As we moving forward in Romans, I find myself anxious as we approach . Not anxious in a bad way, but anxious in a way that I can hardly wait for us to dive into what is coming up. Up to now, we have dealt with what might be considered “theology”. But Romans will now move us into outreach and influence into the world. An interesting question can be asked. How many people, not Christian and only knowing of the church from outside, would say that Christians are boastful? But Paul tells us that we have nothing to boast and that only to boast in the goodness of the Lord. This can also be found in
An interesting question can be asked. How many people, not Christian and only knowing of the church from outside, would say that Christians are boastful? And there might be those who can accurately be described as that, or maybe it is a false perception. But Paul tells us that we have nothing to boast and that only to boast in the goodness of the Lord. This can also be found in
We are going to review this a little different way than we have been going through. Instead of verse-by-verse, we will instead review this text calling on key verses as we go.
Paul was being asked, “What about Israel? Has God turned away from them?” And Paul tells them by no means! God’s people lived prior to Jesus knowing of the promise of the Messiah. And they trusted in that promise, and it was in that trust, that faith that they were chosen by grace. And while they did not physically witness the salvation, they were saved. No hoops to jump through. Paul’s name of this group is a “remnant chosen by grace.” There is a way that God chooses people, and that is that he puts Jesus in front of people and asked them to put their faith in theme.
It is like a gift laid on the table in front of someone. Some might reject that gift and not accept it. Some may want to pay for or work for that gift in some way, implying that they are not worthy to accept it. So this leads us to ask, if God is doing this for each and every person how can we boast?
We must be careful. Others might see our confidence in the joyful nature of salvation. And as long as we point everything back to God, we can not control how people perceive that. But we must be careful not to make it look like we are boasting in ourselves in what we do, and forget to point back to God. And that is the place the people of Israel were in the time of Jesus. And unfortunately, the analogy he gives is that of a tree. God as a tree and each of us as branches. And when we are arrogant and reject God’s gift in exchange for works, we are cut off from the tree. But this isn’t the end. If we as Gentiles can be grafted into the tree, anyone can! The gift isn’t removed from the table after our rejection. God continues to offer with the wish for us to return.
When Jesus entered into Jerusalem for Passover, the pride of the religious leaders had reached such a height that not only did they want to kill Jesus, but they wanted to kill Lazarus because of the miracle of his raising from death. And this is a warning to us. We cannot fall into the prideful thinking that something we do, how better we are than others, and that faith means certain actions and elements have to exist in our lives.
What do you do with Jesus? That is the essence of faith. We are not religious people, but we are relational people who live out that relationship in our lives. And if we live that out authentically, more people will stop stating that Christians are boastful, but that Christians are joyful.
12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (ESV)
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— (ESV)
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
25 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— (ESV)
5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (ESV)
20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (ESV)
30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (ESV)