Romans 4

Romans chapter 4 applies the principle that we are saved by faith in what God has done for us in Christ, and not by our own works. God's rescue by faith is applied three ways:

• Because we are safe in God's rescue by faith, we can be real with God (4:1-8)
• Because God's rescue is by faith not anyone's works, God intends to rescue those who are outside our box (4:9-12).
• Because God's rescue is by faith not my works, I can lay aside my lists and rules of the ways I earn God's approval (4:13-17).

The whole circumcision thing is a little personal...but it's not so much about the deed itself, but about expectations.  Religious then and now easily think that others who are not like them, Could not possibly be accepted by God.  Jesus had his pharisees and we do too.  (I have met the pharisee and he is me...)  Who, or what kind of person would you think is "outside the box" of God's acceptance?  Come on, be real with God about this.  We all have our boxes, of who's in and who's out...  Who would you exclude?

The third focus of rescue by faith is that we give up on law.  God's law, Moses law, Bob's law.  Legalism has been defiend as earning God's acceptance by my obedience.  The problem is any law or code of rules will not be able to help me measure up, but will only show us where we don't measure up--which makes us want to hide.  faith invites us to come back out, set aside the law or rules for trying to measure up and rest in full acceptance by faith.  "Obedience of faith" means I follow God, because I can trust myself to him, not because I'm afraid of what God will do if I don't.
What's your favorite law that you could "live" without?

Real with God

"Dr. Greg House" said, concerning his patients giving their histories to help with diagnosis, "It's a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies."  That's bad practice with your doctor, it's even worse as a spiritual practice with God.  In Roman's 4, David is quoted from Psalm 32.  Romans 4:6-8 show the joy of forgiveness that comes by trsuting God to forgive becasue of Jesus.  If we go from Romans 4 back to Psalm 32, David takes us even deeper into being real with God. 

David's joy in his own forgiveness comes out of David's darkest hours and deepest secrets spiritually.  While every thing seemd good in David's world, David was actually a coveting, lying adulterous murderer.  He was hiding from God.  Psalm 32:3-4 describes (compare 2 Samuel 12) that God would not let David hide.  God uses Holy Spirit tear gas smoke him out.  But what will God when David gives up and comes out in surrender.  Will God shoot him down? Lock him away?  32:5 says that God forgives, restores.

In the rest of this psalm, David urges us to stop trying to hide our sin and be real with God , 32:6-7.  doesn't God already inow anyway?  God is presseing us to confess--that is to agree with God about our sin and need for his forgiveness.  A contining need for those who walk with God while still in our own brockeness.
Following David, it seems that God himslef joins into the song, urging me to humbly come, learn from God, lay aside my stubborn, donkey like self-will, and trust in God's unfailing love.

I can join the songs close (32:11) rejoicing in the Lord with a clean heart, but only if I have been willing to confess and be real with God.

The world's oldest battle

The big battle of the Bible is the battle of idolatry.

That may seem like an overstatement, but consider for a moment: the trouble began in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve desired something else, instead of being content with all that God had for them, including himself. The battle continues through Israel's history: the golden calf at the exodus, the first three commandments relate to true worship vs. idolatry (as does the last), yet Israel quickly spurns God and his promise for the idols of the land. The OT concludes with prophet after prophet confronting the idolatry of the nations somewhat, but especially the idolatry of God's people.

In the Gospels, their religion itself had become the idol, and what should have so clearly pointed to Christ was chosen over Him. Nearly every epistle and the revelation specifically warns us against idolatry, with 1 John perhaps capturing the tension best of all. the book opens with an invitation to fellowship with God himself through confession and forgiveness, warns us in the middle about loving the world and its things, and the closing verse urges us to keep ourselves from idols.

Why? Do you have statues on your mantle, or do you bow before figurines? Probably not. But don't we, like those two in the Garden, look for some greater satisfaction or fulfillment in something else than in God himself, in Christ? The book of Hebrews, so long ago, seems to capture our contemporary conflict so well: Keep your life free from greed or materialism, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5.

We can be content because what we have is really more about Who has us. The ground of our contentment is Christ Himself.

the world to come meets the world that is

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passion, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV

God's grace has a lot to say about living in the present world while I wait for the world to come. I might prefer to just keep my head down and live by this world's rules as best I can until the next world comes, but grace calls for more. Instead of separating myself from the world, grace sends me out into it. It is interesting that the above verses are preceded and followed by instruction on how to live around others in ways that "adorn the gospel."

In Jeremiah chapter 29, God told his people to seek the peace and prosperity of the ungodly city of Babylon, which they found themselves in, while they waited for God's deliverance. What would that look like for us in our city or suburb? Does doing good display the gospel or get in the way of the gospel? Am I content to lay low, when God is saying, "Let's go!"