The Vital Nature of the Church

  “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

(Romans 12:3–8 ESV)

When it comes to our salvation, Scripture teaches that this is possible only by the grace of God. It is not something that we can earn, nor is it something of which we’re deserving. And this grace is received through faith in Jesus.

This faith, by which we are saved, is a personal faith. What I mean is that we are not saved by the faith of our parents or grandparents. And we are not saved by the faith of our community. It is a faith that must be held personally.

However, many take this to mean that the church is unnecessary. They take it to mean that our faith can be held to and lived out apart from the church. The idea is promoted that the only thing necessary is Jesus and me.

But Scripture is clear that the church is immensely important. In fact, it’s essential. It’s essential as God works through the church for our blessing and for the blessing of all.

We see this as we look at the above passage. Paul encourages us to think of ourselves soberly. He encourages us to think of ourselves sensibly. And he encourages us to think of ourselves humbly.

We’re to do so, he says, according to the measure of faith God has assigned. We are to do so as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. We’re to do so, in other words, receiving God’s gifts and blessings by faith.

They are not something in which we can take pride, as if we had anything to do with them. We can acknowledge only that they are blessings from God’s hand. And, realizing this, we receive them as such.

Although we are many, he says, we are one in Christ. Individually, he says, we’re members one of another. So, again we find that our faith is not something to be lived in isolation.

Possessing gifts that have been given to us, we are called to use them. Whatever those gifts may be, we are called to use them. We’re called to use them for the benefit, for the blessing, of the church as a whole.

We learn from this that blessings of God are given in and through the church. We learn from this that the ministry of God is both given and received through the church. And, for this reason, our connection with the church is vital.

We’re to join with the church that we might receive God’s blessings. We’re to join with the church that we might share his blessings. We’re to join with the church realizing that, only in connection with the body do we experience the fullness of his blessing.

The Lenten Fast

 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

(Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

 

Lent is a time of year when fasting is traditional. Most of us are familiar with the Catholic tradition of fasting from meat on the Fridays of Lent. And many of us do something similar.

 

We give up something that’s part of our everyday life. We give up something we will miss. We give up something that will truly be a sacrifice.

 

Many of us will give up something like chocolate or soda. We do so, recognizing that we like them too much. And we do so, recognizing how unhealthy they are.

 

In recent years, it’s become fashionable to fast from something related to technology. People have fasted from social media, recognizing how much of a time drain it’s become. And others have fasted from TV or video games for the same reason.

 

Perhaps, with Lent upon us, you’re considering such a fast. Or, perhaps you’ve already begun one. The question we need to consider, however, is the reason we’re doing so.

 

The gospel assures us that we’re saved only by Jesus. It assures us that we’re saved only by the grace of God. And it assures us that we receive this grace through faith in Christ alone.

 

We have no intrinsic quality that makes us deserving of salvation, nor can we do anything to earn it. Fasting, then, must not be looked at as something we do to merit the salvation of God. It must not be viewed as something that we do to make ourselves deserving of his mercy.

 

And not only do we seek to earn God’s approval through efforts like fasting. We seek also the applause of men. We seek the approval and the admiration of others.

 

We find in the passage above, however, that fasting is not to be publicly practiced. It’s not something that we’re to announce to others, or to make obvious to others. We’re not to do so because the obvious temptation of fasting is to make ourselves appear pious and righteous before others.

 

Jesus tells us that, if we do so, that’s all the reward we will get. And he instructs us to keep our fast between ourselves and God. He says that we’re to anoint our head and wash our face so that our fasting may be in secret.

 

What, then, is the purpose of fasting? If we cannot merit the salvation of God in this way, what’s the point? And if we’re not to seek the admiration of others in this way, why would we bother with it?

 

The purpose of fasting is to remind ourselves, in a tangible way, that the Lord is sufficient. It’s to remind ourselves that he alone is to be our focus. And it’s to remind ourselves that he alone is the source of life and salvation.

 

Our fast, then, points us to Christ. It drives us to the gospel. And it motivates us to trust in the Word and promise of God.

A Small Town Influence

 “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.”

(Romans 16:3–5 ESV)

In the day in which we live, we often strive to gain influence by means of fame. We believe that we have to establish a following. And we set out to do just that.

This is true not only in our day-to-day lives, where everyone wants to be Instagram famous. It’s true also in the church. It’s true of our ministries.

We believe that, if we’re to reach people for Christ, and if we’re to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, we have to become well-known and establish a following. And we set out to do just that. We try to get a following on YouTube. We try to get a following on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and every other social media app in existence. We create podcasts and we write books.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m trying to say. There are legitimate uses of these avenues.  And they can certainly be used for ministry in a healthy way. But, quite often, it becomes more about us than it is about Christ.

However, we can also have a sizable influence outside of these avenues. We can faithfully carry out our ministry apart from them. And this becomes clear as we look at the above passage.

Honestly, this passage is one that we tend to read over as we come to it in our Bible. We look at it as irrelevant. After all, it’s simply a list of greetings.

But, as we look at it, we see something interesting. We see that Aquila and Priscilla, with whom Paul worked in Corinth, were involved in the church at Rome. In fact, they had a church meeting in their home. And we see that Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia, was also at Rome. 

If we read further in this passage, we see other interesting connections. Rufus, addressed in verse 13, obviously had a close, and even an intimate, connection to Paul. I say this because of his comment that Rufus’ mother had been a mother to him. And, at this point, Paul had never been to Rome.

We see from this that, as Paul ministered to various people in various places, not only did they come to faith in Christ. And not only did they grow in that faith. They also began to serve the Lord. We see that his ministry became their ministry.

And several of these people ended up in Rome. They were now associated with the church of Rome. Even though Paul had never set foot in that city, and although he hadn’t yet preached in that city, his ministry had a big influence on its church.

Although we rarely think about it, we can see the same thing if we look at our own congregations. We find that people who came to Christ in our congregations, and who grew in faith in our congregations, are now engaging in ministry in another area. Even if they aren’t pastors, they are involved in the ministry of a church in their new area.

Those who were once influenced by us are now influencing others. Those who received the gospel from us are sharing it with others. And those who learned the Word of God from us are now teaching it to others.

In this way, our congregation, and perhaps even we ourselves, have influenced the ministry in distant locations. In this way, we’ve influenced the ministry in another part of the country. We have done so, in fact, in distant parts of the world.

Our name may not be attached to it. But that doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that Christ’s name is proclaimed. The only thing that matters is that the gospel is proclaimed. The only thing that matters is that the ministry, entrusted to us by Christ, is carried out.

My point in this is that, as we faithfully carry out our ministries, as we do so in a small church in a small town, in a sparsely populated state, we have a greater impact than we could ever realize. We don’t have to be famous to reach people outside of our area. All we have to do is be faithful in what the Lord has assigned to us.

Loving the Weak

 

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

(Romans 15:1 ESV)

 

Our tendency, as human beings, is to look first and foremost to our own interests. Our tendency is to satisfy our own desires. Our tendency is to put our own welfare and our own wants ahead of all else.

 

This is true of us not only as people. It’s true of us also as Christians. It’s true of us because we continue to bear our sinful nature.

 

Paul, however, turns this on its head. He tells us, in the passage above, that those who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak. And they have an obligation not to please themselves.

 

As we break this down, we first have to identify the strong and the weak. And this isn’t always as easy as it seems. Those who seem to be strong are often the weakest among us.

 

The strong are those who know the freedom they have in Christ and who are able to live in it. The weak are those who struggle with this freedom. They are those who are bound by their conscience to laws and regulations that are unnecessary.

 

Yet, even though the strong know the freedom they have in Christ, and even though they are able to live in it without guilt, their freedom is not to be their primary concern. Maintaining their freedom is not to be their primary concern. Their focus is to be upon the weak.

 

They are to bear with the failings of the weak. In fact, they are obligated to do so. Their primary concern is to be their brother in Christ.

 

Paul goes on to explain that we’re each to please our neighbor for his good. We’re to please our neighbor to build him up. And he points us to Christ as the ultimate example of this.

 

Christ, he says, did not please himself. Instead, he took upon himself our sin. He took upon himself our guilt and shame.

 

In this way, he reminds us of what Jesus did upon the cross. He didn’t come into this world for his sake, but for ours. And he died upon the cross not for any guilt of his own, but for that we have incurred.

 

In the same way, then, we must consider our brother in our midst. We must do nothing that will harm him in terms of his faith or salvation. We must put no stumbling block before him. We’re, rather, to do all that we can to build him up. And we’re to do so even if it means sacrificing for a time the freedom we enjoy.

Freedom in Christ

 

“For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

(Romans 14:23 ESV)

 

As believers, our morality, our practices, and our lifestyle are derived from the Word of God. They’re derived from Scripture, as it reveals to us the nature and character of God. And we find in Scripture, of course, what God has declared to be sinful and what he has declared righteous.

 

God gives to us clear boundaries. We’re not to steal, trusting that God will provide for our needs and remaining content with that he’s given. We’re not to murder, or otherwise bring harm to our neighbor. And we’re not to bear false witness about our neighbor, choosing instead to protect his reputation.

 

As we, then, behave in ways that violate these truths, we confess our sin and repent. As we discover tendencies within ourselves that contradict these truths, we confess them and repent. And as we discover mindsets, attitudes, and feelings that contradict these truths, we confess them and repent.

 

We seek the forgiveness of God. We seek the salvation of God. And we seek the strength of God, that we might serve and glorify him in all that we do.

 

However, we yet find differences in the church when it comes to the lifestyle that we live. We find some differences in the church when it comes to the practices in which we engage. And these differences relate to the freedoms we have in Christ.

 

As we seek to live in the faith we confess, there are believers who struggle with the freedoms we have in Christ. For whatever reason, they can’t bring themselves to accept them.  And, at the same time, others in the church are able to enjoy them.

 

 The cases I’m referring to are those where neither party is sinning. Neither party is violating the Law of God. And neither party is ignoring or dismissing the Word of God.

 

There are those, for example, who abstain entirely from alcohol while others use it in moderation. There are those who will only worship and nap on Sunday, while others feel free to engage in activities for which they’ve had little time throughout the week. And there are those who are compelled to fast at various times while others are not.

 

However, no matter our conviction, we must be fully persuaded. We must be fully convinced in our own heart. And we must live according to our conviction.

 

We must do so because, as we see in the above passage, whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. If we then engage in a practice, lacking the conviction that we have the freedom to do so, we are sinning. And, in that case, we are guilty.

 

We are guilty not because that practice is condemned by God. We’re guilty because we are convicted in doing so. We’re guilty because we are not acting in faith.

 

If our conscience is not clear before God, when it comes to a certain practice, we must not engage in it. If having a glass of wine with dinner violates our conscience, we dare not do so. If weeding the garden on Sunday afternoon violates our conscience, we dare not do so. And if eating meat during Lent violates our conscience, we dare not do so.

 

But if, on the other hand, our conscience is clear, we can go ahead with it. We can have that glass of wine, we can go out and weed the garden, or we can enjoy that steak. We can do so without sin.

 

Our actions are to proceed from our faith. They’re to flow from our faith. They’re to result from the faith that we believe and confess.

Who Is On the Throne?

 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

(Romans 13:1 ESV)

As Christians, our perspective on religion and politics tends to be rather confused. This is especially true in the day in which we live, where each and every issue is so polarized. It’s true, especially today, when the only options seem to be one extreme or the other.

There is little doubt or question when it comes to the spiritual side of things. It’s clear to us that God is the ultimate authority in the church. It’s clear to us that he reigns over his church and that we’re to submit to him. 

When it comes to the government, however, when it comes to the state, we are more than a little confused. It seems to us that, unless we have a Christian president, unless we have Christian legislators, and unless we have Christian judges, God is not in control. It seems to us that he’s not the one in authority.

When it comes to the politics of the day, we would largely say that our leaders are anything but Christian. Even if they profess faith in Christ or claim membership in a church, we would say that they are anything but Christian. And this leads us to the conclusion that God is not in charge.

This would be our conclusion also as we look at the decisions they make. This would be our conclusion as we listen to the words that they speak. This would be our conclusion as it seems that, at every turn, they are contradicting or violating the Word of God.

Our response, then, is that we must win back the state for God. Our response is to raise up something like the Moral Majority to take back control of the government. Our response is to do whatever we can to put God back on his throne.

This shows a faulty understanding of the Lord. It shows a faulty understanding of the world in which we live. And this shows a faulty understanding of Scripture.

We find, in the passage above, that the authorities have been instituted by God. They, in other words, serve at his pleasure. And there is no authority that rules apart from his will.

This is true even in the case of unbelievers who hold power. It’s true even in the case of wicked rulers. And it’s true even of those who reject his Word and continually violate his will.

I realize that this raises some questions. It causes us to ask why God would appoint such people to positions of authority. And it causes us to ask how he can reign if our rulers counter his every desire.

We must realize, however, that God’s ways are higher than our own. We will not always understand what he’s doing. This, in fact, will be the case more often than not.

We must realize also that, as God can work through his people, he can also work through unbelievers. He can use the wicked to accomplish his purpose. This, in fact, is something he’s often done.

The simple fact of the matter is that the Lord reigns. He reigns over the Church, and he reigns over this world in which we live. And this provides us with great comfort.

It provides us with comfort because, no matter how things may seem, we can trust him. It provides us with comfort because, no matter how things may seem, we can know that he is in control. And this fills us with comfort because, no matter how things may seem, his will is going to be accomplished.

The Gracious Giving of Honor

 

“Outdo one another in showing honor.”

(Romans 12:10 ESV)

 

Most of us are, by nature, extremely competitive. Whatever the event, we want to win. And no matter the occasion, we want to come out on top.

 

We want to win the football game we’re playing with our team. We want to win the board game we’re playing with our family. And we want to win the game of frisbee golf we’re playing with our friends.

 

When it comes to school, we want to get better grades than the other students and we want to be at the top of the class. When it comes to our physical performance, we want to run faster or to lift more weight than anyone else. And when it comes to fantasy football, we want bragging rights over everyone in our league.

 

This is what comes to mind as I read the above passage. Paul says that we’re to outdo one another in showing honor. And as I read this, with my competitive nature, I understand it to say that I’m to excel in this, that I’m to do better in this than everyone else.

 

That being said, this isn’t a competition. Nor is it a contest that we can win. But there is a sense in which this is a race.

 

Our natural tendency, when it comes to showing honor, is to reciprocate. What I mean is that we will show honor only when we’ve received honor. We will show honor only to those who have honored us. And we’ll show honor to others only in the same measure we’ve received it from them.

 

We refuse to show honor to those who have refused it to us. We refuse to give to others more honor than we’ve received. To do so, we believe, is degrading and humiliating.

 

But we are being called, in this passage, to give honor graciously. We are to give it not because it's been earned or deserved. And we are not to limit it based on the treatment we, ourselves, have received.

 

This is captured by some of the other translations of this phrase. The NASB says that we’re to give preference to one another in honor. The NIV says that we’re to honor one another above ourselves. The KJV says that we’re to prefer one another in honor. And the CSB says that we’re to take the lead in honoring one another.

 

The idea, then, is that we’re to go first in giving honor to others. The idea is that we’re to give even more honor than we’ve received. And the idea is that we’re not to selfishly look for honor, or expect it from others.

The Faithfulness of God

 

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29 ESV

 

We have all known those who were once faithful. At one point they were very devoted to the Lord. But, somewhere along the line, things changed.

 

No longer are they devoted. No longer are they trusting in Christ. And no longer do they believe his Word and promises.

 

It makes us wonder if we were somehow duped. It makes us wonder if these people ever truly believed. And it leads us to ask if they were ever truly saved.

 

Much of this comes from the idea of “once saved, always saved,” espoused by American Evangelicalism. We reason that, if these people are not now believing, they never did. And we determine that, if they are not now saved, they never truly were.

 

We certainly can’t deny this possibility. There are some, I suppose, who go through the motions and say the right things, pulling the wool over our eyes. There’s also the possibility, however, that, for whatever reason, they turned their backs on the Lord and walked away from the faith they once held.

 

Yet, even in that case, we don’t give up on them. We don’t give up on them because the Word and promise of God is just as valid now as it was then. We don’t give up on them because, should they return to faith in Christ, God’s salvation remains available to them.

 

This is the encouragement we receive from the above verse. Paul had been addressing the spiritual state of Israel. And he noted their fall.

 

As things currently stand, the Jews, or what we might refer to as national Israel, are enemies of God. They have rejected his promises that were fulfilled in Jesus. And, in this way, they have rejected the salvation of God that was provided by Jesus.

 

Yet, Paul notes, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. They are beloved because of the faith of their forebears, namely Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Although they had rejected God, God had not rejected them.

 

The gifts and the calling of God, he tells us, are irrevocable. They are binding. They are unchangeable.

 

Paul is not suggesting that they are saved simply because they are Jews. Nor is he suggesting that he’ll overlook their rejection of Christ for the sake of their ancestors. He’s saying, rather, that God’s grace, that his invitation, still stands.

 

They were not outside of God’s reach. They were not beyond saving. If they received God’s Word and promise, looking to Jesus in faith, his grace was available to them.

 

And this, you see, is the comfort this passage provides to us. It provides comfort to us when it comes to our friends and loved ones who have turned their back on God. Although they may now stand condemned, although they may now be outside of the grace of God, his gifts and calling are irrevocable.

 

The promises that he once made remain valid. They are still in force. They have not lost their applicability.

 

Should they receive the grace of God still being offered to them, they can yet be saved. Should they again trust in his promise, God will welcome them home. Until the return of Christ, until the day of grace comes to an end, his invitation and offer still stands.

Who's at Fault?

 

“But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.””

(Romans 10:21 ESV)

 

We get very defensive when it comes to the matter of our salvation. If it is even suggested that we are not good people, we become upset. And when we are told that we need God’s forgiveness and mercy, we are offended.

 

We believe that it would be wrong, we believe that it would be unjust of God to withhold from us his salvation. Even though we acknowledge our imperfection, we believe ourselves to be well-intentioned. Even though we acknowledge the fact that we sin, we believe ourselves to be generally obedient. And although we admit to wrongdoing, we believe that we’ve performed far more good deeds than bad.

 

We also get defensive when it comes to the salvation of our friends and loved ones. Even if they have rejected the gospel, and even if they’ve lived a life of unrepentance, we believe that it would be wrong of God to deny them salvation. We become upset as we believe them to be inherently good and deserving of the blessings of God.

 

We even become defensive when it comes to those unknown to us. We become defensive when it comes to those on the other side of the world, with whom we’ve had no contact whatsoever. From our perspective, how dare anyone question the fact that they will be saved?

 

Again, we believe most people to be good people. We believe them to be well-intentioned. And if they have not believed the gospel, or if they have not heard the gospel, we insist that it’s not their fault.

 

In our view, most people should be saved. Other than those who have lived horribly wicked lives, we believe that most should be saved. And if they’re not, we try to pass the blame onto God.

 

He, we think, should’ve done more. He should’ve given them greater opportunity to hear the gospel and to believe. And we believe that, if only he’d done more, if only he’d worked harder, everyone would believe.

 

God, however, has done everything necessary to provide for our salvation. His work is sufficient. Although, rightfully, he could have left us in sin and judgment, he’s ceaselessly held out his hands to us.

 

This is the point Paul is making in the passage above, as it pertains to Israel. He pointed out that salvation had been received by the Gentiles, who had not sought it. But it had been missed by Israel, who was seeking it.

 

Yet they alone bore the fault of their judgment. Although God had reached out to them, they had refused him. It was they who were disobedient, and it was they who were contrary.

 

The same, you see, applies to so many of us today. Yes, there are those who have received the gospel. There are those who have trusted in Christ and received his blessings. But there are so many who have refused him.

 

And the problem isn’t God or his effort. The problem is us. The problem is our disobedience. The problem is our stubbornness. And the problem is our rejection of the Lord.

 

If we fail to receive the salvation of God, we will be without excuse. We will have no one to blame but ourselves. The fault of our disobedience and contrary nature is our own.

Our Neighbor's Good

 

“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”

(1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV)

 

Society tells us to do whatever makes us happy. It tells us we should do that which fulfills us. And it tells us that we deserve these things.

 

It sounds very convincing. It sounds convincing because it frames this in the context of self-care. It tells us that it’s about taking care of both our physical as well as our mental health.

 

And, for the most part, we in the church have bought in. As we go about our lives, we naturally pursue those things that serve us. We pursue those things that satisfy us. We pursue those things that please us.

 

In reality, of course, this flows from our sinful nature. It flows from a nature that is inherently selfish. It flows from a nature which is fundamentally self-centered and self-seeking.

 

 As we look to Scripture, however, we find that it commands the opposite. It calls us to do that which goes against our natural tendencies. It calls us to turn from our selfish tendencies and to put our neighbor ahead of ourselves.

 

This is Paul’s point, in the passage above. He tells us that we’re to seek not our own good, but that of our neighbor. We’re to seek the welfare and the blessing of our neighbor ahead of our own.

 

We see this not only in the above passage, but throughout Scripture. For example, in Philippians 2:3-4 Paul says: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” And in 1 Corinthians 13, we’re told that love does not insist on its own way.

 

In John 13:34-35, Jesus says it this way: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” And we, of course, know how Jesus loved us. He loved us by laying down his life for us.

 

I’m not suggesting that we ignore our health and well-being. If we fail to take care of ourselves, we’ll be of no good to anyone. However, we’re to seek the blessing of others ahead of our own. And we’re to seek not our benefit, but that of our neighbor.

 

In fact, we serve God by serving our neighbor. We love God by loving our neighbor. And we worship God as we help and minister to our neighbor.

The Source of Faith

 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

(Romans 10:17 ESV)

I’ve run into few, over the years, who dispute the importance of the Bible. I’ve run into few who dispute the value of the Word of God. However, that being said, most are prone to neglect it.

Even those who believe that the Bible is inerrant and infallible tend to neglect it. They fail to make use of it. They ignore and disregard it.

As we look at the above passage, we see one reason why the Bible is so important. We find that it’s indispensable for us as Christians. We find, in fact, that we cannot be saved without it.

Paul made clear to his readers that salvation is available to all people. He said that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. He then asked how we’re to call on the Lord if we haven’t believed in him.

It’s clear that we can’t. Unless we believe in the Lord, we will not call on him and be saved. And he went on to argue that we can’t believe in the Lord unless we first hear of him.

This, you see, is why the Word of God is essential. This is why we can’t be saved apart from it. Unless we hear the Word of God, we cannot believe in Jesus. Unless we believe in Jesus, we cannot call on him. And unless we call on him, we cannot be saved.

Faith, you see, is not an inherent quality that we possess. Nor is it an ability on which we act. Just as our salvation is a free gift, given to us by God, so too is faith.

According to Paul, faith comes from hearing. As we hear the Word of God, we are enabled to believe. The Holy Spirit works in us, through the Word, drawing us to faith.

In the same way, God sustains us in faith. He upholds us in faith. And he enables us to persevere in faith. 

It’s for this reason, while explaining the Third Commandment, Martin Luther says we’re to fear and love God so that we do not despise his Word and the preaching of the same, but deem it holy and gladly hear and learn it. The reason we honor the Sabbath Day is that we might hear the Word of God. The reason we keep it holy is that we might receive the blessings God offers to us in his Word.

Knowing that Scripture is vital to our faith, we’re to make use of the opportunities God gives us to receive it. We’re to read it regularly. We’re to study it, both independently and corporately. And we’re to listen to it, we’re to hear it, as it’s preached and taught.

We must not make the mistake of believing that, in this way, we earn or become deserving of God’s mercy. We must, rather, recognize it as God’s gift. We must recognize that God works through his Word, enabling us to believe, that we might receive his salvation.

The Source of Righteousness

 “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

(Romans 10:1–4 ESV)

When it comes to our faith, and when it comes to our desire for salvation, there is a common trap into which we fall. And the reason we fall into it is because it flows from our sinful nature. It is, in fact, our default.

The trap to which I’m referring is that of works righteousness. It’s an attempt to earn or to become deserving of the salvation of God. It’s the belief that we determine our salvation by way of ritual or deed.

This is the basis of every religion practiced in the world today, outside of Christianity. It’s the center of their teaching. And it makes up the core of their practice.

This was also the trap into which the Jews had fallen. As Paul expresses his desire for their salvation, in the passage above, he makes clear the reason they were not. Although they were zealous, he says, they were ignorant of the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own.

The righteousness of God, you see, was freely available to them in Jesus. It had been provided to them by his death and resurrection. And it could be received by faith.

Rather than receive the righteousness of God, however, they sought to secure their own. They sought to enact their own. They sought to achieve their own.

But this led only to their condemnation. It led only to their judgment. It did so because righteousness cannot be attained in this way. It did so because true righteousness is found only in Christ.

This, then, results as we attempt to establish our own righteousness. This is the result when we attempt to gain God’s favor apart from Christ. In that case, we receive only condemnation and judgment.

But, in Christ, this righteousness is received freely. And it’s in no way dependent upon us. It results neither from our nature nor from our accomplishments. 

This, then, fills us with peace. It comforts us with certainty. It enables us to rest in the fact that this righteousness is ours in spite of our deficiencies and failures.

Children of God

 “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”

(‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Christians, today, have some really strange ideas when it comes to the desire of God. We have some really strange ideas when it comes to the work of God. Some of us believe, for example, that God was interested in only one nation of people in Old Testament times while, today, he is interested in all. 

Many Christians tend to believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, were and are God’s people because of their bloodline. We believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, are God’s people because of their physical lineage. We believe that the Israelites, that the Jews, are children of God because they are descended from Abraham.

This, then, leads to our focus on world events, as they pertain to the modern-day nation of Israel. It leads to our anticipation of the rebuilding of a Jewish temple and the restoration of the sacrifice, even though we believe Jesus’ sacrifice to be sufficient. And it leads to our belief that the Jews are saved apart from faith in Christ, even though this contradicts the very gospel that we confess and proclaim.

This is addressed  in the above passage and, really, Romans 9 as a whole. Paul makes clear to us, in this chapter, that God’s people have never been identified or defined based on their bloodline. They have always been identified, rather, by faith. They have been defined based on their trust in the promises of God.

Paul tells us in Romans 9 that not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. In other words, the fact that they are Jews, the fact that they are Israelites, does not make them the people of God. Their heritage plays no role whatsoever in their standing before God.

He then, in the passage above, explains to us what it is that does so. He explains what it is that makes us the people of God. And he explains to us what changes our standing with God, placing us in a right relationship with him.

It is not the children of flesh, he says, who are the children of God. It is the children of promise. It is those who have received the promises of God by faith.

He goes on to use Isaac as a case in point. He was not Abraham’s offspring because he was his naturally born son. He was the offspring of Abraham because he had been promised to Abraham by God. And,  more than that, he was the offspring of Abraham because he received this promise of God by faith.

In this way, you see, we are children of Abraham. Even though we are not descended from him in a physical sense, we are his offspring. And we are his offspring because we have received his promise in faith.

From the beginning of time, God has desired not only one people to be his own, but all people. He has desired not one nation to be his own, but all nations. And he has enabled us all to become his people, to become his children, by faith.

Saved from What?

 

“…you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

(Matthew 1:21 ESV)

 

Although Christmas is a Christian holiday, it’s truly a worldwide celebration. It’s a holiday that’s enjoyed by Christians and non-Christians alike. It’s even a holiday that’s celebrated and enjoyed by people of other faiths.

 

Even knowing that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, it’s clear that, for many of us, the true meaning of the holiday has been lost. It’s clear that we don’t understand the significance of his birth. And it’s clear that we don’t understand the reason for this holy day.

 

This is true, even knowing that Jesus is our Savior. It’s true even knowing that he is our Deliverer. It’s true even knowing that he’s our Redeemer.

 

We recognize the correct terms. And we use the correct terms. But we do so without fully grasping their meaning.

 

As I’ve said a couple of times recently, if Jesus came to save us, there is clearly something from which we need to be saved. And it’s this that we fail to grasp. We do not recognize our bondage, nor do we want to.

 

As the angel told Joseph in the above passage, the child to be born was to be named Jesus, which means “The Lord is Salvation.” This was to be his name because of what he was to do. He would save his people from their sins.

 

It’s this that we fail to believe about ourselves. It’s this that we fail to acknowledge about ourselves. And if we do, our tendency is to soften it.

 

We don’t want to acknowledge the fact that we are sinners. We might acknowledge the fact that we are imperfect. And we might acknowledge the fact that we make mistakes. But we struggle to believe or to acknowledge that we are sinners.

 

We also don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of the consequences of sin. We don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of death. And we certainly don’t want to believe or acknowledge that we’re deserving of hell.

 

But this, you see, is exactly why Jesus was born into the world. He was born to save us from sin. He came to deliver us from death and hell.

 

He did this, of course, by his death on the cross. He did this by offering himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He did this by taking upon himself the penalty that we’ve incurred.

 

This is the reason why we celebrate his birth. He came to do for us what we’re unable to do for ourselves. And, in this way, as we trust in him, we are granted the blessings of forgiveness and life everlasting.