Romans 5:17 - Human Inability

Romans 5:17 

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 

Message: Human Inability

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Paul does a contrast of righteousness and condemnation in Romans 5:12-21. Today, let's just look at the condemnation. 

Verse 12 says that -- Through one man (Adam) sin came to all mankind -- and with sin came death to all mankind because all sinned. This is the matter of Adam being our federal head. He sinned once and it spread to all mankind and in the process all are doomed to death because all have sinned. Everyone does not have to sin the same way as Adam to be condemned, simply sinning one time in any way makes one condemned. 

This condemnation of man occurred before the Law was given and in the world. I looked at this previously in my lesson of Romans 5:13-14 whereby Paul is not saying in verse 13 that the Law must be present for there to be sin. The Law is written on our hearts. Abraham who was present 430 years before the Law was still accountable to obedience in all its forms. 

The big concluding point here is that man is not capable of justifying Himself. Adam's sin condemned all mankind. At this point death reigns in us and obedience to the Law will not happen because sin is present. So humans have an inability to attempt to keep the Law for justification. I think this is one of the chief lies of Satan - to be good enough. But, good enough is not the issue, the issue is never sinning. Only Jesus is capable because only Jesus does not sin. 

Promise: Mankind is not born neutral, but rather born guilty and corrupted, then called ones are renewed by the Holy Spirit so those can then please Him. 

Prayer: O Lord, keep me humble for I had nothing to do in being saved by You. I am condemned because I sinned. Thank you Jesus for fulfilling that which I cannot. Thank you for allowing me to receive your grace. Now I need to live everyday for you. Thank you for continuing to reinforce this in my life. As your ambassador, vessel, bond-servant - be my words and voice to communicate this to others. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. 

I Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ Resurrected

I Corinthians 15:20-22

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. 

Message: Christ Resurrected

Time: Paul is recognized as the author. He visited Corinth 4 years prior and spending 18 months their. After receiving news of quarrelling in the Corinth Church, Paul penned this letter in AD 55. Divisions in the church had resulted and Paul encouraged them and spoke of the truth of sin. 

What the Lord is Saying:

The last two lessons have focused on the atonement of Jesus - going to the cross to be a substitute for those called as His Sheep, but the atonement must be combined with the resurrection for there to be salvation. 

When God created the heavens and the earth (the universe) in Genesis 1, death was not created, but instead only life. In Genesis 2:17 it says, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. By Adam and Eve sinning, death enters life. God outlines the curse after they sin in Genesis 3:19, until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. And as discussed previously, the penalty of sin can only be paid through a substitute. 

As I've studied, an animal without defect was slaughtered before the Lord as a sin offering. Jesus can only atone for sin if he is perfect. Hebrews 7:26-27 says For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 

The resurrection shows us that Christ was perfect for it show us that death had no hold on Jesus. Death was the result of sin and Jesus did not have sin in Him so death could not seize Him. He had no sin and all sin was punished by Him on the cross. 

And so it is trusting in Him that then makes me saved. I am trusting that only Jesus can save me. And so Christ and His perfect righteousness is imputed to me and I have union with him by faith alone and therefore I will be resurrected as well, like He was, into everlasting life. This is the promise. Paul mentions that in these verses today in I Corinthians 15. He is talked about as the first fruits of those who are asleep. The first fruits of the harvest proves that the entire crop will come to maturity and be harvested. In Christ all shall be made alive. This is the message to me and everyone, with Christ all can be made alive. 

Promise: Christ on the cross pays for our transgressions and cleanses us from sin. Christ raising from the dead is God's declaration that His Son is perfectly righteous. And by man trusting in Him by faith, Christ's life is transferred to us so that one day we will rise as well and have eternal life in Him. 

Prayer: O thank You Jesus for the sweetness of Your Message. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me on the cross, to nail my sin to the cross and pay for it. Thank you God for raising Jesus from the dead and now making me saved as well through the transfer of His righteousness to me. You are Savior and Lord. Thank you for the resurrection and forgive me for not getting excited about it at times and diminishing the celebration of Easter in my life as you know I have at times. Thank you for Christ, for Christ alone. 

 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- Attributes of Jesus - The Divine Nature of Christ meaning Jesus is God, the God-Man, God became man, The Human Nature of Christ Jesus has the qualities of man (hunger, needing rest, not knowing future events, being tempted), Jesus the Last Adam as Adam was our federal head in ushering all sin to man, Jesus makes all alive for those in Christ, Jesus the True Israel as Israel was called by God to be His true messenger, but Jesus is the one that truly fulfilled this call, Jesus the Messiah is the One that rescues and delivers His people

- The Word of Jesus - Obedience in Childhood reminds us that each day Jesus grew in obedience and favor with God, Obedience in Baptism showed Jesus fulfilled all righteousness, as John had been baptizing all new believers, Obedience in Temptation - like men called by God before, Jesus is tempted, but he resists and defends Himself with scripture, showing perfect obedience, Obedience under the Law as Christ was born under the Law, and kept the Law perfectly to redeem man, Obedience in Suffering as even in suffering Jesus learned obedience, a sinless man suffering for sinners, 

- His Titles - Christ Our Prophet, speaking for God, with divine inspiration, His words absolutely trustworthy and never fail to accomplish His purposes, Christ the Priest, clearing the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer, Christ Our King is King of Kings, the last and final monarch of our lives for He did it all, 

- His Atonement - In Penal Substitution the penalty is paid by a substitute and Jesus paid the penalty of sin, once for all, and with Particular Atonement is the reminder that Jesus had me in my mind when He went to the cross, not everyone, but only those who will hear His voice. Christ Resurrected today reminds me that only through the resurrection am I truly saved and sealed for eternity with Him. 

Luke 4:1-13 - Obedience in Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, he became hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'" And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge concerning You to guard You.' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 

Message: Obedience in Temptation

Time: Luke, a non-Jew, written in Theophilus, by a physician, is a careful chronological rendering of the events of Christ's life. Luke takes his writing from primary sources - those people who had witnessed the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Luke wrote this probably from 58-60 AD as he accompanied Paul. His second volume was Acts. He writes of salvation to all men. 

What the Lord is Saying:

Christ Alone or He alone saves. In this we have studied that Jesus is the God incarnate creator, has a human nature, is the last Adam according to the principle as our Federal Head and that of being in Christ, is the True Israel, Messiah or God's anointed, rescuing or delivering us from the discord between God and Man, and always obeyed His Father and never failed, discharging our debt before God and paying the penalty for our sins. This obedience included baptism. And now this obedience included resisting temptations. 

All of Jesus' days He kept the commandments of God. Hebrews 5:8-10 says, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." 

Paul called Jesus the new Adam, and as we have discussed He is the last Adam. Like Adam, Jesus faced temptations. Adam, in the garden, was tempted by Satan. God had given Adam the command of all that he was in charge of in the garden but not to eat of one tree. Satan came to Adam to tempt him to be like God. The alternative is to trust God. 

It is clear and obvious that after not eating, we are at our weakest. In my lifetime, I have only gone without food I can think of, for 1 day. Jesus went without food for 40 days. The danger when facing temptation is to try combat it alone. The model Jesus has given us is to resist it by looking to scripture. God's word is the only thing that can shield us or protect us from temptations that we experience. We must stand on the authority of scripture, as Jesus did. In resisting temptation, Jesus quoted scripture and succeeded where Adam had failed. 

Only looking at Jesus' answers is (1) we need food, but we need God to live, (2) we shall worship God and serve Him only, (3) you shall not put God to the test. Take God as He is. 

Promise: If we want to grow stronger against sin, we must grow in our understanding of God's Word. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for helping me return to Your word and rest in it. I need you Jesus and thank you for saving me and saving me alone. You are perfect and lived a perfect life. You paid the penalty I have incurred, discharging my debt before God. Thank you for showing me what it means to be obedient and resist what Satan throws at me and he continues to do this. He continues to try to forge an opening in my life, but keep me closet to You and Your word, reminding me of truths that I need. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation

I Corinthians 15:45 - Jesus The Last Adam

I Corinthians 15:45 - So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit."

Message: Jesus the Last Adam

Time: Four years prior to writing the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul had spent eighteen months in Corinth, so he was intimately familiar with the church and many of its congregants. Paul penned his letter in AD 55, just as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia. Paul made it clear that he was willing to risk the good opinion of some in order to help cleanse the sin that tainted the church.

What the Lord is Saying:

Every person stands or has a standing before the living God. Whether a person accepts this or believes this, it does not change the fact that there is a God and we are not Him. In this verse today, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Paul groups people into 2 categories: (1) people who are in Adam and (2) people who are in Christ.

Adam and Christ are considered two federal heads. This federal head concept was mentioned by Irenaeus (130-202 AD, a Greek Bishop) and by Augustine (354-430 AD). The idea is that all of humanity has a relationship to Adam, while all of redeemed humanity has a relationship to Christ. In other words, each person is an offspring or benefactor or connected with federal head - either in one way or two. In Adam, each person has a path - death. In Christ, each person can have a path - eternity.  

This passage today is one of hope. In Adam all men are guilty of sin. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin (James 4:17). In Adam we receive a corrupted moral and spiritual nature that inclines us to hide from God and His ways and we receive a corrupted physical nature resulting in a decaying body that will eventually die. As it says, In Adam all die - I Corinthians 15:22.

Yet that same verse states that n Christ all will be made alive. Each person can be secure, safe. The last Adam a life-giving Spirit. We do not have to remain in Adam. There is always new life in Christ. 

It is only by regeneration, faith, and repentance that someone can move from "In Adam" to "In Christ." 

Promise:Those who are in Christ will get back what they lost in Adam. 

Prayer: O Lord, my salvation is of the Lord. I am so thankful for it and also desire others to receive it. Bring salvation to many and more. Keep me in Christ. Guide and direct me as to how I now shall live. Thank you for saving me and making me complete and to have a permanent home with You. Work in me to know daily how I am to live for You. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January was about the doctrine of God.

I Corinthians 15:22 - Are We Born Free?

I Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Message: Are We Born Free?

Time: Four years prior to writing the letter we know as 1 Corinthians, the apostle had spent eighteen months in Corinth, so he was intimately familiar with the church and many of its congregants. Paul penned his letter in AD 55, just as he was planning to leave Ephesus for Macedonia. Paul made it clear that he was willing to risk the good opinion of some in order to help cleanse the sin that tainted the church.

What the Lord is Saying:

This lesson raises an interesting question that has been debated over the years, namely whether man is born a sinner or born free. In this lesson, I will follow the lesson given by RC Sproul and his series Willing to Believe and the 3rd lesson Are We Born Free?.

Man is born a sinner
In I Corinthians 15:22, it states very simply that in Adam (due to his sin) all die, and coversely in Christ all will be made alive. On both fronts mankind is not the beginning of sin nor the end of sin - meaning it is through two men. We become part of sin by Adam sinning and we can be clear of sin through Jesus. Thus, after Adam sins, mankind is now a sinner. The secret to me was being in the garden. Once he is thrown out of the garden, he loses his goodness. And then only in Christ can we be made alive again.

Man is born with a good nature
Rather, mankind believes man's nature is fine or good. Therefore, life is about improvement and attainment and making our lives more comfortable, more safe, more contented, and eventually more entertained and pleasurable. And we think we are the one's that make this happen.

Pelagius
There was a British monk names Pelagius who lived 354-420. He was very concerned about moral laxity in the church. Pelagius was from the British Isles and he traveled and lived in Rome (Italy). He was concerned about the cavalier attitude among the Christians and the Clergy in the City. He was zealous for the achievement of righteousness. Thus, he was similar in a way to Pharisees and like the Puritans of today. Their motives were to restore the covenant of truth. Eventually the Pharisees became self-righteous and this is similar to the thinking of Pelagius.

What provoked Pelagius was a response to Saint Augustine's prayer - "O God, grant what thou commandest and command what thou thus desires." Pelagius was fine with the last part of this prayer, but not the first. The problem he had was Augustine saying 'grant' or give me the gift or help me or provide me the grace to be able to do what you command. Augustine believed man is unable to obey the commands of God unless God grants him grace. But Pelagius thought that whatever God commands is an obligation for man to obey.

He thought that man is just and God only commands us to do something we are able to do. But Augustine thought that the effects of the fall meant we lost our power to complete obedience. Adam had it in creation, but Adam fell and with his fall the entire race fell and so now we are born with a sin nature and we are no longer morally able to obey the law of God perfectly. Thus, in light of the fall we need grace whereby God forgives us. Pelagius thought that Adam was created good. He had the freedom or power to obey or disobey - to do good or evil. When he chose to do evil, that choice did not change his nature. Thus, every person is born in the same condition that Adam was born into. Thus, sinning changed our nature. Rather than Augustine saying that we are born sinners. Thus, according to Pelagius man can do good or evil. Sin affects man, but not at the core. A Gallup Poll among evangelicals responded that 2/3rds believe they are basically good.

Thus, when Adam sinned, Pelagius thought nothing was transferred onto the human race.

Pelagius was not opposed to grace and there is nothing wrong with praying for grace, but grace facilitates obedience or righteousness. Thus, with the help of grace it is easier to live a live of moral perfection. It helps, but it is not required.

He went on to argue that some people can live perfect lives and many have lived this way without the benefit of grace. Paul says, "There is none righteous, no not one." Instead many are righteous is what Pelagius thought.

What is at stake here is the entire concept of our salvation. With Pelagius grace is not completely essential. It paves the way to legalism in which man can be righteous in and of themselves. Thus, self-righteousness. Thus, it makes us wonder the need even of Jesus and being declared just by Him. Thus, we are justified by our own righteousness and our own free will. Thus, the chief way that Christ works is providing us an example of how to live. Jesus shows us the right way to achieve righteousness.

But before we can be saved, we first must understand our need for salvation and we must understand we are debtors that cannot pay the debt. But, Pelagius says we can pay the debt. Augustine saw this as a heresy. Thus, is grace a prerequisite for salvation or an aid?

Promise: We must have a strong, biblical doctrine of sin otherwise our view of ourselves will be stronger than it should be. Only in Christ can we obey, but many think like Pelagius that God only puts forth a command if he thinks his people can do it. But as sinners we cannot do obedience apart from Him and therefore he is just to condemn us.

Prayer: Lord, there is a fine line in this discussion between truth and lie. There remains a tendency in people to believe they are good and that You are simply the conductor telling them what to do and then sitting back to see what will happen. God you are holy and I am not. I can only be holy with your aid and you working through me. Help me to champion this message. Help me to focus n this truth in my life.

Romans 7:4-6 - Dying to the Law Through Christ

Romans 7:4-6 - 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Message: Dying to the Law and Walking in Newness of Life

Time:Another source cites this book as being written around 56-58 BC. Because Paul himself was a Roman citizen, he had a unique passion for those in the assembly of believers in Rome. Since he had not, to this point, visited the church in Rome, this letter also served as his introduction to them.

What the Lord is Saying:

Justification and Sanctification
Sanctification follows justification. After being declared righteous by faith and being credited righteousness and eternal life, how is a person to live. Chapter 6 asked the question about whether or not a person continues to sin. And now chapter 7 wonders if we continue to keep the law. Sanctification, thus, is the process in which the Holy Spirit conforms us to Christ in holiness. At faith we were declared righteous, following faith, we are to live as righteous people, growing in likeness of Christ.

I think a big confusion with people and religions is the idea that sanctification sounds like justification at times in scripture. In some ways, one must go back to how clear justification is talked about, starting in Romans 3:21 and even how the defense for it began starting in Chapter 1. People have a tendency to think that over time, in sanctification, a person lives there life in such a way to yield salvation or yield eternal life.

All who are justified will walk in sanctification till glorification. Its our sanctifying life, like James mentions in James 2 that shows others that we are in Christ. Obviously, the reason the sanctified life is in question regarding leading to salvation is how people live. Appearances can deceive people.

I think this is where Romans becomes difficult to comprehend. These are tough passages. Only because we are constantly reading the verse and then watching how it is lived out amongst us and the two often create a conflict. By being justified, I am free from sin. Sin is no longer master. Sin has been crucified. And I am not accountable to the Law. Adherence to the law does not define my future life with God. I am not under the Law, but under grace. Not following the law or lawlessness is sin and I am free from this in Christ. However, my life in Christ will fulfill the Law. Not perfectly because I can never be perfect. But, my life will be lived to make the Law be fulfilled, but not through me, but grace through faith.

I can clearly see through scripture that if my salvation is dependent on my adherence to a law or even that my life must always be lived in such a way to mirror my freedom from sin and that I can never go back and live sin in my life, then my salvation is not a condition of grace and Christ's work, but is conditioned on my living in adherence to the God's commands, the Law.

As I learned in Romans 7:1-3, they law exhibits no hold on me. Yes, it is there to be fulfilled in life while I live on earth, but it has not lasting hold on me. I may feel that my union to it is the ultimate desire or fruition to my life, such as I also think of marriage, but my union is with Christ and he will completely fulfill me. In Adam, it has a hold. In Christ, there is no hold.

Bearing fruit now because of death to the Law
Today, I am walking through verse 4-6, on the heals of stating it has no jurisdiction over us, Paul states in verse 4 therefore, the Law is dead to us/me. I especially like the word made. I was made to die to the Law. The Body of Christ removing sin in my life, thus removed the Law. Sin was brought into the world through Adam. The Law came later. Sin was the first thing removed, then the Law.

Formerly, we bore fruit for death
Verse 5 further explains what life was like in Adam. The death and resurrection of Christ yields a joining together of God and man (verse 4). And now I can bear fruit for God. But, does a person bear fruit in Adam? Yes, it happens, but that fruit bearing is for Adam, for self. Thus, for death as it states in verse 5.

In the flesh, sin was active. And sin was aroused by the Law. The Law said "don't", we "did." It aroused sin. Sin living produces death.

Law releasing
But now, in verse 6, a change has taken place. "But now" - meaning something changed. What changed? I have been released from the Law. The Law no longer has a hold on me. I no longer am accountable to it. That is the the problem with the person in Adam, there are accountable to the Law and we know clearly this is a losing battle because we are sinners and we break the Law. Thus, we have "died to that by which we were bound." The Law had a hold on us, but Jesus broke that hold. Jesus and His resurrection and the death of sin means that lives can be lived once again to bear fruit for God. This is the core of my existence. My life is to glorify God.

I can now walk in newness of life. And, in fact, I am walking in newness of the Spirit. The Spirit is conforming me to the holiness of God.  I am not walking in oldness of the letter (of the Law), but in newness and the Spirit is at work in my life. The Spirit is at work in my life. That is not wishful thinking or a hope that it will happen. The Spirit is at work in my life. And the Spirit's role is to work in my life. The Spirit is moving me towards holiness. I am a living testimony of God working out holiness in a person. Don't ever take credit for it for it isn't my work. it is the work of the Spirit.

A prayer
Lord, may I continue to uncover your truths and may I better understand and comprehend you. But, don't make me think that comprehension must precede application. The Spirit is at work in my life but I continue to live and testify of you. I don't always get it right but You are the one who is at work. 

Promise: I am a new creature in Christ. The old life of living according to the Law is gone, the newness of living in the work of the Spirit has come. God be glorified because he has made me new and is making me true.

Romans 6:8-10 - Living to God

Romans 6:8-10 - 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

Message: Living to die in order to live to God

Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
I continue on in the discussion of a believers death to sin in principle. After a person has been justified and the righteousness of Christ has been transferred to a person or credited to them, they are permanently in Christ. In Adam, I was helpless as a sinner. Though people try continually to merit God's acceptance through deeds, through keeping the Law, being a good person, practicing faith, such as through baptism or circumcision or church attendance, before Christ, there is no partiality. Every person is unrighteous. No one does good. All of us need a Savior and Lord. When I believe in what Jesus did--living, dying, resurrecting--I am crucified with Christ. The reality is I am dead to sin. This is how God sees me. Yes, I continue to sin, but when I stand before God and He judges me, what He will see is me in Christ and not me in Adam. Adam sinned and sin and death spread to all. Christ died and justification spreads to all.

I am freed from sin.

Living with Christ
On the heels of verse 7, we are freed from sin. My old self crucified. My body of sin done away with. I am no longer a slave to sin. I can sing my freedom. And now just as I know I have died with Christ, meaning I have died to sin, I know that I will also live with Him. When Christ was raised from the dead, I also was also raised. I have been born again.  

What a privilege I now have in that I can live with Christ. O for more to understand the true meaning of this delight that we hold. God has granted me the privilege of living with His Son. My eternal roommate.

In Genesis 3, following the fall or the sin of Adam, God let Adam know that his days would now be numbered. From dust he came and dust he shall return. In Adam is death. Having sin results in death.

No more dying
In Romans 3:23, I learned that all who sin fall short. I learned there is none righteous. I learned in chapter 2 that when judgment comes it comes to all and all are accountable to God in the same way. But, now I am never to die again. Death no longer is master over Christ and so I live with Him. Death will come to me one day. But, death will me a momentary segue in my life to a new adventure. Lord, how I pray that I would look forward to this new adventure. I am so wrapped up in my present circumstances that I don't want to see them go away. If I remain here, help me to speak your truth clearly to many. Make me an ambassador for you.

Once and for all
Through the one sin of Adam, sin and death spread to all men. Through one death, sin was conquered for all. This sprung forth life and a life lived to God.

Promise:Sin's power over me has been broken.

Romans 6:3-4 - Baptized Into Christ

Romans 6:3-4 - 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Message: Being baptized apart from actually being baptized

Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
The first 5 chapters of Romans has dealt mainly with doctrine. Paul is set apart to preach the gospel of God (1:1-15) and the righteous man shall live by faith (1:16-17). Every person is accountable to God because every person is a sinner and has not done good all the time, so no matter how you are affiliated with God, God will look at and judge each person the same (1:18-3:20). There is nothing a person can do to make himself right with God, as we are helpless without Him. Instead we believe in Jesus, in accordance with grace, that He lived a perfect life, died, His blood was shed, and He conquered death. This belief in Him credits us with righteousness and our sin is thrown on Christ. We are no longer seen as sinners, but as being in Christ (3:21-4:25). And we have peace with God and access with Him forever (5:1-11). Christ justified us one time because Adam sinned one time. Christ's justification is once for all because Adam sinned once for all (5:12-21).

Transition
How then shall we live? What place does sin have in our life? Well, for one, we don't now sin more so that grace will increase more in our life (6:1-2). We don't remain in Adam. We go forward and live life in Christ.

The picture of baptism
Paul then brings us the picture of baptism. Baptism is a picture to signify what has occurred in a person's life. Baptism is an ordinance that we are instructed to do, similar to circumcision to the Jew. But, there is disagreement among many whether infant baptism is sufficient or baptism by immersion after one has placed their trust in Christ. On one hand, Jesus was baptized and he obviously wasn't needing to be saved so his baptism didn't occur following a conversion, but he did get baptized to give us the practice and help us see that it is something we are to do.

Burying sin
The point that Paul seems to be covering so far in these first few verses of Chapter 6 is the dying to sin that has occurred by being in Christ. A saved person should have no desire for sin. And that could mean many different things to a person. But, there should be a change that has occurred in a person. My life should not continue to look like I am in Adam. Thus, I should not continue to sin.

And now here in verse 3, Paul explains why, because sin has been buried. Baptism is a picture of putting to death sin and putting to death my old life. It is obviously describing an old way of living life that must be put asunder.

This is what I believe I must see in another person to show that they have truly made a decision to follow Christ. Has their been a life change in them? Do they see their life in Christ as being different now? And is it anything more than wanting to do more good than bad?

Newness of Life
I'm not sure at this point what that newness of life looks like in the life of the new creature in Christ. It is clear that we are no longer in Adam, but now that we are not, what does in Christ look like? I'm not sure if this verse necessarily answers that question. But, it is clear that we were dead because Paul tells me that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, from being dead, so am I also being raised from the dead.

Promise: Baptism confirms and reminds that we are new in Christ.

Romans 5:20-21 - The Reign of Grace

Romans 5:20-21 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Message: Grace reigns to eternal life. Sin reigns in death.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review
As this section ends on original sin, namely the passing of one's man sin to the entire human race, and death to all, I also think about this chapter as a whole.
The focus of this chapter has been on the results of justification. I started out looking at the peace of God.

• Peace is the result of being justified. It isn't a momentary peace, but it is a forever peace. It's true I may not always feel that peace, but the reality is the peace is there.
• I am congratulating myself of the access I now have been given to God and the certainty of my future state in God's glory. 
• I get to experience tribulations (great difficulties). There is joy in tribulations. God uses those tribulations to produce in me patience. It helps me to focus beyond the ordeal, to a future event. It proves my character and authenticates my faith. It marks hope in my life that God is there and firm in my life. They remind me overall that God does love me. 
• God loves me so much because I am helpless. Jesus died for sinners, for those not good. I am that person. 
• I am saved from God's wrath. 
• I am reconciled to God through Christ: past, present, future. 

And then it shifted to a contrast of being condemned to being justified. Sin entered the world through on man and death through sin. Sin and death spread to all men. Even without the law sin still exists. The Law helps sin be called sin, but sin still exists apart from the law (just as death exists apart from the law). Grace is much greater than sin. One man brought death. One man brought life.

Do Laws increase sin? 
I don't think so. The Law is not sin, as Paul states later. The Law exposes sin. Sin is hidden often without a law. Sin can be deemed acceptable behavior without the law stating it is wrong. We need laws in our society otherwise people would run wild. There is definitely a tension in the world today as to what is a law and what is not a law. But, I think what God wants to make clear is the conscience of man knows what is good and evil. The Law declares it sin for society at large.

Sin entered the world through Adam. This is clear. And it is also clear from the previous verses that sin was completely paid for and removed through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But, in between Adam and Christ is Moses. Paul wants to be clear that the Law was never meant to save the sinner, but rather expose the sinner.

Paul uses the word transgression 6 times in Chapter 5 and each time it is used it refers to the sin of Adam. Each time it is used in the singular, referring the sin of Adam. We all share a sin nature. Transgressions show how we have crossed the line. The Law shows us the specific acts of sin that we are rebellious on.

Sin results in huge amounts of grace
Wayne Grudem defines sin as "any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature. Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law. Sin includes not only individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder, but also attitudes that are contrary to the attitudes God requires of us."

Grace is God's generous favor to undeserving people. As I share the gospel with people, I define grace as receiving something you don't deserve. When a homeless man comes up to you and asks you for a meal, if you give it him, he has neither earned it nor can he pay it back. By giving it to him you have been gracious. As I share with people it amazes me how people don't understand grace. But, the important thing is I always wait to introduce grace after I have defined sin or rather, the breaking of God's Law.

Last week in the sermon at church, Matthew 9:37 was quoted about the harvest being plentiful, but the laborers are few. The reality is the harvest is growing more and more plentiful. Why? Because exposing sin as sin is decreasing and the people are becoming more focused on living grace than the need for grace. It is really rather tragic. The world has trained us to not defer to how they define what is right and wrong. And in the process, what God defines as right and wrong is being snuffed out. Yet, the Bible is clear, Satan is at the helm of this world.

Sin reigned in death
As sin lessons more and more in our world, God is put more and more on trial. Why? Because of death. Without sin, death has no comprehension. For the people that believe in God, they are under more and more scrutiny because death is still occurring. Kids are dying from diseases. A car crash takes the life of a father of many children. Painful deaths continue. Diseases of every kind are on the rise. Death continues. And the world does not comprehend that God can be real with all of this going on.

It actually seems like a natural progression of man as man decides that sin is less and less prominent. Paul states it clear here in verse 21, "Sin reigned in death." When Adam sinned and brought sin into the world, the result of sin in Genesis 3 was death.

People are not surprised that death occurs, but they are surprised by how it occurs. With our advancements in medicine, treating diseases, prolonging life, the reality is death still occurs in unexpected ways. And this is incomprehensible to man. It is unfortunate, but it shouldn't be a surprise. I don't think people have a problem that death occurs, but they definitely have a problem with how it occurs and when. As in everything in life, man wants to be in charge and decide the right time for life to end.

I will say that up to this point I have not felt that Romans 5:12-21 are difficult verses, but here in verse 21, when sin and death are now being talked about, this is a difficult subject. But, I think it is difficult is because as people we want so badly to understand death and why it is occurring. Everyday, new reports come out as to what may be causing heart disease or cancer or other types of death and suffering. But, when unexplained death happens and in the background, people of faith continue, the masses in life can't comprehend how faith people can continue when unexplained death occurs. But, I must move on in this text.

Grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life
God has the answer and the answer is His grace. Earlier in Chapter 5, I saw that because of being justified I have peace with God and I can exult in hope. There is a sureness of my future. And even then in tribulation, those difficulties should place my focus on the future. Grace reigns. Eternal life can only be answered by grace. It can only be answered by God and His answer for life because man is a sinner and sin results in death.

It is all because of Jesus. Mr. Repeater (Paul) tells us again that eternal life is because of Jesus. What we need to know is our life would not be as great is Adam had not fallen. We have a greater life in Christ that we could have ever had in Adam.

Promise: From Tabletalk, April 15, 2014: "For justification, the law multiplies transgression, revealing it for what it is and driving us to Christ for the righteousness that alone can justify us."

Romans 5:15-17 - The Justice of God's Choice

Romans 5:15-17 - 15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Message: Adam sinned once for all. Christ died for sin, once for all. Adam took on one sin. Christ took on all sins.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

We continue a discussion on sin and sin entering the world, contrasting the imputation of righteousness (in Christ) with the imputation of sin (in Adam). Yesterday, we ended with the statement that Adam is a type of Him (Christ) was was to come. There are similarities in Adam and Christ. But, Paul will now show how what Christ did was far greater than what Adam did.

Grace is greater than sin
It is true, Adam sinned once and sin was manifested to all people. He took on one sin and all people are now known as sinners. Sin entered the world.

"Much more," though, did the grace of God abound to the many. Sin results in death. Grace results in life. Grace restores life in the person. It is not about returning to life as it was before in the garden, but rather the life we have in Chris is far greater.

Grace is a free gift. But, we can't really call receiving sin a gift. Gifts should not result in death. Plus, a gift must be received.

Verse 15 uses the word transgression rather than sin. Sin is missing a mark. Transgression is crossing the line. In sin, there is a standard and sin is missing it. In transgression, there is a line, like a shoulder line when driving a car and crossing that line or boundary. Adam crossed the line. God drew the line and said, "Don't cross it."

We deserve what we got in Adam. Adam sinned, we all sin. We don't deserve grace, yet we can receive it. 

Judgment through one sin, righteousness through many
Adam carried on his back one sin. Christ carried on His back many sins. There is similarity, but what Christ did was far more significant. We are condemned because of Adam's sin. We are made righteous because of Christ justifying man. 

One man brought death. One Man brought life. 
There is one notable difference between the imputations that occurred because of the result of Adam and Christ. In Adam, sin fell on all men. Death resulted from all sinning. In Christ, people are made righteous, but this righteousness is not automatic for all people. It is through receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. All people are in Adam, but they must receive Jesus to be in Christ.

Promise: We deserve what we received in Adam. Adam sinned, we all sin. We don't deserve grace, yet we can receive it.

Romans 5:13-14 - Counting Sin in Adam

Romans 5:13-14 - 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Message: Sin existed, apart from the Law; Sin Spread to All Men when Adam sinned.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

I am in the middle of studying Romans 5:12-21. I saw yesterday that sin entered the world through one man, Adam. And from that one sin, death spread to all men. All sinned. Adam began the human race. What Adam does affects everyone else. Overall, I am in the middle of an explanation by Paul of why it is necessary for man to be redeemed and justified. Why can't man just say? "I'm working on living the best kind of life I know how?"

Without the Law, sin still exists
In Chapter 4, in describing that righteousness was by the faith of Abraham. Abraham was present 430 years before the Law. Before the standard was given, therefore, Abraham was still accountable. In Romans 1:19, Paul states "that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." God makes himself evident to man. And in Romans 2:14-15, Paul addresses that our conscience itself is a law written on our hearts. Paul is letting us know clearly that apart from the Law there is still an awareness of right and wrong.

Here in verse 13, "for until the law sin was in the world." The only thing the Law did was expose sin for what it was, but sin still was in the world. Verse 12 stated, "All have sinned."

The Law helps call sin--sin (but there is still sin without the law)
The word imputed is also the word credited that Paul speaks of Romans 3 when it speaks of man being justified (3:24), or made right with God, through gift of the grace of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the justifier (3:26).  Paul shows further in Chapter 4, in which he quotes from Genesis 15:6 in verses 3 and 9 to state that Abraham's faith or believe in God was reckoned (credited, imputed) to him as righteousness. It is through faith that the credit transaction of righteousness is made between Jesus and man. But imputed also represents what happened to all men when Adam sinned. His sin imputed sin to all mankind. By sinning, sin was credited to the account of man.

In Romans 4:15, it states that "the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there violation." In that verse the Law is a signpost in our life. But, that verse wasn't stating that there is only sin with the Law, but it is saying that Law exposes us to our sin that we have already been committing.

This verse in Romans 5:13 really is stating the same thing in that a violation of the law is not counted against man until the Law is present. Paul is not saying that No Law = No Sin.

I think what is kind of difficult here to understand is that in life we often don't change our behavior until  a Law or standard is known or been communicated to us. But, I think what Paul is saying is the Law is written on our hearts and our conscience, even before the Law is communicating to us what is right and wrong. This is hard for us because Laws and rules are so abundant in our lives. And yet I think we know the difference between right and wrong.

There are people that I have communicated with that don't know of a 10 commandments and what it says, but they still recognize sin in their life.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses
In verse 12, Paul mentions sin coming into the world and because of it, death spread to all men. So, here in verse 14, Paul mentions that death was present from the time sin came into the world (through Adam) until the giving of the Law (by Moses). There isn't really anything difficult in this statement, sin ushered in death and we all know death was present from Adam to the giving of the Law (Moses). Thus, we don't doubt that death is present, so we also shouldn't doubt that sin is present during those years.

Death was not present because of the exact sin Adam committed
Paul goes on to say in verse 14, "even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam." What is being established in verse 14 is really a connecting of the dots from verse 12 and 13. Sin was in the world before the Law. Abraham was declared righteous by faith before the Law. So obviously, to be declared righteous, sin must be there. Adam sinned. When Adam sinned death came into the world and we know death was present from Adam to Moses or from sin entering to the Law being erected.

That said, Paul feels it necessary to communicate that death is not simply present because of the exact sin of Adam not believing God. Because of what Adam did in sinning, the human race after him because like Adam, irregardless of whether a person sins or not. God is not waiting to judge man by seeing if that person will sin. This is the point of this phrase within this verse. Death is present. Death isn't waiting for a person to sin, but it is just present. Why? Because Adam sinned.

Adam was a type of Christ
As Wayne Barber reminded me yesterday, before being in Christ, we are all in Adam. So, we are either In Adam or In Christ. So, Adam is a type of Christ. "(Adam) who is a type of Him what was to come." In Christ, through believing in Him, righteousness is credited or imputed to all men. In Adam, my his act of sinning, sin is credited or imputed to all men. Adam sinned, once, for all. Christ died for sin, once, for all.

Promise: From Tabletalk, April 10, 2014: When a person is born, they are already deserving of death.

Romans 5:12 - Sin Enters the World

Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Message: Sin and death enter the world through one.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

What's next? Or What is therefore their for? 
Therefore....Based upon the text and the reading, this seems to be the beginning of the final piece of the story of justification that began in Romans 3, verse 21. I have seen justification described in 3, verses 21-31. Witnesses were then brought out in Romans 4, mostly Abraham, a little David, to testify that righteousness was by faith.  Then, in Romans 5, the benefits of being declared righteous--namely peace with God, joy in tribulation, and salvation from God's wrath, have been presented by Paul in verses 1 - 11.

Therefore, what is next? Paul appears to now clarify further the problem with man. What is it about man that he needs redeemed? I need to think about what has been presented thus far. I have seen the guilt of the Gentile in Chapter 1, starting in verse 18. Paul presents someone that knew God, but rejected Him. This man began to replace God with his own gods or his own ideas or himself. Then Paul brings the Jew to the forefront in Chapter 2 for the Jew comes before God declaring his exemption from judgment because they are the chosen ones, having awesome deeds, and circumcision. However, they don't truly obey the law like they think they do. And in conclusion, Paul lets people know that everyone is guilty before God in Romans 3 to verse 20. So, naturally justification is presented.

Yet, the skeptic or the unbeliever, has in a way not been addressed. There is a condition man is in simply because he is born. What is it about man that makes him need redemption? Yes, man is an enemy of God (5:10), helpless (5:6), unrighteous (1:18), but in a way those are acts; those are attempts. I think what Paul needs to do is present the condition of man. So, this is where I think he is headed in these verses.

If there is one thing I've learned from Paul, he is thorough.

Sin entered the world through one man
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:4-11 to me presents sin coming into the world. Yes, it is true the woman took fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but God gave directions to Adam about the tree, not Eve. Even was born after the command from Adam. What is not recorded is how well Adam communicated to Eve the command from God. And in 3:9, God comes to find Adam to ask what has happened. Man is the one responsible. So, sin entered the world through one man, Adam. It is true that Eve sinned concurrently, but Adam is the one in responsibility so the guilt is really first on Adam. If it was only Eve, then Eve would have simply died, but because it is Adam, he is the beginning of the race.

Adam brought sin into the world. He opened Pandora's box.

Wayne Barber stated that there is contrast between those who are In Adam and In Christ. 

And death through sin
Bringing sin into the world now meant man would return to the ground (Genesis 3:19). From dust to dust.

Sin and death spread to all men
One the door was opened, it was ushered in to all mankind. I often think of that scary scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Ark was opened and all the people in eyesight of it were killed. One person opened it, but many were affected. It's really a sobering thing throughout history. It is something that is repeated over and over. One person starts something and many follow and many are affected.

Nobody is exempt from sin because it now lives on earth.  

What is sin? 
Falling short of any goal. It is missing the mark or standard or goal. Sin here is the Greek word hamartia and before this word is he or a definite article of the. It is "The sin." It wasn't simply that one wrongful deed entered into the world. But, instead the propensity for all people to sin. I think I could see the category or condition.

If I tried to just call this one sin, then the verse would read, "Therefore, just as through one man lying entered into the world, and death through lying, and so death spread to all men, because all lied—." It really kind of makes no sense. It's not one sin that occurred, but rather sin in its completeness. 

Promise: Death is just plain wrong. It is not right that we should die. That is not how we were created. But, we have stumbled. Jesus can save us from death.