Romans 1: God's Natural Design

God is everywhere.  His Word is everywhere in everything he created! Look at the functional design of a leaf as it exists on the branches of a tree, or the beauty of  the night stars as they twinkle at us. I love to sit on a beach and look out to where the horizon meets the sky.  It is majestic! Everything God has created in nature is to bless us. We are blessed with sunrises, sunsets, flowers, magnificent birds and animals all intended to remind us of God's love:

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Romans 1:20

The human body is remarkably designed. It is one of God's greatest works. Its ability to grow, develop, reproduce, repair and heal is unsurpassed by anything man has attempted to design. The human mind has the ability to think and choose; again, another reminder of the love of God.

One of the greatest treats that you can do for yourself is to go out and take a walk through the woods, or stroll on the beach and look at all that has been provided for us. The closer you look at the details of God's creation, the more perfect it becomes. The opposite is true of man's work unless it is inspired by God.

When man attempts to redefine life on his own terms, and twists God's word or even dismisses God entirely, he thumbs his nose at God.  There are other people who have pushed to go beyond God's word in terms of laws, traditions and requirements.  They seem energetic but are actually presumptuous in the thinking that God can be improved. If a person thinks he can improve upon God, he just hasn't really seen God. It is through this type of unbelief that people get cheated out of a life free and abundant. We should never consent or go along with the pressure of the world to conform or accept and condone those things that are opposite to what God has provided. When we do it isn't that God turns his back on us, we turn our backs on God and are not able to see his love clearly.

Love Among Believers-Romans 1

The more I truly and accurately understand the identity of Jesus Christ and his role in our lives, the simpler the Word of God becomes.  I once thought Romans was an extremely difficult book to understand, but that was because of confusing theology and man-made interpretations of God's Word. Once the layers of PhD crust are peeled off the solid  beauty and symmetry of God's undeniable love, the light of truth just absolutely shines through.

Romans Chapter 1 is jammed-packed with  crystal clear truth. The apostle Paul, who recorded Romans, was a unique individual: He had everything in life that people strive for: success, respect, a mission, influence and power. Right in the middle of his success he changed horses or rather fell off his high horse when he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Things changed drastically after that. In the heart of his heart he became who he really wanted to be. He was quite a humble man and as an apostle, he brought forth the light of the New Testament grace administration into view. He is a great example of a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The love of God was shed abroad in his heart and he shared that love:

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; 12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Romans 1:11-12

Paul loved fellow believers; he longed to see them. The word 'see' is more than just a visual seeing, it involves an experience.  Paul want to give what he had; he wanted to share what he spiritually had to strengthen them and be blessed by them in their mutual faith together. The word comfort (sumparakaleo) is a togetherness of encouragement. They shared the same faith and rejoiced with each other over it. This is an example of the truly satisfying relationships that can develop between believers.

Thoughts on Leadership

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matt 20:28

The greatest joy comes in believing you can help someone else as God inspires.  Two things happen a a result.

1. God is working in your heart and you know it.  2. The results show fruit.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. II Corinthians 3:6

1. God is working in your heart and you know it.  2. The results show fruit.

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

1. God is working in your heart and you know it.  2. The results show fruit.

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11

1. God is working in your heart and you know it.  2. The results show fruit.

Jesus Christ did not worry about his leadership ability,  whether he was a minister or not, whether he spoke what was right or not in people's eyes or whether he was great or not. He knew God was working in him. The results show fruit.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

No law against this list!

Structure of Galatians 2:16

Structure in the Word is the intrinsic beautiful divine markings. (See previous post first)

Galatians 2:16 (From E W Bullinger who did extensive research in this area)

A/  Knowing that a man is not justified
   
      B/  by the works of the law,
         
            C/  but by the faith of Jesus Christ
         
            C/  even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified
                  by the faith of Jesus Christ,

      B/  and not by works of the law: for by the works of the law

A/  shall no flesh be justified.
     

Faith of Jesus Christ

The book of Romans is an epistle addressed to the believers of today who live in the time after the earthly presence of Jesus Christ. We can become familiar with the life of Jesus Christ through the gospels, but it is the church epistles (Romans - Thessalonians) that informs us as to what his life means to us.

We can believe in Christ, and acknowledge that he lived, and did great things. It is quite another thing to understand how the 'faith of Jesus Christ' affects us.

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 (Romans 3:22)

The Judean belief system at the time of Christ had a strong emphasis on the law in worshipping God. It was a culture that had gone above and beyond in establishing rules for living a godly life. The emphasis for salvation had been put on the 'works of the law' for salvation. It was all wrapped up in performance and external worship.

As Jesus Christ lived among them and taught, a new era was ushered in. His life, death, resurrection, and ascension ultimately brought in the 'faith of Jesus Christ' (a genitive construction which can be re-stated as 'Jesus Christ's faith').  It is his faith that justifies us today, not our works.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 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.
21 I do not frustrate (set aside, nullify) the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:19-21

This understood is our access to God.  It is our righteousness (rightness) to God's heart. Our responsibility is not only to believe in  Jesus Christ but to believe we have access to the faith of Jesus Christ internally and rest in that knowledge. This may seem arrogant to some, but actually it is true confidence in God's provision on which we can have genuine trust.

Our outward works flow from this trust, not the other way around. We sometime feel so happy when we perceive we have done something good but that feeling comes and goes. The 'faith of Jesus Christ' living in our hearts continues to enrich us as we nourish it and continue to grow in the truth of God's word.

The #1 Thing You Have to Learn About God

If there is any place to start in thinking about God, it is that God loves each and everyone of us (John 3:16). We can readily observe his love everywhere around us in beautiful gifts he has given us through his creation. The bottom line is that God loves you and he loves me. God wants us to really believe it.  He wants us 'rooted and grounded'  (Ephesians 3:17-19) in that love.

Sometimes, however, we can get confused when we look at the giant storms of life that rise up and counter punch the original idyllic design of God.  Unfortunately, there was a 'sneaky snake' that crept into the garden and wanted worship, acceptance and most of all, power over man. To do that, he lied, questioned and introduced doubt to Eve.

Evil power works the same way today. The adversary wants to make us all the scapegoat loaded with blame, guilt, inadequacy, insecurity and doubt. God does the exact opposite. He wants each us to be his golden child and shower us all with all he has to give. He can and will give us assurance, security, adequacy and love. We just have to ask.

We should never underestimate what the resurrection and ascension of Jesus as the messiah means for our lives today. When he was here on earth, he became the scapegoat for us to stand up to the power of evil.  When God raised him, we were raised with him, up and out of darkness and into a loving relationship with God. The apostle Paul wrote some magnificent  explanations of this relationship in his church epistles:

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This is not about setting up a religion; it is about full joy in real life living.  In books like Ephesians and Romans 8, we can read about the unlimited joys of God as a Father. Human fathers are wonderful or maybe not so wonderful depending on individual situations; but that does not have to limit your understanding of the ideal parent, God. God can help with that. God is the ultimate father to us all. He is the perfect father willing to show us how much he loves us in the details of life as well as in the big picture. We just have to climb into his lap and tell him what is on our heart.

6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

This is the only way to live in our day-to-day walk through this world.