devotional

Romans 3:1-4 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” (ESV)

Having just told us that being a Jew outwardly has no spiritual benefit (2:17-29), Paul now adds the balancing idea—being a Jew is an advantage and benefit, “great in every respect” (3:2). Even though it looks as if he will give us a list of advantages/benefits (“first of all”), Paul mentions only one—“that they were entrusted with the oracles of God” (3:2). The message of God’s salvation plan, the gospel, came first to the Jews (1:16). God intended it then to go through the Jews to the nations, “and also to the Greek.” That’s where the hang up came. They didn’t (for the most part) apply the Word of God adequately to their own heart and they didn’t (for the most part) take the Word of God to non-Jews for the purpose of including them in the salvation blessings of God.

The parallel to our situation is clear. People like us who have been raised in Christian homes, nurtured in a Christian church and taught from the book of Romans in ABF classes at Calvary Church have a great advantage. We have the kind of understanding about God and His salvation that makes it possible for us to believe Him and receive His salvation. But, having God’s Word does not make believing God’s Word automatic. As a matter of fact, the rest of the passage indicates that the many Jews did not believe.

Never think that just because we have or know God’s Word, that God is impressed. If anything, we are more responsible than those who don’t have it. “To whom much is given, much will be required.” Whether having God’s Word is an advantage or disadvantage depends on whether we take the effort to understand it, strive with all our heart to believe it, be diligent 24-hours a day to apply it and always be on the alert for ways we can share it with others.

Pastor Brad Mullen

Romans 3:1-8 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.” 5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just. (ESV)

I’m not a fan of reality TV shows. But I have watched several different ones occasionally. Many of the shows that put people on teams and then “vote” a team member off through different trials/games have one thing in common—“immunity.” It seems that there are different ways to “win immunity” from being voted off that week.

We also see this concept of “immunity” in our court system. Someone who has been involved in something illegal and is caught, but who isn’t the main target of an investigation, will try to get “immunity” from prosecution by testifying about what they know.

It seems many people, probably all of us at one time or other, live wishing we had immunity, wishing life was like a giant game of Monopoly, where we can get a “get out of jail” free card. Wishing we could live a life where choices, including sin, didn’t have consequences. Where immunity is either: inherited, earned or assumed.

That seems to be the situation which Paul addresses in Romans 3:1-8. Having been confronted with their sinfulness and the equity with which God judges, the Jewish audience, rightly understanding their special relationship with God now claims immunity from judgment.

Paul’s answer: God is faithful both to His promise of salvation and His promise of judgment. Therefore, all disobedience, all sin, has consequences. There is no “immunity” card, no “get out of jail” free card. But—and praise God—there is grace.

God has provided the means for us to have a relationship with Him, both now and into eternity. That is grace. That is mercy. My responsibility is to respond to that grace and mercy by obedience. Not holding up the “immunity card of grace,” but holding up my arms in praise, devotion and obedience.

Pastor Stephen Kilgore

ROMANS 2:25-29 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)

“EKG or electrocardiograph, an instrument for recording the electrical currents produced by the heart muscle during various phases of contraction, is an important diagnostic tool.” (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, © 1992-1994, “The Heart” Microsoft Corporation.)  An EKG can diagnose disorders of the heart such as congenital defects, infection, narrowing of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure, and disturbances of heart rhythm. As an analytical device, the EKG is valuable to our physical well-being.

In the same way the apostle Paul is recommending to his Jewish readers a spiritual EKG. To the Jewish community circumcision was the sign that they were in right relationship with Jehovah. To the casual observer the people who followed their religious rituals appeared to be right with God. However, the Lord looked at their heart and saw something different. To Paul, circumcision was meant to be an outward manifestation of the inward condition of the heart; a heart that wholly loves the Lord!

This tension of outward demonstration and inward condition is not limited to the Jews. It is something that we, as believers must wrestle with in our daily walk with God. For example, each time we celebrate communion with the body of believers in corporate worship, it should be an outward demonstration of the inward condition of our heart towards God. What this passage is exhorting us to consider is that it is all too easy to look good to others on the outside while remaining unclean before the Creator of the universe!

Perhaps a paraphrase of the passage will help you get proper perspective as it did me:

25 For communion indeed is of value if you obey the Scriptures, but if you break the Scriptures, your communion becomes non-communion. 26 So, if a man who does not partake in communion keeps the precepts of the Scriptures, will not his non-participation in communion be regarded as communion? 27 Then he who is does not partake in communion but keeps the Scriptures will condemn you who have the Scriptures and communion but break the Scriptures. 28 For no one is a believer who is merely one outwardly, nor is communion outward and physical. 29 But a believer is one inwardly, and communion is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV edited)

Let the Word of God through the ministry of His Holy Spirit act as a spiritual EKG to diagnose any spiritual heart disease that is present within your heart! Pray to the Lord, using Psalms 139:23-24 as your template. To God be the glory for the things He has done, is doing, and will do in your life!

Karl Davis (Member, MPACT leader)

Romans 2:17-24 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (ESV)

We have lived in Michigan, Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas and for the past nineteen years in Lancaster. No place on earth compares with Lancaster County, PA! We love it here and thank God for the privilege of living here. Like in no other place we have resided, Lancaster is filled with religious people. Many have a solid, deep relationship with Jesus Christ and trust in His blood and righteousness alone for eternal life. They are contagious Christians!

However, through the years we have observed that there are many who are like the folks described by the apostle Paul in Romans 2:17-24. They are religious, church members, and boast of their spiritual advantages. They do a lot of good things, even teaching others.

Their problem is that they have never come face-to-face with their own hypocrisy and guilt before a holy God. Although outwardly religious, they wear a mask to cover their inner attitudes of pride, lust, greed and anger. They say and even teach one thing, but their souls are ravished. God would say that they are hypocrites and that “the name of God is blasphemed . . . because of you” (2:24).

Let’s examine our hearts today before a holy God and an open Bible to be sure that we are not one of those who are religious, but lost.

Pastor David D. Allen

Romans 2:12-16 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

A day of ultimate accountability looms for everyone.  While not an inviting dinner conversation, everyone faces a day when there will be no excuses.  Whether a person claims to be religious or has no spiritual pedigree, they will meet God.

God does not play favorites (2:11) when it comes to evaluating our lives.  Even those who have never heard of Christ will be judged by God.  Those who have heard of the Savior possess a greater responsibility.  God is fair and will judge the secrets of everyone’s life.  How? by Jesus Christ.

The good news of Paul’s gospel brings us face-to-face with the stark reality that apart from the transforming power of God’s righteousness, we have no excuses.  When the day comes when God will evaluate our secret life, will He see the righteousness of Christ and our standing in Him?

May we walk so close to the Savior that daily we expose our secrets to Him so that our lives are transparent, an open book, and with no excuses.

Pastor David D. Allen

Romans 2:1-11

I am concentrating on the last three verse of this relatively long section. Paul refers to all humankind when he talks of the “Jew and the Greek.” If you are not a Jew, you are a non-Jew—a Greek/Gentile. These two designations are important for anyone tracing how the grace of God has come into the world to save the world. God’s grace has come “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (2:10). The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob built these patriarchs into a great nation through Jesus Christ, God’s grace, came. But, His purpose has always been to bless all of the nations, not just the Jews, through Christ (Genesis 12:3). Earlier Paul had said that the gospel’s progression was “to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (1:16).

How is it possible then that Paul could claim that “there is no partiality with God (2:11)? Hasn’t God shown partiality to Jews by making them “first”? They might be first in the order of how God’s gracious plan was worked out, but not first in God’s heart (no partiality with God). The Jew is not first in the number or quality of God’s blessing, because all of God’s children are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph1:3).

There is a flip side to being first. The selection of the Jew to be the vehicle of God’s grace into the world included a privilege and a responsibility. Their privilege is balanced by their potential judgment. Not only will blessing be given to the believing Jew first, but judgment will be meted out to the disbelieving Jew first as well (2:9). The principle was stated by our Lord, “to whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

So, in the end, God will deal fairly will all people—whether Jew or Gentile, whether living during the Old Testament era or the New Testament era, whether those having the Scripture or without the Scripture. The issue is not, “In what order have I been blessed?” Rather, the issue is, “What is my response to how God has blessed me?”

Some questions to ponder:

• What does it mean that I, a Gentile, am a “wild olive branch” (Rom 11:17)?
• Do I expect more privileges from God than any other person?
• How much does God required of me seeing how much He gave me?
• How do I identify sub-groups within the human race? Any partialities?

Pastor Brad Mullen

Romans 2:1-5 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. (ESV)

God’s grace is amazing—beyond what any hymn can state.

Living a grace filled life has at least two sides.

First, learning to accept and appreciate God’s grace toward us.

A grace that is abundant—it can’t be exhausted.
A grace that extends and covers all our weaknesses and sins.
A grace that guarantees love and acceptance in spite of our failings.
A grace that comforts us with the truth we can do nothing to make God love us less—nor can we do anything to make Him love us more.

Amazing, Astounding, Awesome—Actual Grace.

But second, learning to live a grace filled life requires us to look at others and live with others with grace. To extend to others the same spirit of grace that God extends to us.

A grace that is abundant—that doesn’t count the wrongs committed (Matthew 18:21-35), that keeps no record of wrong. (1 Corinthians 13:5)
A grace that extends and covers weakness and sin—for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
A grace that guarantees love and acceptance in spite of our failings—for we all stumble in many ways. (James 3:2)
A grace that comforts others with the truth that God’s love doesn’t change and we will remain faithful.

If we don’t live grace filled lives we are treating God’s grace, love, kindness, mercy and patience with contempt.

It’s like saying to God, “I only value You and Your character when it applies to me.” That reminds me of Jonah after God forgave a repentant Nineveh.

Jonah 4:1-2 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. (ESV)

Notice verse 3. Jonah makes a great statement about the character of God being gracious, merciful, slow to anger, steadfast in love and relenting of punishment—awesome, amazing grace. But to Jonah that was negative because it was a grace displayed towards someone else.

May we live grace filled lives that extend the grace we have been shown, liberally on others.
May we be patient, kind and merciful to those who disagree with us and with those who dress differently than we do. To those who annoy us or interfere with our plans or want to consume our time, may we extend grace and love.

May the church be grace filled.

Pastor Stephen Kilgore

Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (ESV)

Paul has already said that sinful people, even without the Word of God, know God (1:21). So, the question is not whether they know God, but what they do with what they know about God. God is known rightly when acknowledged to be God—the Great and Gracious Creator. God is known wrongly when what He tells us about Himself is suppressed (1:18). But, since suppression is never successful, suppressed knowledge about God quickly distorts who God is and what God has done.

Paul says in these verses that the result of knowing God wrongly is a “depraved mind” (1:28). That’s where it starts, in the mind. What we think is the dress rehearsal for how we act (“to do those things which are not proper”). Sin is not just an otherwise good person doing bad things. Because sinful people refuse to acknowledge God and choose to acknowledge someone or something else, they are “filled” “full” (both words are used in 1:29) with ungodly stuff. Paul lists 21 symptoms of sinfulness. Of course, it is a partial list. Depraved minds are very creative.

The most startling thing Paul tells us, however, is in 1:32, ending the section beginning in 1:18. He tells us that there is yet another thing sinful people know. Remember from this section that they know that God exists; they know many of His attributes; they know that they are sinful. Now Paul adds that they know what he calls “the ordinance of God.” What ordinance? “That those who practice those things are worthy of death.” Wow! Sinful people, even before hearing from Scripture, know that their sin places them under a death sentence. Imagine the psychological distress that this causes. No wonder sinful people “exchange the truth of God for a lie” (1:25). If they are not going to submit to the truth, they have to do something. But the lie can’t stop the relentless nagging guilt and the psychologically disturbing reality that practicing sin is deserving of death.

This verse also indicates that sinful people seek justification by approving their own sin in the same sinful acts of others. This fig-leaf strategy is no more able to cover sin than the fruitless attempt of our first parents. After possible temporary relief, the guilt returns . . . with a vengeance.

Some questions to ponder:

• Is it my habit to acknowledge God in all things?
• What thoughts feed my sinful actions?
• With what am I filling my life?
• Does the fact that sin deserves death influence how I live?
• Do I ever approve the sin of others as a cover for my own sin?

Pastor Brad Mullen

Romans 1:24-27 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a 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 dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. (ESV)

Sinning turns life upside down, topsy-turvy. As Paul describes in Romans 1 the pervasive reach of sin into the human race and the unwillingness of sinful human beings to recognize the greatness and goodness of God, Paul paints an ugly picture of how bad sin can get. Sin, Paul demonstrates, takes us in a direction 180º from God by disorienting us to three of the very basic features of life He established when He created us and the world.

1. God commanded Adam and Eve to believe whatever God said to be true. They should have believed when “God said.” Instead, they believe, “God has not said”—180º opposite of the truth. So, Paul observed, “they exchanged the truth of God for a lie (1:25).

2. God deserved the worship of the creature. Instead, the human race ignored God’s power and grace in creation but used it to satisfy its own twisted desires. Self-worship is 180º opposite of the worship of God. We “worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (1:25).

3. God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and to multiply. Human sexuality is a gift from God, a feature of a committed marriage relationship (the two shall become one flesh [Gen 2:24]). The sexual dimension of marriage fulfills God’s intention to be fruitful and multiply. Instead, the human race consented to and practiced exchanging the natural (i.e., man and woman) for the unnatural (i.e., man and man/woman and woman)—180º opposite of God’s design.

The most sobering words of all in this passage are the opening words of 1:26, “For this reason God gave them over.” If we insist on suppressing God’s revelation of Himself and His grace (1:18-23), then God will let us have what we want (see Psalm 106:15). It is good and bad to experience the folly of our sinful choices. It is good in that, as the book of Romans tells us, the consequences of our self-inflicted, topsy-turvy sinfulness should lead us to look to God who alone can save us. But, it is bad in that, if we don’t . . . .

Pastor Brad Mullen

In Romans 1:18-32 Paul moves from declaring that in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, to declaring that the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness.

There are a number of theological and practical issues raised in this passage, but none more important than the role of God’s self-revelation and man’s suppression of truth (1:18).

Thinking theologically always starts with thinking about God. Every area of theology is impacted by our view of God and our view of man. Getting our theology of God right is the first step toward orthodoxy. And this passage shows that it is the first step to orthopraxy as well.

Paul states that God has revealed Himself plainly. That God has shown Himself through His creative work. He has shown that He is powerful (eternal power) and divine (divine nature) (1:19-20). But not only has He revealed that He is the powerful Creator, Paul states that God has revealed His righteous standards–His requirements and consequences (1:32). That is, God has revealed Himself in the grandeur of creation and in the conscience of man.

But in between those two passages we see what man has done with God. Not only has he suppressed the truth, but he foolishly exchanged the natural for the unnatural. Rather than worship of God, man has turned to idolatry, immorality and all forms of wickedness.

And it started with what man thought of God.

It is interesting that this is not only true in a “pagan” culture where people actually make images of physical things into idols, but also in a sophisticated culture were we replace God with a myriad of idols: personal image, popularity, prestige, power, possessions, people—leading to passions out of control.

But it all starts with God. Is He the all-powerful Creator, Ruler of all? If He is, then He sets the standard. Or better, He is the standard.

But our correct view of God not only affects our actions but our belief system. Conversely, our belief system affects our actions, so getting our view of God correct is a priority.

Here in Romans 1, as also throughout the Old Testament, our understanding of God starts with an eternal all-powerful Creator Who is distinct from creation but involved with His creation. These basic truths require us to acknowledge that He is in charge. He sets the rules. He sets the consequences.

And while He doesn’t seem to mind being questioned (on His rules and consequences), He will not be ignored. God must always be at the center. He is the starting point.

Pastor Steve Kilgore