We have
exciting two days ahead of us. Not only shall we learn more
Law and
Sin but, first and foremost, Paul will assess the
Jewish question in the tiniest detail that leaves us both
out of breath and
ambiguous about their ultimate fate. We shall see, how God reserves the
Right to surprise us and does not reveal all the intricacies of our destiny until the events during the
End of Times have been unraveled.
As we enter
Romans 7 we are still contemplating the complex issues of
Law, Faith, and Sin. In a chocking but necessary metaphor, Paul compares us True Believers to
women and the husbands to
Jesus. The woman is bound to the husband while the man lives but freed upon the becoming a dowager wife. Similarly,
Jesus's Death makes us dead to the Law and eligible to marry Jesus in
Eternal Life. This is not a marriage consummated by revolting fornication but in Spiritual union.
Romans 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Without the Law we would
not be able to sin, but because we have been taught about
God's Law, we start to
sin, and because we start to sin and the Law is impossible to keep, God must also free us from sin through Faith, and this makes the
Law Holy, as without it we would not need to be
freed from sin. This is why we have to teach the Heathens about the
Law and Jesus so that they start needing Him to be Saved. This is a
wonderful Plan that ascertains an adequate but small amount of souls to enter
Heaven and a
massive amount (Matthew 7:14) of sinners that will enter
Hell for Eternity.
Romans 7:8
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:12-13
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Due to this, Law is not enough to Save us. God designed it so. Another entity is needed for Salvation.
Jesus!
Romans 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 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.
Glory! Now we have the answer!
Jesus is always the answer! This idea is further developed in
Chapter 8.
Romans 8:3-4
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
In us! Who are
"we"? We are the ones who
walk after Jesus. No-one else. God made the flesh sinful in need of Redemption. His chosen method to cure this was He Himself as
Jesus.
Romans 8:8
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
No hope for
anyone else! Glory! This means constant persecution and suffering, but the rewards are magnificent.
Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Now we make a
detour for the duration of one verse, as Paul reminds of us of
Creation Theology, and especially of the events that led to the
Fall (Genesis 3:6). All Creation is stained and useless and ready for recycling.
Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
This means that the Fall (Genesis 3:6) was not only Real but also
Necessary. Without it we would not have needed the
Law and without the
Law we would not have continued to
Sin and without
Sinning we would not have needed Redemption and if we did not need Redemption Jesus would have been just another fool. Jesus was made useful because of this wonderful narrative. Praise! God planned this out in elaborate detail.
Romans 8:30-31
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
We are thus going to
win in the End. Once Saved, our ultimate Destiny is now
established!
Romans 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now THAT was a jolly nice Chapter. What about
Chapter 9? It's time to think about the
Jews. Now, this does not concern us directly as we're not Jews but Saved True Christians™ but God did have a plan with the Jews so it's only common sense to see what He has to say about them in the post-Jesusistic Era. First, Paul makes a recap of OT stuff with Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, familiar stuff for us. Offhandedly, he throws in one of the
top-three verses that make the
false Christian position indefensible.
Romans 9:13
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Yes, it IS written!
Malachi 1:3
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
God hates. Not only abstract
sin but particular
persons. If He hates, it is for the Greater Good (Exodus 3:14). Let us accept that and thank Him for that.
Thank you. Jesus! Now,
Jews! After some nice references to the Prophets, Paul makes a conclusion.
Romans 9:31-32
But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
OK,
Jews have not been able to be righteous. What does this mean. Let us go on to
Romans 10 and find out! Paul clearly targets his words at the Hebrews here, as he refers to Moses. He refers to Faith. He realizes that the position of the Jews is the
same as the position of everyone else. They need
Jesus.
Romans 10:12-13
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But the Jews do not listen!
Romans 10:16
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
But some them do listen as we shall see in
Romans 11!
Romans 11:5-6
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
And some of them might listen again one day!
Romans 11:20-22
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
They are the enemies of God and they are not His enemies.
Romans 11:28
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
Romans 11:31
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
As we can see, everything is starting to be
logical and
inevitable. This nice development continues in
Romans 12. We can see that God's relation to the Jews is
ambivalent. They have hope but it seems that most of them don't have it. With that established we are finally getting some data on the correct manner of believing in Jesus.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The
world will choose gay marriage, female emancipation, science, vegetarianism, new age, aboriginal rituals, fornication, sodomistic fornication, animal protection, national parks, Hogwarts, Scandinavian health care,
etc.,
etc. We are not supposed to do that but to continue in
Jesus. We should also be nice to our True Christian™ Brethren!
Romans 12:10
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
We should not revenge persecution
ourselves...
Romans 12:14
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
...because
God is going to revenge for us. Glory!
Romans 12:19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
God will repay. Those who persecute us will one day be very sorry. They shall be in
Hell. With that in mind we can pamper them in this life and then, once in
Heaven, go and check their misery in Hell.
Romans 12:20-21
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Give them to drink in
this life. In the
next, we now that the drink will be denied them (Luke 16:24-25)!
Glory!
Next Time: More about How to Be a Good Christian!
Yours in Christ,
Elmer