Romans II
12.20.09
Romans 3.20-24
this is what we looked at last week
we are sinners due the punishment of death
and we are justified
we have a new status
not because of anything we have done
but because of the righteous act of Christ: dying on the cross
but this raises a question:
what about obedience?
are we just to accept that we are sinners
and that not much is going to change while we are sinners?
because we are forgiven for all future sins should we just sin and accept the grace?
many people criticized the gospel and Paul because they saw this as the result
Romans 6.1, 6.15
“by no mean”
but then where does that leave us?
were we justified on the first day
but every day since it is now up to us to obey?
Do we have to obey to keep our standing?
is our standing dependent on how good we do?
did we start with grace and Jesus Christ but now we must focus on the commandments and our efforts?
Romans 6.10
This verse is about Jesus and what his death meant for Jesus
Jesus is no longer under the rule of sin
even though he did not sin
he suffered death the punishment of sin
now set free from that punishment
and raised to live for God
6.11
“in the same way”: comparison
if Christ died to sin and came alive to God
and if by faith we have become united with him
then we have died to sin and been raised to live for God
“in Christ Jesus”
we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection
“count” or “consider”
this is a command to think
we have to think about ourselves the right way
this is not pretending or imagining something that is not real
or positive thinking
this is the fact, the truth about ourselves
and we must know and think it and believe it
we died and were raised with Christ
we are “dead to sin” and “alive to God”
but what does it mean?
you have a new ability you did not have before
an ability to live for God
sin does not hold you as a slave so you can do nothing but what your own desires tell you
we may not feel this or sense it
feel no power
feel like we are bound
like the evil desires are still so strong
the anger is still so strong
but we must believe the truth
this reality about you is an objective truth: this has happened to you
the first thing we must do is believe it
believe that you are justified, forgiven
and believe that you have been set free to live for God
Believe in what Christ has done for you
6.12
you are not a slave of sin
God says so
but the truth is that you can choose to act like you are a slave and serve sin
but Paul commands us here
do not let sin reign over you
because you do not have to
6.13
because we are dead to sin and alive to God
we are free to offer ourselves to God
every day, at every moment of the day we are commanded to offer ourselves to God as his instrument to be used by him
we have a freedom now to choose to do what pleases God
sin in its essence is choosing to do what you want and not what pleases God
you also have the freedom to choose to offer your body to sin to do evil
but Paul says emphatically: do not!
he says “we died to sin– how can we choose to live it any longer?” it is a foolish choice
going back to the death we knew before
going back to the slavery we knew before
this does not mean there will not still be desires from your flesh that rise in you and make you desire to choose what is wrong
what pleases you but not God
that is why the Christian life is a fight and a struggle, we fight those things
if you choose to do what is wrong
does it change you status before God?
it does not destroy your status
because your status was a gift by grace
you are not making your salvation by choosing right
if you choose to do what is right does that make God love you more or improve your standing before him? not at all
we must choose to please him out of freedom and a desire to honor him and please him,
it is a free act, an act of love
not an effort to work for salvation
can we stop sinning completely?
no, we will never be vigilant enough to always without fail choose for God
but Jesus has made us free to choose
so choose for God
give yourself to God again and again
every day
Romans
12.13.09
Romans 1.18-20
1.32
2.14-15
Paul is talking about Gentiles without the Bible
who have a sense of right and wrong in their hearts and consciences
they know generally what is right and wrong
and they sometimes do good
but still also do evil and go against their own consciences
they will be judged by this sense of right and wrong they have
in the church we love to talk about unbelievers and how evil they are
but consider this they will be judged according the their sense of right and wrong
but we will be judged according to the Bible
Romans 2.1
originally Paul wrote this about the Jews who had the Bible
but this applies to people like us, who have the Bible
know the commands what to do and not to do, know what is right and wrong
Paul says when you condemn the other people who don’t know the Bible
you condemn yourself
because you do the same things
(according to Jesus’ teaching, if you don’t murder but you hate and cut with your tongue, you do the same thing)
2.9-11
which one are you?
are you the first one who does evil?
or the second one who does good?
if you think you are one who does good
do you really think that you do good?
that if God looked at the secrets of your life and heart that you would pass and get flying colors, an A+?
or do you think you are the one who does evil
and does this scare you to death?
are you still struggling with sin and sad about disobedience in your life?
it is the same for all human beings
those with the Bible and those without
all will be judged
2.13
the only way you can be declared righteous
is by obeying the law
for Jews this would be the OT law
for Gentiles the law written on their hearts, they know in their conscience (2.14-15)
for Christians keeping the commands of Jesus
only doing the law perfectly can lead to salvation
having the Bible and reading it and listening to sermons does not cut it
doing the commands is the only way
3.20
no people anywhere will be declared righteous
by obeying the law
(either written or in their conscience)
why?
the law actually does not help anyone
the law instead acts like a mirror
when you look into it, it shows you your sin and disobedience
so here is our position
only by obeying the law can you pass God’s judgment
but no one can keep the law
in fact the commands only show us just how bad we are
3.21
“but now” now that Christ has come!
God has provided a righteousness that passes God’s judgment
that does not come by obeying the law
3.22
to anyone who believes in Jesus
despite who they are
3.23
everyone with no distinction
falls short of the glory
means falls short of the image of God
present tense includes Christians
3.24
justify is a verb and God is the subject
means: “to declare righteous”
“acquitted from all charges”
it is a standing, a status
the final verdict brought into the present
you don’t have to fear the last day because you have already been declared righteous
instead of obeying your life and hoping to be judged righteous at the end
you are judged righteous at the beginning
you are right with God, at peace with God
“by grace”: an unearned gift
“through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ”: a price paid for us
it cost Christ a great deal
we are all the same
in our standing as sinners under judgment
and in our need to be justified
1. those of who can’t get excited about Jesus because you were raised in the church and it is dull to you (teens, young adults)
only when you have tried to obey and failed and given up on yourself and said I can’t do this,
then Jesus makes sense for the first time
2. those of you who think you are doing well
and condemn those outside the church or those inside the church who don’t live up to the standard
you who condemn others: you condemn yourselves
Jesus can mean nothing to you until you
see through yourself and give up on yourself
your only hope is in the redemption that came through Jesus
3. those of you who are depressed about your sin and the failure and lack of progress
this faith is not about what you do
but about what Christ did
a historical event
cannot be reversed or undone
your status will never be higher than it is today
you are right with God!
The Falling and Rising of Many
12.6.09
young Christian named Alan
read the Sermon on the Mount
it made him feel depressed
because he knew that he fell far short of what was described there
he told his pastor
his pastor told him to attend a class
advice on how to live the Christian life
The pastor said he needed some better explanations of Jesus’ teaching
he needed more knowledge
the class gave him much advice and principles
they also told him that living life Jesus’ way was a happy life, a great life
so if he could learn these principles and apply them Alan would find happiness
and abundant life in Jesus
he went to the class
he learned the more in depth teaching
but he didn’t get better
and he still felt terrible every time he read the SOM or any commandments in the Bible
he was so far away from what was taught
so he went to an older Christian in the church to seek his counsel
told him about his problem
this mentor told him
to seek the Holy Spirit in private prayer
the Spirit must be accessed or connected with
this would sweep him into a new life of spiritual power
he did just this
he prayed and even fasted
but it did not work
he never felt like he was living Jesus’ way
or living by the SOM
so what is the answer to Alan‘s problem?
“You are so much worse than you think”
SOM is just doing its job
The SOM and commands are a mirror to see yourself in, to see your sin
and this is true for Christians as well
every day we should see ourselves and despair of what we are
the mirror does not lie
shows you who you are
you are fat or bald, skin blemishes, wrinkles
the commands
1) show you your wrong actions but much more
2) also show your failure to do so many good things
3) and even shows you the evil in your desires, your attitudes, your motivations, your thoughts
Luke 2.21-35 (34)
Jesus came to cause the falling of many
he came to tear down many
the first thing Jesus did was preach against sin
to make everyone fall, to bring them down
to show everyone their sin
to tear down everyone
Lloyd-Jones in a sermon on joy made the remarkable assertion that the reason so many people lack joy
is they don’t see how bad they really are
one must fall, be torn down by the commands
you must see your sin every day even as a Christian
but we want to get past that
but what Alan was experiencing when he read the SOM was what he should have been experiencing
The pastor gave him bad counsel
because the answer to sin is not more commands and more principles
the answer is not more advice on what we need to do
the gospel answer is not what we must do, but what Christ has done
the advent: Christ came and Christ died
1 John 1:10-2:2
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
if you tell people the answer is principles and rules for a better life
you will produce two kinds of people
1) deluded and self-righteous and proud
2) depressed and in despair because more commands and principles don’t help
this reminds me of when we tell little girls
it is not important to be beautiful on the outside but instead they should be beautiful on the inside
that is a cruel thing to say to a little girl
it sets an impossible goal
is anyone beautiful on the inside?
can any little girl become beautiful on the inside?
even by following principles and rules for improving
The mentor also gave him bad counsel, telling him to seek the Holy Spirit
the answer is not some inner spiritual experience
the answer is the gospel of Jesus Christ
what Christ has done for you
The Holy Spirit cannot give glory now
God has only promised glory after a life of suffering
Jesus came for the falling and rising of many
first the falling
his commands tell us that God says NO to us
because we are sinners (even Christians)
second the rising
the gospel that Jesus came and died for us
tells us that God says YES to us
even as a Christian now we need this gospel
this is what Alan needed
he needed his pastor to proclaim the gospel to him
what is central to the faith is not what you do but what Christ did
Colossians 1:19-22 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
What does Prayer accomplish?
11.29.09
Does prayer accomplish anything?
Does prayer change anything?
What difference does it make?
When we pray for big things (like healing)
We usually don’t get the things we pray for.
Even when we pray for small things
we don’t always get what we pray for.
Children pray for protection at night,
and sometimes to our shame we lie to them and tell them if they pray they will be safe
or it is “more likely” they will be safe
but is this true?
So why even do it?
why teach our children to do it?
God’s going to do what he is going to do.
You will often hear Christians saying that we must pray.
they will say that all these good things will only happen if we do pray
but is that really true?
we ask for things that do not happen
so our prayer made no difference
Would it really make any difference if we did not pray?
wouldn’t things have been the same even
if we had not prayed
God did what he was going to do anyway
Does God really need our permission in prayer to do anything?
Does he really wait upon our prayer to do what he is going to do?
do you think that?
when God does something we like
we often say God is so good
and what we mean by that is God did what we liked so we call him good
but what if he didn’t do what we liked?
is he still good then?
how is God good to some prayers but not to others?
I prayed for Jack, my son, to get out of ICU and live and he did?
but what about the parents who also prayed and whose child died in the ICU ?
is God good to me but not to them?
the fact that he does seem to answer some prayers just makes it more unbearable for all the people he did not answer
Why him? why not the rest of us?
and did God really answer the prayers
or did the prayer just correspond with what he was going to do?
There is the rub
Give another example
we often ask for wisdom and insight
and don’t get it
and then do something stupid anyway
big question: when we ask for things
do we think we can change God’s will?
isn’t he going to do what he is going to do?
can you by prayer change God’s will and his plan?
Do you think so?
Are we not supposed to pray
“your will be done”?
and yet our prayers are “God: you do my will”
are we really submitting to his will if we are praying these kind of prayers?
what is the difference between praying “your will be done”
and praying nothing at all?
his will is going to be done anyway.
why do we have to ask it to be done when it is already going to be done?
why not simply say
“the lord will do what the Lord is going to do. so be it.”
I now want to turn to the book of Romans
you may be expecting me to now tell you how prayers do cause things to happen
and change things
and accomplish great things
but that is not what I am going to say
let me say this:
Nothing depends upon your prayer
or another way of saying it:
Prayer Accomplishes Nothing
Romans 8.34
this is the gospel: Christ prays for you
all the good will be done to us because Christ now prays for us
the grace is already there (before prayer)
the love is already pouring down
nothing depends upon your prayer
everything depends upon Jesus Christ
prayer accomplishes nothing
Christ accomplishes everything
Christ has been praying for us even when we did not pray
nothing depends upon our prayers
Romans 8.35
no matter what comes
it is not our prayers that save us from trouble
trouble will still come
what matters is that we are not separate from the love of Christ
Christ is still praying for us
8.26-27
We do not know what to pray
what is in accordance with God’s will
often we pray things that are against his will but we pray them because we want them
but the Spirit prays for us
according to God’s will
what the Spirit prays is always answered and always for our good
a wordless prayer, a groan of pain to God
8.28
this is not conditional: if you pray
this is God’s grace
not a silver lining in every cloud
but the good is “according to his purpose”
what purpose?
8.29-30
“conformed to the likeness of his son”
All this is God’s work done out of his love
*
so knowing this beautiful gospel truth
how does this change your future?
should we give up on prayer? stop praying?
no, the Jesus and Apostles told us to pray
but we should pray in a new way
pray with joy and thanksgiving knowing Christ and the Spirit pray for you
even when you did not pray, he prayed for you
knowing that your good and blessing does not depend upon your prayers
pray without anxiety
God will do good to you
it is not up to you and your prayer
think about the petitions in the Lord’s prayer
all of them are things God promised to do
when you pray you don’t cause them to happen
you recognize that this good comes from God, you rejoice and give thanks and honor God
God’s name will be hallowed, his kingdom will come, his will will be done
people will be fed, sins will be forgiven, the spirit will help us in facing temptation
Why do we pray for forgiveness?
Are we not justified already?
all of our sins are forgiven and we are right with God, righteous in his sight, no sin interferes with our standing with God.
so why are we praying for forgiveness?
will not God forgive us anyway?
but still Jesus told us to pray for them
so that we recognize that all comes from God
and pray in a way that does not demand God do our will,
but demands that we center on his will
our prayers that say
“God: you do my will”
such prayers should be rejected
rather we should pray
the name of you be hallowed
the kingdom of you come
the will of you be done
Success
11.22.09
ALL OF US are driven by a desire to achieve success
although we all define success in different ways:
promotion, better job, degree, more money, house, car, marriage, children, comfortable situation, respect, reputation, certain accomplishment, to be remembered
how do you define success?
what are you trying to get?
or what do you have that you are trying hard not to lose?
but there is no guarantee of success
You may not succeed at the things you have made so important.
you may never reach the goals you have worked so hard to reach.
you may reach success temporarily only to lose it again.
you may reach success only to find it does not really make you happy
you are sure that it will make you happy
but once you get there it does not
it is never enough, you must reach more success
and then you look around for something else
or you have to worry over losing what we have achieved
Philippians 3.4-6
in Paul’s earlier life
he sought success and status in keeping the Law and being a strong Pharisee
He was a great success in his culture.
And he had high status.
he had prestige and power
he was a big dog among his people
a man to be watched
and he had worked hard for this status
studied, obeyed, been zealous and tenacious
he reached religious success
3.18-19
“their god is their stomach”
stomach is what you want for yourself
the desires you have for yourself
for your own success
this is your god
3.7
“Whatever was to my profit”
this is Paul’s list of achievements
what was in the profit column
he now puts in the loss column
this is not what he really wants
what had been so important and so central to his life
was now not important at all
not even something he sought anymore
What did he want now?
3.8
to know Christ Jesus
“for whose (Christ’s) sake I have lost all things”
he is willing to lose all other success and all status in order to know Jesus
is this the desire of your heart?
is this the success that drives you?
to know Jesus
is this more important to you than all other success?
8b
the success that he seeks
is gaining Christ
he considers everything else in comparison
rubbish
this is not saying that things of the life are trash
but in comparison, in contrast they are trash
I want to make three points
1. Success in gaining Christ comes not with our efforts to succeed but is given to us by God
a. a new status now
verse 9
the status is being right with God
greater than any fame or power or wealth or pleasure
because it is a status with God not men
there is no greater status than to be right with God
there is no greater status to achieve
b. Transformation when Christ returns
verse 11, 20-21
This is God’s work, not a thing we can do to accomplish this success
2. Success in gaining Christ is not a physical success but a spiritual power
verse 10
what is spiritual power?
the fruit of the Spirit
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control
it is the work of God in you
3. Success in gaining Christ is not pleasure and gain but suffering and loss
verse 10
The Christian life of obedience to Christ comes with suffering and loss
3.12-14
Is this your definition of success?
Paul has not yet achieved it yet
it is the work of God’s grace when Christ returns
these are not things that he achieves by his own strength and efforts
they are gifts:
“Christ Jesus took hold of me” vs. 12
“God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” vs 14
this is the central pursuit of his life
he works hard to serve Christ
“I press on to take hold of it”
“I strain toward what is ahead”
“I press on toward the goal”
does this describe your life?
or is it the pursuit of something else?
