The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Romans 7:24-25,
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Many recognize, and rightly so, Paul's letter to the Romans is a presentation of salvation by faith. Often Romans 1:16-17 is observed to be a concise expression of the theme of his letter, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
What sometimes gets overlooked is that Paul's presentation of salvation by faith is a polemic against salvation by doing works of the law. As Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, his payment for the sins of mankind, and the invitation of eternal life by embracing him in faith, Paul had to deal with the prevailing conflict with the very nation Jesus Christ himself was from. His own people as a nation rejected Jesus Christ as her Savior. Rather than accepting the good news of salvation by faith, the Jews maintained their steadfast commitment to keep the law to find their righteous standing with God. It is against this backdrop that Paul's reasoning is developed throughout the letter to the Romans.
The Jews lived by the law of Moses and even codified it in an array of oral traditions that would insure compliance with it. In historical background studies of the early church, the Roman Empire and Israel, it is often observed that the Jews throughout the Diaspora were looked to as that ethnic group in any given locality that maintained the highest ethical and religious standards. As a nation of monotheistic worshippers committed to their adherence to the law given them by God in every facet of life, their expression of morality, ethical conduct and worship set them apart from all others.
Salvation by faith would mean abandoning what set the Jews apart from others, abandoning what had become the very fabric of the life and culture of the nation - a perceived higher moral ground the Jews maintained for themselves. Paul cut the ground right from underneath this perception by addressing the Jew's weakness. Although they subscribed to high moral standards in keeping the law, they were just as sinful as anyone else. Paul tells them, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1. He brings home this indictment very forcefully from verse 17 to the end of chapter two.
Paul points to the problem of sin. Where the Jews may have thought they held a higher moral standing than the surrounding peoples, they were sinful themselves. All mankind has an innate sinful nature with a proclivity for sinfulness. He used his own experience to make his case in this letter. He points out he is an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin, Romans 11:1. Yet he struggled with sin. In Romans 7:14-23 he outlines his struggle as someone who delighted in the law of God. As he summarizes the reality of his condition he finds himself to be "unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin... I have the desire to do what is good but cannot carry it out." Romans 7:14-18.
And so Paul raises the cry of despair in frustration and futility, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" He finds the answer in the next verse, "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
I may think I am a pretty good person. I may think I ought to be regarded as not-so-bad in the courtroom of God when judgement day comes. But the sad reality is that my lot is the same as Paul's. As someone mastered by sin, the only relief and victory over that enslavement is found in Jesus Christ. He brings freedom! He brings release from the bonds of sin! He brings me a right standing before God so that on judgment day I will not be condemned. All he asks of me is to trust in him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Many recognize, and rightly so, Paul's letter to the Romans is a presentation of salvation by faith. Often Romans 1:16-17 is observed to be a concise expression of the theme of his letter, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
What sometimes gets overlooked is that Paul's presentation of salvation by faith is a polemic against salvation by doing works of the law. As Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, his payment for the sins of mankind, and the invitation of eternal life by embracing him in faith, Paul had to deal with the prevailing conflict with the very nation Jesus Christ himself was from. His own people as a nation rejected Jesus Christ as her Savior. Rather than accepting the good news of salvation by faith, the Jews maintained their steadfast commitment to keep the law to find their righteous standing with God. It is against this backdrop that Paul's reasoning is developed throughout the letter to the Romans.
The Jews lived by the law of Moses and even codified it in an array of oral traditions that would insure compliance with it. In historical background studies of the early church, the Roman Empire and Israel, it is often observed that the Jews throughout the Diaspora were looked to as that ethnic group in any given locality that maintained the highest ethical and religious standards. As a nation of monotheistic worshippers committed to their adherence to the law given them by God in every facet of life, their expression of morality, ethical conduct and worship set them apart from all others.
Salvation by faith would mean abandoning what set the Jews apart from others, abandoning what had become the very fabric of the life and culture of the nation - a perceived higher moral ground the Jews maintained for themselves. Paul cut the ground right from underneath this perception by addressing the Jew's weakness. Although they subscribed to high moral standards in keeping the law, they were just as sinful as anyone else. Paul tells them, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1. He brings home this indictment very forcefully from verse 17 to the end of chapter two.
Paul points to the problem of sin. Where the Jews may have thought they held a higher moral standing than the surrounding peoples, they were sinful themselves. All mankind has an innate sinful nature with a proclivity for sinfulness. He used his own experience to make his case in this letter. He points out he is an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin, Romans 11:1. Yet he struggled with sin. In Romans 7:14-23 he outlines his struggle as someone who delighted in the law of God. As he summarizes the reality of his condition he finds himself to be "unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin... I have the desire to do what is good but cannot carry it out." Romans 7:14-18.
And so Paul raises the cry of despair in frustration and futility, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" He finds the answer in the next verse, "Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
I may think I am a pretty good person. I may think I ought to be regarded as not-so-bad in the courtroom of God when judgement day comes. But the sad reality is that my lot is the same as Paul's. As someone mastered by sin, the only relief and victory over that enslavement is found in Jesus Christ. He brings freedom! He brings release from the bonds of sin! He brings me a right standing before God so that on judgment day I will not be condemned. All he asks of me is to trust in him!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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