Seeking the Life in Christ: July 2021

Friday, July 30, 2021

God’s Expanding Kingdom

Meditations on Romans

July 30, 2021

God’s Expanding Kingdom

And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Romans 4:12

Read: Romans 4:9-12

The uniqueness of the church in Rome is addressed again by Paul in this passage. Paul both expands and constricts our understanding of Christianoi, the people of Christ. First, Paul again affirms that people are counted as righteous by God because of their faith. This affirmation makes clear that the Gentile Christians are indeed heirs of Abraham and a part of the family of God.

Paul’s second affirmation, quoted above, has the effect on constricting God’s family. Paul is saying that the Jews cannot look only to keeping the law as the means to God’s acceptance. God has fulfilled the covenant with Israel. Now the covenant requires believing Jesus was crucified, died, and that he rose again. Faith, or believing, in Jesus as the crucified and risen son of God is now the mark of the covenant with God. And this faith, this believing encompasses the entirety of Jesus’ mission: his life, death and resurrection.

My Takeaway: There is within the DNA of all humans an insatiable need to be in control. When it comes to a relationship with God, people want to point to something they have done or are doing to justify God’s acceptance of them. (And point to something others have done or are not doing to justify God’s rejection of others). May I always rest in the sure knowledge that my acceptance by God rests forever and only on the blood of Jesus.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Nothing But A Cry For Mercy

Meditations on Romans

July 29, 2021

Nothing But A Cry For Mercy

But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.

Romans 4:5

Read: Romans 4:1-8

Immediately after Paul’s proclamation that we are counted as being in a right-standing relationship with God because of our faith in God who forgives sinners, Paul quotes King David in Psalm 32. Every time I read those words in Psalm 32, I remember an event from many years ago, in my law enforcement career. I had encountered a teenage boy who was the victim of an assault. Several years later I heard he was facing many criminal charges and that his life was a mess. In his despair he had tried to take his own life, and I visited him in the hospital. In our visit, I shared with him how God had been working in my life, and I encouraged him to not give up. As we prayed together, I felt his tears dropping on my hands.

The next day he called me. He said that after our visit, he had taken the Gideon Bible off of the bedside table and opened it. The first passage he saw was Psalm 32. As we talked, it was clear my friend was experiencing the joy of those “whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered,” and the happiness of “those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity” (Psalm 32:1-2 NRSV). My friend had absolutely nothing he could offer God, nothing but a cry for mercy, based on Christ’s love for him. He cried out, God forgave him and crowned him with new life in Christ.

My Takeaway: I am humbled that God used me as a means of grace to reach my friend. I am even more humbled as I affirm that my faith rests in the God who forgave my sins! I love living in God’s favor, the fruit of my right-standing relationship with God. However, I never, ever forget that my life in God’s favor was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus who made it possible for God to forgive a sinner such as me!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Both/And

Meditations on Romans

July 28, 2021

Both/And

Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.

Romans 3:31

Read: Romans 3:27-31

A continuing issue the Apostle Paul addressed with the first century church was the balance between law and grace. This issue was quite divisive in the church because Jesus was drawing both Jews and Gentiles to one fellowship of believers. The Jews saw Jesus as the promised Messiah coming in fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the Gentiles had no frame of reference for God’s covenants with these Old Testament patriarchs. The Gentiles had no real understanding of God’s law or how to keep the law. Therefore they rejoiced when Paul proclaimed, “. . . our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law” (Romans 3:27b-28). But their rejoicing rubbed against the Jews because their whole life had been steeped in keeping God’s law.

To this seeming conundrum, Paul brought both groups together. The two groups were prone to ask either/or questions, such as do we keep the law or do we receive grace. Paul answered, “Yes.” The answer is not either/or, rather it is both/and. We all come to a right relationship with God by grace, through faith. Then, in our new right-relationship with God, we are freed to pursue a life in Christ where we are assured that God is working in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13)

My Takeaway: Paul went to great lengths to show us that God’s grace does not give us a license to do whatever we please. God’s grace empowers us to live the Christ-life, now and for all eternity.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Nothing But the Blood

Meditations on Romans

July 27, 2021

Nothing But the Blood

People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

Romans 3:25b

Read: Romans 3:25-26

These two verses are so densely packed with deep theology, we could spend quite a bit of time with them. For today, I want to lift up just two points. First, these two verses make it clear that forgiveness of sins is completely dealt with by God through the shedding of the blood of Jesus and his sacrificial death. This truth is at the heart of the sacrament of Holy Communion as expressed by the celebrant when they say, "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (UMC - A SERVICE OF WORD AND TABLE I) I believe it was Saint Thomas Aquinas who noted that Holy Communion was food for the journey. This really hit home to me during the pandemic when churches stopped offering the sacrament, or did so in abbreviated forms that eliminated the confession and pardon. Cheryl and I are so grateful we connected with an Anglican Church that continued to offer the sacrament with the bread and wine, and using the full liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer. During the closings of the pandemic, and since re-openings we have shared their Communion Table several times per month. Indeed, it is food for the journey.

Secondly, Paul asserts that those who have been justified by faith in Christ Jesus have a double assurance. We are assured of God’s favor with us today as we are in a right-standing relationship with God. And we are assured that we will be vindicated in the future as we stand before God’s Throne of Judgement because we are in a right relationship with God, through faith in the faithfulness of Christ Jesus.

My Takeaway: There is a huge temptation in our present culture to do away with talk about blood sacrifices. There are some ministers who seek other language to use in vain efforts to explain how God managed to forgive our sins. May I never, ever forget that my forgiveness was won, first, last and always, through the shed blood and sacrificial death of my beloved Savior, Christ Jesus.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, July 26, 2021

What Is True For Jesus Is True For Me

Meditations on Romans

July 26, 2021

What Is True For Jesus Is True For Me

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:22a

Read: Romans 3:21-24

Today's passage, and the readings for the next several days, contains some of Paul's deepest theology. Paul wanted the Jews to fully appreciate what God had done in Christ Jesus to redeem Israel. Paul also knew that for the Gentiles to fully appreciate the nature of God, they needed to understand how God demonstrated his faithfulness to his covenant with Israel. Also, both the Jews and the Gentiles needed to know that the faithfulness of Jesus has provided for not only their right-standing with God at the final judgement, but also their right- standing with God in the here and now.

Simply put, Paul is presenting the ultimate truth of the Good News: what is true for Jesus is true for the people of Jesus. Through my faith in the faithfulness of Jesus fulfilling his mission as God's Messiah, I become one of Jesus' people. Because Jesus is in a right relationship with God, I too am in a right relationship with God, because what is true for Jesus is true for me.

All of this is made possible through the marvelous grace of God which I receive through my faith in the faithfulness of Jesus. I don't know whether to stand up and shout hallelujah or fall to my knees and worship.

My Takeaway: Christ Jesus freed us from the penalty for our sins (verse 24). Too often, Christians misinterpret ‘bad things’ coming into their lives as God punishing them for their sins. Banish the thought! Jesus has already paid the penalty for our sins! “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law” (Galatians 5:1).

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, July 23, 2021

Just How Much We Need God’s Mercy

Meditations on Romans

July 23, 2021

Just How Much We Need God’s Mercy

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

Romans 3:20

Read: Romans 3:9-20

Paul includes a compelling list of sins in today’s passage. His point is really quite simple; anyone who thinks they can stand before the judgement throne of God and claim to rely on their good works in the law is only fooling themselves. As Paul noted in verse twenty, quoted above, it is impossible to fully comply with God’s law. God’s law reveals just how much we need God’s mercy.

To see this last point, you really need to take the time to look at how Paul presented his case. He quoted from seven passages of scripture (Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; 5:9; 140:3; 10:7; Isa 59:7-8 and Psalm 36:1). When you look at the full context of these passages, you see that in each case where a charge is made against the evil doer, it is followed by a promise that God will come to rescue those who are helpless before the forces of evil. (Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love)

My Takeaway: The deeper we go in Romans, the clearer it becomes: apart from God, we are totally helpless. The deeper we go in Romans, the clearer it becomes: in Christ Jesus we are never, ever apart from God.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Sharing Jesus

Meditations on Romans

July 22, 2021

Sharing Jesus

Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true.

Romans 3:4a

Read: Romans 3:1-8

In Paul’s world, the church was made up of Jews and Gentiles, non-Jews, and this presented Paul with a great challenge. For Paul, it was impossible to understand and fully appreciate Jesus as the Savior of the World, separate and apart from Jesus as God’s Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Paul strived to present Jesus to the Jews, who understood the Old Testament covenants, and to the Gentiles for whom Abraham and his descendants were strangers. Today’s introduction to Romans 3 highlights Paul’s challenge. (The issue of how the Jews fit into God’s great plan of salvation is more fully addressed by Paul in Romans 9, after we get swept away by the coming Tsunami of Grace that is in chapters five through eight.)

My Takeaway: God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants was intended to be the means by which Israel would be God’s light to the nations. Israel failed in her mission, but Jesus, the Messiah, fulfilled Israel’s covenant responsibility. Today, the Holy Spirit enables and empowers the church to faithfully fulfill her responsibility to be God’s light to the nations. Oh, that we would be as generous in sharing Jesus, as God was in sending His Messiah to us!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

A Change Of Heart

Meditations on Romans

July 21, 2021

A Change Of Heart

And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Romans 2:29c

Read: Romans 2:25-29

When God entered into a covenant with Abraham, God decreed circumcision as a sign of the covenant. The sign marked the individual as belonging to God’s people. In a similar way, wearing wedding bands marks the individual as being in the covenant of marriage. However, wearing a wedding band is meaningless if the person does not honor their wedding vows. In today’s passage, Paul made this same assertion concerning the Jews who believed the sign of the covenant was all they needed; they did not accept their responsibility to not only possess God’s law, but also to obey it.

Paul makes two points which are vital to those of us seeking to make the life in Christ our way of life. First, Paul declares that a true member of the family of God is one whose heart is right with God. And secondly, the true sign of being a part of God’s people “is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit” (Romans 2:29b).

My Takeaway: The mark of circumcision and dietary laws were the signs that the Jews were God’s people. Today, the sign of Christianoi, the people of Christ, is justification by faith. Paul makes clear in today’s passage that justification, right standing with God, comes from allowing the Spirit to change our heart.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Robert Robinson & Martin Madan

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

The Messenger Entrusted By God

Meditations on Romans

July 20, 2021

The Messenger Entrusted By God

You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

Romans 2:23-24

Read: Romans 2:17-24

I am in awe of Paul’s wisdom and his skill at crafting this letter. Like most of the first churches, the Roman congregation was made up of Jews and Gentiles. Apparently, there were Jews who were reluctant to believe that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Covenant, was fully embracing the Gentiles.

Paul is using the same teaching to reach both groups, and he demonstrated God is the Father of all. Paul’s citation of scripture in verse twenty-four, quoted above, is from Isaiah 52. This passage tells how Israel completely failed in God’s mission and then leads into Isaiah 53 where the Messiah, the Suffering Servant of God, is introduced as the One who will save Israel and the world. That citation also refers to Ezekiel 36 which tells of the coming New Covenant where God’s law is written on the hearts of His people.

Paul saw Israel as the messenger entrusted by God with a gift that would enable all people to live in right relationships with one another and God. For Paul, Israel was like a postman who, instead of delivering the package, kept the package for himself. Therefore, God chose a new messenger, the Messiah, to bring the Good News. This messenger did not fail in his mission.

My Takeaway: Today the church is just as susceptible as Israel was in yielding to the temptation to keep the Good News for ourselves. To help us resist that temptation, Jesus has a message for His church:

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, July 19, 2021

My Life Matters To God

Meditations on Romans

July 19, 2021

My Life Matters To God

And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Romans 2:16

Read: Romans 2:12-16

There is a lot going on in this short passage, and parts are difficult for me to completely understand. Even so, I find great comfort is Paul’s assertion in verse sixteen, quoted above. Paul is saying everyone will stand equally before God’s Throne of Judgement. This means that the Jews will not be favored, because they had the Ten Commandments, over the Gentiles who did not have God’s law. Actually, the Ten Commandments didn’t do the Jews, or the Christians, much good since both peoples failed to keep God’s law.

So you are probably wondering where my comfort is in this passage, knowing we all sin, and we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23) My comfort is in knowing “God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11). My comfort is also because I peeked ahead in the story and know that on that fateful day of my judgement I’ll have a very good lawyer. Have you met him? His name is Jesus!

My Takeaway: My life matters to God. Every one of my life’s choices has consequences, and they all matter to God. My I have that awareness today before I make my choices.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, July 16, 2021

The Depth of My Own Sin

Meditations on Romans

July 16, 2021

The Depth of My Own Sin

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse!

Romans 2:1a

Read: Romans 2:1-11

If there was any chance, after reading chapter one, that I might be feeling a bit smug after reading Paul’s description of sinful behavior, he begins chapter two with an invitation for me to look in the mirror. Paul’s words in today’s reading remind me of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount; “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?” The sin of judging other people is a constant theme throughout the Bible. Paul addressed this concern by teaching about my sinfulness for the next few chapters. I need this time. Why? My knowledge of grace prevents me from fully appreciating the depth of my own sin.

I can’t un-ring the bell. I love God’s grace. I’ve read the letter to the Romans before. I know what lies ahead, especially in chapters five through eight. My problem is that I like to focus on the assurance of forgiveness so much that I do not spend enough time identifying, understanding and repenting from the sins in my life. The truth is that God’s grace cannot do a complete work in me, freeing me from the practice and power of sin, unless I am convinced down to the marrow of my bones how desperately I need God’s grace.

My Takeaway: I want to be patient and reflective and take my time moving forward with Paul. As much as I know grace is coming, I still want God’s Tsunami of Grace to overwhelm me, because without it I will die.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, July 15, 2021

God Gave Them Up

Meditations on Romans

July 15, 2021

God Gave Them Up

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.

Romans 1:28 NRSV

Read: Romans 1:28-32

Recently, a politician noted how he longed for a world where a very strong central government would direct the day to day reality for each individual. The government would determine your needs and make housing assignments based on those determinations. This micro-control of the individual is the antithesis of how God relates to humankind.

The Apostle Paul makes this point through the phrase, “God gave them up” (verse 28, NRSV). This is not God saying, “I give up on them.” Rather, God is giving them the latitude to follow their own sinful desires. Such is the nature of God’s love; God does not force humankind to love Him or to follow His ways.

People tend to share their experiences with others. Paul stated that the evil doers encourage others to do evil also. (Romans 1:32) So also, those who have been blessed by God want to share the Good News of Jesus with others.

My Takeaway: A few weeks ago, Cheryl and I had dinner with friends we had not seen in several years. We gushed on and on about the many adventures we have enjoyed since we retired. May I be even more eager to share with others the many stories of my personal experiences living in God’s favor and blessings!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

The Truth of God

Meditations on Romans

July 14, 2021

The Truth of God

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Romans 1:25

Read: Romans 1:24-27

The stories of creation are in Genesis 1-3. In Genesis 1 and 2 we see God’s perspective on the creation of human beings:

So God created human beings in his own image.

In the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib of man, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

Genesis 2:22-24

In the light of God’s creation, Paul contrasts how humankind had traded the truth of God for a lie. In today’s passage, Paul is not condemning individuals for their practice of homosexuality as much is he is noting how all of creation has turned away from God’s intended order.

My Takeaway: Almost everywhere in today’s culture, people are rewriting the Bible and substituting their own thinking for the truth of God. (See Judges 17:6, Prov. 21:2, and 2 Timothy 4:3) May I never succumb to the temptation to follow suit, may I take the road less traveled and always seek the truth of God.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, July 30, 2021

God’s Expanding Kingdom

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Nothing But A Cry For Mercy

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Both/And

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Nothing But the Blood

Monday, July 26, 2021

What Is True For Jesus Is True For Me

Friday, July 23, 2021

Just How Much We Need God’s Mercy

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Sharing Jesus

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

A Change Of Heart

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

The Messenger Entrusted By God

Monday, July 19, 2021

My Life Matters To God

Friday, July 16, 2021

The Depth of My Own Sin

Thursday, July 15, 2021

God Gave Them Up

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

The Truth of God

Seeking the Life in Christ

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