Prescription for Eternal Life: Heart Change (Romans 2:25-29)

"25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written cod and circumcision, ar a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart; and in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

Paul concludes this part of the letter by telling the Jews that just because they were circumcised into the covenant family of the Israelites (which meant they were true worshipers of God) that that act alone would not save them. Just because one has an outward appearance of holiness (circumcision, knowing the Law and the traditions, etc) does not mean that they are without sin and are going to inherit eternal life. No, Paul makes it clear that one is not a Jew (or a true believer) unless one has been circumcised of the heart. Our hearts have been cut fresh by the Spirit and we have decided to follow Jesus which is shown to the world by an outward life change. There are three truths about our actions in this passage:

1) By our actions we judge ourselves (v.25-26)
a. Outward actions are nullified (v.25)
b. Inward actions are validated (v.26)

2) By others' actions we ourselves are judged (v.27)

3) By our inward actions we are saved (v.28-29)
a. True believers have inward faith (v.28)
b. True believers have right hearts (v.29)

Only through the saving faith in Jesus Christ will we be saved. It does matter where we grew up, our family lineage, or our history of our church attendance. None of that matters. In order to be truly part of God's family we need to be 'circumcised of the heart.' Our hearts need to be broken by the Spirit and mended to the Son. Therefore by doing that, we can have everlasting fellowship with the Father.

What is Progressive Dispensationalism?

I know that among seminary students there is much confusion between Covenant Theology, Traditional Dispensationalism, and Progressive Dispensationalism (the latter promoted by Craig Blaising, Darrell Bock, and Bob Saucy). I found a couple of random websites that do a good job of outlining the differences between the three (especially between the two types of dispensationalisms). The first website is an FAQ of sorts on PD. The second is more the compare and contrasting of the different theological systems. Let me point out a few of the more interesting items of note:

" The hermeneutical doors that PD has opened make very possible the eventual shift to covenant theology. As a covenant theologian, Vern Poythress is appreciative of the moves PD's have been making. But he also says, "However, their position is inherently unstable. I do not think that they will find it possible in the long run to create a safe haven theologically between classical dispensationalism and covenantal premillennialism. The forces that their own observations have set in motion will most likely lead to covenantal premillennialism after the pattern of George Ladd." Walter A. Elwell: "the newer dispensationalism looks so much like nondispensationalist premillennialism that one struggles to see any real difference" Commenting on the one people of God concept of PD, Bruce Waltke states, "That position is closer to covenant theology than to dispensationalism".

and:

DISTINCTIVES OF PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONALISM
Progressive Dispensationalists see a progression of dispensational economies in a single unfolding plan to redeem mankind. We acknowledge only one means of salvation for all time, by grace through faith. The effect of the sacrifice of Christ was retroactive for the Old Testament saints who died in faith [Heb. 9:15], "that they should not be made perfect apart from us." [Heb. 11:40]. It was God's original purpose "that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-- in Him., [Eph. 1:10]. Paul was referring to an already accomplished union of Old Testament and New Testament saints. "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." [Eph. 3:14,15].


Link 1 - http://mb-soft.com/believe/txh/progdisp.htm


Link 2 - http://www.geocities.com/~lasttrumpet/prodisp.html

Are You a "Good Christian?" Well, Good For You...(Romans 2:17-24)

17Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22You who say, 'Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who make your baost in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24For "the name of God is blasphemed among Gentiles because of you," as it is written.

In this passage, Paul writes about how the Jews, eventhough they grew up on God's laws and knew them very well, were still as guilty in their sin as the rest of the world. This message is very appropriate for the modern day church as well. Just because we live wonderful godly lives, whether they be true lives or hypocritical lives, we are still all sinners and need a Savior. There are four truths that we can take from this passage:

I. Having religious holiness won't save us (v.17-18)

II.Having intellectual holiness won't save us (v.19-20)

III. Teaching holiness actually condemns us (v.21-23)

IV. Hypocritical holiness actually degrades God (v.24)

The truth is that it doesn't matter who you are. Have you lived a 'holy' life? Good for you, you're still a sinner. Have you great theological knowledge in your mind? Good for you, you're still a sinner. Do you teach the things of God and other things of the law? Good for you, you're still a sinner. In fact, your breaking of the law that you so "love" makes others think that your God must not be that important after all.

Whether we've sinned knowingly, sinned unknowingly, broke our own commandments or broken God's commandments we've all sinned and should be anxiously awaiting the return of our savior Jesus Christ who has bought us out of the slavery of sin and rescued us by dying our sinner's death.

Coming Soon

I'm going to try to resume the exposition of Romans soon. As of now, I'm working on some other stuff that may make an appearance on here soon.

My New Blog Site

Everyone has to have a hobby. As a former sports writer/editor the following is my second love.

http://southernsportsweekly.blogpsot.com

Interlude: Grudem on Evolution

Theologian Wayne Grudem on Darwinistic Macroevolution:

"It seems ironic that brilliant scientists could advocate so fantastic a theory without one shred of evidence in its favor, all the while rejecting the straightforward explanation given by one book in the history of the world that has never been proven wrong, that has changed the lives of millions of people, that has been believed completely by many of the most intelligent scholars of every generation, and that has been a greater force of good than any other book in the history of the world.


Why will otherwise intelligent people commit themselves to beliefs that seem so irrational? It seems as though they will believe in anything, so long as it is not belief in the personal God of Scripture, who calls us to forsake our pride, humble ourselves before him, ask his forgiveness for failure to obey his moral standards, and submit ourselves to his moral commands for the rest of our lives. To refuse to do this is irrational, but, all sin is ultimately irrational at its root."

But...I didn't know...(Romans 2:12-16)

"12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."

My children at the YMCA tell me that all the time: "I didn't know." And I tell them that it does not matter if they knew the rules or not. The fact remains that they have still broken the rules. Likewise, we have broken God's rules. Here Paul continues writing about God's righteous judgment, how all of mankind is guilty of sin and deserves eternal death. We are all going to be held accountable to God and his law because:

1. Every person has sinned (v.12)
a. Those who sinned unknowingly
b. Those who sinned knowingly

2. Every person knows he has sinned (v.13-15)
a. Just hearing religion won't excuse you (v.13)
b. Just knowing religion won't excuse you (v.14-15)

3. Every person will be judged for his sin (v.16)

What a depressing and dire state we find ourselves in! We can't hide from God's law. We either knowingly break it or unknowingly break it, but the fact remains, we have broken it. When I go 50 mph in a 35 mph zone but do not see the sign and am consequently pulled over for speeding my excuse of "Sorry, officer, I didn't see the sign" will not work. The officer will not care. I still broke the law and the just payment is due.

We have broken God's law and deserve the just payment. Thankfully, God has sent his Son Jesus to pay our debt so that we will not spend eternity in the prison cell of Hell.

Whether Jew or Gentile, all persons are going to be held accountable for disobeying God's law - his commandments and standards, which are indeed a reflection on who he is - his very character.

Interlude: Wise Words from J.I. Packer

Evangelical scholar J.I. Packer in his famous work, Knowing God, states what I think is one of the basic tenets of what God is about; his purpose, his wisdom, and his sovereignty.

"Whats is he (God) after, then? What is his goal? What does he aim at? When he made us, his purpose was that we should love and honor him, praising him for the wonderfully ordered complexity and variety of his world, using it according to his will, and so enjoying both it and him. And though we have fallen, God has not abandoned his first purpose. Still he plans that a great host of humankind should come to love and honor him. His ultimate objective is to bring them to a state in which they please him entirely and praise him adequately, a state in which he is all in all to them, and he and they rejoice continually in the knowledge of each other's love - people rejoicing in the saving love of God, set upon them from all eternity, and God rejoicing in the responsive love of people, drawn out of them by grace through the gospel."

Truly, this is Good News. That even though we fumbled God's created and designed order by our sin, he still deems us important enough to want to share eternity with Him. Amen!

Judgment Day (Romans 2:5-11)

"But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God."

In this passage or Romans, Paul makes very clear that God's judgment on mankind is fair. Whether you are a good person (one who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and is likewise living the life of a believer), or a stubborn person (one who has rejected Christ and is living for himself), God will judge everyone. Paul also makes clear that just because you are a Jew or a Gentile (someone from a different nation), God will judge eah one according to his deeds. And James says that faith without works is dead. Therefore, Christians are called to live a life worthy of their calling because all will be judged in the final day.

1) God will judge everyone (v.5-7)
A. He will judge the "stubborn" with his wrath (v.5-6)
B. He will judge the "good" with honor, glory, and eternal life (v.7)

2)God will judge fairly (v.8-11)
A. The selk-seeking will reap wrath (v.8-9)
B. The good will reap glory, honor, and peace (v.10-11)

Me? A Sinner? No... (Romans 2:1-4)

"Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

In the first part of chapter 2, we read that when we judge others sins' and compare ourselves and think to ourselves: "well, i'm not that bad..." we are judging ourselves because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our judgment compared to God's judgment is sinful and faulty in four ways:

1) Our judgment is false (v.1)
a. We judge biased
b. We judge hypocritically
2) God's judgment is true (v.2)
3) God's judgment is inescapable (v.3)
4) God's judgment is good (v.4)
a. It is kind
b. It is patient
c. It is merciful

When we judge others, we are putting a barrier between us and God and are claiming that we are in fact not sinners and do not need God's judgment and His goodness. We however, because we are sinners, should be thankful for God's judgment and his goodness which shows us that we should repent for our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord.

This past weekend

Last week was our fall break here at Southeastern Seminary. Emily and I went home to South Carolina and hung out with our families and saw our beloved Gamecocks beat Kentucky on Saturday. Here are some picutres from the weekend:

The first picture is Emily and her sister Kelly followed by me and my beautiful bride.

There it is...Williams-Brice Stadium during warmups.

The next picture is of my nephew, little Jake Wallace Albright. My sister and her husband make a good-looking kid.

And the last picture is of our puppy, Millie Boo, when she graduated from her puppy training class. Way to go, Boo!

The Main Danger of Rejecting God: Sin Equals Death (Rom. 1:28-32)

"28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

The conclusion of chapter 1 of Romans sums up Paul's entire argument so far...mankind has rejected God. Therefore, God has let us go our own way. Where does that way take us? It takes us to bondage in a sinful lifestyle. This last passage sums up what that sinful lifestyle brings: death. When we reject God, three results are soon to follow:

1. When we reject God we fill our lives with sin. (v.28-29)

2. When we reject God we become the sin we have filled our life with. (v.30-31)

3. When we reject God we approve of other peoples' sin. (v.32)
We approve even though: a) God is righteous
b) Sin equals death

Do I need to list every adjective and noun given in this pasage for us to find our sin? No, I do not think that is necessary. Every single one of us is guilty of at least one of these sins (Myself, I'm probably guilty of almost all of them). You say you've never murdered? Well maybe you have been proud or unloving. There is no degree of sin. All sin is equal in God's eyes. That is why He provided a way to where we could be cleansed of our sin. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die our sinful death. Verse 32 states tha t"knowing the righteous jugdment of God, those who practice such things (which is all of us) are deserving of death." Therefore, we deserve death. However, by God's infinite grace and mercy Jesus has taken our place. My what a wonderful savior!

One Danger of Rejecting God: Sexual Sin (Romans 1:24-27)

24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. ²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. ²⁸

This passage of scripture is one of the most controversial, and surprisingly debated, parts of scripture in today's culture. Eventhough Paul is clear in the reason for sexual immorality being so widespread, those who do not hold to the authority and sufficiency of scripture simply ignore this passage. Paul clearly shows two consequences of rejecting God:

1.Rejecting God leads to Heterosexual Sin. (v.24-25)
a. It comes from lusting
b. Then leads to acting
c. Because of worshipping
d. And serving
1. The body
2. And not God.

2.Rejecting God leads to Homosexual Sin. (v.26-27)
a. Women with women.
1. These women lusted
2. These women acted
b. Men with men.
1. These men lusted
2. These men acted
3. These men received the penalty for their sin

Now this does not mean that if you reject God, you are destined to be in sexual sin. However, take a look at society. I would challenge you to find one unbeliever in Christ who has never sinned sexually. In fact, most believers have sinned sexually. Jesus said that if a man even looks in lust at another woman, he has already committed adultery. Therefore what can we do? Nothing. Which is all the more why we need a Savior. We have rejected God and exchanged the truth for a lie...and by doing so, our world has tailspinned into a world filled with sexual sin. Only a loving, graceful, and merciful Savior who pays our penalty could save us. And even then, we have to believe in Him.