felt in how I am tenderhearted toward others. Essentially, it is given in how I forgive others.  In this, I follow the example of my Lord.  Surely, if He has forgiven me so much, then I can forgive others who have done less in comparison!  Read the story Jesus told in Matt.18:21-35. We will study that later this week.

How did your relational vitals read?

LOVING YOUR ENEMIES

How do you deal with those who betray you?  What do you say when people attack you with hateful words?

David took the matter to God, rather than take it in his hands. He trusted God to work His will in his accusers. Vengeance belongs to God.  The Lord is qualified to both know what to do, and able to do what we cannot do.  He will deal with it and deal with it rightly.

David devoted himself to prayer.  Prayer changes things.  It can change the situation, as God deals with those who are angry with us.  It will change us, as it provides fertile soil for the seed of forgiveness to grow.  The late John Stott said, “It is impossible to pray for someone without loving him, and impossible to go on praying for him without discovering that our love for him grows and matures.”

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

There has only been one person who has ever lived the Christian life, and that is Christ Himself!  Our life as a Christian is not me trying to do my best and working my hardest to be like Jesus, for that is impossible.  Rather, it is His life in me being revealed through me, as I abide in a vital relationship with Him.

Jesus is the source of our life.  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-4‬). We have no life apart from Him.  He is the True Vine—the one and only.  In a faith relationship with Him, we demonstrate that by the fruit we bear, and He prunes us that we may be more fruitful.

Jesus is the substance of our life. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (v.5-8‬). Jesus doesn’t just give us life, He gives us Himself as our life. If we are not connected with Him, we are just dead branches fit for the fire. As we daily depend on Him, staying connected through the Word and prayer, His life is manifest in ours.

Jesus is the sum of our life. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (v.9-11‬). When we sum up what it means to truly live—it is the life of Jesus, seen in abiding love and abounding joy. In the end, as we stand before God, this is what will matter.  Then, we may say with Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil.1:21).

THE HEART OF OUR PROBLEM

The religious police of Christ’s day—the Pharisees—were intent on enforcing their legalistic standards of ceremonial washings and purifications. While, I am sure Jesus has no issue with personal hygiene, and that washing your hands and bathing are commendable practice, He tells us there are more crucial spiritual concerns.

He begins with an exclamation.  “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.’” (Matthew 15:10-11). The response of the Pharisees was fast and furious, “Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’” (v.12).  They knew that God had forbidden, under the Mosaic covenant, for certain things to go into your mouth, so how can you reconcile the two?

Jesus offers an example. “But He answered and said, ‘Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.’” (v.13-14). The religious leaders were not wheat, but weeds.  Consider, the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matt.13:24-30. Someone may claim to be God’s son—even have some outward indications—and yet, truly be Satan’s spawn. The Pharisees were ceremonially clean, but morally corrupt.  They, were as those, “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim.3:5a). Worse still, they were blind guides leading blind people.  How ludicrous!  There are many voices today that claim to speak for God.  We better be discerning.   

Peter wasn’t. He was confused. “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’” (v.15).  At least he turned to the right source for clarification. 

Jesus gives the explanation. ‘So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.’” (v.16-20). For example, if a Jew ate pork, since God had forbidden it, the issue was not the food in his mouth, but the filth in his heart—he was rebelling against God.  Later, when God said that we were free to eat bacon, to do so would no longer be rebellion—and I’m glad!

The truth is that the heart of our problem is the problem of our heart.  Before there are outward actions, there is an inward disposition. It is not religion we need, for it can only change the surface.  What we must have is regeneration, for only God can change the soul.

MIGHTY MOUTH

What we say and the way we say it makes such a difference. When our words issue from our lips, they have power for good or evil. Once spoken, just like toothpaste squeezed out of a tube, you cannot put the words back in.  They have a life of their own. 

1.  OUR SPEECH CAN EXTINGUISH OR EXACERBATE CONFLICT. “A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.”(Proverbs 15:1). The easiest thing to do when attacked by wrathful words is to respond in kind.  That is bound to fuel the fire of anger.  The wise thing is to respond softly—and that fights the fire. 

2.  OUR SPEECH CAN BE WISE OR WICKED. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2). A man or woman of wisdom speaks words that disclose their smarts. On the other hand, a person of wickedness speaks words that disclose their stupidity. What we say is an indicator of what we are. 

3. OUR SPEECH CAN BE HEALING OR HURTFUL. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4). Our words can help make people well, or they can cause a wound.  They bind up or break down. Is what you say healing or hurtful?

May the Lord use our speech to honor Him and help others today.  What we say will do one or the other. 

JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

When is a door not a door?  When it’s ajar!  I know that’s corny, but it makes an important point. The Christian is not just someone who tries stopping certain behaviors, but, by the grace of God, becomes different than they were.  The Apostle Paul speaks to this in Ephesians 4.  Of course, he tells us to stop sinning against our fellowman, but more—to start serving our fellowman.

Paul, the champion of grace, reminds us of the place of our works.  We are not saved because of what we do, but there are things we don’t do and actions that we do because we are saved. “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” (v.28‬)

When is a thief not a thief?  When they become a productive member of society.  It isn’t enough to stop taking—though we must.  We are to also start giving. Bonnie and Clyde were notorious bank robbers, yet they didn’t steal 24 hours a day.  But, neither were they contributing to the good of others.  The Christian life runs on two tracks—a negative and positive—if it isn’t to be derailed.  We must stop taking from others in selfishness and start contributing to others in selflessness.

Not only are our works important, so are our words.  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (v.29‬). Words are powerful.  They can hurt or they can heal.  We are not to carelessly tear down others, but to carefully build up others by our speech.  We can choose corrupt or constrictive language.  Whatever is in the well of our heart will be brought up by the bucket of our mouth. If there is grace in our soul, then there will be grace in our speech.

God deliver us from sin and direct us into sanctification!  Take away the old and put in the new, Lord!  Do you know what that is?  Repentance. We turn from wickedness and turn to righteousness. Christ makes a difference!

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

Remember the old Beatles’ song, “All You Need Is Love”?  That’s true!  The all-encompassing commandment is to love God with all our being, which if truly done means we will also love others—made in the image of God—as we love ourselves.  Easy to say; hard to do. Yet, having received the grace of God, we have the motivation and might to extend that grace to others.  Ephesians 4:25-27 presents this challenge.

1.  BE HONEST. “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” (v.25). Understand, that “no man is an island,” as the saying goes. What we do impacts others—and may have far-reaching effects. I am to reject deception and embrace truth. Jesus declared that He was the incarnation of Truth, and since He abides in the Christian, we are to be truth-tellers. Gossip, innuendo, exaggeration, slander, and so forth are deceitful and demonic. Such words destroy relationships.  You cannot have a love relationship without honesty.

2.  BE SELF-CONTROLLED.  “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” (v.26).  Anger is like an alarm system.  It arises when someone’s rights are violated—whether ours or another’s. You cannot stop anger from arising any more than you cannot jerk your hand back when you touch something hot.  It is not a sin to feel anger, but such a powerful emotion that it moves quickly to sin if we don’t deal with anger. Self-control is paramount, so that we respond properly. Yet, neither do we conceal anger, and let it fester. The issues that gave rise to it must be faced, or it will smolder, and ignite at another time.

 

3.  BE VIGILANT. “nor give place to the devil.” (v.27). Satan is always looking for an entry point to assault you, and you must be vigilant. Many times his attacks come through wrong attitudes and wrathful actions as we fail to love others. A lack of honesty in relationships opens the door to Satan who is the father of lies.  Exploding in anger is a manifestation of the Devil, who is the origin of murder—the ultimate expression of anger. Jesus spoke of both in John 8:44.

How we treat others really matters.  If we cannot love those whom we see, how can we claim to love the God we cannot see, Who made them in His likeness?

Sincerely,
Dennis Thurman

SAINTS: SITTING, STRIDING, STANDING

We are not saved because of what we do for God, but because of what God has done for us.  The glory and greatness of God’s grace in salvation is the theme of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, bringing us into a right position with God because of Christ. We are in Christ, having received God’s mercy and love that has imparted new life. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (2:4-6‬).

 Because of this position in Christ, we can now follow the pattern of Christ.  Not only are we in Christ, but Christ is in us, to live His life through us.  Based on our position, grace provides the motive and might to live as Christ. “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,” (4:1‬). Note the word, “therefore,” which ties the application of the life of Christ in 4:1-6:9 with the apprehension of the life of Christ in 1:1-3:21. So much of 4:1ff is about the relationships we have with others, that is rooted in our relationship with Christ.

Having that position, and modeling that pattern, brings us into conflict with Satan, and requires God’s power and protection. We are walking against the world’s direction and so have a head-on collision with the Devil. So, the Apostle closes by speaking of our perseverance in Christ.  “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (6:11‬). We stand against a supernatural foe with a supernatural force—the almighty power of Christ.  We dress in His armor—each piece put on with prayer.

In summary, we have the believer sitting, striding, and standing. That is an overview of the Ephesian epistle. Perhaps this next week, you would want to take one chapter a day, read it, meditate on it, pray over it, and seek one practical application of that chapter.  What a difference that would make in every dimension of your life: in the flock of your church (4:1-5:21); with the family in your home (5:22-6:4); in the field of the world (6:5-24).