Morning Message: For Example

Bobservations' Column

Titled - " ...For Example"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Paul continues his teaching on righteousness, sanctification, The Law, Grace and Mercy, freedom, and bondage. The lessons in this chapter speak of his own past and testimony, learned at the feet of the Rabbis, and how exasperating it was to seek righteousness with God, via the rules of corrupted mankind.

The above character traits reveal the dichotomy of the human heart that every human must address: Good vs Evil. We have heard many tell us how fulfilled we will be if we simply “follow our heart,” as though all good things will flow from our hearts. What if instead as we search our hearts, we find evil things in there too? We know that there is evil in this world. Oh! Woe is me! What to do?

Searching our hearts is a good thing. We might even learn wisdom as we do, and a fear of the Lord. In searching our hearts, we should also search the scriptures so that we might also know the thoughts of our Creator! Jeremiah 17:9 comes to mind. In spite of what the therapists of psychology and adherents to philosophy tell us (both of which are mere human disciplines), God has already told us to watch out! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Verse 10 continues; “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even so to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doing.”

God knows what is in the heart of every human; He knows the good, the bad, and all the ugly facets of our hearts. And, He know how fleshly desires can be very tempting. He knows our strengths, and our weaknesses too.

Our glorious and incredible God knows you and me better than we know ourselves. As He knew King David to be a womanizer, an adulterer, and a murderous conspirator, He also knew that David had a heart after God. We can see then how King David himself was an example of God’s grace and mercy. David even accepted the consequences of his sin, and moved on, leading and reigning as King with God’s blessings.

From 2 Samuel 12:22-23 -

"And he said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, ‘Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to Him, but he shall not return to me. "

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 7:1-14 - " ...For Example"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

In Romans 7, Paul tackles the relationship between the law—the commandments given by God—and human sinfulness. He begins by making it clear that those who are in Christ have been released from any obligation to the law of Moses. This is for the same reason that we have been released from our slavery to sin: We died, and death breaks those obligations. Those who come to faith in Christ are so closely associated with His physical death and resurrection that we experience a kind of spiritual death and are resurrected into a new spiritual life. This is how we are freed from our responsibility to the law.

Paul uses the illustration of the law of marriage. A woman whose husband has died is no longer obligated to remain faithful to him. She is free to marry another man. In a similar way, our death with Christ freed us from our obligation to the law and allows us to serve God in what Paul calls the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:1–6).

Some apparently thought Paul's teaching about freedom from the law meant that he believed the law itself to be sinful. He insists that he does not. Instead, it was the law that revealed his own sinfulness to him. He learned that he was covetous after being told by the law not to covet. Worse, as a sinful human being, merely knowing that covetousness was a sin made him want to covet! Our rebellious natures often choose to break rules just for the sake of breaking rules. The law promised Paul life if he could keep the commandments, but he discovered he could not do it. In that sense, the law doomed him to death. Still, though, Paul describes the law as holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:7–12).

The Purpose of the Law

The law has several purposes according to Romans 7:7-13:

Identifies sin (verse 7)
Excites sin (verses 8-9)
Kills and condemns sinners (verses 10-11)
Reveals the utter darkness of sin (verses 12-13)

Part of the law's purpose and ministry in our lives is to identify that we have a sin issue. We all have this internal issue that will show itself in external behavior in the presence of instruction to the contrary. God’s law is also in our conscience apart from any written law. The law is like a mirror used to expose our flaws and disobedience (Hebrews 4:12).

The law doesn't just reveal sin; it excites it. You do not need to examine yourself long to discover a tendency to sin when presented with a human law. The more Paul knew and followed the law of Moses, the more sinful he became, until he even was able to justify the murder of Christians. What he thought was righteous was in fact deadly. Thankfully, after his salvation (Acts 9:1-31), he came to realize the true purpose of the law. We only become worse the more we adhere to religious standards and rulebooks to discern our spiritual condition.

The law puts everyone under the death sentence that sinners deserve. It shows we are utterly sinful and reveals our depravity. It must do these things so it can point us toward Jesus.

Sunday Morning Audio Message: 

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Know the Law (7:1) - "those who know the law."  Although Paul intends to include God's written law, he is not referring to any specific law code, but to a principle that is true of all law -- Greek, Roman, Jewish or biblical.

Dominion (7:1) - or jurisdiction.  No matter how serious a criminal's offenses may be, he is no longer subject to prosecution and punishment after he dies.

For the Woman (7:3) - A simply analogy, using marriage law to illustrate the point Paul had just mad about law's jurisdiction. The law that governs a married woman's actions no longer has any jurisdiction over her once her husband dies.  

Become Dead (7:4) - This death happened at a point in time, with results that are complete and final; and in response to faith in His Son, God makes the believing sinner forever dead to the condemnation and penalty of the law.

By the Body of Christ (7:4) - Because, as the substitute for sinners, He suffered the penalty of death that the law demanded.

Married to Another (7:4) - Just as the widow in Paul's analogy (vv. 2, 3) was freed to remarry, the believer has been freed from his hostile relationship to the law that condemned him and can, therefore, be remarried - this time to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:24-27).

Fruit (7:4) - A transformed life that manifests new attitudes (Galatians 5:22, 23) and actions (John 15:1, 2; Philippians 1:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:19,20; Ephesians 2:10).

Flesh (7:5) - Scripture uses this term in a non-moral sense to describe man's physical being (John 1:14), and in a morally evil sense to describe man's unredeemed humanness, that remnant of the old man which will remain with each believer until each receives his or her glorified body (8:23).  "In the flesh" here describes a person who is able to operate only in the sphere of fallen mankind - an unredeemed, unregenerate person.  Although a believer can manifest some of the deeds of the flesh, he can never again be "in the flesh."

The Motions of Sins (Sinful Passions) (7:5) - The overwhelming impulses to think and do evil which characterize those who are "in the flesh" (Ephesians 2:3)

Aroused by the Law (7:5) - The unbeliever's rebellious nature is awakened when restrictions are placed on him and makes him want to do the very things the law forbids.

Fruit to Death (7:5) - The sinful passions at work in unbelievers produce a harvest of eternal death.

Delivered From the Law (7:6) - Not freedom to do what God's Law forbids (6:1, 15; 8:4; cf. 3:31) but freedom from the spiritual liabilities and penalties of God's Law.  Because we died in Christ when He died, the law with its condemnation and penalties no longer has jurisdiction over us (vv. 1-3).

Serve (7:6) - This is the verb form of the word for "Bondservant", but here it is parallel to being slaves of righteousness (cf. 6:18, 19, 22), emphasizing that this service is not voluntary.  Not only is the believer able to do what is right; he will do what is right.

The Newness of the Spirit (7:6) -A new state of mind which the Spirit produces, characterized by a new desire and ability to keep the law of God.

Oldness of the Letter (7:6) - The external, written law code that produced only hostility and condemnation.

Is the Law Sin (7:7) - Paul wanted to make certain his readers did not conclude that the Law itself was evil (from vv. 4-6; cf. v. 12).

I Had Known Sin ((7:7) - The Law reveals the divine standard, and as believers compare themselves against that standard, they can accurately identify sin, which is the failure to meet the standard.  Paul uses the personal pronoun "I' throughout the rest of the chapter, using his own experience as an example of what is true of unredeemed mankind (vv. 7-12) and true of Christians (vv. 13-25).

Covet (7:7) - Quoted from Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21.

Occasion by the Commandment (7:8) - A starting point or base of operations for an expedition.  Sin uses the specific requirements of the law as a base of operation from which to launch its evil work.  Confronted by God's Law, the sinner's rebellious nature finds the forbidden thing more attractive, not because it is inherently attractive, but because it furnishes an opportunity to assert one's self-will.

Sin Was Dead (7:8) - Not lifeless or nonexistent, but dormant.  When the law comes, sin becomes fully active and overwhelms the sinner.

Without the Law (7:9) - Not ignorance or lack of concern for the law (cf. Philippians 3:6), but a purely external, imperfect conception of it.

When the commandment Came (7:9) - When he began to understand the true requirements of God's moral Law at some point prior to his conversion.

Sin Revived (7:9) - He realized his true condition as a desperately wicked sinner (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15).

I died (7:9) - He realized his deadness, spiritually, that all his religious credentials and accomplishments were rubbish (Philippians 3:7, 8).

Which Was Ordained to Life (7:10) - Theoretically, perfect obedience to the law could bring eternal life, and with it happiness and holiness.  But, no one except Christ has - or could - ever fully obey it (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Sin...Deceived Me (7:11) - By leading him to expect life from his keeping of the law, when what he actually found was death (v. 10); and by convincing him that he is acceptable to God because of his own merit and good works.

The Law is Holy (7:12) - The fact that the law reveals, arouses, and condemns sin, bringing death to the sinner, does not mean that the law is evil (cf. v. 7).  Rather, the law is a perfect reflection of God's holy character (cf. vv. 14, 16, 22; Psalm 19:7-11) and the standard for believers to please Him.

Has Then What is Good Become Death (7:13) - Sin is the cause of spiritual death, not the good law.

Sin ...Might Become ... Sinful (7:13) - An awareness of the true nature of sin and its deadly character, which brings the sinner to see his need of salvation - the very purpose God intended the law to serve (Galatians 3:19-22).

Morning Message: Servants of Righteousness

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Servants of Righteousness"

Written by:  Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Last week we referenced the Book of Ruth briefly, the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Ruth’s homeland OF Moab held nothing for her after her husband died. She clung to Naomi because of Naomi’s faith in a living God. Naomi saw the possibility of a kinsman redeemer for Ruth because of the Law. Ruth stayed with Naomi and had hope. And as we read a few weeks ago, “hope maketh not ashamed” (Romans 5:5).

We can follow what Paul writes in Romans 5 as it applies to Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth: From tribulations, to patience, to experience, to hope, as we follow Ruth and Naomi’s history. It is not odd then that Naomi and her husband were from Bethlehem-Judah, and it was to there that they returned. It was Naomi’s husband, Elimelech that must have had the idea to go to Moab. It was God Who had a better idea, and not only returned Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem, but beloved Ruth became the great-grandmother to Israel’s renowned King David! And hence the Godly bloodline to the Redeemer was preserved.

It was a dark hour in the lives of these three women; all three had lost their husbands in a strange land. Moab was named after Lot’s grandson, borne of the incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter after the events at Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19). The girl’s sister also bore a son to Lot, and Benammi was the progenitor of the Ammonites. Both the Moabites and the Ammonites were forbidden from entering the congregation of the Lord for ten generations once The Law was given to Moses. It was the same for the bloodline of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Entanglements with unGodly people bring a judgment that can last for years. The ten-generation judgment came upon the Ammonites and the Moabites because they refused to give the Hebrews open and clear passage back into their homeland after the Exodus from Egypt.

For those without faith, God sees their sins still in-place. But for Believers…

For Believers, God chooses to forget our iniquities!

Luke 7:36-50 - 

“The Parable of the two Debtors” is important to understand. Simon the Pharisee questioned Jesus’ views on forgiveness. And to the woman of the parable? 
“And (Jesus) said to the woman, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’”

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Romans 6:14-23 - "Servants of Righteousness"

Summary/Additional Commentary and Definitions:

This morning, we will be going through the second half of Romans 6. Paul is continuing to argue why we should not continue freely sinning once we are in Christ. Doing so leads to a lifestyle of volunteer slavery, a slave to sin. Instead, as believers, we live as if we were slaves to righteousness. Why? Because it is our new nature. Serving righteousness is who we are now. The result of righteousness, given freely to us in Jesus Christ, is to become like Christ and experience eternal life. Spiritual transformation began for us with the great doctrine of regeneration when in our deadness we were given life. It included conversion when we were transformed into a new kind of person. That launched us into a lifelong experience of sanctification. Sanctification, you remember, is being separated from sin, but alive unto God.

You either serve sin or you serve righteousness. And that’s just the basic understanding of what it means to be a believer. When you came to Christ, you died – past tense. Your old man, your old self died, was buried, and a new person arose. And you now have a new Master, and your Master is the Lord and righteousness. You are not only ethically bound to obey, but you are also creatively bound to obey. It is now in the fabric of your being to do what once you could not do.

You came into the world fit only to obey sin. But now, you have been recreated to obey righteousness.

It is important to understand that salvation is not an addition to your life, salvation is a transformation. We were dead in sin but are now alive in Christ.  Old things are passed away, all things become new.  There are some people who have the idea that you are who you are, and when you get saved, something gets added. The Bible never teaches that. Never!

Sunday Morning Audio Message:  

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion (6:14) - Sin must be able to exercise control in our bodies or Paul's admonition becomes unnecessary (v. 13).  But sin does not have to reign there; so, the apostle expresses his confidence that those who are Christ's will not allow it to do so.

Not Under Law But Under Grace (6:14) - This does not mean God has abrogated His moral law (3:31, cf. Matthew 5:17-19).  The law is good, holy, and righteous (7:12, cf. 1 Timothy 1:8), but it cannot be kept, so it curses.  Since it cannot assist anyone to keep God's moral standard (cf. 7:7-11), it can only show the standard and thus rebuke and condemn those who fail to keep it.  But the believer is no longer under the law as a condition of acceptance with God - an impossible condition to meet and one designed only to show man his sinfulness.  The believer is under grace, which enables him to truly fulfill the law's righteous requirements (7:6; 8:3, 4).

Shall We Sin (6:15) - In other words, does the fact that we are no longer compelled to sin mean that we are somehow free to indulge in sin without fighting our desires to do so? This seems to have been a criticism levelled at Paul more than once (Romans 3:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 5:19–24), and one that misguided people often levy at Christianity today. Paul provides his common response to ridiculous questions: "By no means!" This is from a Greek phrase, mē genoito, which is the equivalent of "of course not," or "heaven forbid!"  Paul will go on to show that our freedom from the authority of sin should cause us to resist and reject our sinful desires, not to take lightly God's grace and forgiveness by indulging them.

Form of Doctrine . . . Delivered (6:17) - In the Greek, "form" is a word for a mold such as a craftsman would use to cast molten metal.  Paul's point is that God pours His new children into the mold of divine truth (12:2; cf. Titus 2:1).  New believers have an innate and compelling desire to know and obey God's Word (1 Peter 2:2).

Manner of Men . . . Infirmity of Your Flesh (6:19) - Human terms.  Paul's use of the master/slave analogy was an accommodation to their humanness and their difficulty in grasping divine truth.

More Lawlessness (6:19) - Sin's appetite only grows when it is fed (Genesis 4:7). 

Fruit (6:21) - or benefit. Even more lasting for those who continue to live free from righteousness is death. All sin leads eventually to death and separation from God in hell. Death is the ultimate "fruit" of living free from the control of righteousness.

Holiness (6:22) - The benefit of being slaves to God is sanctification, the outcome of which is eternal life.

Wages of Sin (6:23) - Spiritual death is the paycheck for every person's slavery to sin.  Again, the apostle emphasizes that the coming of death into the world resulted directly from the coming of sin into the world.  God warned Adam that this would happen, and it did (Genesis 2:17; 3:17-19).    God has made it clear that man brought suffering and death into the world by his sin.  He has also made it clear that Christ's suffering and death were accepted by God in payment for the sin of the world.

Gift of God (6:23) - Eternal life is a free gift God gives undeserving sinners who believe in His son (cf. Ephesians 2:8, 9).  The death of His son cost both Father and son infinite pain, yet it is all offered to us as a free gift by His grace.  It only becomes a gift in reality if it is accepted, of course, and the tragedy is that most people will never accept it.