Tag Archives: New Testament

Arts, Christianity, Culture

Romans 8: A cast-iron guarantee

NEW TESTAMENT

– A narrative on Romans 8

THERE is nothing more crippling than uncertainty. Did I lock up? Will she turn up? Will I be late? Throughout Romans Paul seems to have a sub-agenda. He wants to deepen his readers’ assurance that because of the death and resurrection of Jesus they have no need to worry about the future.

Chapter 8 begins on a stronger note than the chapters before it. We have peace with God (5:1) despite the persistent struggles (chapters 6-7), and therefore we are safe for eternity (8:1). The death sentence has been lifted; we have been pronounced “not guilty”; we cannot be retried and the case against us cannot be re-opened.

God has ensured that his lawful and just requirements concerning our past have been met fully by what Christ has done. We are free (vv 3,4). Our human frailty may cause us to doubt it, so Paul goes on to explain that despite appearances to the contrary we are now under new management (v 9).

Therefore, we are the heirs – the rightful possessors – of the riches of God’s kingdom (v 17) and no one can rob us of them (vv 38,39). So we are obliged to live up to our new status (v 12a; Paul is so anxious to stress the death of the old nature that he doesn’t complete this sentence until chapter 12!).

One evidence of our new standing before God is how we turn to him in prayer, as to a caring parent who can help, guide and support (8:15). If we don’t always feel this, one way to become more aware of our heavenly Father’s care is simply to relate to him as if it were true, to take it on trust. We will then discover that it is true as we see him at work in and through the daily struggles we bring to him.

(Podcast ends)

THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS

THE letter to the Romans is unique among Paul’s writings. It is a theological treatise, and not at all a trouble-shooting letter. It is not a summary of all his beliefs, however; there’s not much on the church, the divinity of Christ or the second coming. Instead, Romans focuses on the atonement, telling us how sinful people can be reconciled to God through faith in the LORD Jesus Christ.

Paul explains this is terms familiar to first-century Jews, but which Christians today find difficult. Yet Romans can lay claim to being the most effective mailshot in history. Paul sent it to introduce himself and his message; it has transformed people’s lives, churches and societies ever since.

Readers’ will not find the letter particularly easy. However, you will likely discover enriching but humbling truths to illuminate your faith in a fresh way. Whilst the Letter to the Romans shows that all people have fallen short of God’s standards it challenges us to receive the benefits of Christ’s death through faith. Through Christ alone comes our salvation and an assurance of being absolved of our sins through His death. That’s the central message from Romans given to Christians.

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Arts, Christianity, Culture

John’s Gospel: Chapter 6

NO ROOM FOR DOUBT

A narrative on John 6:32-40

THERE are two kinds of doubt. One is related to more basic beliefs: Is God really as they say he is? The other is more concerned with our standing before God: I’m not sure if he’ll have me.

The former was the kind which Thomas experienced (20:24-29), the latter is dealt with in this passage. There is nothing equivocal about Jesus’ assurances: Spiritual hunger and thirst are satisfied (v 35); all who trust God are never rejected by him (v 37); and, he will hold firmly those who trust him and include them in the final resurrection (vv 39,40).

Jesus does not say that eternal life is assured so long as we keep the rules. He says that it is assured come what may. This may seem to encourage “easy believism”, which treats faith in Christ’s death and resurrection as an insurance policy that has little bearing on daily life.

However, true believing (trusting, “feeding”) is a whole-person activity which results in personal growth and transformation. It cannot be undertaken without a commitment to the lifestyle which is the outworking of salvation in daily life. Someone who has truly encountered God can never be the same again – although they may be far from perfect.

The assurance here is especially for those who have grown weary in well-doing, or who are conscious of having failed (yet again) in the Christian life. Doubt added to tiredness or guilt is a recipe for spiritual depression, and Jesus offers an alternative: keep feeding on him, because he is always there to sustain us.

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Arts, Christianity, Culture

1 & 2 Timothy: The Pastoral Letters

NEW TESTAMENT

IF you read only Acts, you might think that the early church was one big happy family (once they had sorted out a bit of racial tension, Acts 6:1-8, 15:1-6). Generous sharing, daily praying, hundreds being converted, miracles of healing and deliverance, with only the odd arrest to hinder the flow of the Spirit at revival level.

Well, it wasn’t like that all the time; Acts is like a newspaper, it focuses on “news”: the unusual rather than the normal. And it certainly didn’t last. The sensual excesses of Corinth (Paul’s letters to them spare no blushes) highlighted the fact that the church was made up of human beings who, by biblical definition, are prone to more errors than a crashing computer.

And so by the mid-60s the first generation of Christians was being superseded by the next, and familiar problems were sprouting everywhere like weeds after a rain shower. The three “pastoral letters” (two to Timothy and one to Titus) are effectively manuals for the pair of troubleshooters to use as they sort out problems in Ephesus (Timothy) and Crete (Titus).

In laying down the law, Paul has given us a timeless set of guidelines for church leadership. He expects leaders to have exemplary lives and orthodox beliefs; and he expects his own colleagues to labour tirelessly and sacrificially. Along the way he gives some valuable truths memorably expressed about God and the Scriptures.

They apply especially to anyone in church leadership today. But it isn’t just aimed at the pastorate, there are clear guidelines for everyone in what they should be praying and looking for.

DON’T GET SIDETRACKED

– A narrative on 1 Timothy 1,4,6

THE human mind has a huge capacity for learning and remembering. Most of us only use a fraction of it, yet the world is an infinite source of information. However, what can be known is far greater than anyone can take in.

Theology – the knowledge of God revealed through the Scriptures, interpreted by successive generations of believers and applied to our lives by the Spirit – is no exception to the rule. There is always more to discover, and more than one mind can take in.

Paul encouraged his readers to learn the Scriptures and be mindful of healthy, right-minded doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6, 5:7, 6:3; 2 Timothy 3:14) but warns against fruitless speculation which leads us away from the gospel.

The false teachers in Ephesus had done just that. Some scribes have associated them with later heresies and thus questioned Paul’s authorship. But there are hints of similar problems elsewhere (Colossae, for example). The details are vague which makes them widely applicable. We should avoid excessive interest in legends (1:4), not to be fascinated by genealogies for theological reasons or personal status, not delighting in controversies arguing for the fun of it, and to avoid an interest in the occult (4:1-2).

The net effect is “envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction” (6:4,5). All this destroys fellowship. We are to be wise and to remain so.

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