(no subject)
Just received from Anne Elliott:
Hi, everyone!
So who can remember what we studied last time, in Romans 1? What?! You
can't remember? It was only 6 weeks ago! (sigh...) In case you're like me
and really can't remember, or if you're new and didn't get to join in, here
are the links to what we've studied in Romans so far:
intro to Romans http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1495
lesson #1 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1553
lesson #2 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1596
Today, as last time, we're continuing our look at why each one of us needs
God so badly. Last time we were talking about how easy it is to see the sin
and wickedness in our world but to totally miss it in ourselves. Today,
Paul continues on this theme (we're looking at Romans 2:1-16):
"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in
whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice
the same things" (verse 1)
Who me? What do I do? Oh, I'm grumpy sometimes, or I don't like to submit
to my husband sometimes, or I'd rather goof around on the Internet than do
the dishes... but come on! I'm not as bad as SOME people!
"But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
who practice such things" (verse 2).
What things? Hmm... it must be referring back to chapter 1:
"...being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful..." (Rom.
1:29-31).
Oh, whew! I don't do so many of THOSE evil things. I'm not a murderer, a
hater of God. You know, I'm a pretty good person overall! :-)
"...And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such
things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do
you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (verses 3-4).
Why should I repent? As I said, I don't do those things. I'm just so glad
I'm not Martha Stewart. I wouldn't be able to handle spending 5 months in
jail with THOSE kinds of people. It would be about the most awful thing
that could ever happen to a person. I mean, I'm glad that God is rich in
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering to murderers, but I certainly do
not need to repent of any of those things personally.
"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his
deeds"" (verses 5-6).
Well, I'm very glad that some of THOSE people will get what's coming to
them. Justice will finally be served. It's about time....
"...eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality..." (verse 7).
Wait just a minute! What kind of theology is THAT? We will get eternal
life if we patiently continue in doing good and if we seek for glory, honor,
and immortality? That doesn't sound like how I heard it. I think Paul is
starting to preach a bit of "works salvation," don't you?
"...but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every
soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek..."
(verses 8-9).
Well, that's better. I can certainly agree doctrinally with God's judgment
on evil doers.
"... but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For
as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many
as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of
the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be
justified..." (verses 10-13).
By now you can probably tell that I'm being a little silly. However, I have
caught myself thinking along these lines for real many times. I look at
others and see their "wickedness" and totally miss my own evil ways. As for
salvation, well... there IS truth to what some religions teach. God would
reward us with eternal life if we patiently, unendingly continued in doing
good.
Martin Luther first read these words in a monastery. He of all people tried
so hard to continue in doing good. Imagine the horror he must have felt
when he read these words and realized that even HE wasn't perfect enough to
merit eternal life, which left only one option: the option of God's
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. If he had been sleepy while
reading, I'll bet he wasn't anymore! Paul caught his attention, and Martin
Luther went on to learn how we are justified by faith. But I digress...
I was five years old when my heart chilled over for the first time with the
realization that just because I was a cute little pastor's daughter did NOT
mean that God would accept me into His heaven. It didn't help that my older
brother liked to sing after the lights were turned out each night. His
favorite song was
Hallelujah, Christ returneth,
Christ returneth, Amen!
Christ returneth, Amen!
That just made my blood run cold! I'd see the shadows on the wall or hear
sirens, and I'd hide under my covers. But then the dreams would start.
Always, in my dream, Christ would return for my family -- my brother, my
mom, my dad -- but He would leave me behind. "No," He would say, "You are
not one of mine." Then they would all leave without me, and I would run
through the house looking for them.
I wasn't good enough. My dad's and mom's righteousness and belief did not
automatically fall on me. And I was hopeless.
"...for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in
the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who
show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else
excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus
Christ, according to my gospel" (verse 14-16).
There was a little girl who lived in a foreign land. Her father had a
god-shelf in their home, and each evening they would pray to their family
gods. The last god on the shelf was to an unknown god, the maker of heaven
and earth. She would ask her father to tell her about this god, but he
could not. "He is simply unknown, my dear. He cannot even be known." But
the little girl could not stop thinking about this unknown god. When she
would lie or steal or speak disrespectfully to her parents, her conscience
would bother her. She would wonder if the unknown god had seen her. She
was afraid what he might do. How would she know? How could she please this
god? What if she never could?
So one night, under the stars, she prayed to the maker of the heavens. She
asked him to reveal himself if he was real. She asked him to show her how
she could please him.
The next week, missionaries came to her village. I'm sure you can guess the
rest of the story. :-)
And like that little girl, our consciences all touch us on the shoulder and
remind us that we also have sinned. We don't quite measure up. We haven't
yet earned eternal life. Whether monk in a monastery or heathen in a
distant land, we all stand condemned before a righteous judge.
Do you ever wonder why religious followers of other gods are so devoted? It
is because they are desperate. They have no hope. They try to follow after
God, patiently continuing in doing good. But then they look in the mirror
each night, seeing who they really are. They see a wicked heart. And their
blood runs cold.
Where do you stand?
...to be continued... again... :-)
~Anne
Hi, everyone!
So who can remember what we studied last time, in Romans 1? What?! You
can't remember? It was only 6 weeks ago! (sigh...) In case you're like me
and really can't remember, or if you're new and didn't get to join in, here
are the links to what we've studied in Romans so far:
intro to Romans http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1495
lesson #1 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1553
lesson #2 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anneshomeyplace/message/1596
Today, as last time, we're continuing our look at why each one of us needs
God so badly. Last time we were talking about how easy it is to see the sin
and wickedness in our world but to totally miss it in ourselves. Today,
Paul continues on this theme (we're looking at Romans 2:1-16):
"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in
whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice
the same things" (verse 1)
Who me? What do I do? Oh, I'm grumpy sometimes, or I don't like to submit
to my husband sometimes, or I'd rather goof around on the Internet than do
the dishes... but come on! I'm not as bad as SOME people!
"But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
who practice such things" (verse 2).
What things? Hmm... it must be referring back to chapter 1:
"...being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent,
proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful..." (Rom.
1:29-31).
Oh, whew! I don't do so many of THOSE evil things. I'm not a murderer, a
hater of God. You know, I'm a pretty good person overall! :-)
"...And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such
things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do
you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (verses 3-4).
Why should I repent? As I said, I don't do those things. I'm just so glad
I'm not Martha Stewart. I wouldn't be able to handle spending 5 months in
jail with THOSE kinds of people. It would be about the most awful thing
that could ever happen to a person. I mean, I'm glad that God is rich in
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering to murderers, but I certainly do
not need to repent of any of those things personally.
"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God, who "will render to each one according to his
deeds"" (verses 5-6).
Well, I'm very glad that some of THOSE people will get what's coming to
them. Justice will finally be served. It's about time....
"...eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality..." (verse 7).
Wait just a minute! What kind of theology is THAT? We will get eternal
life if we patiently continue in doing good and if we seek for glory, honor,
and immortality? That doesn't sound like how I heard it. I think Paul is
starting to preach a bit of "works salvation," don't you?
"...but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness-indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every
soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek..."
(verses 8-9).
Well, that's better. I can certainly agree doctrinally with God's judgment
on evil doers.
"... but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the
Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For
as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many
as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of
the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be
justified..." (verses 10-13).
By now you can probably tell that I'm being a little silly. However, I have
caught myself thinking along these lines for real many times. I look at
others and see their "wickedness" and totally miss my own evil ways. As for
salvation, well... there IS truth to what some religions teach. God would
reward us with eternal life if we patiently, unendingly continued in doing
good.
Martin Luther first read these words in a monastery. He of all people tried
so hard to continue in doing good. Imagine the horror he must have felt
when he read these words and realized that even HE wasn't perfect enough to
merit eternal life, which left only one option: the option of God's
indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish. If he had been sleepy while
reading, I'll bet he wasn't anymore! Paul caught his attention, and Martin
Luther went on to learn how we are justified by faith. But I digress...
I was five years old when my heart chilled over for the first time with the
realization that just because I was a cute little pastor's daughter did NOT
mean that God would accept me into His heaven. It didn't help that my older
brother liked to sing after the lights were turned out each night. His
favorite song was
Hallelujah, Christ returneth,
Christ returneth, Amen!
Christ returneth, Amen!
That just made my blood run cold! I'd see the shadows on the wall or hear
sirens, and I'd hide under my covers. But then the dreams would start.
Always, in my dream, Christ would return for my family -- my brother, my
mom, my dad -- but He would leave me behind. "No," He would say, "You are
not one of mine." Then they would all leave without me, and I would run
through the house looking for them.
I wasn't good enough. My dad's and mom's righteousness and belief did not
automatically fall on me. And I was hopeless.
"...for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in
the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who
show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else
excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus
Christ, according to my gospel" (verse 14-16).
There was a little girl who lived in a foreign land. Her father had a
god-shelf in their home, and each evening they would pray to their family
gods. The last god on the shelf was to an unknown god, the maker of heaven
and earth. She would ask her father to tell her about this god, but he
could not. "He is simply unknown, my dear. He cannot even be known." But
the little girl could not stop thinking about this unknown god. When she
would lie or steal or speak disrespectfully to her parents, her conscience
would bother her. She would wonder if the unknown god had seen her. She
was afraid what he might do. How would she know? How could she please this
god? What if she never could?
So one night, under the stars, she prayed to the maker of the heavens. She
asked him to reveal himself if he was real. She asked him to show her how
she could please him.
The next week, missionaries came to her village. I'm sure you can guess the
rest of the story. :-)
And like that little girl, our consciences all touch us on the shoulder and
remind us that we also have sinned. We don't quite measure up. We haven't
yet earned eternal life. Whether monk in a monastery or heathen in a
distant land, we all stand condemned before a righteous judge.
Do you ever wonder why religious followers of other gods are so devoted? It
is because they are desperate. They have no hope. They try to follow after
God, patiently continuing in doing good. But then they look in the mirror
each night, seeing who they really are. They see a wicked heart. And their
blood runs cold.
Where do you stand?
...to be continued... again... :-)
~Anne