In Romans 4, Paul offers Abraham as an example of a man who lived by faith. He even tells us Abraham “never” wavered in his faith. We know Abraham did, at times, waver in his faith. He didn’t trust God’s promise to give him and Sarah a son. He lied to protect himself when he told leaders of other places Sarah was his “sister.” But Paul’s words are true, so how can that be? Max Lucado offers the explanation Paul’s words about Abraham are an example of “the editing of grace.” Abraham was not perfect, but Paul presents him that way, because through grace he was. We see this happen in our own lives, when one we love dies. Over time, the bad memories seem to fade, and the good ones become more vivid. Through this editing of grace, our memories of the loved one grow fonder, and our own faith increases.
In Romans 5, Paul offers one of the most amazing truths in all of Scripture: Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. Throughout the chapter, Paul shows us how different Jesus, whom he refers to as the “second” Adam, was from the first Adam. Adam introduced sin into the world, but Jesus redeemed us from sin and death. His love for us didn’t come because we were good, or after we demonstrated improvement in our lives. Jesus loved us while we were still sinners. What amazingly good news.
In Romans 6, Paul raised a vital question, “If we are saved by grace, should we go on sinning so God’s grace may abound?” It sounds reasonable. If we love to sin, and God loves to forgive sin, why not sin more so God’s grace can come to us in even greater measure? Paul’s response is as strong as it gets. In the Greek, he wrote “Me genoito!” We could translate it “God forbid.” It’s the strongest, possible way to say, “No!” in the Greek language. Paul’s point is clear: Jesus died to free us from sin. Why would we continue to live in it? Paul goes on to point out we are “slaves” to whatever masters us. We can either be slaves to sin or to Jesus, but not both. Jesus reminded us no one can serve two masters. It isn’t possible. Jesus bottom-lined out to no one can serve both God and money. Paul bottom-lines out to we can serve sin or righteousness. Both remind us how crucial it is to put God first, and to live in His ways!
In Romans 7, Paul offers an illustration of how we overcome sin in our lives: we die. While that sounds extreme, and it is, Paul meant we die to sin and the law. He offers an illustration from everyday life, of a woman who is married to a stern husband. Until the husband dies, the woman is obligated to her husband. But if the husband dies, she is free to remarry. In the illustration, we are the wife, the Mosaic Law is the husband, and Jesus is the new husband. The Law instructed us in the ways of righteousness, but we could never live up to its standard. In the second half of Romans 7, in which Paul tells us how he struggled with sin, not doing what he ought and doing what he didn’t want to do. Some biblical scholars assume this was Paul’s pre-conversion testimony. In other words, he lived this way before trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord. But I find Paul’s words ring true in my life now. When I attempt to follow the rules, I fail. Paul concluded by telling us the solution, “Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It is Jesus, and what He did on the cross that frees us from sin, and it is His empowering Spirit who frees us to live new lives. We’ll see that tomorrow as we turn to Romans 8.
As we return to Matthew 12, Jesus tells the religious leaders He is “Lord of the Sabbath” as a result of His disciples “working” on the Sabbath, by picking some heads of grain to eat. Jesus was attacking the religious leaders’ trivialization of the Sabbath, through their efforts to make it attainable through human efforts. Jesus further demonstrated His power over the Sabbath, by healing a man on the Sabbath. This only caused the religious leaders to go out and plot how they could kill Jesus. Jesus withdrew from that place as a result. The religious leaders accused Jesus of performing miracles by the power of the devil, to which Jesus responded, “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” Jesus condemned the religious leaders for their unwillingness to see the power of God at work. Jesus went on to tell them He would offer them no sign of His authority, but the sign of “Jonah,” which was a reference to His death and burial. The chapter closes with Jesus being sought by His mother and brothers. He reminds the people that anyone who does the will of His Heavenly Father is His mother, sister, and brother. What a powerful reminder to us that we who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, are a family, which is called to love and serve one another, and to offer Jesus’ salvation to the world.