Romans 10:15 "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
In this list of rhetorical questions, Paul is making a very important point. We have been sent. Each and every believer has been sent to preach the Gospel to every creature.
If people are not being saved, it is because they are not calling on the Lord. If they are not calling on the Lord, it is because they have not believed. If they are not believing, it is because they have not heard of Him. If they have not heard of him, it is because there has not been a preacher. If there has not been a preacher then, is it because we have not been sent?
This is obviously not the case. We have been sent. The disconnect in this beautiful process is our willingness to obey God's commands. If we will obey, a chain reaction will follow. It become obvious as the chapter continues, that not everyone who hears will be saved. However, that does not release us from our responsibility.
Do I realize, today, that I have been sent to preach the Gospel to the lost? Am I obeying?
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Thou Shalt Be Saved
Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
This is probably one of the most known verses in the Bible, right alongside John 3:16. There is so much truth flowing from it as it beautifully lays out "what you must do to be saved".
The word "confess" means "to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent". In other words, we are to "say the same things" as the Lord Jesus, we are to agree with He Who is the Truth. He says that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We say that we are sinners in need of a Savior. He says that He is the only way. We say that He is the only way. This is the confession Paul is talking about.
The word "believe" means "to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in". The classic example is a man tight rope walking a wheel barrel across Niagara Falls. You may think that he can do it, you may even watch him do it and know it can be done. But true belief comes when you let him tight rope walk across the falls with you in the wheel barrel. That's the point where you've put your confidence in him. It's not merely mental assent, you believe and your confident enough in that belief to commit.
This is probably one of the most known verses in the Bible, right alongside John 3:16. There is so much truth flowing from it as it beautifully lays out "what you must do to be saved".
The word "confess" means "to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent". In other words, we are to "say the same things" as the Lord Jesus, we are to agree with He Who is the Truth. He says that we are sinners in need of a Savior. We say that we are sinners in need of a Savior. He says that He is the only way. We say that He is the only way. This is the confession Paul is talking about.
The word "believe" means "to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in". The classic example is a man tight rope walking a wheel barrel across Niagara Falls. You may think that he can do it, you may even watch him do it and know it can be done. But true belief comes when you let him tight rope walk across the falls with you in the wheel barrel. That's the point where you've put your confidence in him. It's not merely mental assent, you believe and your confident enough in that belief to commit.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Shall Not Be Ashamed
Romans 9:33 "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
Ashamed: "...one is said to be put to shame who suffers a repulse, or whom some hope has deceived."
There are many things that we hope for throughout this life. We hope for love, a home, security, happiness, fulfillment. Yet it wouldn't be a stretch to say that for the majority of mankind, these hopes are never quite met. Often these hopes are dashed to pieces on the rocky shores of reality.
We could say that those who hoped were put to shame. Their hope has deceived them, causing them to not see life for what it truly is.
Consider this promise then - whosoever believes on Him will not be ashamed. The hope we place in Christ is the truest, most honest hope available to us. He will fulfill His Word, because His Word is Truth. This hope we have in Christ is sure, secure, never failing.
Our hope in Christ will never deceive us. Rather it allows us to see life and this world in the clearest light available. Am I living today as if I will not be ashamed because of my belief in God?
Ashamed: "...one is said to be put to shame who suffers a repulse, or whom some hope has deceived."
There are many things that we hope for throughout this life. We hope for love, a home, security, happiness, fulfillment. Yet it wouldn't be a stretch to say that for the majority of mankind, these hopes are never quite met. Often these hopes are dashed to pieces on the rocky shores of reality.
We could say that those who hoped were put to shame. Their hope has deceived them, causing them to not see life for what it truly is.
Consider this promise then - whosoever believes on Him will not be ashamed. The hope we place in Christ is the truest, most honest hope available to us. He will fulfill His Word, because His Word is Truth. This hope we have in Christ is sure, secure, never failing.
Our hope in Christ will never deceive us. Rather it allows us to see life and this world in the clearest light available. Am I living today as if I will not be ashamed because of my belief in God?
Friday, December 1, 2017
Accursed From Christ
Romans 9:3 "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:"
If you live in America, you are very blessed. Christianity in America is often chided for it's relaxed, lazy attitude and lukewarmness. Often this is a credible criticism. Persecution does bring out our true beliefs more than ease and comfort ever could.
Believers around the world live in constant danger. Entire countries persecute them for their belief in God. Their lives, the lives of their families, could all be forfeit just for choosing to follow Christ. Yet they still follow. Beat, mocked, cursed, hated, reviled, they still follow.
The question is, would I give up my cozy station here in America and willingly trade places for my Christian brethren in a persecuted place? A hard question.
Now magnify that by infinity - would I trade my eternally secure position in Christ for a unsaved, unrepentant sinner? If you would die for a friend, Christ calls that great love. But if you would give up eternal life for an enemy...
Obviously, this is not our choice to make. However, the question should drive us to examine our heart and attitude toward the lost. Is this the kind of burning passion I have toward seeing them come to Christ?
If you live in America, you are very blessed. Christianity in America is often chided for it's relaxed, lazy attitude and lukewarmness. Often this is a credible criticism. Persecution does bring out our true beliefs more than ease and comfort ever could.
Believers around the world live in constant danger. Entire countries persecute them for their belief in God. Their lives, the lives of their families, could all be forfeit just for choosing to follow Christ. Yet they still follow. Beat, mocked, cursed, hated, reviled, they still follow.
The question is, would I give up my cozy station here in America and willingly trade places for my Christian brethren in a persecuted place? A hard question.
Now magnify that by infinity - would I trade my eternally secure position in Christ for a unsaved, unrepentant sinner? If you would die for a friend, Christ calls that great love. But if you would give up eternal life for an enemy...
Obviously, this is not our choice to make. However, the question should drive us to examine our heart and attitude toward the lost. Is this the kind of burning passion I have toward seeing them come to Christ?
Thursday, November 30, 2017
More Than Conquerors
Romans 8:35-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The list Paul gives here has 2 meanings. The first is that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. His love is more powerful, more relentless, more unstoppable than we can ever know. These puny obstacles are nothing. It's liked vapor trying to stop a freight train. Nothing this life throws at us can interrupt the flow of God's love into our lives.
The second meaning of this list is that through His love, we conquer each and every thing listed. Not only that, we go beyond conquering! More than conquerors! Think about that! It's not enough for us to defy and destroy every obstacle in this life, but because of the unfathomable power of His love, we do more than conquer.
These are incredible promises. But we must remember, that conquering does not mean avoiding. Paul lists some very hard, unpleasant things. Things that will seem at times impossible to overcome. Yet the promise remains. Though we may have to endure hardship, we will conquer through His love.
Do I feel this power of God's love working in my life today? Does my life look like the life of a conqueror? What needs to change in order to start fulfilling the potential of God's love in my life?
The list Paul gives here has 2 meanings. The first is that none of these things can separate us from the love of God. His love is more powerful, more relentless, more unstoppable than we can ever know. These puny obstacles are nothing. It's liked vapor trying to stop a freight train. Nothing this life throws at us can interrupt the flow of God's love into our lives.
The second meaning of this list is that through His love, we conquer each and every thing listed. Not only that, we go beyond conquering! More than conquerors! Think about that! It's not enough for us to defy and destroy every obstacle in this life, but because of the unfathomable power of His love, we do more than conquer.
These are incredible promises. But we must remember, that conquering does not mean avoiding. Paul lists some very hard, unpleasant things. Things that will seem at times impossible to overcome. Yet the promise remains. Though we may have to endure hardship, we will conquer through His love.
Do I feel this power of God's love working in my life today? Does my life look like the life of a conqueror? What needs to change in order to start fulfilling the potential of God's love in my life?
Monday, November 20, 2017
Ultimate Proof
Romans 8:31-32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Paul doesn't just state that God is for us and leave it at that. He points to the ultimate proof - He spared not His own Son.
There are so many things around us that demonstrate God's love for us and the fact that He is for us. We see in nature a planet designed for our benefit. We see daily miracles of life. We see an order of right and wrong that protects those who follow it. These all show that God loves humanity!
However, the thing that showed that love more than anything else was God the Father sending His Son to be the sacrifice for us "while we were yet sinners." That love is undeniable!
How am I experiencing God's undeniable love today? Is it even something I've consciously thought of today?
Paul doesn't just state that God is for us and leave it at that. He points to the ultimate proof - He spared not His own Son.
There are so many things around us that demonstrate God's love for us and the fact that He is for us. We see in nature a planet designed for our benefit. We see daily miracles of life. We see an order of right and wrong that protects those who follow it. These all show that God loves humanity!
However, the thing that showed that love more than anything else was God the Father sending His Son to be the sacrifice for us "while we were yet sinners." That love is undeniable!
How am I experiencing God's undeniable love today? Is it even something I've consciously thought of today?
Thursday, November 16, 2017
We Don't Know How To Pray
Romans 8:26-27 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."
Recently, I've felt the need to pray more. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is built on the foundation of communication. However, prayer is a discipline that must be practiced and worked at relentlessly and with dedication and tenacity.
But no matter how hard we work at it, we are human's with deep rooted infirmities. His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. Our prayers are also on this terrestrial plain, while God's will is in that celestial plain, so very high above us.
Praise be to God for giving us His Holy Spirit. We don't know how to pray like we should. So He makes intercession for us. We do not know what to pray for, so He searches our hearts. Our perception of God's will is so far off sometimes, so He prays on our behalf.
Incredible. Let that truly sink in today.
Recently, I've felt the need to pray more. Like any relationship, our relationship with God is built on the foundation of communication. However, prayer is a discipline that must be practiced and worked at relentlessly and with dedication and tenacity.
But no matter how hard we work at it, we are human's with deep rooted infirmities. His thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours. Our prayers are also on this terrestrial plain, while God's will is in that celestial plain, so very high above us.
Praise be to God for giving us His Holy Spirit. We don't know how to pray like we should. So He makes intercession for us. We do not know what to pray for, so He searches our hearts. Our perception of God's will is so far off sometimes, so He prays on our behalf.
Incredible. Let that truly sink in today.
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