bible

Reflection on Romans 10:1-10

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Scripture

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Observation

Paul’s deep desire is for his own people to be saved. They love God, but their zeal is misdirected. They cling to the Law, but Christ has died for the purpose for which the Law was given.

Moses made it clear that, to be saved, a person had to obey all the commands. But faith says that the message of salvation is close at hand; in fact it is on our lips and in our heart.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Application

Being right with God is not a complicated affair. We don’t have to obey a million laws or go through complex religious sacrifices or go on dangerous pilgrimages. No, we simply change our identity from “sinner” to “saint.”

The first step is to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. This is a declaration of loyalty.

We have many people, organisations, and institutions demanding our loyalty. Political leaders, football teams, social media influencers, car manufacturers- they all want our affections, even our worship. Into the mix we have our own desires and lusts wanting to be indulged.

To be a christian is to say that Jesus is Lord. He is my King, my boss, my only desire.

For early christians, this was a dangerous confession. The state demanded that every citizen confess “Caesar is Lord,” but christians refused to the point of death. Only Jesus is Lord.

The second step is to believe in our hearts that God raised Him from death. We might not really grasp the meaning of this when we first make our confession, but the Holy Spirit brings deeper conviction over time.

If I believe in my heart that Jesus rose from the dead, then I know that I, too, will rise from the dead. Then the attractions of this world become less important to me in the light of eternity.

Prayer

Lord, I believe and I confess. Holy Spirit, lead me deeper into conviction and total surrender. Amen.

Ephesians 3:6

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 3:6. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 3:6

… that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

In the previous verses, Paul has spoken about the mystery that was previously hidden, but has now been revealed. now he talks about the content of the revelation.

The revelation is this: the Gentiles, who were previously excluded from the promises of God, now included in the promises, specifically the promise of eternal life. Those who were once far off, indeed considered unclean or impure by Jewish people, are now in the centre of God’s plan for a kingdom of priests .

In fact, Paul argues that Gentiles are not just grafted into an existing structure, remaining separate. No, under the new covenant initiated by Christ, there is a new structure, a new household, a new temple in which there is no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The divisions of the old covenant are now obsolete because Christ has destroyed the distinctives.

Gentiles are now fellow heirs. Paul doesn’t say here who we are fellow heirs with. We would assume that the Gentiles fare fellow heirs with the Jews. In Romans 8:17 he makes the astonishing claim that we heirs of God the Father, joint heirs with Christ.

The promises of God do not flow to the Jews because they are God’s chosen people. The promises of God flow to all believers, to all who are in Christ, because of God’s grace to Christ.

God made promises to the Jews because they were the heirs of Abraham, the descendants of whom God had promised they would be as many as the stars in the sky, and through them the world would be blessed. Now, we who are Gentiles share in that promise because of Christ.

But there is much more. As the heir to God the Father, Christ gets everything that is God’s- that is the is the whole of creation, whether we see it or not, the things in the heavens and on the earth, the spiritual realm as well as the physical realm. The whole of creation is ours because we are joint Heirs with Christ.

We are members of the same body. All who believe in Christ are members of His body. We belong together, placed organically where we can be most effective in the body.

There is just one body of Christ. There is not a Jewish body and a Gentile body. There is not a Catholic body, and an Anglican body, a Pentecostal body, and so on. There is just one body

All who follow Christ are in the one body. We get the same benefits, the same honour, the same destination. We are all part of the one church, the Body of Christ.

As Paul says elsewhere, this means that if one part of the church is hurting, then we all hurt. It makes no sense then to act or even speak against other believers. That is like my finger choosing to poke my eyes.

Believing Jews and believing Gentiles are the same body. Jews will not be saved by obeying the law of Moses, while Gentles take a different route. We are in the one body, following one path to salvation.

We Gentiles are partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

What is this promise? Believe in the Lord and turn from your sins and you will be saved.

The gospel is a very simple message. Our sins have separated us from God, and He will judge us. But he loves us and has provided the sacrifice of Jesus to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus is the way of salvation. If we believe in him and turn away from our sins, then God will forgive us and give us life forever.

That is the promise, and God has given us grace to partake in it, that is to participate in it.

The word partake suggests something active. This promise of eternity is not a thing that you sign up for and then put in a drawer. The promise is active- we participate In God’s Kingdom now, by serving his purposes, living his ways, communicating to others the power of the gospel .

This revelation that Paul was given is about the fact that God’s salvation is now available to every single person who will receive it.

Key points in this verse:

  • The Gentiles are now included in God’s plan for humanity
  • We are fellow heirs – not just with the Jews but with Christ himself
  • Our inheritance is a share in the whole of creation
  • We are part of a whole new structure not just bolted on to the old structure
  • We are members of one body
  • We share in an awesome promise in Christ through the gospel

Reflection on Romans 9:24-33

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Scripture

Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standard, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.

Observation

The prophet Hosea wrote that those who were not God’s people are now called His people and that they, the Gentiles, would be called God’s children.

On the other hand, Isaiah had prophesied that the people of Israel would be reduced to a remnant.

Even though the Gentiles had not been living by God’s Law they were made right with God through faith. But the people of Israel had failed to be right with God because their focus was on keeping the law instead of trusting in God.

Application

God’s way of salvation for Jews and Gentiles was always the same – namely through faith and relationship.

The Law, which was given to show how God wanted His people to live, had become a stumbling block because the people turned it into an idol. Instead of recognising that they had been chosen by God’s grace, they made obedience to the Law the sign or the means of God’s acceptance.

Gentiles, on the other hand, had no such impediment. When Jesus died on the cross, we understood that we were sinners saved by grace. In faith we receive God’s promise of salvation.

We don’t need anything else to be made right with God – just an understanding that Jesus’ death on the cross has defeated our sin.

Prayer

Than you, Father, for the knowledge that you accept all people by faith. Amen.

Ephesians 3:4-5

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 3:4-5. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 3:4-5

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it is now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

In writing to the Ephesians, Paul is sharing the revelation of the mystery of Christ of which previous generations knew nothing, because it was a mystery ( i.e. a hidden thing). So now they can perceive the reality of the depth of his insight.

Paul had a revelation of this mystery, a sudden understanding given by God of how Christ came to fulfil the law of Moses and all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. Nobody saw this in previous generations as clearly as the apostles did in the time since Christ’s death and resurrection.

Where Paul excelled was the depth of his insight into the revelation. Many people receive revelation about salvation, but a proportion of them don’t move into insight. They stay with the revelation, “Jesus died for my sins so now I am forgiven.” The insight comes when we realise that, because off this my whole life must be lived for him. It is that insight that propels us from forgiveness to sanctification.

Paul wants the Ephesians to perceive his insight, that is to move forwards in their understanding of how much God loves them, the spiritual authority that they now have, and the implications of all this in their personal discipleship, in their relationships, and in their service of the Lord.

Paul says that the mystery of Christ has been revealed to the apostles and prophets. I made some mention of these gifts in 2:20 where Paul says the church is like a building built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone.

The apostles and prophets were godly men and women given the task leading the church into deeper insight off the revelation of Christ. One of the tasks of the church is to discern whether those who claim to be apostles and prophets are true servants of the Lord Jesus. As was stated earlier, this is by testing their teaching and revelation against scripture and against the character of Christ.

When any person- apostle, prophet, standard untitled Christian- receives a revelation or even a doctrine or Bible verse, we must test whether what they are saying against the revelation we already have. It is possible that we have the truth and they are deceived. It is possible that what they say jars because we have an inadequate understanding. Most often, the truth lies in between these two extremes .

Apostles and prophets were the ones who unveiled the mystery, who gave clarity and insight into what had previously been hidden, namely the grace of God in sending his one and only Son for us. They still have this role now- to reveal the centre of our faith, the person of Christ.

Key points in these verses

  • The person of Christ was a mystery until the apostles and prophets gained revelation that unveiled what was hidden.
  • Paul had a special measure of insight, particularly in respect of the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s Kingdom .
  • Paul wanted to share that insight so that others could grow in their understanding and relationship with Christ.
  • Apostles and prophets still share this ministry of unveiling Christ.

Reflection on Romans 9:14-23

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Scripture

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have the right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?

Observation

Even though God chooses some and not others, we cannot accuse Him of being unfair. He shows mercy to anyone He chooses.

God told Pharaoh that He appointed him for displaying God’s power and to spread God’s fame.

If God determines who will respond to the Good News, why does He blame those who do not respond? This is like a potter who makes two jars from the one lump of clay – one to decorate and the other one to use to hold garbage.

Application

There are many questions where the boundaries of human free will and divine sovereignty intersect.

Calvinists say that God chooses who will be saved and who will be condemned. Free will in people can never impinge on God’s freedom to do with His creation whatever He chooses.

Arminians, on the other hand, say that people are free to respond to the gospel and to receive God’s offer of salvation. They are also free to reject God. Love cannot be love unless we choose to receive or reject the offer of love.

The truth is that whichever end you choose to start at, you must understand both sides. God is in control, and He controls our destiny in such a way that we still choose to accept or reject Him.

Paul quotes the example of Pharaoh whom it was said was chosen by God to glorify Him through the world. At this point, Pharaoh had a choice to glorify God through repentance and submission to the Lord. We know he chose a different way. Even though God was determined to free His people from Egypt, Pharaoh had freedom to work with the Lord or to resist Him.

The choice always remains with us about whether we will follow God’s way or not. As we walk down the path of rebellion, our hearts become harder and harder.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you for calling me out of darkness and into the kingdom of your dear Son. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 9:1-13

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Scripture

This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.

Observation

Paul writes that his heart is filled with grief for his Jewish brothers and sisters. They are God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them, made covenants with them, and gave them the privilege of worshipping Him.

Being a descendant of Abraham, though, does not make a person a child of God. Only the children of the promise are God’s children. The example of this is Esau’s rejection by God in favour of Jacob.

Application

Many Jewish people made their family tree – their lineage from Abraham – the proof that they were God’s children. But Paul says that the Scriptures show that not every descendant of Abraham is a child of God.

Many Jews refused to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Since Jesus is now the only way to the Father and the only way to be saved, this means that they are going to hell. They could have been saved, and should have been saved, but their rejection of Christ showed they were not truly children of God’s promise.

Anyone who puts their trust in anything other than Christ will also be rejected by God. There is only one way to be saved, one name by which we are forgiven- Jesus.

You can’t be saved by a parent’s faith, by going to church, or by water baptism.

Jesus is the only way to be saved.

Prayer

Lord, I thank you that you have given us your Son to be our salvation. Please protect me from the idols that try to distract me from you, and keep me on the right path with you. Amen.

John Piper: 10 Reasons to Read the Bible Every Day

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Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

John Piper gives 10 great reasons to read the Bible every day

Ten Reasons to Read Every Day
So, I have ten reasons that I believe this — ten reasons to make Bible reading, Bible understanding, Bible memory essential to the Christian life. Resist feelings of self-sufficiency that say, “I don’t need the Scripture every day.” Here are my ten reasons.

  1. Scripture saves.
    Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16)

“God saves us daily by Scripture.”TweetShare on Facebook
Salvation has happened to God’s people, salvation is — at this moment — happening to God’s people, and salvation will happen completely at the resurrection of God’s people, and it is happening now by means. Paul says to hold fast to the teaching and thereby save yourself. God saves us daily by Scripture.

  1. Scripture frees from Satan.
    You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

And the context is that Jesus is showing the Jewish leaders that, though they think they are not slaves, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires” (John 8:44). Satan is your enemy, young Christian. He is a thousand times stronger than you are. So, John writes to the young believers,

I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:14)

This is our only hope for defeating a supernatural enemy. Every time Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13), he struck back with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17), and he had it memorized, so he didn’t have to carry a book in the wilderness.

  1. Scripture imparts grace and peace.
    May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2)

Knowledge of God gained through Scripture is not identical with grace, but Peter says it is a means of grace. If we want to be made peaceful and powerful through divine grace, Peter says, it happens “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” That knowledge is found in one place: Scripture.

  1. Scripture sanctifies.
    Jesus prayed,

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)

“We’re all assigned in some measure to handle the word of God.”TweetShare on Facebook
Sanctification is the process of becoming holy — that is, becoming more like Christ and like God, who is perfectly holy. This is not optional. Hebrews 12:14 says, “Strive . . . for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

We don’t become perfect in this life, but we do become holy. God sanctifies his people. And Jesus prays to his Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” It couldn’t be more plain, or more important.

  1. Scripture gives joy.
    You received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:6)

His delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

Life without joy is unbearable. The Christian life is a life of many afflictions. But in them all, God sustains joy, and he does it by the Scriptures.

  1. Scripture protects us from destructive error.
    Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . . so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine. (Ephesians 4:13–14)

How do young Christians stop being leaves blown around by cultural and theological winds and opinions? Answer: “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” — knowledge that they experience not as the opinion of man, but as the word of God. That’s found in one place: the Scriptures.

  1. Scripture is the hope of heaven.
    And what I mean by this is that full understanding, full enjoyment of the truth of Scripture, will be experienced only in heaven.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

The knowledge of God — all the fullness that a created being can properly comprehend and enjoy — will not be withheld from us indefinitely. The frustrations of our present limitations of understanding and enjoyment will be removed. How fitting it is, then, that we be ever growing now in what will be our final joy in the age to come.

  1. Scripture will be resisted by some.
    The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. (2 Timothy 4:3)

In other words, we need to know the Scriptures so that we’re not taken off guard or knocked off balance or led away by false teachers. We need to receive the Scriptures regularly to be ready to meet those who refuse to receive the Scriptures.

  1. The right handling of Scripture is approved by God.
    Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

It is a precious thing to be assigned to do a very important task, and then to find the master worker approving of what he’s asked you to do. We’re all assigned in some measure to handle the word of God. And what a wonderful opportunity to be pleasing to the Lord.

  1. Scripture gives and sustains life.
    Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
    (Matthew 4:4)

Spiritual life — eternal life — just like physical life, must be fed, not by bread, but by the word of God. If you think that you have eternal life as a kind of vaccination against hell, which needs no nourishment, you don’t know what spiritual life is.

So, there are ten reasons for why young believers should resolve with all their might — all the might that God gives them — to make reading and meditating on and understanding and memorizing the Scriptures essential, nonnegotiable, in their Christian life.

Reflection on Romans 8:26-39

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Scripture

No power in the sky above or on the earth below – indeed nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Even if we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit prays for us in groans that cannot be expressed in words.

God causes all things to work together for our good. He knows us in advance and He knows what we need to make us more like Jesus.

God has not held anything back – He even gave His son for us, so won’t He give us everything else we need?

Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Despite trouble, calamity, and persecution we are more than conquerors in Christ. So nothing in heaven or on earth can ever overcome us or separate us from the love of God.

Application

God’s love for us is absolutely invincible. Nothing in all creation can cut is off from it.

Some people are afraid of satan and demons. In God’s eyes these are nothing. God is far more powerful and has already broken their power.

Some people fear trouble in the world. I am surprised at the number of christians living in fear of the corona virus. Even when it is legal to hold church meetings, these people keep their churches closed out of fear.

Some people are anxious that they might not stand firm if opposition or persecution come against them. How awful it would be to deny Christ under pressure. But even this cannot separate us from God’s love.

Nothing in the whole of creation can separate us from God’s love – except us. We have freedom to walk away from God. Nothing outside of ourselves can cut us off.

Prayer

This promise is so enormous, Father. Your love for me is never ending, and it is greater than anything that might come against me. Amen.

Reflection on Romans 8:14-25

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Scripture

Since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share in his glory, we must also share in his suffering.

Observation

All who are led by the Spirit of God are God’s children. We have not received a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit of adoption. We call Him “Abba, Father” because we are His children. We are heirs of the Father’s glory, but if we are to share Christ’s gory we must also share in His suffering.

All creation is waiting eagerly to see who God’s children really are. The creation was subjected to bondage by Adam’s sin, but it will join God’s children in freedom from death. We also have the hope of release from sin and suffering.

Application

We are heirs of the Father, joint heirs with Christ.

Everything that God owns He will share with us. This is the way it was meant to be before Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death and curse into the world. People were supposed to work in partnership with God to unlock the secrets of the creation.

When God recreates the heavens and the earth, we will once again walk in perfect fellowship with God, in a world where there is no death and no sorrow.

As heirs of God’s glory, we will share in His morality and character to a far higher degree than we do now. No temptation and no sin will block us from communion with Him.

We will walk with greater dignity and self-esteem. Bullies and abusers will no longer peddle their suffering. We will see ourselves as God sees us- the pinnacle of creation.

All of this is ours. We are already in the family, so we already share in the benefits. But much more will come our way.

In the meantime, as we enjoy the benefits of being Christ’s joint heirs, we must also share in His suffering. In the west, this might mainly be insults and name calling at the moment, although some have lost their jobs for their stand. In many parts of the world, suffering with Christ is a literal fact of life.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for adopting me into your family. Thank you for the promise of inheritance. Amen.

Ephesians 3:2

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 3:2. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 3:2

Surely you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you.

On a first reading, it may appear that this is is saying that Paul is in some privileged position in which he manages (or administers, as the NIV puts it) God’s grace. This seems to give Paul an almost God- like status, if this is what he is saying.

While it should be acknowledged that apostles have great spiritual authority in their area of responsibility (or perhaps a greater sense of spiritual authority than most believers), it would be wrong to say that they have a particular administration of God’s grace to dispense it where and how they see fit.

It should also be acknowledged that the original Greek text of this verse is also very ambiguous. Perhaps the New Living Translation puts this verse as well as any: “assuming, by the way, that God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.”

Stewardship, or administration, here is seen as a responsibility or a calling. Paul seems to have felt his his particular role in the Body was to take the message of salvation to the Gentiles.

The cross had opened up the way of salvation to all people, not just those who were Jews by birth or by choice. The early, mainly Jewish, church was slow to see this. When we read Acts it is almost as if God had to shout this truth into people’s ears. Even when the early Christian leaders acknowledged this, they was slow to actually take the gospel to the Gentiles .

Paul feels that his ministry is to the Gentiles, even though he is a Jew of the highest qualifications. God has laid on him this burden of responsibility to take the gospel to the Gentiles.

His “stewardship of God’s grace” then is to take the message to as many Gentiles as possible.

So Paul is saying here “surely you have heard of this responsibility that I have for you to preach the gospel and take God’s grace to you.”

Paul says this stewardship was given to him. It is a gift that God placed on him. He didn’t claim it for himself. He did not earn it, or even seek it. This stewardship of God’s grace is itself a grace- an undeserved gift from god.

Paul started his ministry by going to the Jews in each town, but despite his studies as a Rabbi, he had much more success with the Gentiles than with the Jews. He did not choose this ministry or stewardship, but God placed is upon him, or released it through him .

The result was a tremendous extension of the gospel right through the Roman Empire, indeed today, right through the whole world .

Key points in this verse

  • Paul’s stewardship of grace was about the responsibility he felt to take the gospel to all the world
  • Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles was both a responsibility and a grace
  • Though Paul preached to the Jews as well as the Gentiles, his responsibility or calling, was to the Gentiles