Strange... it doesn't feel like I have been meeting with my elder for discipleship for over 18 weeks. How the time flies! The focus of this week's study was "Pe"... a passage that consists of verses 129-136.
"Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name. Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep Your law. (Psalm 119:129-136, ESV)
129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
Question: How many people agree with the Psalmist; that God's testimonies (i.e. His Word, the Bible, the Law, the Gospel, etc. etc.) are WONDERFUL? Furthermore... how many professing "believers" or self-proclaimed Christians echo his sentiments? If we are truly regenerate, we should have a hunger for God's testimonies. We should crave the precepts of the Lord. A Christian should have an appetite for Scripture; it should be pleasing to him or her. One should have a desire to delve into it for "reproof, correction, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16) amongst other things.
One constant problem I encounter amongst "evangelicals" is the erosion of inerrancy (borrowing the term from a G.K. Beale book that I look forward to reading; click for more information). There is an ongoing attack on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture and one of the most dangerous protagonists are cloak-and-dagger "evangelicals"... false believers who make God in their own culturally relative image. The fact that our sovereign God has magnified His name and His word above all things should make us tremble with reverence when we approach his wonderful testimonies.
For a reformed perspective, that is to say biblical orthodoxy... see the Westminster.
"the sublime and admirable wisdom which he found comprehended in the divine law led him to regard it with reverence... " (John Calvin)
"Its effects upon the consciences of men, both for conviction and comfort, are wonderful; and it is a sign that we are not acquainted with God's testimonies, or do not understand them, if we do not admire them." (Matthew Henry)
It should also be noted that it is not of our volition to delight in God's testimonies. A person can not "decide" to love Scripture... one can not voluntarily consider the Bible to be truly wonderful. The regenerative power of the Holy Spirit in "the new birth" (John 3), creating "a new being" (2 Corinthians 5:17) with "a new heart and spirit" (Ezekiel 36:26) causes us to walk in God's statutes, obey His commands (Ezekiel 36:27) ... and thus, consider His testimonies to be wonderful.
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)
"it is impossible for any man to keep the law of God from the heart, unless he contemplate it with feelings of reverence: for reverence is the beginning of pure and right subjection. Accordingly, I have said that many despise God's Word, because they think it inferior to the acuteness of their own understandings. Yea, many are led to break forth more audaciously into this heaven-daring contempt, from the vanity of showing their own ingenuity. But, although worldly men may flatter themselves in that proud disdain of the divine law, yet the commendation which the Prophet pronounces upon it still holds true, that it comprehends mysteries which far transcend all the conceptions of the human mind." (John Calvin)
"Those that see God's word to be admirable will prize it highly and preserve it carefully, as that which they promise themselves great things from." (Matthew Henry)
"It is wonderful that God should have borne testimony at all to sinful men, and more wonderful still that his testimony should be of such a character, so clear, so full, so gracious, so mighty... Their wonderful character so impressed itself upon his mind that he kept them in his memory: their wonderful excellence so charmed his heart that he kept them in his life... his religion was soul work; not with head and hand alone did he keep the testimonies; but his soul, his truest and most real self, held fast to them." (Charles Spurgeon)
130 The unfolding [entrance] of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
"If we begin at the beginning, and take it before us, we shall find that the very first verses of the Bible give us surprising and yet satisfying discoveries of the origin of the universe, about which, without that, the world is utterly in the dark. As soon as the word of God enters into us, and has a place in us, it enlightens us; we find we begin to see when we begin to study the word of God." (Matthew Henry)
"when the words of God enter into the chambers of the heart then light is scattered on all sides. The word finds no entrance into some minds because they are blocked up with self conceit, or prejudice, or indifference; but where due attention is given, divine illumination must surely follow upon a knowledge of the mind of God." (Charles Spurgeon)
Light...
"As soon as a man enters upon reading the Scriptures, if he has any degree of understanding of the things in them, they immediately throw light into his mind; or, however, as soon as ever the word has an entrance into the heart, and through the Spirit, power, and grace of God, makes its way and has a place there, that being opened by the Lord for that purpose, light arises in darkness." (John GIll)
"And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4, ESV)
"This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5, ESV)
"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it... The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him." (John 1:4-5, 9-10, ESV)
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12, ESV)
"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)
"The great use for which the word of God was intended, to give light, that is, to give understanding, to give us to understand that which will be of use to us in our travels through this world; and it is the outward and ordinary means by which the Spirit of God enlightens the understanding of all that are sanctified." (Matthew Henry)
"Christ by his Spirit opens their understandings, that they may understand the Scriptures; and by means of them gives them an understanding of himself, and of those things which make them wise unto salvation, and make for their spiritual peace and comfort, and their eternal welfare." (John Gill)
"The sincere and candid are the true disciples of the word. To such it gives not only knowledge, but understanding." (Charles Spurgeon)
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple" (Psalm 19:7, ESV)
"They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." (Nehemiah 8:8, ESV)
131 I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commandments.
"Here the Holy Spirit teaches with what earnestness of soul the knowledge of divine truth is to be sought." (John Calvin)
"whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:14, ESV) [see also Isaiah 55)
"As a person out of breath does, through walking or running; he stops and pants, and opens his mouth, to draw in air to his relief: or as hungry and thirsty persons pant for food and drink, and open their mouths to receive it, before it can well be brought to them." (John Gill)
"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for You, O God." (Psalm 42:1, ESV}
"My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times." (Psalm 119:20, ESV)
132 Turn to [look upon] me and be gracious [merciful] to me, as is Your way with those who [are custom to] love Your name.
It is God who looks upon man and not the other way around... the Lord unconditionally grants mercy according to His will, and will continue to do so to those He has been gracious towards (both divine forbearance and redemption). The Psalmist recognizes that grace and mercy are of the Lord, much like justice... and he understands that the wrath of God is the result of justice for the payment of the sin debt (Romans 6:23), which he deserves. But God, being rich in mercy (see Ephesians 2), grants unmerited favor (and faith, love for His name, etc.) to those that he foreordained for salvation and was pleased to punish His Son, Jesus, the second Person of the triune God as a substitution for sinners.
"This, then, is the prayer of an afflicted man, who, when apparently destitute of all help, and unable to come to any other conclusion than that he is neglected and forsaken of God, yet reflects with himself, that, for God to forsake him, was foreign to his nature and to his usual manner of procedure... the Prophet's sole ground of confidence in asking this from God is his free goodness. Whence we gather that, although he was a man of eminent sanctity, yet the undeserved grace of God was his only refuge." (John Calvin)
"He asks not for the operations of God's hand... a good look is enough; and for that he does not plead merit, but implores mercy." (Matthew Henry)
"Not as in himself; a sinful creature will not bear looking upon by the Lord, especially with the strict eye of justice; but as in Christ, and clothed with his righteousness; and so not merely in a providential way, though that is a favour, but in a way of special grace and mercy... the Lord had turned from him, and had hid his face, which had given him trouble; and therefore he desires he would turn again to him, and show him his face and favour." (John Gill)
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted." (Psalm 25:16, ESV)
"If he looked in stern justice his eyes would not endure us, but looking in mercy he spares and blesses us." (Charles Spurgeon)
"The dealings of God with those that love him are such that a man needs not desire to be any better dealt with, for he will make them truly and eternally happy." (Matthew Henry)
Those who love God's name (see Psalm 138:2b) love His attributes (loving, sovereign, holy, righteous, etc.)
"...we must perceive the very clear testimonies by which he fortifies our faith, so that we need not doubt that all the godly are the objects of his regard; only we must endeavor to be among the number of those who love his name. By this title is meant genuine believers; for those who only slavishly fear God are not worthy of being reckoned among his servants. He requires a voluntary obedience from us, so that nothing may be more delightful to us than to follow whithersoever he calls us. It is, however, at the same time to be observed, that this love proceeds from faith; yea, the Prophet here commends the grand effect of faith, by separating the godly, who lean upon the grace of God, from worldly men, who, having given their hearts to the enticements of the world, never lift up their minds towards heaven." (John Calvin)
133 Keep steady [direct] my steps according to Your promise [by Your word], and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
"Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping [directed to keep] Your statutes!" (Psalm 119:5, ESV)
"Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it." (Psalm 119:35, ESV)
"...the only rule of living well is for men to regulate themselves wholly by the law of God... God deals bountifully with men, when he invites them to himself by his word and doctrine... all this is lifeless and unprofitable, until he govern by his Spirit those whom he has already taught by his word." (John Calvin)
"We ought to walk by rule; all the motions of the soul must not only be kept within the bounds prescribed by the word, so as not to transgress them, but carried out in the paths prescribed by the word, so as not to trifle in them. And therefore we must beg of God that by his good Spirit he would order our steps accordingly." (Matthew Henry)
"...it is not in the power of man to order and direct his steps: this is done by the Lord; and such who acknowledge him in their ways, and apply to him for direction, are and shall be thus favoured by him." (John Gill)
"I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps" (Jeremiah 10:23, ESV)
God can "prevent" people from sinning...
"Then God said to him [Abimelech] in the dream, 'Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against Me. Therefore I did not let you touch her [Abraham's wife, Sarah]." (Genesis 20:6, ESV)
"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, ESV)
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)
"The freedom of the godly consists solely in this—that they are governed by the Spirit of God, and thus preserved from succumbing to iniquity, although harassed with hard and painful conflicts." (John Calvin)
"The dominion of sin is to be dreaded and deprecated by every one of us; and, if in sincerity we pray against it, we may receive that promise as an answer to the prayer." (Matthew Henry)
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
"It is a sad thing to be enslaved to any lust or sin, be it what it will: sin reigns over wicked men even unto death; and it oftentimes has great power over good men, puts them upon doing that which is evil, and hinders them from doing that which is good..." (John Gill)
"Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression." (Psalm 19:13, ESV)
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
Believers are redeemed (bought), out of slavery to sin, by the blood of Christ. The Psalmist is praying for God's redemption from external oppression (sinful men oppressing him) or internal oppression (his own sinful nature's oppressive bondage), so that he may better live according to God's will.
"When he was overwhelmed on all sides with injuries, he betook himself to God as his deliverer... We are taught from this passage, that when engaged in contest with the wicked, we ought not to suffer our minds to be actuated by malice, but that, however violently and unjustly they may assault us, we should rest; contented with the deliverance which God bestows, and with that alone; and again, that every instance in which we experience the grace of God in delivering us, should be a spur to incite us to follow after uprightness." (John We are taught from this passage, that when engaged in contest with the wicked, we ought not to suffer our minds to be actuated by malice, but that, however violently and unjustly they may assault us, we should rest; contented with the delivers. nee which God bestows, and with that alone; and again, that every instance in which we experience the grace of God in delivering us, should be a spur to incite us to follow after uprightness." (John Calvin)
"David prays that he might live a quiet and peaceable life, and might not be harassed and discomposed by those that studied to be vexatious... whom God can control, and whose power is limited." (Matthew Henry)
"Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men!" (Psalm 9:20, ESV)
"Some render it, 'from the oppression of Adam'... of the sin of Adam, and as a prayer to be delivered or redeemed from it; as the Lord's people are by the blood of Christ..." (John Gill)
"So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy." (Psalm 106:10, ESV)
"Give Your servant a pledge of good; let not the insolent oppress me." (Psalm 119:122, ESV)
"Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God." (Psalm 119:115, ESV)
"The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil." (Zephaniah 3:15, ESV)
"It is said that oppression makes a wise man mad, and no doubt it has made many a righteous man sinful. Oppression is in itself wicked, and it drives men to wickedness. We little know how much of our virtue is due to our liberty; if we had been in bonds under haughty tyrants we might have yielded to them, and instead of being confessors we might now have been apostates." (Charles Spurgeon)
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
"he seeks to win the fatherly favor of God—for nothing is to be hoped for from Him unless we have an interest in his favor—but he at the same time, shows the greatness of the blessing." (John Calvin)
"He is very ambitious of his Master's favour, accounting that his happiness and chief good." (Matthew Henry)
"Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name." (Psalm 119:132, ESV)
"the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you" (Numbers 6:25, ESV)
"...he seeks for no favour from others, but only from his own Lord and Master." (Charles Spurgeon)
"...only when God illumines the minds of his believing people with the true knowledge of the law, that he delights them with the beams of his favor." (John Calvin)
"If God hides his face from us, it is because we have been careless in keeping his statutes; and therefore, that we may be qualified for the returns of his favour, we must pray for wisdom to do our duty." (Matthew Henry)
"The most favoured believer needs teaching; even when he walks in the light of God's countenance he has still to be taught the divine statutes or he will transgress." (Charles Spurgeon)
[see vv. 12, 26, 33, 73, 104, 124]
136 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.
We should, as Christians, be sorrowful over sin. Sorrowful not merely due to our own transgressions; penitence for disobedience... but Christians should also grieve the sins of others; the ignorant, apathetic, and reprobate alike.
Please take a look at the Westminster Confession of Faith; Chapter 6
"You cannot be sorrowful for others' sins unless you be first sorrowful for your own sins... It is hypocrisy to pitch upon other men's sins and neglect your own ; as some will zealously declaim against public disorders, yet neglect their own hearts; as the crafty lapwing will go up and down fluttering and crying to draw the fowler from her own nest. We have a nest of sin of our own, and we are loath it should be rifled and exposed to public view... True zeal for injuries done to God would ease itself by tears rather than anger. True penitents will not satisfy themselves only with public humiliation, to which law, custom, and example may draw them; but will make conscience of this duty in their families, yea, in secret, where no eye seeth them but God's." (Thomas Manton)
"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." (Romans 1:32, ESV)
"...discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways." (Proverbs 2:11-15, ESV)
[Thank you to Rev. James O'Brien for commending to me The Complete Works of Manton]
"Wherever the Spirit of God reigns, he excites this ardent zeal, which burns the hearts of the godly when they see the commandment of the Most High God accounted as a thing of nought. It is not enough that each of us endeavor to please God; we must also desire that his law may be held in estimation by all men." (John Calvin)
"He wept not for his troubles, though they were many, but for the dishonour done to God... The sins of sinners are the sorrows of saints. We must mourn for that which we cannot mend." (Matthew Henry)
"He wept in sympathy with God to see the holy law despised and broken. He wept in pity for men who were thus drawing down upon themselves the fiery wrath of God. His grief was such that he could scarcely give it vent; his tears were not mere drops of sorrow, but torrents of woe... None are so affected by heavenly things as those who are much in the study of the word, and are thereby taught the truth and essence of things." (Charles Spurgeon)
[See Matthew 23:37-39]
Links...
Reformed Forum (A reformed theology media network)
Sola Scriptura (A.A. Hodge; Outlines of Theology: Chapter 5)
The Sufficiency of the Word of God (a sermon by James Montgomery Boice)
27 September 2009
23 September 2009
Daily Reading: Complete In Him
I continue my study of Michael P.V. Barrett's "Complete In Him" in chapter 5...
Chapter 5: Union with Christ (The Security of the Gospel)
"To them [His saints] God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27, ESV)
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)
We should find our complete satisfaction in Christ. We have been filled with the supreme One... this is no mere fascination; it is consumption. We should be consumed and overwhelmed with Jesus.
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)
"Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 3:24, ESV)
"...we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4:13, ESV)
"regardless of our personal failures, imperfections, and sins, the merit of Jesus Christ encompasses and subsumes all of our service to Him." (p. 94)
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
"The fact that our personal behavior neither adds to nor distracts from our acceptance before God in Christ is not license to sin or reason to abandon the pursuit of personal purity... Right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel." (p. 95)
United to Christ Representatively
"Christ is the federal, covenant or representative Head of His people... [He] stands as our legal representative before God" (p. 96)
Adam; a representative man...
"For as in Adam all die..." (1 Corinthians 15:22a, KJV)
"Man needed a new representative who could and woul fulfill the requirements for life. God appointed His Son to that position. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One divinely chosen and qualified to be the Savior of sinners." (p. 96)
"...even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22b, KJV)
"In His Incarnation, the eternal Son of God partook of the same flesh and bloof as those He came to represent—His brethren, the children given to Him." (p. 97)
"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, 'I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:11-14), KJV)
Psalm 8...
"a messianic song highlighting the greatness and grace of God and pointing to the Lord Jesus as the only means by which fallen man can come to the enjoyment and experience of the priveleged rank God assigned to man in creation." (p. 97)
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:4-6, KJV)
"The first word for 'man' emphasizes man's fr,ailty and mortality. The second expression, 'son of man' (Adam), also underscores man's inherent weakness and insignificance as earthy." (p. 97)
1 Corinthians 15...
"The apostle speaks of a man ('the last Adam', 'the second man') who, unlike the first man, honorably and unfailingly fulfilled the high station God intended for mankind." (p. 97)
"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:45-47, KJV)
"the Seconf Person of the Eternal Trinity was temporarily diminished to a position lower than that of the angels [Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7] in order to perform the necessary obedience to merit and restore life to the race of which He was the Head." (p, 98)
"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49, KJV)
Romans 5...
"unquestionably the most explicit bible exposition contrasting the corporate effect of Adam's disobedience with the corporate effect of Christ's obedience... God's just imputation of our guilt to Christ and His equally just imputation of Christ's righteousness to us are righteously legal acts because Christ is our covenant Head, our representative." (p. 98)
"I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages..." (Isaiah 49:8b, KJV) [see also Isaiah 42:6]
United to Christ Mystically
Mystical Theology: "Spiritual truth that surpasses human comprehension because of the transcendence of its nature and significance..." (p. 99)
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV)
A Spiritual Union
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love..." (Ephesians 3:17, KJV)
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12, KJV)
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:20-22, KJV)
"As evidence that we have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit not only that we are the children of God, but also that we share with Christ everything from His sufferings to His glorification (Romans 8:16-17)." (p. 101) [see also Romans 8:9]
A Spiriual Communion
Union with Chris's Death
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, KJV)
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:4-6 KJV)
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Corinthians 5:14, KJV)
Colossians 3...
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (v. 3)
"Mortify therefore your members..." (v. 5a)
"put on the new man..." (v. 10b)
Union of Christ's Resurrection
"By His death, our Savior 'abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' (2 Timothy 1:10, KJV)." (p. 103)
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:5-6, KJV)
"For if [since] we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... Now if [since] we be dead [died] with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:5, 8, KJV)
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2:12-13, KJV)
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1, KJV) [see also John 14:19-20]
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him" ( 2 Timothy 2:11, KJV)
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17, KJV) [see also 2 Timothy 2:12]
Colossians 3...
1. "We are to seek the things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God." (p. 104)
2. "We are to set our affections on things above.
Union with Christ's Session
"As part of His earned exaltation, after His resurrection He ascended into heaven and took His seat of honor at the right hand of His Father... inexplicably yet absolutely, so did we." (p. 104-105)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, KJV)
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4, 6, KJV)
"WE OUGHT NOT TO LIVE ANY PART OF OUR LIFE HERE WITHOUT THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE IN REALITY THERE." (p. 105
That is all for this week's edition of Daily Reading... Have a great week, worship well... Soli Deo Gloria!
Links...
"Beginning at Moses" (Michael P.V. Barrett's book on Christ in the OT)
Election (an article by B.B. Warfield)
The Principle of Imputation (a sermon/lecture by Phil Johnson)
Chapter 5: Union with Christ (The Security of the Gospel)
"To them [His saints] God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27, ESV)
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, ESV)
We should find our complete satisfaction in Christ. We have been filled with the supreme One... this is no mere fascination; it is consumption. We should be consumed and overwhelmed with Jesus.
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3, ESV)
"Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us." (1 John 3:24, ESV)
"...we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." (1 John 4:13, ESV)
"regardless of our personal failures, imperfections, and sins, the merit of Jesus Christ encompasses and subsumes all of our service to Him." (p. 94)
IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS
"The fact that our personal behavior neither adds to nor distracts from our acceptance before God in Christ is not license to sin or reason to abandon the pursuit of personal purity... Right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel." (p. 95)
United to Christ Representatively
"Christ is the federal, covenant or representative Head of His people... [He] stands as our legal representative before God" (p. 96)
Adam; a representative man...
"For as in Adam all die..." (1 Corinthians 15:22a, KJV)
"Man needed a new representative who could and woul fulfill the requirements for life. God appointed His Son to that position. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One divinely chosen and qualified to be the Savior of sinners." (p. 96)
"...even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22b, KJV)
"In His Incarnation, the eternal Son of God partook of the same flesh and bloof as those He came to represent—His brethren, the children given to Him." (p. 97)
"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, 'I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:11-14), KJV)
Psalm 8...
"a messianic song highlighting the greatness and grace of God and pointing to the Lord Jesus as the only means by which fallen man can come to the enjoyment and experience of the priveleged rank God assigned to man in creation." (p. 97)
"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:4-6, KJV)
"The first word for 'man' emphasizes man's fr,ailty and mortality. The second expression, 'son of man' (Adam), also underscores man's inherent weakness and insignificance as earthy." (p. 97)
1 Corinthians 15...
"The apostle speaks of a man ('the last Adam', 'the second man') who, unlike the first man, honorably and unfailingly fulfilled the high station God intended for mankind." (p. 97)
"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:45-47, KJV)
"the Seconf Person of the Eternal Trinity was temporarily diminished to a position lower than that of the angels [Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7] in order to perform the necessary obedience to merit and restore life to the race of which He was the Head." (p, 98)
"And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49, KJV)
Romans 5...
"unquestionably the most explicit bible exposition contrasting the corporate effect of Adam's disobedience with the corporate effect of Christ's obedience... God's just imputation of our guilt to Christ and His equally just imputation of Christ's righteousness to us are righteously legal acts because Christ is our covenant Head, our representative." (p. 98)
"I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages..." (Isaiah 49:8b, KJV) [see also Isaiah 42:6]
United to Christ Mystically
Mystical Theology: "Spiritual truth that surpasses human comprehension because of the transcendence of its nature and significance..." (p. 99)
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV)
A Spiritual Union
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love..." (Ephesians 3:17, KJV)
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12, KJV)
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:20-22, KJV)
"As evidence that we have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit not only that we are the children of God, but also that we share with Christ everything from His sufferings to His glorification (Romans 8:16-17)." (p. 101) [see also Romans 8:9]
A Spiriual Communion
Union with Chris's Death
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, KJV)
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Romans 6:4-6 KJV)
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Corinthians 5:14, KJV)
Colossians 3...
"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (v. 3)
"Mortify therefore your members..." (v. 5a)
"put on the new man..." (v. 10b)
Union of Christ's Resurrection
"By His death, our Savior 'abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' (2 Timothy 1:10, KJV)." (p. 103)
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:5-6, KJV)
"For if [since] we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection... Now if [since] we be dead [died] with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Romans 6:5, 8, KJV)
"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2:12-13, KJV)
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." (Colossians 3:1, KJV) [see also John 14:19-20]
"It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him" ( 2 Timothy 2:11, KJV)
"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:17, KJV) [see also 2 Timothy 2:12]
Colossians 3...
1. "We are to seek the things that are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God." (p. 104)
2. "We are to set our affections on things above.
Union with Christ's Session
"As part of His earned exaltation, after His resurrection He ascended into heaven and took His seat of honor at the right hand of His Father... inexplicably yet absolutely, so did we." (p. 104-105)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, KJV)
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4, 6, KJV)
"WE OUGHT NOT TO LIVE ANY PART OF OUR LIFE HERE WITHOUT THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT WE ARE IN REALITY THERE." (p. 105
That is all for this week's edition of Daily Reading... Have a great week, worship well... Soli Deo Gloria!
Links...
"Beginning at Moses" (Michael P.V. Barrett's book on Christ in the OT)
Election (an article by B.B. Warfield)
The Principle of Imputation (a sermon/lecture by Phil Johnson)
21 September 2009
Studies in Romans
Over the next few years, my church will be focusing on the Epistle to the Romans. I will be posting my notes from my pastor's exposition in my blog... I am complimenting his sermons with my personal study of Thomas Schreiner's Commentary (along with many other commentaries throughout the course of the exposition).
Before beginning his exposition, my pastor preached several sermons painting the redemptive picture of the Gospel through the whole counsel of Scripture. Since Romans is such a theologically dense book and considered by many to be the most important piece of literature ever written, he wanted to ground us in an understanding of the Christ-centered nature of the Bible in order that we may develop an appetite for Romans; that it may be palatable.
Thomas R. Schreiner's Commentary on Romans
Introduction
Significance
Augustine's theology... "which has probably exerted more influence on the church worldwide than any theologian in the history of the church—was significantly indebted to Romans." (p.1)
"This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul." (Martin Luther)
"Man's only righteousness is the mercy of God in Christ, when it is offered by the Gospel and received by faith." (John Calvin)
"Exegesis begins with a patient and humble listening to the text, with the willingness to hear an alien word." (p. 2)
Authorship
Tertius: Paul's amanuensis [employed writer of dictation] (see Romans 16:22)
How much freedom was given in composition?
1. Paul provided general themes
2. Tertius took down Paul's dictation in shorthand and wrote it later
3. Paul dictated the letter word for word
"It is intrinsically unlikely that Paul would surrender the specific contents of Romans to Tertius. The letter was of great import to Paul, and its careful structure suggests that he fussed over the details." (p. 2)
"The style of Romans fits with Paul's other letters that are accepted as authentic, and there is no evidence that Tertius composed those... Romans should be accepted as the product of Paul's dictation to Tertius..." (p. 3)
Date
"in the case of Romans we can safely locate the letter between A.D. 55 and 58." (p. 3)
Paul is done with missionary endeavors... [click here for more information]
"...from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum [roughly Albania] I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation..." (Romans 15:19b-20, ESV)
Paul plans to visit Rome after Jerusalem...
"I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints... When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you." (Romans 15:24-25, 28, ESV)
Acts 19 and 20...
"Paul's intention to go to Rome crystallized after his two plus years in Ephesus [Turkey]... He was intent upon going to Jerusalem... He planned to visit Macedonia [northern Greece] and Achaia [southern Greece]..." (p. 4)
"This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks... Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while." (Acts 19:10, 21-22, ESV)
Location
"Paul reached both Macedonia and Achaia... He spent three months in Achaia... He likely wrote Romans during his three months in Greece... He probably wrote the letter from Corinth." (p. 4)
"After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia." (Acts 20:1-3, ESV)
Romans 16...
Commendation of Phoebe of Cenchreae, Corinth (vv. 1-2)
Gaius was Paul's host (v. 23)
"...I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius" (1 Corinthians 1:14b, ESV)
Erastus (v. 23)
"Erastus remained at Corinth..." (2 Timothy 4:20a, ESV)
Destination; foundation of the church at Rome
"Paul did not establish it (the Roman church), for the letter makes abundantly clear that Paul had never been to Rome and yet churches existed in the city (cf. Romans 16)." (p. 10)
"Perhaps the visitors from Rome returned to the city and founded a church." (p. 11)
"And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." (Acts 2:8-11, ESV)
Reasoner...
"Christianity was brought to Rome by Jewish Christians from Palestine." (p. 11)
Brown and Meier...
"Christians who kept up some Jewish observances and remained faithful to part of the heritage of the Jewish Law and cult, without insisting on circumcision." (p. 11)
Destination; issues concerning the church at Rome
Suetonius (Roman historian; A.D. 120)...
"Claudius deported from Rome Jews who were involved in local disruptions at the behest of 'Chresto'. Most scholars agree that Suetonius confused the name 'Christo' (i.e. 'Christ') with the name 'Chresto' because the latter was a common Greek name." (p. 12)
"The most likely date for this eviction is A.D. 49, for this matches the testimony of Acts 18:2 (where Prisca's and Aquila's expulsion from Rome is attributed to an order from Claudius that all Jews should leave Rome) and of the Christian historian Orosius (History Against Pagans 7.6)." (p. 12)
"The dismissal of the Jews from Rome in A.D. 49 had a significant effect on Roman churches, With the ejection of the Jews the churches in Rome became mainly Gentile. These Gentile house churches developed for a number of years apart from Jewish influence... It is not hard to imagine that tensions would arise between Jews and Gentiles since the latter would not be as devoted to the law and had evolved in new directions with the eviction of the Jews." (p. 13)
Destination; the Christians in Rome
Gentiles... [Romans 9-11, 14-15]
"They are to desist from pride, even though they have been joined to the olive tree of God's people and the Jews have largely been cast aside." (p. 13)
"They are to accept Jewish believers who have scruples in regard to food and drink and the observance of various days." (p. 13)
Gentile majority...
"In Romans 1:5-6 Paul addresses the readers, identifying his commission as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he specifically includes the Roman readers within the orbit of this Gentile commission. The language should not be pressed to exclude the Jews, but it implies that the majority of the readers were Gentiles." (p. 14)
[Romans 1:13, 11:13, 15:15-16]
Jews...
"chapters 1-11 can be conceived of as a dialogue with the Jews, who are specifically addressed in 2:17. The constant appeal to the OT and the discussion of the Mosaic law are also set forth as evidence of a Jewish readership." (p. 14)
Purpose
"His gospel was probably under suspicion in Rome precisely because both the Jews and Jewish Christians hotly disputed his interpretation of the Mosaic law the OT Scriptures. Paul's teaching on the law had already precipitated disputes in Galatia and Corinth. These debates were not confined to these localities, and before Paul could use Rome as a bridgehead for bringing the gospel to Spain, he needed to show them why the objections to his gospel, which had certainly reached Rome also, were unfounded." (p. 15)
Resolving conflict between Jews and Gentiles in Rome...
"in Rome the weak adhere to Jewish food laws and the Sabbath because of their devotion to the Mosaic law. In Corinth, by contrast, the weak hail from pagan backgrounds and fear eating food offered to idols because it will defile them." (p. 20)
[Romans 14:1-15:13; 1 Corinthians 8-10]
"He needed to summarize the basic content of the gospel he preached, especially as it pertained to issues relating to Jews and Gentiles... Paul needed to explicate his gospel thoroughly because he was the object of constant attacks, especially by other Jewish Christians... He must satisfy both Jewish and Gentile Christians that his stance on the Mosaic law, circumcision, and the place of Israel accords with the OT Scriptures... Paul's intention is to show them that his gospel constitutes the true fulfillment of what the OT Scriptures teach about the Mosaic law, circumcision, and the role of Israel (and Gentiles) in salvation history... one of Paul's primary aims was to unify the church in Rome, so that Jews and Gentiles together would worship God in harmony, understanding that their unified worship fulfilled what the OT Scriptures taught (cf. Romans 15:7-13)... He hoped that the unified congregations would rally together to support his mission to Spain (cf. Romans 15:22-24)... just as Paul had set forth his teaching to resolve the disputes between Jews and Gentiles, so too his teaching had to be embraced for them to support his mission... Full discussions of Christology [theology pertaining to Christ], ecclesiology [theology pertaining to the church], eschatology [theology pertaining to the 'end times'], and the Lord's Supper were not needed, for no one disputed Paul's teaching in these areas... Paul ultimately wrote Romans as a servant of God to honor his Lord." (pp. 21-23)
Here are my notes (with added Scripture references and commentary) from my pastor's first sermon on the book of Romans. You may listen to it HERE. If you would like more information, visit NorthPointe Baptist.
Paul: A Witness to the Radical Power of the Gospel of God (09/20/09)
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1, ESV)
I. Paul's Disposition (v. 1a)
Paul considered himself a slave or servant of Jesus... he was owned by Christ.
"whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28, ESV)
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." (Romans 6:16-19, ESV)
"Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." (Romans 7:25, ESV)
PAUL MENTIONS HIS DISPOSITION BEFORE HE MENTIONS HIS OFFICE
...may we imitate Paul (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1) by focusing on humble service.
The Roman church (A.D. 55-58) was quite familiar with the language Paul was using... slavery was a major part of ancient Roman society.
A Pauline Biography
Acts 22...
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia [Turkey], but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus [Syria] to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished." (vv.3-5, ESV)
"he was born in a creditable reputable place, in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, and was by his birth a freeman of that city." (Matthew Henry)
His teacher was Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin... considered to be one of the premier teachers of Jewish law in the first century.
He was peerless and his mental acuity matched his zealousness for the law
He had misconceptions of honoring God
"He was not only a Jew, and a gentleman, but a scholar. He was brought up in Jerusalem, the principal seat of the Jewish learning, and at the feet of Gamaliel, whom they all knew to be an eminent doctor of the Jewish law, of which Paul was designed to be himself a teacher; and therefore he could not be ignorant of their law, nor be thought to slight it because he did not know it. His parents had brought him very young to this city, designing him for a Pharisee; and some think his being brought up at the feet of Gamaliel intimates, not only that he was one of his pupils, but that he was, above any other, diligent and constant in attending his lectures, observant of him, and obsequious to him, in all he said... He was an intelligent professor of their religion, and had a clear head. He minded his business at Gamaliel's feet, and was there taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. What departures he had made from the law were not owing to any confused or mistaken notions of it, for he understood it to a nicety, kata akribeian—according to the most accurate and exact method... He was an active professor of their religion, and had a warm heart: I was zealous towards God, as you all are this day. Many that are very well skilled in the theory of religion are willing to leave the practice of it to others, but Paul was as much a zealot as a rabbi. He was zealous against every thing that the law prohibited, and for every thing that the law enjoined; and this was zeal towards God, because he thought it was for the honour of God and the service of his interests" (Matthew Henry)
"As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (vv. 6-16, ESV)
A light brighter than the noonday sun in Syria blinded him and thrust him down.
"In the night-season there appear oftentimes lightnings, which come of the hot exhalations of the earth; but this was more strange, that about noon a sudden light did not only appear, but did also compass him about like a lightning, so that through fear thereof he fell from his horse, and lay prostrate upon the ground." (John Calvin)
"It was a light from heaven that first startled him, a great light, which shone suddenly round about him, and the Jews knew that God is light, and his angels angels of light, and that such a light as this shining at noon, and therefore exceeding that of the sun, must be from God... it shone upon him in the open road, at high noon, and so strongly that it struck him to the ground, and all that were with him (Acts 26:14)" (Matthew Henry)
Note that Jesus tells Saul (Paul) that He is the one being persecuted. Christ does not say, "why are you persecuting the church?" or "why are you persecuting my disciples?" There is a connection/union between Jesus Christ ("the head") and the church ("the body").
Ananias (Acts 9)
Philippians 3...
Paul's transformation...
"If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 4b-11, ESV)
"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:12-14, ESV)
I would also like to add Galatians 1:12-17 for the sake of solidarity and the purpose of synthesis:
"I did not receive it [the gospel] from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus."
II. Paul's Office (v. 1b)
Called...
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints..." (Romans 1:7, ESV)
This "calling" is considered an "effectual calling"
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Paul's dramatic conversion was the product of the irresistable grace of God
Apostle...
Paul's authority comes directly from Christ Himself
"Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?" (1 Corinthians 9:1, ESV)
"He had not taken this honour to himself, but had a divine commission for it." (Matthew Henry)
"in order that he may not be reckoned inferior in any respect, to the other Apostles, for this one thing the malevolent and envious bawled out on all occasions—that he had received from the hands of men whatever he had of the gospel, inasmuch as he had never seen Christ. And, certainly, he had not had converse with Christ while he was in the world, but Christ had appeared to him after his resurrection. It was not a smaller privilege, however, to have seen Christ in his immortal glory, than to have seen him in the abasement of mortal flesh." (John Calvin)
This next passage is absolutely beautiful...
"Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Corinthians 15:8-10, ESV)
"Paul does not refuse to be the most worthless of all, and next to nothing, provided this contempt does not impede him in any degree in his ministry, and does not at all detract from his doctrine. He is contented that, as to himself, he shall be reckoned unworthy of any honor, provided only he commends his apostleship in respect of the grace conferred upon him. And assuredly God had not adorned him with such distinguished endowments in order that his grace might lie buried or neglected, but he had designed thereby to render his apostleship illustrious and distinguished." (John Calvin)
"What kept Paul low in an especial manner was the remembrance of his former wickedness, his raging and destructive zeal against Christ and him members... When sinners are by divine grace turned into saints, he makes the remembrance of their former sins very serviceable, to make them humble, and diligent, and faithful." (Matthew Henry)
Remember what Paul wrote to the church at Galatia in order to solidify his Apostolic authority...
"For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12, ESV)
"It was necessary that Paul should state his doctrine... and rest it on this ground, that he had acquired it not in the school of any man, but by revelation from God." (John Calvin)
III. Paul's Purpose (v. 1c)
separated to the gospel of God...
What does "of God" mean? Is the gospel about God? Is it sent by Him? Is it from Him?
Answer: ALL OF THE ABOVE
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jeremiah 1:5a, ESV)
Again, recall Paul's letter to the Galatians...
"when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles..." (Galatians 1:15-16b, ESV)
Like Paul, we (believers) are"set apart" by the grace of God... saved through faith. We are his slaves because He predestined and created us for the production of fruit and good works.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
May we be set apart, a people for his own possession. Let us proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into light; die to ourselves and live as slaves of righteousness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Romans links:
Preface to Romans (Martin Luther)
The Greatest Letter Ever Written (John Piper's exposition of Romans)
Romans Revolution (an article by Michael Horton)
The Theme of Romans (an essay by Douglas Moo)
Before beginning his exposition, my pastor preached several sermons painting the redemptive picture of the Gospel through the whole counsel of Scripture. Since Romans is such a theologically dense book and considered by many to be the most important piece of literature ever written, he wanted to ground us in an understanding of the Christ-centered nature of the Bible in order that we may develop an appetite for Romans; that it may be palatable.
Thomas R. Schreiner's Commentary on Romans
Introduction
Significance
Augustine's theology... "which has probably exerted more influence on the church worldwide than any theologian in the history of the church—was significantly indebted to Romans." (p.1)
"This epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament, and is truly the purest gospel. It is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but also that he should occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul." (Martin Luther)
"Man's only righteousness is the mercy of God in Christ, when it is offered by the Gospel and received by faith." (John Calvin)
"Exegesis begins with a patient and humble listening to the text, with the willingness to hear an alien word." (p. 2)
Authorship
Tertius: Paul's amanuensis [employed writer of dictation] (see Romans 16:22)
How much freedom was given in composition?
1. Paul provided general themes
2. Tertius took down Paul's dictation in shorthand and wrote it later
3. Paul dictated the letter word for word
"It is intrinsically unlikely that Paul would surrender the specific contents of Romans to Tertius. The letter was of great import to Paul, and its careful structure suggests that he fussed over the details." (p. 2)
"The style of Romans fits with Paul's other letters that are accepted as authentic, and there is no evidence that Tertius composed those... Romans should be accepted as the product of Paul's dictation to Tertius..." (p. 3)
Date
"in the case of Romans we can safely locate the letter between A.D. 55 and 58." (p. 3)
Paul is done with missionary endeavors... [click here for more information]
"...from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum [roughly Albania] I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation..." (Romans 15:19b-20, ESV)
Paul plans to visit Rome after Jerusalem...
"I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints... When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you." (Romans 15:24-25, 28, ESV)
Acts 19 and 20...
"Paul's intention to go to Rome crystallized after his two plus years in Ephesus [Turkey]... He was intent upon going to Jerusalem... He planned to visit Macedonia [northern Greece] and Achaia [southern Greece]..." (p. 4)
"This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks... Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while." (Acts 19:10, 21-22, ESV)
Location
"Paul reached both Macedonia and Achaia... He spent three months in Achaia... He likely wrote Romans during his three months in Greece... He probably wrote the letter from Corinth." (p. 4)
"After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia." (Acts 20:1-3, ESV)
Romans 16...
Commendation of Phoebe of Cenchreae, Corinth (vv. 1-2)
Gaius was Paul's host (v. 23)
"...I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius" (1 Corinthians 1:14b, ESV)
Erastus (v. 23)
"Erastus remained at Corinth..." (2 Timothy 4:20a, ESV)
Destination; foundation of the church at Rome
"Paul did not establish it (the Roman church), for the letter makes abundantly clear that Paul had never been to Rome and yet churches existed in the city (cf. Romans 16)." (p. 10)
"Perhaps the visitors from Rome returned to the city and founded a church." (p. 11)
"And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." (Acts 2:8-11, ESV)
Reasoner...
"Christianity was brought to Rome by Jewish Christians from Palestine." (p. 11)
Brown and Meier...
"Christians who kept up some Jewish observances and remained faithful to part of the heritage of the Jewish Law and cult, without insisting on circumcision." (p. 11)
Destination; issues concerning the church at Rome
Suetonius (Roman historian; A.D. 120)...
"Claudius deported from Rome Jews who were involved in local disruptions at the behest of 'Chresto'. Most scholars agree that Suetonius confused the name 'Christo' (i.e. 'Christ') with the name 'Chresto' because the latter was a common Greek name." (p. 12)
"The most likely date for this eviction is A.D. 49, for this matches the testimony of Acts 18:2 (where Prisca's and Aquila's expulsion from Rome is attributed to an order from Claudius that all Jews should leave Rome) and of the Christian historian Orosius (History Against Pagans 7.6)." (p. 12)
"The dismissal of the Jews from Rome in A.D. 49 had a significant effect on Roman churches, With the ejection of the Jews the churches in Rome became mainly Gentile. These Gentile house churches developed for a number of years apart from Jewish influence... It is not hard to imagine that tensions would arise between Jews and Gentiles since the latter would not be as devoted to the law and had evolved in new directions with the eviction of the Jews." (p. 13)
Destination; the Christians in Rome
Gentiles... [Romans 9-11, 14-15]
"They are to desist from pride, even though they have been joined to the olive tree of God's people and the Jews have largely been cast aside." (p. 13)
"They are to accept Jewish believers who have scruples in regard to food and drink and the observance of various days." (p. 13)
Gentile majority...
"In Romans 1:5-6 Paul addresses the readers, identifying his commission as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he specifically includes the Roman readers within the orbit of this Gentile commission. The language should not be pressed to exclude the Jews, but it implies that the majority of the readers were Gentiles." (p. 14)
[Romans 1:13, 11:13, 15:15-16]
Jews...
"chapters 1-11 can be conceived of as a dialogue with the Jews, who are specifically addressed in 2:17. The constant appeal to the OT and the discussion of the Mosaic law are also set forth as evidence of a Jewish readership." (p. 14)
Purpose
"His gospel was probably under suspicion in Rome precisely because both the Jews and Jewish Christians hotly disputed his interpretation of the Mosaic law the OT Scriptures. Paul's teaching on the law had already precipitated disputes in Galatia and Corinth. These debates were not confined to these localities, and before Paul could use Rome as a bridgehead for bringing the gospel to Spain, he needed to show them why the objections to his gospel, which had certainly reached Rome also, were unfounded." (p. 15)
Resolving conflict between Jews and Gentiles in Rome...
"in Rome the weak adhere to Jewish food laws and the Sabbath because of their devotion to the Mosaic law. In Corinth, by contrast, the weak hail from pagan backgrounds and fear eating food offered to idols because it will defile them." (p. 20)
[Romans 14:1-15:13; 1 Corinthians 8-10]
"He needed to summarize the basic content of the gospel he preached, especially as it pertained to issues relating to Jews and Gentiles... Paul needed to explicate his gospel thoroughly because he was the object of constant attacks, especially by other Jewish Christians... He must satisfy both Jewish and Gentile Christians that his stance on the Mosaic law, circumcision, and the place of Israel accords with the OT Scriptures... Paul's intention is to show them that his gospel constitutes the true fulfillment of what the OT Scriptures teach about the Mosaic law, circumcision, and the role of Israel (and Gentiles) in salvation history... one of Paul's primary aims was to unify the church in Rome, so that Jews and Gentiles together would worship God in harmony, understanding that their unified worship fulfilled what the OT Scriptures taught (cf. Romans 15:7-13)... He hoped that the unified congregations would rally together to support his mission to Spain (cf. Romans 15:22-24)... just as Paul had set forth his teaching to resolve the disputes between Jews and Gentiles, so too his teaching had to be embraced for them to support his mission... Full discussions of Christology [theology pertaining to Christ], ecclesiology [theology pertaining to the church], eschatology [theology pertaining to the 'end times'], and the Lord's Supper were not needed, for no one disputed Paul's teaching in these areas... Paul ultimately wrote Romans as a servant of God to honor his Lord." (pp. 21-23)
Here are my notes (with added Scripture references and commentary) from my pastor's first sermon on the book of Romans. You may listen to it HERE. If you would like more information, visit NorthPointe Baptist.
Paul: A Witness to the Radical Power of the Gospel of God (09/20/09)
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1, ESV)
I. Paul's Disposition (v. 1a)
Paul considered himself a slave or servant of Jesus... he was owned by Christ.
"whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-28, ESV)
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." (Romans 6:16-19, ESV)
"Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin." (Romans 7:25, ESV)
PAUL MENTIONS HIS DISPOSITION BEFORE HE MENTIONS HIS OFFICE
...may we imitate Paul (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1) by focusing on humble service.
The Roman church (A.D. 55-58) was quite familiar with the language Paul was using... slavery was a major part of ancient Roman society.
A Pauline Biography
Acts 22...
"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia [Turkey], but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus [Syria] to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished." (vv.3-5, ESV)
"he was born in a creditable reputable place, in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia, and was by his birth a freeman of that city." (Matthew Henry)
His teacher was Gamaliel, who was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin... considered to be one of the premier teachers of Jewish law in the first century.
He was peerless and his mental acuity matched his zealousness for the law
He had misconceptions of honoring God
"He was not only a Jew, and a gentleman, but a scholar. He was brought up in Jerusalem, the principal seat of the Jewish learning, and at the feet of Gamaliel, whom they all knew to be an eminent doctor of the Jewish law, of which Paul was designed to be himself a teacher; and therefore he could not be ignorant of their law, nor be thought to slight it because he did not know it. His parents had brought him very young to this city, designing him for a Pharisee; and some think his being brought up at the feet of Gamaliel intimates, not only that he was one of his pupils, but that he was, above any other, diligent and constant in attending his lectures, observant of him, and obsequious to him, in all he said... He was an intelligent professor of their religion, and had a clear head. He minded his business at Gamaliel's feet, and was there taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. What departures he had made from the law were not owing to any confused or mistaken notions of it, for he understood it to a nicety, kata akribeian—according to the most accurate and exact method... He was an active professor of their religion, and had a warm heart: I was zealous towards God, as you all are this day. Many that are very well skilled in the theory of religion are willing to leave the practice of it to others, but Paul was as much a zealot as a rabbi. He was zealous against every thing that the law prohibited, and for every thing that the law enjoined; and this was zeal towards God, because he thought it was for the honour of God and the service of his interests" (Matthew Henry)
"As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' And I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' And he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.' Now those who were with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do.' And since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus. "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me, and standing by me said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that very hour I received my sight and saw him. And he said, 'The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name." (vv. 6-16, ESV)
A light brighter than the noonday sun in Syria blinded him and thrust him down.
"In the night-season there appear oftentimes lightnings, which come of the hot exhalations of the earth; but this was more strange, that about noon a sudden light did not only appear, but did also compass him about like a lightning, so that through fear thereof he fell from his horse, and lay prostrate upon the ground." (John Calvin)
"It was a light from heaven that first startled him, a great light, which shone suddenly round about him, and the Jews knew that God is light, and his angels angels of light, and that such a light as this shining at noon, and therefore exceeding that of the sun, must be from God... it shone upon him in the open road, at high noon, and so strongly that it struck him to the ground, and all that were with him (Acts 26:14)" (Matthew Henry)
Note that Jesus tells Saul (Paul) that He is the one being persecuted. Christ does not say, "why are you persecuting the church?" or "why are you persecuting my disciples?" There is a connection/union between Jesus Christ ("the head") and the church ("the body").
Ananias (Acts 9)
Philippians 3...
Paul's transformation...
"If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 4b-11, ESV)
"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 1:12-14, ESV)
I would also like to add Galatians 1:12-17 for the sake of solidarity and the purpose of synthesis:
"I did not receive it [the gospel] from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus."
II. Paul's Office (v. 1b)
Called...
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints..." (Romans 1:7, ESV)
This "calling" is considered an "effectual calling"
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Paul's dramatic conversion was the product of the irresistable grace of God
Apostle...
Paul's authority comes directly from Christ Himself
"Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord?" (1 Corinthians 9:1, ESV)
"He had not taken this honour to himself, but had a divine commission for it." (Matthew Henry)
"in order that he may not be reckoned inferior in any respect, to the other Apostles, for this one thing the malevolent and envious bawled out on all occasions—that he had received from the hands of men whatever he had of the gospel, inasmuch as he had never seen Christ. And, certainly, he had not had converse with Christ while he was in the world, but Christ had appeared to him after his resurrection. It was not a smaller privilege, however, to have seen Christ in his immortal glory, than to have seen him in the abasement of mortal flesh." (John Calvin)
This next passage is absolutely beautiful...
"Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." (1 Corinthians 15:8-10, ESV)
"Paul does not refuse to be the most worthless of all, and next to nothing, provided this contempt does not impede him in any degree in his ministry, and does not at all detract from his doctrine. He is contented that, as to himself, he shall be reckoned unworthy of any honor, provided only he commends his apostleship in respect of the grace conferred upon him. And assuredly God had not adorned him with such distinguished endowments in order that his grace might lie buried or neglected, but he had designed thereby to render his apostleship illustrious and distinguished." (John Calvin)
"What kept Paul low in an especial manner was the remembrance of his former wickedness, his raging and destructive zeal against Christ and him members... When sinners are by divine grace turned into saints, he makes the remembrance of their former sins very serviceable, to make them humble, and diligent, and faithful." (Matthew Henry)
Remember what Paul wrote to the church at Galatia in order to solidify his Apostolic authority...
"For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12, ESV)
"It was necessary that Paul should state his doctrine... and rest it on this ground, that he had acquired it not in the school of any man, but by revelation from God." (John Calvin)
III. Paul's Purpose (v. 1c)
separated to the gospel of God...
What does "of God" mean? Is the gospel about God? Is it sent by Him? Is it from Him?
Answer: ALL OF THE ABOVE
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you..." (Jeremiah 1:5a, ESV)
Again, recall Paul's letter to the Galatians...
"when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles..." (Galatians 1:15-16b, ESV)
Like Paul, we (believers) are"set apart" by the grace of God... saved through faith. We are his slaves because He predestined and created us for the production of fruit and good works.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10, ESV)
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
May we be set apart, a people for his own possession. Let us proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into light; die to ourselves and live as slaves of righteousness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Romans links:
Preface to Romans (Martin Luther)
The Greatest Letter Ever Written (John Piper's exposition of Romans)
Romans Revolution (an article by Michael Horton)
The Theme of Romans (an essay by Douglas Moo)
18 September 2009
Week(s) in Review
Picking up where I left off a few weeks ago...
"He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13, ESV)
More from "Complete In Him" by Michael Barrett...
Chapter 4: Regeneration (New Life in the Gospel)
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7, KJV)
"Adam has no physical life until he received the special breath of God." (p. 75)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Corinthians 5:17a, KJV)
"Just as Adam required God's breath for physical life, every sinner requires a gracious and special intervention of God to bring him to spiritual life." (p. 76)
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:4-5, KJV)
The Definition of New Life
"Regeneration refers to the implantation of the principle of spiritual life into the heart of the sinner that results in an instantaneous, radical, and obvious change of nature affecting the whole governing disposition of life. (p. 76)
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, KJV)
"The prophet's description of the old heart as stony portrays and inward nature that is cold, unfeeling, and hard. A petrified heart is utterly dead, incapable of functioning." (p. 77)
"...old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17b, KJV)
The Westminster Larger Catechism
"Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein." (Question 67)
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
"Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel." (Question 31)
The Baptist Confession of Faith
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not on account of anything at all foreseen in man. It is not made because of any power or agency in the creature who is wholly passive in the matter. Man is dead in sins and trespasses until quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this he is enabled to answer the call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by it. This enabling power is no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead. " (Chapter 10, section 2)
Mark 5:41-42; John 11:43-44 (Jesus makes the dead alive)
"When the Spirit of God implants the principle of life within the soul, the regenerate soul will evidence all the vital signs of a spiritual life." (p. 79)
"Man's spiritual death and inability are answered by God's gracious provision in the atoning death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." (p. 79)
The Exposition of New Life
"Being dead in our trespasses and sins means that more than anything else we need life, and God graciously according to His divine power 'hath given unto us all things tha pertain unto life and godliness.' (2 Peter 1:3, KJV)." (p. 79)
Imagery of regeneration...
Circumcision (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Resurrection (Ephesians 2:5-6)
Creation (Ephesians 2:10)
Spiritual baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13)
New covenant (Jeremiah 31:33)
John 3...
1. You MUST be born again (verse 7)
2. The Son of Man MUST be lifted up (verse 14)
"The possibility of the first depends on the performance of the second." (p. 80)
The Necessity of New Life
"As in the first birth a physical life issues from previous nonexistence, so in the second birth a formerly nonexistent spiritual life comes into being." (p. 80)
John 3:3, 7...
Please take into account the footnotes on the link:
"the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above"
"This sense of the word is perhaps more pertinent to man's need because it calls special attention to the divine source of spiritual life which guarantees the necessary qualifications for entrance into the kingdom of God." (p. 80)
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6, KJV)
"A second birth from his mother's womb would produce the same sinful and corrupt flesh as the first birth." (p. 81)
The Agent of New Life
"born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13, KJV)
The New Birth is a Spiritual Work
1. Christ's definition: Character
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5, KJV)
"The linking of 'water and spirit' is a literal device called hendiodys (Greek); 'one through two'... Being born 'of water and of spirit' refers, consequently, to spiritual water, which pertains ultimately to spiritual cleansing." (p. 83)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5)
"Christ is teaching that the new birth involves an inward cleansing from the filthiness and pollution that preclude entrance into heaven. Such a cleansing is spiritual work because man is absolutely incapable of cleansing himself (see Jeremiah 2:22)." (p. 83)
2. Christ's affirmation: Success
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6, KJV)
The New Birth is a Sovereign Work
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8, KJV)
"the Greek terms for 'wind' and 'spirit' (click here) are exactly the same word." (p. 84)
The Provision for New Life
"The gospel, the good news, is that God has provided the means and the way whereby dead, spiritually oblivious sinners can receive the necessary life." (p. 85)
Based in the Love of God...
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, KJV)
LOVE...
"It's stimulus is within God who loves and not in the world which is loved... God's love for the world makes no sense since the world consists of sinners who are highly repulsive and unworthy of love... The word 'so' designates not the degree to which God loves, but the way in which God demonstrated His love for the world... The two 'that' statements (different words in the Greek text) define the way in terms of consequence and purpose." (p. 85)
"Given that the supreme and eternal object of the Father's love is His only begotten Son (John 17:23-24), the sacrificial giving of the Son heightens the magnitude of God's love for the world." (p. 86)
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)
In men's study, we are currently in chapter 25 of "Introducing Christian Doctrine" by Millard J. Erickson, discussing The Humanity of Christ.
Chapter 25: The Humanity of Christ
"God is high above us, so much so that He cannot be known by unaided human reason." (p. 224)
"And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech." So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth." (Genesis 11:3-9, ESV)
The reason I have entered this passage into my notes is to show the sovereign power of God. I once heard someone articulate the fact that as they conspired to build a tower to heaven in order to exalt themselves, God still "went down"... they were not even close to God's glorious dwelling place. My elder, when answering the question "Where is heaven?" in a current Q&A session at church, gave the example of the Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (the first man in space) and Nikita Khrushchev's comment: "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any God there"... the reason he didn't is much like Genesis 11 account; he didn't go high enough... he couldn't.
"We are unable by our own moral effort to counter sin, to elevate ourselves to the level of God." (p. 224)
"the validity of the work accomplished in Christ's death, or at least its applicability to us as human beings, depends upon the reality of His humanity, just as the efficacy of it depends upon the genuineness of His deity." (p. 224)
Jesus' Intercession...
"If He was truly one of us, experiencing all of the temptations and trials of human existence, then He is able to understand and empathize with us in our struggles as humans." (p. 224)
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, KJV)
The Biblical Evidence
Physical Human Nature
1. Human body... He was born; conceived in the womb of a woman.
2. Genealogy... He has ancestors... and most likely genetic traits and characteristics.
3. His life... He grew; nourished by food and water (see Matthew 4:2; John 19:28; John 4:6)
4. He suffered physically and died (see John 19:34)
5. His (and others') use of the word 'man' (see John 8:40; Romans 5:1,15; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 47-49)
This is what the Prophet Daniel wrote (500-600 years before His birth) concerning Jesus...
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him." (Daniel 7:13)
6. He "became" human (see John 1:14; 1 John 4:2-3a)
7. Others' perception of His "physicality" (see 1 John 1:1)
Early Heresies Regarding the Humanity of Jesus
Docetism (dokeō [Greek]: "to seem or appear")
"Jesus only seemed to be human." (p. 227)
All matter is evil, God is holy.
"Jesus was more like a ghost, an apparition, than a human being." (p. 227)
[see also Gnosticism and Marcionism]
Apollinarianism (Condemned at the Council of Constantinople [AD 381]
Apollinarius was the Bishop of Syria [4th century]
(Jesus) "must have had a human nous (soul, mind, reason) as well as a divine nous." (p. 227)
John 1:14 ("the Word became flesh")...
"flesh was the only aspect of human nature involved" (p. 227)
Jesus was a composite...
"What He (the Word) took was not the whole of humanity but only flesh, that is the body." (p. 227)
"Jesus was human physically, but not psychologically, He had a human body, but not a human soul. His soul was divine." (p. 228)
I will again focus on the Westminster Confession for more information on Christ's humanity...
"The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that He might discharge, He was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it; endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul, and most painful sufferings in His body; was crucified, and died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day He arose from the dead, with the same body in which He suffered, with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of His Father, making intercession, and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.
The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has given unto Him." (The Westminster Confession of Faith; Chapter 8, Sections 3-5)
A continuation of my discipleship curricula; Psalm 119 verses 121-128:
121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
"Having done justice for others that were oppressed, he begs that God would do him justice and avenge him of his adversaries." (Matthew Henry)
[The assumption here is that the author of this Psalm is King David. Though the author is not known with absolute certainty, David is widely considered to be the human author of this Psalm]
Vocationally...
"David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people." (2 Samuel 8:15, ESV)
Personally...
"See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it." (1 Samuel 24:11, ESV)
"As he everywhere promises his aid to the afflicted who are unrighteously oppressed, it is no superfluous protestation which the Prophet makes, that he had not provoked his enemies, but had restrained himself from all injury and wrong-doing, and had not even attempted to requite evil for evil. In asserting that he had at all times done judgment, he means that whatever rite wicked practiced, he steadfastly preserved in following after integrity and never turned aside from what was just and right in any of his public or private transactions." (John Calvin)
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." (Romans 12:17, ESV)
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land." (Jeremiah 23:5, ESV)
122 Give your servant a pledge of good (surety); let not the insolent oppress me.
"Christ is our surety with God; and, if he be so, Providence shall be our surety against all the world." (Matthew Henry)
"In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised." (Psalm 10:2, ESV)
"The prayer is to this effect, that God would not suffer the wicked to exercise, their cruelty against us at their pleasure, but that He would interpose as a Defender to save us." (John Calvin)
123 My eyes long (fail) for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
"Though our eyes fail, yet God's Word does not, and therefore those that build upon it, though now discouraged, shall in due time see His salvation." (Matthew Henry)
Failing for salvation...
"allthough there was no prospect of an end to his calamities, and although despair presented itself on every side, yet he strove against temptation even to the fainting of the soul... his eyes fail him not because they become fatigued, but because through earnest looking they contract as it were a dimness, and that yet he does not cease to wait continually for the salvation of God." (John Calvin)
Salvation in this sense is not the faith in Christ by grace, but rather the continual, temporal provision and providence of God for His people. However, the righteous promise would be the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah... the longing or failing can be considered a "painful earnestness".
"rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5, ESV)
"...the righteousness which Christ, who is God as well as Man, has wrought out; and which His Father has approved of, accepted, and imputes to His people, and justifies them with..." (John Gill)
"My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word." (Psalm 119:81, ESV)
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
Divine mercy...
"The Prophet... magnifies the greatness and excellence of the benefit of being instructed in the divine law, when he requests that it may be bestowed upon him as a free gift" (John Calvin)
"...it is great mercy on God's part that He condescends to instruct us in His commands." (Charles Spurgeon)
"In difficult times we should desire more to be told what we must do that what we may expect, and should pray more to be led into the knowledge of scripture-precepts than of scripture-prophecies." (Matthew Henry)
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
"It is God's prerogative to give an understanding, that understanding without which we cannot know God's testimonies." (Matthew Henry)
"If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." (John 7:17, ESV)
"The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14, ESV)
"We are to confess ourselves fools, and then our Lord will make us wise, as well as give us knowledge. The best understanding is that which enables us to render perfect obedience and to exhibit intelligent faith..." (Charles Spurgeon)
"the Scriptures, which testify of the will of God... are only rightly understood by those who have their understandings opened and enlightened; or have an understanding given them, that they may understand them, so as to receive and embrace the doctrine, and do the precepts of them: and such an understanding is the gift of God, and owing to his powerful and efficacious grace." (John Gill)
"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45, ESV)
126 It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
"It is possible a godly man may sin against the commandment, but a wicked man would sin away the commandment, would repeal God's laws and enact his own lusts. This is the sinfulness of sin and the malignity of the carnal mind... We must do what we can for the support of the sinking interests of religion, and, after all, we must beg of God to take the work into his own hands." (Matthew Henry)
"It is the peculiar work of God to restrain the wicked, and even to punish them severely when he finds that their repentance is utterly hopeless... It is a pure and honest zeal which moves him to desire the destruction of the wicked despisers of God; for he adduces no other reason for the prayer, than that the wicked destroyed God's law." (John Calvin)
"Men make void the law of God by denying it to be his law, by promulgating commands and doctrines in opposition to it, by setting up tradition in its place, or by utterly disregarding and scorning the authority of the lawgiver... when the church of God is trampled down, and her message is derided, we may expect to see the hand of the Lord stretched out for the revival of religion, the defense of the truth, and the glorifying of the divine name. The Lord can work either by judgments which hurl down the ramparts of the foe; or by revivals which build up the walls of his own Jerusalem. How heartily may we pray the Lord to raise up new evangelists, to quicken those we all early have, to set his whole church on fire, and to bring the world to his feet. God's work is ever honourable and glorious; as for our work, it is as nothing apart from him." (Charles Spurgeon)
Made void His law...
"atheists and deists (deny the authority of them); Pharisees (preferred their oral law to the written word); Papists (by their unwritten rituals and doctrines); false teachers (wrest the Scriptures, and put false glosses on them, and handle the word of God deceitfully); all profane sinners (bid defiance to the law, abrogate it, and set up a law of their own, and frame mischief by it)... It is proper, in declining times, for good men to bestir themselves and be in action, to attempt the revival of religion, to do all that in them lies to support the cause of God, and to vindicate his honour and glory." (John Gill)
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
"David saw that the word of God answers all purposes better than money does, for it enriches the soul towards God; and therefore he loved it better than gold, for it had done that for him which gold could not do, and would stand him in stead when the wealth of the world would fail him." (Matthew Henry)
"the reason why he esteemed God's law as more valuable than gold and precious stones, was because he had fixed in his mind a thorough persuasion of the truth, that although God may connive for a time at wickedness, the making havoc of all uprightness and equity will not always remain unpunished... when the wicked claim to themselves an unbridled liberty, it behoves us to contemplate with the eyes of faith the judgments of God, in order to our being thereby quickened to the observance of the divine law." (John Calvin)
"in the judgment of the wise, God's laws are more enriching, and bring with them more comfort than all the choicest treasures." (Charles Spurgeon)
"His love was the more inflamed and increased towards it by the contempt it was had in by others." (John Gill)
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.
"He loved all God's commandments because he esteemed them to be right, all reasonable and just, and suited to the end for which they were made. They are all as they should be, and no fault can be found with them; and we must love them because they bear God's image and are the revelations of his will." (Matthew Henry)
"We perceive then how the Prophet, inspired with a holy jealousy for the law, contended against the wicked rebellion of those who despised it. And assuredly, when we see that the ungodly mock God with such effrontery, at one time rising up audaciously against him, trod at another perverting every part of the law, it becomes us to be the more inflamed with zeal, and to be the more courageous in maintaining the truth of God. The extreme impiety of our age especially demands of all the faithful that they should exercise themselves in this holy zeal. Profane men strive to outdo one another in scornfully aspersing the doctrine of salvation, and endeavor to bring God's sacred Word into contempt by their derisive jeers. Others pour forth their blasphemies without intermission. We cannot, therefore, avoid being chargeable with the crime of treacherous indifference, if our hearts are not warmed with zeal, and unless we burn with a holy jealousy. The Prophet not merely says, that he approved of God's law wholly and without exception, but he adds, that he hated every way of lying, or every false way. And, undoubtedly, no one subscribes in good earnest to the law of God, but he who rejects all the slanders by which the wicked taint or obscure the purity of sound doctrine." (John Calvin)
"The censure of the wicked is a certificate of merit; that which they sanction we may justly suspect, but that which they abominate we may ardently, admire. The good man's delight in God's law is unreserved, he believes in all God's precepts concerning all things... His detestation was as unreserved as his affection; he had not a good word for any practice which would not bear the light of truth. The fact that such large multitudes follow the broad road had no influence upon this holy mail, except to make him more determined to avoid every form of error and sin. May the Holy Spirit so rule in our hearts that our affections may be in the same decided condition towards the precepts of the word." (Charles Spurgeon)
That is all for now. Be on the look out for more frequent, shorter blog entries in the future. Please take the time to visit some of the blogs in "My Blog List" and check out the links in the "Internet Resources" area. Also, I will be concluding all of my entries with a few links for you to visit...
Office Hours (A Westminster Seminary California podcast; hosted by R. Scott Clark)
The Spurgeon Fellowship (Media Resources; primarily for pastors)
Calvin's Commentaries (Online commentaries of one of the most gifted expositors ever)
Grace and peace be with you. Soli Deo Gloria!
"He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13, ESV)
More from "Complete In Him" by Michael Barrett...
Chapter 4: Regeneration (New Life in the Gospel)
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7, KJV)
"Adam has no physical life until he received the special breath of God." (p. 75)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Corinthians 5:17a, KJV)
"Just as Adam required God's breath for physical life, every sinner requires a gracious and special intervention of God to bring him to spiritual life." (p. 76)
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ" (Ephesians 2:4-5, KJV)
The Definition of New Life
"Regeneration refers to the implantation of the principle of spiritual life into the heart of the sinner that results in an instantaneous, radical, and obvious change of nature affecting the whole governing disposition of life. (p. 76)
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, KJV)
"The prophet's description of the old heart as stony portrays and inward nature that is cold, unfeeling, and hard. A petrified heart is utterly dead, incapable of functioning." (p. 77)
"...old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17b, KJV)
The Westminster Larger Catechism
"Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power and grace, whereby (out of his free and special love to his elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto) he does, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by his Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein." (Question 67)
The Westminster Shorter Catechism
"Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel." (Question 31)
The Baptist Confession of Faith
"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not on account of anything at all foreseen in man. It is not made because of any power or agency in the creature who is wholly passive in the matter. Man is dead in sins and trespasses until quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit. By this he is enabled to answer the call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed by it. This enabling power is no less power than that which raised up Christ from the dead. " (Chapter 10, section 2)
Mark 5:41-42; John 11:43-44 (Jesus makes the dead alive)
"When the Spirit of God implants the principle of life within the soul, the regenerate soul will evidence all the vital signs of a spiritual life." (p. 79)
"Man's spiritual death and inability are answered by God's gracious provision in the atoning death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." (p. 79)
The Exposition of New Life
"Being dead in our trespasses and sins means that more than anything else we need life, and God graciously according to His divine power 'hath given unto us all things tha pertain unto life and godliness.' (2 Peter 1:3, KJV)." (p. 79)
Imagery of regeneration...
Circumcision (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Resurrection (Ephesians 2:5-6)
Creation (Ephesians 2:10)
Spiritual baptism (1 Corinthians 12:13)
New covenant (Jeremiah 31:33)
John 3...
1. You MUST be born again (verse 7)
2. The Son of Man MUST be lifted up (verse 14)
"The possibility of the first depends on the performance of the second." (p. 80)
The Necessity of New Life
"As in the first birth a physical life issues from previous nonexistence, so in the second birth a formerly nonexistent spiritual life comes into being." (p. 80)
John 3:3, 7...
Please take into account the footnotes on the link:
"the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above"
"This sense of the word is perhaps more pertinent to man's need because it calls special attention to the divine source of spiritual life which guarantees the necessary qualifications for entrance into the kingdom of God." (p. 80)
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6, KJV)
"A second birth from his mother's womb would produce the same sinful and corrupt flesh as the first birth." (p. 81)
The Agent of New Life
"born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13, KJV)
The New Birth is a Spiritual Work
1. Christ's definition: Character
"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5, KJV)
"The linking of 'water and spirit' is a literal device called hendiodys (Greek); 'one through two'... Being born 'of water and of spirit' refers, consequently, to spiritual water, which pertains ultimately to spiritual cleansing." (p. 83)
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5)
"Christ is teaching that the new birth involves an inward cleansing from the filthiness and pollution that preclude entrance into heaven. Such a cleansing is spiritual work because man is absolutely incapable of cleansing himself (see Jeremiah 2:22)." (p. 83)
2. Christ's affirmation: Success
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6, KJV)
The New Birth is a Sovereign Work
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8, KJV)
"the Greek terms for 'wind' and 'spirit' (click here) are exactly the same word." (p. 84)
The Provision for New Life
"The gospel, the good news, is that God has provided the means and the way whereby dead, spiritually oblivious sinners can receive the necessary life." (p. 85)
Based in the Love of God...
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, KJV)
LOVE...
"It's stimulus is within God who loves and not in the world which is loved... God's love for the world makes no sense since the world consists of sinners who are highly repulsive and unworthy of love... The word 'so' designates not the degree to which God loves, but the way in which God demonstrated His love for the world... The two 'that' statements (different words in the Greek text) define the way in terms of consequence and purpose." (p. 85)
"Given that the supreme and eternal object of the Father's love is His only begotten Son (John 17:23-24), the sacrificial giving of the Son heightens the magnitude of God's love for the world." (p. 86)
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)
In men's study, we are currently in chapter 25 of "Introducing Christian Doctrine" by Millard J. Erickson, discussing The Humanity of Christ.
Chapter 25: The Humanity of Christ
"God is high above us, so much so that He cannot be known by unaided human reason." (p. 224)
"And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech." So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth." (Genesis 11:3-9, ESV)
The reason I have entered this passage into my notes is to show the sovereign power of God. I once heard someone articulate the fact that as they conspired to build a tower to heaven in order to exalt themselves, God still "went down"... they were not even close to God's glorious dwelling place. My elder, when answering the question "Where is heaven?" in a current Q&A session at church, gave the example of the Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (the first man in space) and Nikita Khrushchev's comment: "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any God there"... the reason he didn't is much like Genesis 11 account; he didn't go high enough... he couldn't.
"We are unable by our own moral effort to counter sin, to elevate ourselves to the level of God." (p. 224)
"the validity of the work accomplished in Christ's death, or at least its applicability to us as human beings, depends upon the reality of His humanity, just as the efficacy of it depends upon the genuineness of His deity." (p. 224)
Jesus' Intercession...
"If He was truly one of us, experiencing all of the temptations and trials of human existence, then He is able to understand and empathize with us in our struggles as humans." (p. 224)
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, KJV)
The Biblical Evidence
Physical Human Nature
1. Human body... He was born; conceived in the womb of a woman.
2. Genealogy... He has ancestors... and most likely genetic traits and characteristics.
3. His life... He grew; nourished by food and water (see Matthew 4:2; John 19:28; John 4:6)
4. He suffered physically and died (see John 19:34)
5. His (and others') use of the word 'man' (see John 8:40; Romans 5:1,15; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 47-49)
This is what the Prophet Daniel wrote (500-600 years before His birth) concerning Jesus...
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him." (Daniel 7:13)
6. He "became" human (see John 1:14; 1 John 4:2-3a)
7. Others' perception of His "physicality" (see 1 John 1:1)
Early Heresies Regarding the Humanity of Jesus
Docetism (dokeō [Greek]: "to seem or appear")
"Jesus only seemed to be human." (p. 227)
All matter is evil, God is holy.
"Jesus was more like a ghost, an apparition, than a human being." (p. 227)
[see also Gnosticism and Marcionism]
Apollinarianism (Condemned at the Council of Constantinople [AD 381]
Apollinarius was the Bishop of Syria [4th century]
(Jesus) "must have had a human nous (soul, mind, reason) as well as a divine nous." (p. 227)
John 1:14 ("the Word became flesh")...
"flesh was the only aspect of human nature involved" (p. 227)
Jesus was a composite...
"What He (the Word) took was not the whole of humanity but only flesh, that is the body." (p. 227)
"Jesus was human physically, but not psychologically, He had a human body, but not a human soul. His soul was divine." (p. 228)
I will again focus on the Westminster Confession for more information on Christ's humanity...
"The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake; which that He might discharge, He was made under the law, and did perfectly fulfil it; endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul, and most painful sufferings in His body; was crucified, and died, was buried, and remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. On the third day He arose from the dead, with the same body in which He suffered, with which also he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of His Father, making intercession, and shall return, to judge men and angels, at the end of the world.
The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the justice of His Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has given unto Him." (The Westminster Confession of Faith; Chapter 8, Sections 3-5)
A continuation of my discipleship curricula; Psalm 119 verses 121-128:
121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.
"Having done justice for others that were oppressed, he begs that God would do him justice and avenge him of his adversaries." (Matthew Henry)
[The assumption here is that the author of this Psalm is King David. Though the author is not known with absolute certainty, David is widely considered to be the human author of this Psalm]
Vocationally...
"David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people." (2 Samuel 8:15, ESV)
Personally...
"See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it." (1 Samuel 24:11, ESV)
"As he everywhere promises his aid to the afflicted who are unrighteously oppressed, it is no superfluous protestation which the Prophet makes, that he had not provoked his enemies, but had restrained himself from all injury and wrong-doing, and had not even attempted to requite evil for evil. In asserting that he had at all times done judgment, he means that whatever rite wicked practiced, he steadfastly preserved in following after integrity and never turned aside from what was just and right in any of his public or private transactions." (John Calvin)
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all." (Romans 12:17, ESV)
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land." (Jeremiah 23:5, ESV)
122 Give your servant a pledge of good (surety); let not the insolent oppress me.
"Christ is our surety with God; and, if he be so, Providence shall be our surety against all the world." (Matthew Henry)
"In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised." (Psalm 10:2, ESV)
"The prayer is to this effect, that God would not suffer the wicked to exercise, their cruelty against us at their pleasure, but that He would interpose as a Defender to save us." (John Calvin)
123 My eyes long (fail) for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
"Though our eyes fail, yet God's Word does not, and therefore those that build upon it, though now discouraged, shall in due time see His salvation." (Matthew Henry)
Failing for salvation...
"allthough there was no prospect of an end to his calamities, and although despair presented itself on every side, yet he strove against temptation even to the fainting of the soul... his eyes fail him not because they become fatigued, but because through earnest looking they contract as it were a dimness, and that yet he does not cease to wait continually for the salvation of God." (John Calvin)
Salvation in this sense is not the faith in Christ by grace, but rather the continual, temporal provision and providence of God for His people. However, the righteous promise would be the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah... the longing or failing can be considered a "painful earnestness".
"rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5, ESV)
"...the righteousness which Christ, who is God as well as Man, has wrought out; and which His Father has approved of, accepted, and imputes to His people, and justifies them with..." (John Gill)
"My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word." (Psalm 119:81, ESV)
124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.
Divine mercy...
"The Prophet... magnifies the greatness and excellence of the benefit of being instructed in the divine law, when he requests that it may be bestowed upon him as a free gift" (John Calvin)
"...it is great mercy on God's part that He condescends to instruct us in His commands." (Charles Spurgeon)
"In difficult times we should desire more to be told what we must do that what we may expect, and should pray more to be led into the knowledge of scripture-precepts than of scripture-prophecies." (Matthew Henry)
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
"It is God's prerogative to give an understanding, that understanding without which we cannot know God's testimonies." (Matthew Henry)
"If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority." (John 7:17, ESV)
"The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14, ESV)
"We are to confess ourselves fools, and then our Lord will make us wise, as well as give us knowledge. The best understanding is that which enables us to render perfect obedience and to exhibit intelligent faith..." (Charles Spurgeon)
"the Scriptures, which testify of the will of God... are only rightly understood by those who have their understandings opened and enlightened; or have an understanding given them, that they may understand them, so as to receive and embrace the doctrine, and do the precepts of them: and such an understanding is the gift of God, and owing to his powerful and efficacious grace." (John Gill)
"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45, ESV)
126 It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.
"It is possible a godly man may sin against the commandment, but a wicked man would sin away the commandment, would repeal God's laws and enact his own lusts. This is the sinfulness of sin and the malignity of the carnal mind... We must do what we can for the support of the sinking interests of religion, and, after all, we must beg of God to take the work into his own hands." (Matthew Henry)
"It is the peculiar work of God to restrain the wicked, and even to punish them severely when he finds that their repentance is utterly hopeless... It is a pure and honest zeal which moves him to desire the destruction of the wicked despisers of God; for he adduces no other reason for the prayer, than that the wicked destroyed God's law." (John Calvin)
"Men make void the law of God by denying it to be his law, by promulgating commands and doctrines in opposition to it, by setting up tradition in its place, or by utterly disregarding and scorning the authority of the lawgiver... when the church of God is trampled down, and her message is derided, we may expect to see the hand of the Lord stretched out for the revival of religion, the defense of the truth, and the glorifying of the divine name. The Lord can work either by judgments which hurl down the ramparts of the foe; or by revivals which build up the walls of his own Jerusalem. How heartily may we pray the Lord to raise up new evangelists, to quicken those we all early have, to set his whole church on fire, and to bring the world to his feet. God's work is ever honourable and glorious; as for our work, it is as nothing apart from him." (Charles Spurgeon)
Made void His law...
"atheists and deists (deny the authority of them); Pharisees (preferred their oral law to the written word); Papists (by their unwritten rituals and doctrines); false teachers (wrest the Scriptures, and put false glosses on them, and handle the word of God deceitfully); all profane sinners (bid defiance to the law, abrogate it, and set up a law of their own, and frame mischief by it)... It is proper, in declining times, for good men to bestir themselves and be in action, to attempt the revival of religion, to do all that in them lies to support the cause of God, and to vindicate his honour and glory." (John Gill)
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
"David saw that the word of God answers all purposes better than money does, for it enriches the soul towards God; and therefore he loved it better than gold, for it had done that for him which gold could not do, and would stand him in stead when the wealth of the world would fail him." (Matthew Henry)
"the reason why he esteemed God's law as more valuable than gold and precious stones, was because he had fixed in his mind a thorough persuasion of the truth, that although God may connive for a time at wickedness, the making havoc of all uprightness and equity will not always remain unpunished... when the wicked claim to themselves an unbridled liberty, it behoves us to contemplate with the eyes of faith the judgments of God, in order to our being thereby quickened to the observance of the divine law." (John Calvin)
"in the judgment of the wise, God's laws are more enriching, and bring with them more comfort than all the choicest treasures." (Charles Spurgeon)
"His love was the more inflamed and increased towards it by the contempt it was had in by others." (John Gill)
128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.
"He loved all God's commandments because he esteemed them to be right, all reasonable and just, and suited to the end for which they were made. They are all as they should be, and no fault can be found with them; and we must love them because they bear God's image and are the revelations of his will." (Matthew Henry)
"We perceive then how the Prophet, inspired with a holy jealousy for the law, contended against the wicked rebellion of those who despised it. And assuredly, when we see that the ungodly mock God with such effrontery, at one time rising up audaciously against him, trod at another perverting every part of the law, it becomes us to be the more inflamed with zeal, and to be the more courageous in maintaining the truth of God. The extreme impiety of our age especially demands of all the faithful that they should exercise themselves in this holy zeal. Profane men strive to outdo one another in scornfully aspersing the doctrine of salvation, and endeavor to bring God's sacred Word into contempt by their derisive jeers. Others pour forth their blasphemies without intermission. We cannot, therefore, avoid being chargeable with the crime of treacherous indifference, if our hearts are not warmed with zeal, and unless we burn with a holy jealousy. The Prophet not merely says, that he approved of God's law wholly and without exception, but he adds, that he hated every way of lying, or every false way. And, undoubtedly, no one subscribes in good earnest to the law of God, but he who rejects all the slanders by which the wicked taint or obscure the purity of sound doctrine." (John Calvin)
"The censure of the wicked is a certificate of merit; that which they sanction we may justly suspect, but that which they abominate we may ardently, admire. The good man's delight in God's law is unreserved, he believes in all God's precepts concerning all things... His detestation was as unreserved as his affection; he had not a good word for any practice which would not bear the light of truth. The fact that such large multitudes follow the broad road had no influence upon this holy mail, except to make him more determined to avoid every form of error and sin. May the Holy Spirit so rule in our hearts that our affections may be in the same decided condition towards the precepts of the word." (Charles Spurgeon)
That is all for now. Be on the look out for more frequent, shorter blog entries in the future. Please take the time to visit some of the blogs in "My Blog List" and check out the links in the "Internet Resources" area. Also, I will be concluding all of my entries with a few links for you to visit...
Office Hours (A Westminster Seminary California podcast; hosted by R. Scott Clark)
The Spurgeon Fellowship (Media Resources; primarily for pastors)
Calvin's Commentaries (Online commentaries of one of the most gifted expositors ever)
Grace and peace be with you. Soli Deo Gloria!
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