Romans 3:9-20

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all… (v. 9a, NASB) This verse strikes me in a number of ways. Debbie commented on yesterday’s reading as to our “levels of sin”, comparing our sins to others’ sins. I’m not a murderer, I’m not a rapist…, etc.! But what we are, every one of us, is prideful! Yes, sometimes, even in our humility…! So we compare our “bads” with other peoples’ “bads”. But we also do that with our “goods”. We compare salaries and wealth. We compare educational levels. We compare houses and cars. We compare our kids with other peoples’ kids. We compare our good deeds with others’ good deeds. But all of our “goods” are never enough to cover even one of our “bads” – not when we compare ourselves to an infinitely Holy, Righteous God. Only Jesus’ sacrificial death can cover that one bad, that second bad, that hundredth bad, that millionth bad, that eternity-ridden bad for all mankind for all time. We are all sinners. Period!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 3:1-8

Verse 7 is somewhat confusing: But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? First, let’s take it out of the first-person tense. That is, I don’t think Paul is singling himself out. I think he could just as well have said, “…why are we still being condemned as sinners?” That will clarify the verse somewhat. However, to further understand verse 7, it helps to back up to a selected portion of verse 5: …our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God… I don’t think I am doing Scripture wrong by picking out only that selected part of verse 5. In this portion of verse 5, Paul is repeating what he has already said in verses 3 and 4. So, put it together and here’s a sinner’s (my) restatement of verse 7: “If my wrongdoing makes God look better, then don’t call me a sinner – I’m making God look better!” Enough for today; I’m in over my head!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 2:17-29

A fairly easy read today… If it’s not an easy read, maybe you need another translation!

Paul is talking to Jews in today’s reading, even though most of the people in Rome who will receive this letter are Gentiles. He is comparing Jews and Gentiles, by focusing on what he knows as an educated Jew – well trained as a rabbi before meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. For me, today’s key verse is 27: Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. The Jews had received from the Lord both the sign (circumcision) and the word (the Law). The Gentiles had nothing except their idols and temples to the Greek and Roman gods. But Paul is saying that these Gentiles (who may even worship strange gods) could put the Jews to shame by their behavior: So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? (v. 26) Not knowing the Law, these Gentile unbelievers keep the spirit of the Law. And in that sense, the Gentiles are better off than the Jews who behave self-righteously. It’s a lesson we all need to keep in mind.

Slava Bohu!

Romans 2:1-16

Archbishop Beach has a daily devotional, “A Word from the Lord” (https://awftl.podbean.com/). In today’s devotional he quotes from our reading today! It’s worth reading, but I’m not going to repeat it here. I’d rather you read it yourself! However, one point that he does make… “You can become cocky and arrogant in your spiritual life – “I am a Christian; God has done this for me.” You can rest on your perceived laurels; but these perceptions, of personal goodness and righteousness, can lead you quickly to a need for your penitence”. David has mentioned “divine echoes” a few times – when you hear “a word” a few times within a couple of hours. Maybe…??!!

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. (v. 1) All too often I have been far too judgmental in my life. An incident… It was a Sunday morning sermon back in Texas. Our pastor had just said that our worst trait is our best trait taken to the wrong extreme. I immediately thought, “I’m a teacher and I’m very critical of others.” Then he said, “For example, if you are a teacher you are probably critical of others.” WHAM!! He then explained what he meant and why it was so. He got my attention and I’ve been careful since that day in trying not to be too critical or judgmental. Let’s all be careful in what we say, folks.

Slava Bohu!

Romans 1:16-32

I’m sure many of you have heard of Josh McDowell, a Christian author (Evidence That Demands a Verdict; More Than a Carpenter, etc.) and popular speaker. Years ago (1976, I believe), in my early born-again years I had the pleasure of serving as his driver when he visited the University of Illinois campus. Back then very few students had cars, but I was older and lived off campus, so it fell very nicely to me. I got to know him better than most and bought ETDAV and asked him to sign it. His signature was “Josh McDowell, Romans 1:16”. I remember that every time I read this verse! Sweet!

Therefore God gave them up… (v. 24a); For this reason God gave them up… (v. 26a); And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up… (v. 28a). Three times within five verses Paul mentions “God gave them up”! Note that Paul does not say that God gave up on them, only that He was letting these Gentiles deal with the results of their own passions. Their choices, their outcomes! How different it is when we give ourselves up to His control, His guidance, His outcomes!!

I’ve always been impressed with Paul’s logic in these “natural world” verses: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (vv. 19-20) How can someone look at our natural world and not believe in God? Can all this creation just be happenstance? Evolution? Random?? I look at our 6-week-old granddaughter across the driveway; I’m stunned at the perfection that she is. Glory, GLORY!!

Slava Bohu!

Romans 1:1-15

A brief interlude from my Chronological Bible; I include here three verses that we will see later in our readings: After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:1-3) We already had Paul traveling to Macedonia (Philippi, etc.), having departed Ephesus when Demetrius and his friends started a near-riot. He wrote I Corinthians from Ephesus and II Corinthians from Macedonia. These few verses tell us that he spent some time in Macedonia (…through those regions…) and moved on to Greece (Athens, Corinth). He spent three months in Greece, likely Corinth, and it is from Corinth that many (most?) Biblical scholars believe that he wrote Romans, which we begin reading today. After his time in Greece, he went back through Macedonia on his way to Jerusalem to deliver the funds he had collected for the Jews in need.

So now we begin Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. The first thing that I notice from today’s reading is that the more we read Acts and the Epistles, the more we can connect these historical events. Consider the following verse: I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented) … (v. 13a) You may recall back in Acts 17 that Paul and Silas were run out of Thessalonica and headed south to Berea, then Athens and Corinth. Back than I argued that Paul had intended to continue west along the Egnatian Way, a major thoroughfare that ran from Rome to the eastern coast of Italy, then across the Adriatic Sea, through Macedonia and all the way to modern day Istanbul. I maintained back then that Paul was possibly headed to Rome, but was diverted south instead of continuing west – that the Jews who had hounded him along the Egnatian Way from Philippi to Thessalonica would continue to pursue him west, so Paul headed south instead. So, connections between I and II Corinthians and Acts and Romans. It’s good to tie these things together!

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you — that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (vv. 11-12) I like that Paul takes the position that his visit to Rome would have been mutually beneficial. I learned early in my 40 years of classroom teaching that although I was the educator and they were the students, I could learn from them while they were learning from me. The same is true in the spiritual realm – both the teacher and the student benefit. But Paul is saying something more than that here. He is saying that there is also mutual encouragement, that both he and the Romans would be encouraged by his visit. And that’s a recognition that’s doubly important with “spiritual teaching”. As I am doing what I can to guide this RTB group through Acts and the Epistles, I hear from some of you that my comments are helpful – even challenging sometimes – and clearly appreciated. And that fills my heart! So, ideally, hopefully, we are doubly blessed in our RTB relationship! Again, Paul is “right on”!!

Slava Bohu! 

II Corinthians 13:1-14

Paul finishes II Corinthians on a loving note, with a benediction that we have used for years in the Christian Church: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (v. 14) But I think we say “…our Lord Jesus Christ…” instead of “…the…”. More personal!! Also, surprisingly, I just loaded today’s worship service video – today is Trinity Sunday!! How timely is that!! GLORY!!

Paul gives us some good advice: Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? (v. 5) Examine ourselves. Test ourselves. It’s a good exercise, to ask ourselves where we are in the Lord. Not only where we are, but also where we are headed… Those of us reading this are an older crowd. It would be easy to ask ourselves, “Is this it?” Are we content being where we are in life? Or should we be asking, “What’s next?” Where would you have us go, Lord? What would you have us do? We’ve all got years ahead of us. Let’s use them for His glory!!

Finally, after nearly two months we have finished Paul’s Corinthian letters. I would encourage us to go back through both epistles, just reading the subtitles and headings in our Bibles, reminding ourselves how much we have covered in these two letters – how many topics Paul has touched on, how much advice he has given us, and how much theology he has presented. No doubt we know Corinth better that we ever have from our prior readings. Now on to do the same for Romans…!!

Slava Bohu!

II Corinthians 12:14-21

More frustration and sarcasm from Paul. Verse 16 is particularly telling: But granting that I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. He didn’t take money for his labors, so his preaching was diminished (in their eyes), and what he did say must have been compelling enough for them to buy into it, but again (in their eyes) must have been misguided. I truly feel sorry for Paul in all this! He spent 18 months there the first time, working alongside them and even made some good friends. Now false preachers, those “most eminent apostles” have come along and done their best to destroy him and his teachings. He must be well beyond frustration and disappointment, well into anger and hurt. So sad…!

Ironically, what we have from all this is the blessing that is II Corinthians. We have encouragement from Paul to “test the spirits”, to weigh the words and opinions of others to see if they stand up to Scripture. Granted, the issues in Corinth back then are not the same that we deal with today, but testing the spirits is what has led to the formation of St. Andrew’s, ADOTS, and the Anglican Church in North America, testing those “spirits” coming out of St. John’s, the Diocese of Lexington, and the Episcopal Church. Fundamentally, we are blessed today having followed Paul’s difficulties and having his reflections (and frustrations) as to how he dealt with them. Thank you, St. Paul!

Slava Bohu!

II Corinthians 12:1-13

Paul is clearly frustrated with the Corinthians and how easily they have been led astray by these “…most eminent apostles” (v. 11). In my previous years of reading II Corinthians I have wondered about Paul’s “boasting”, especially in these last few chapters that we have been reading. But as we have read, studied and pondered these chapters in smaller sections, I’ve come to see the depth of Paul’s anger at these false teachers and how they’ve captured some of Paul’s beloved Corinthians in their legalistic traps. With it all I now see Paul’s boasting as purely defensive. He is trying to make the case for himself as a “true apostle”, much more deserving of the Corinthians’ following than the false teachers. So his “boasting” is warranted. I’ve long had a problem with “tooting my own horn”, but as my friends have occasionally told me, it’s not “boasting” (bragging) if it’s true!

In Paul’s vision he speaks in the third person of “…a man in Christ”: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven… (v. 2a) Then later he seems to make it more first-person: So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations… (v. 7a, my emphasis added) So who is it, Paul or someone else? Scholars disagree, but his making it more personal in verse 7 sure leads me to believe that Paul is speaking of himself. And I daresay most conservative scholars would agree.

It’s amazing how much Paul put up with for the sake of the Gospel. Impressive…!

Slava Bohu!

II Corinthians 11:16-33

Paul continues with his sarcasm directed at the Corinthians’ response to his Corinthian detractors, especially with his phrase “…being wise yourselves”: For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. (vv. 19-20) He clearly sees them being dominated by these false preachers and is troubled that they cannot discern these pretenders. His words take on a harsh tone, but that appears to be necessary to deal with this issue of the false preachers.

I have always been impressed with Paul’s account of his sufferings in verses 22 to 28. I can even recall being touched by these verses when I was a youngster in the Catholic Church. These verses then became more alive when I started reading Scripture myself, especially the book of Acts where we see him stoned in Galatia, beaten in Philippi, and then shipwrecked on his way to Rome. In my mind I see Paul accepting these hardships as his just desserts for having persecuted the church in his earlier days.

Verse 30 should hit home for all of us: If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. What Paul is talking about here, realistically, is the “glory sightings” that we do as a church. The intent behind these glory sightings is to remind ourselves of the Lord’s hand in the world around us, in everything we do – in the little things and in the big things. Paul highlights his weakness, his seeing the Lord at work when he has yielded himself to God’s authority in his life. I am always happy to offer glory sightings, to report on the Lord’s working in my life. But I am often torn between a perspective on whether I am reporting on what I have done or on what the Lord has done through me. One time I reported on praying for a cashier in a grocery store in the early days of the pandemic. Yes, I felt “moved” to pray for her, but I was the one who offered to pray and I was the one who prayed. To me, God’s glory was revealed in that I was moved in a moment to pray for her, but the rest was me. How to keep myself diminished and God glorified – that’s a trouble I constantly deal with!

Slava Bohu!