Wednesday, December 7, 2011
December 7, Day 341
We turn now to Romans, which is perhaps the deepest book in the Bible. It opens with clarity that the created order is enough proclamation for people to believe in and seek God. Instead of seeking Him, humans have turned away, growing increasingly perverse as we walk the other direction. In the end, we are all guilty of sin and deserving of its penalty. The Good News (Gospel) is that we don't have to pay for our own failure. In fact, we can't afford the price.
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. (Romans 3:20-25 NLT)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
December 6, Day 340
I wonder if chapters 9 and 10 are the most understood in all of Paul's letters. Is he losing it? Has he tumbled into being an egotistical maniac? I don't think so! He was far away and false teachers had come in among the Corinthian flock. They talked of their own superiority. They boasted that Paul was a "has-been" who never did much in the first place. They used these criticism to get a foothold and steer the church away from the truth in Christ. Paul countered by "boasting", not in what he accomplished, but in what he suffered to serve Christ. The false teachers were obviously wringing the cash out of the people and Paul had never done that. They were a bit like today's televangelists who promise financial prosperity to everyone who sends them a big offering.
Paul concludes the letter with the warning that he is coming back. He hoped that he wouldn't encounter a straying church who must be severely disciplined. He loved them enough to correct them, but longed to simply come and share with them the wonderful things we have in Christ.
Monday, December 5, 2011
December 5, Day 339
Paul continued this deep letter with a direct reference to his first epistle: I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. (2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT)
Godly sorrow is a key character trait I look for in leaders for Stone Ridge. People can have many edges to their personality and signifcant baggage from past deeds. But God sorrow insures that they will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and humbly repents as He opens their eyes. It's amazing to watch!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December 4, Day 338
In his first letter, Paul told the Corinthian church to take action and discipline a man having an immoral relationship with his step-mother. They did. Now Paul writes a much more mature church. They have grown in spirit and have seen God do a work in the life of the immoral man.
I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn't want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.
I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. (2 Corinthians 2:4-8 NLT)
In the first letter, Paul needed to address many issues of practical immaturity in the church. This letter is much deeper. I pray that it will speak to us.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
December 3, Day 337
As Paul concludes this first letter to the church in Corinth, he moves from practical matters that were problems in the church to a critical theological issue: the resurrection. Some false teachers were running around saying there is no resurrection. Paul built a case on why the resurrection is the lynchpin of the Christian faith; without which our hope in Christ drops dead.
Before he concludes the letter, he states that he is writing from Ephesus. No doubt the Corinthians already knew that, but now we know it. We will soon read of Paul's Ephesus encounter with the riotous followers of the goddess Diana. Later we will read the powerful letter he wrote to the church that started there.
First, we have another letter to the Corinthians. Tomorrow...
Friday, December 2, 2011
December 2, Day 336
Spiritual gifts, the supremacy of love and conduct in the church. These are three more chapters that never lose their relevance to followers of Christ. Do you have thoughts or questions that arise from today's reading?
Thursday, December 1, 2011
December 1, Day 335
Obviously, Paul faced opposition in this place where he spent so much time. It's not unusual that churches full of overt sin spend significant time and energy complaining about their leaders. It's the churches that are truly full of God that support their leaders. They still notice the flaws of those who lead, but they see them through the eyes of brokenness and grace. The people in those churches are broken because of their own sins and full of grace toward all sinners. Corinth wasn't there yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
