So, the journey begins.
To all who are in the Church:
I hope my postings will be a blessing to all of you and all credit goes to God, for it IS His Word anyway. Some thoughts may be new to you and some may be old, nevertheless, I pray you will clear your mind of any pre-supposition that whatever I write here are without flaws; read, think, compare, comment and teach me. If in anyway that my postings does not answer certain issues in the world, please let me know. If my postings contradicts with other parts of the Bible, MUST let me know. If you do not understand my ramblings, read again and then let me know.
In other words, talk to me! haha!
To all who are not in the Church:
I hope you won't get bored by my postings. Again, like those who are in the Church - talk to me! that I may bless you with whatever I write here.
so, how I post is a fusion of the Bible verse from English Standard Version translation and what [I think] right after the verse that I have some thoughts of.
So, I started with Romans. Enjoy.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Twenty-eight cents?
2 cents is just too little today, don't you think so? I think my thoughts worth more than that, well, perhaps at least twenty-eight cents.
but why twenty-eight, you may ask.
6, is the 1st perfect number
followed by 28.
"Six is a number perfect in itself, and not because God created all things in six days; rather the inverse is true, that God created all things in six days because the number is perfect [1 + 2 + 3], and it would remain perfect, even if the work of the six days did not exist."
- St. Augustine
nice...
but why not 6? You may ask.
"Good Question." - Jason Lai
but why twenty-eight, you may ask.
6, is the 1st perfect number
followed by 28.
"Six is a number perfect in itself, and not because God created all things in six days; rather the inverse is true, that God created all things in six days because the number is perfect [1 + 2 + 3], and it would remain perfect, even if the work of the six days did not exist."
- St. Augustine
nice...
but why not 6? You may ask.
"Good Question." - Jason Lai
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Romans 4 (16Feb and 19Feb)
Rom 4:1-25 ESV
(1) What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
[Paul further expounds faith apart from the law of works with Abraham as the 1st man to be credited with righteousness.
So, In what ways that Abraham could say about himself that he attained of righteousness?]
(2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
[If, Abraham was justified (called a good man or a righteous man, perhaps in manly ways) because of what he does and who he is, then he can boast that he is a man of upright character. (perhaps the other religion believers may boast of their works, ie their merit points to attain Paradise, which outnumbered their ill doings)
But before God's sight, is the same boasting justifiable for the righteousness that is of God's standard? For if God would acquit some sin in a philantrophic man, because his good work outnumbered his sins, then God would not need to introduce to practice of sacrifice to the Jews. Thus, in introducing the practice of sacrifice, God defines and demands the justification of man's sin by animal sacrifice, which was a shadow of Christ's death on the cross.]
(3) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
[So, according to Scriptures, Abraham was credited (counted) to him as righteousness because Abraham believed in God.
Is believing a form of work? Believing is a decision to accept truths that is presented to him by his own thoughts or presented by a 2nd party. Thing is, without believing that God justifies the sinners through faith, would lead to the conclusion that something has to be done in order to be justified; that is believing in god(s) who acquits the guilty and is apeased by good works (however, even a just human judge would not be so). But to believe that God justifies the sinner through faith, works is no longer the deciding factor of our salvation, rather it is faith itself which stemmed out from believing.]
(4) Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
[For since the reward of our works is duly due, then the reward of our bad deeds should come together with the reward of our good deeds. Therefore, if god were to judge us in this manner, then it is no longer eternal life, and god is confined in space and time, deciding how long we should spend our sentence in hell and how long in heaven, in accordance to the ratio of our good and bad works.]
(5) And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
(6) just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
(7) "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
(8) blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
(9) Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
[Paul answers the question if circumcision is needed to be saved.]
(10) How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
[Remarkably, Abraham was counted as righteous before the covenant of circumcision. Therefore, how should the Jewish Christian justify their claims that circumcision is compulsory for righteousness?
Then what? Why on earth God gave circumcision (such a hassel, and.... perhaps.... pain)?]
(11) He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
[For it was because Abraham was counted as righteous and therefore God sealed him with the sign of circumcision.
Consider:
Abraham was circumcised and thus was righteous
vs.
Abraham was righteous thus was circumcised.
the latter would be true.
Therefore, circumcision in itself has no value for I could seal a product with the 'Sirim' chop, although the product's quality was dodgy, does that mean this product is save? Most likely it's gonna end up in the dumpster along with the company who produced it and the 'Sirim' chop agency.
Few implications:
sealed because was credited as righteous through faith.
thus, should expect to express like one who is saved (which has 2 aspects to it, imputed righteousness and redemption from the bondage of sin)]
(12) and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
[So, God killed 2 birds with 1 stone (in the case of the dispute about circumcision in the church). Abraham is father to both the circumcised (inward and outward) and the uncircumcised (circumcised in ward but not outward).]
(13) For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
[Another example of righteousness through faith and not works.]
(14) For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
[For if the promise were meant to be only fulfilled if Abraham followed every law, then Jesus would not had come, for Abraham sinned too.
Therefore, we have a case where God fulfilled His promise despite our sinfulness. Thus, we have a contradiction and therefore the promise was not fulfilled by works but something else - faith.]
(15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
[explaining why verse 14 is a valid assumption and statement.
the law brings wrath - for all have sinned.
but if there's no law - promise for what? there are no transgressions to worry of.]
(16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
[Therefore, to guarantee the salvation of men, and to display God's love, grace and compassion, it is dependent on faith - both to perfect people (encourage those who have still been good to continue on; the subset), and those who share the faith of Abraham.]
(17) as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
gives life to the dead - the resurrection, which is necessary after death (for Adam and Eve died).
calls into existence the things that do not exist - God has the power to call things into existence. The seed of Abraham did not exist, but when God said "so shall thy seed be." it comes into being, in the future.
Man can only summon things that has already existed, but God out of nothing, summons what that does not exist into existence.
Perhaps, this is why we have to be 'made in the image of God'. For how are we to explain the existence of knowledge?]
(18) In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."
[Abraham was told:
the impossible (for he was old)
which that does not exist (he has no children)
A paradox:
In hope he believed against hope - If both 'hope's are used for the same thing, then it certainly is a paradox, for how is hope believed against in hope?
Certainly, Abraham had a 'higher order' of hope, which comes from faith that believed against earthly hopes, that of which he is old and does not have any children.]
(19) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
[He did not weaken in faith... - Paul probably meant that Abram did not forgo the faith because of God's ridiculous promise (it is ridiculous when we subject God to the laws of nature). Therefore, although Abram agreed with Sarai to marry her maidservent, Hagar, because Sarai was barren, and therefore Hagar conceived Ishmael, Abram nonetheless believed at the point when the promise was given (Gen 15:5-6), and after 13 years since that incident (Gen 17), Abram had not given up on the faith, and after God told Abraham that Sarah will bear a child (1st time explicitly, 2nd time in total considering the 1st was implied, and was understood), he still believed.]
(20) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
[Paul asserts Abraham's faith again.
(KJV+) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief: 'staggered' (diakrino) means to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from or oppose. That means, Abraham did not dissociate or completely separate himself from God through faithlessness (unbelief).
v17 - the promise
v18 - In hope he believed against hope
v19 - did not weaken in faith despite earthly circumstances
v20 - did not forgo the faith completely.]
(21) fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
(22) That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
[Notice Abraham's faith was 'counted to him as righteousness' before all the actual events. Although Abram fell after his faith was counted to him as righteosness, God knew Abram will not give up, and thus still fulfilled His promise.
Therefore, eventhough after being saved in Christ by grace and through faith, not by works, we still fall, but would our fall cost us our faith, will be another story to be told.
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
'counted' - logizomai: Middle voice from logos; to take an inventory, that is, estimate. Usually translated to imputed, counted, reckoned, think, accounted, suppose, reasoned, etc..........so many ways of using!
'for' - to or into (indicating the point reached or entered).
Abraham's belief/faith obtained access to 'reach' righteousness in God's sight.]
(23) But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,
(24) but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
(25) who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
[Paul draws a parallel comparison of Abraham's case to our current standing. While God's promise may not be that we become father of many nations, God promised eternal life through His Son.
We may reasoned that this is most impossible, for we are all sinners, and thus cannot be with a perfect God. Nevertheless, if we do not leave the faith or not believe at all because of such incredulous claims, but grew strong in faith and giving glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do AND did what he had promised. Then it is why our faith was counted to us as righteousness.
It is the faith of Abraham.]
(1) What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
[Paul further expounds faith apart from the law of works with Abraham as the 1st man to be credited with righteousness.
So, In what ways that Abraham could say about himself that he attained of righteousness?]
(2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
[If, Abraham was justified (called a good man or a righteous man, perhaps in manly ways) because of what he does and who he is, then he can boast that he is a man of upright character. (perhaps the other religion believers may boast of their works, ie their merit points to attain Paradise, which outnumbered their ill doings)
But before God's sight, is the same boasting justifiable for the righteousness that is of God's standard? For if God would acquit some sin in a philantrophic man, because his good work outnumbered his sins, then God would not need to introduce to practice of sacrifice to the Jews. Thus, in introducing the practice of sacrifice, God defines and demands the justification of man's sin by animal sacrifice, which was a shadow of Christ's death on the cross.]
(3) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."
[So, according to Scriptures, Abraham was credited (counted) to him as righteousness because Abraham believed in God.
Is believing a form of work? Believing is a decision to accept truths that is presented to him by his own thoughts or presented by a 2nd party. Thing is, without believing that God justifies the sinners through faith, would lead to the conclusion that something has to be done in order to be justified; that is believing in god(s) who acquits the guilty and is apeased by good works (however, even a just human judge would not be so). But to believe that God justifies the sinner through faith, works is no longer the deciding factor of our salvation, rather it is faith itself which stemmed out from believing.]
(4) Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
[For since the reward of our works is duly due, then the reward of our bad deeds should come together with the reward of our good deeds. Therefore, if god were to judge us in this manner, then it is no longer eternal life, and god is confined in space and time, deciding how long we should spend our sentence in hell and how long in heaven, in accordance to the ratio of our good and bad works.]
(5) And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
(6) just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
(7) "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;
(8) blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
(9) Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.
[Paul answers the question if circumcision is needed to be saved.]
(10) How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.
[Remarkably, Abraham was counted as righteous before the covenant of circumcision. Therefore, how should the Jewish Christian justify their claims that circumcision is compulsory for righteousness?
Then what? Why on earth God gave circumcision (such a hassel, and.... perhaps.... pain)?]
(11) He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
[For it was because Abraham was counted as righteous and therefore God sealed him with the sign of circumcision.
Consider:
Abraham was circumcised and thus was righteous
vs.
Abraham was righteous thus was circumcised.
the latter would be true.
Therefore, circumcision in itself has no value for I could seal a product with the 'Sirim' chop, although the product's quality was dodgy, does that mean this product is save? Most likely it's gonna end up in the dumpster along with the company who produced it and the 'Sirim' chop agency.
Few implications:
sealed because was credited as righteous through faith.
thus, should expect to express like one who is saved (which has 2 aspects to it, imputed righteousness and redemption from the bondage of sin)]
(12) and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
[So, God killed 2 birds with 1 stone (in the case of the dispute about circumcision in the church). Abraham is father to both the circumcised (inward and outward) and the uncircumcised (circumcised in ward but not outward).]
(13) For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
[Another example of righteousness through faith and not works.]
(14) For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
[For if the promise were meant to be only fulfilled if Abraham followed every law, then Jesus would not had come, for Abraham sinned too.
Therefore, we have a case where God fulfilled His promise despite our sinfulness. Thus, we have a contradiction and therefore the promise was not fulfilled by works but something else - faith.]
(15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
[explaining why verse 14 is a valid assumption and statement.
the law brings wrath - for all have sinned.
but if there's no law - promise for what? there are no transgressions to worry of.]
(16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring--not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
[Therefore, to guarantee the salvation of men, and to display God's love, grace and compassion, it is dependent on faith - both to perfect people (encourage those who have still been good to continue on; the subset), and those who share the faith of Abraham.]
(17) as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"--in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
gives life to the dead - the resurrection, which is necessary after death (for Adam and Eve died).
calls into existence the things that do not exist - God has the power to call things into existence. The seed of Abraham did not exist, but when God said "so shall thy seed be." it comes into being, in the future.
Man can only summon things that has already existed, but God out of nothing, summons what that does not exist into existence.
Perhaps, this is why we have to be 'made in the image of God'. For how are we to explain the existence of knowledge?]
(18) In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."
[Abraham was told:
the impossible (for he was old)
which that does not exist (he has no children)
A paradox:
In hope he believed against hope - If both 'hope's are used for the same thing, then it certainly is a paradox, for how is hope believed against in hope?
Certainly, Abraham had a 'higher order' of hope, which comes from faith that believed against earthly hopes, that of which he is old and does not have any children.]
(19) He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.
[He did not weaken in faith... - Paul probably meant that Abram did not forgo the faith because of God's ridiculous promise (it is ridiculous when we subject God to the laws of nature). Therefore, although Abram agreed with Sarai to marry her maidservent, Hagar, because Sarai was barren, and therefore Hagar conceived Ishmael, Abram nonetheless believed at the point when the promise was given (Gen 15:5-6), and after 13 years since that incident (Gen 17), Abram had not given up on the faith, and after God told Abraham that Sarah will bear a child (1st time explicitly, 2nd time in total considering the 1st was implied, and was understood), he still believed.]
(20) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
[Paul asserts Abraham's faith again.
(KJV+) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief: 'staggered' (diakrino) means to separate thoroughly, to withdraw from or oppose. That means, Abraham did not dissociate or completely separate himself from God through faithlessness (unbelief).
v17 - the promise
v18 - In hope he believed against hope
v19 - did not weaken in faith despite earthly circumstances
v20 - did not forgo the faith completely.]
(21) fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.
(22) That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
[Notice Abraham's faith was 'counted to him as righteousness' before all the actual events. Although Abram fell after his faith was counted to him as righteosness, God knew Abram will not give up, and thus still fulfilled His promise.
Therefore, eventhough after being saved in Christ by grace and through faith, not by works, we still fall, but would our fall cost us our faith, will be another story to be told.
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
'counted' - logizomai: Middle voice from logos; to take an inventory, that is, estimate. Usually translated to imputed, counted, reckoned, think, accounted, suppose, reasoned, etc..........so many ways of using!
'for' - to or into (indicating the point reached or entered).
Abraham's belief/faith obtained access to 'reach' righteousness in God's sight.]
(23) But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,
(24) but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
(25) who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
[Paul draws a parallel comparison of Abraham's case to our current standing. While God's promise may not be that we become father of many nations, God promised eternal life through His Son.
We may reasoned that this is most impossible, for we are all sinners, and thus cannot be with a perfect God. Nevertheless, if we do not leave the faith or not believe at all because of such incredulous claims, but grew strong in faith and giving glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do AND did what he had promised. Then it is why our faith was counted to us as righteousness.
It is the faith of Abraham.]
Friday, February 6, 2009
Romans 3b
Rom 3:10-18 ESV
(10) as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
(11) no one understands; no one seeks for God.
(12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
(13) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
(14) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
(15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(16) in their paths are ruin and misery,
(17) and the way of peace they have not known."
(18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
[Notice Paul quotes from David, Solomon and Isaiah on the character of human beings. It is a broad generalisation, and therefore cannot be translated in an absolute way - that a person at any point in time is full of curses and bitterness, for example. in other words, all a person seek to do intentionally is...evil, like the Joker.
rather, these OT authors seek to establish the fallen nature of man, and note Paul arranges it with a progression, starting from the being of seeking the true God.
failing to understand and to identify the image of God, their inner being is expressed in their actions. 1st the mouth which destroys others by words and deception.
then increased in severity - shedding blood (which taking Isaiah's definition, will not only be the physical murder of a person, but murdering a being, in that a person feels less than a normal human, ie slavery.). their actions lead to a path full of destruction and misery, that indeed we can all identify the vanity in life when it is shrouded with strive, misery and destruction.
And all these happens until 'the way of peace they have not known.'
There is no fear of God before their eyes - a point where even God is not at all recognize as the Supreme Sovereign Being that all men are accountable to.
Considering that it is a broad generalisation, I am not saying that a Buddhist or whoever for that matter, can never do good and hence their strive for merits is plain vanity. Rather, consider Solomon's Eccesiastes:
'Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.'
Yes, people DO good, but like Earl in 'My Name is Earl', his list of correcting the wrong things just lengthens as he seeks to correct the wrongs.
Afterall, who can REALLY track all the good and bad things he has done? what assurance can one depend on good works, when every action (even as I type now), leads to a reaction that may result in something beneficial or not.
Paul establishes this assurance... read on.]
Rom 3:19 ESV
(19) Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
[Paul begins his explanation by somewhat recalling:
Rom 2:12 ESV
(12) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
and that all will be judged/held accountable to God - only 1 God, no one escapes from this process.]
Rom 3:20 ESV
(20) For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
[Indeed, seeking deep in ourselves, neither of us can have a strong assurance that our small act of love for others outweighs the bad stuff we have done along the way in life.
Afterall, good deeds won't render us escape the verdict of a human judge - if a law was broken, you still are a law breaker, how can you justify yourself?
since through the law comes knowledge of sin -
Rom 7:7 ESV
(7) What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
Since the Law comes from God:
Is it that God decided which was good and which was evil? and if yes, by what basis did God decided? But perhaps, he did NOT need any basis to decide, for in so doing, there exists something higher than God or relative to God, which will be a double-whammy-contradiction. Therefore, God, in His fulness and all glory already defined which was good or evil in all circumstances as God continues to Live in all eternity. then the next question is, did God and Moral Law came into the picture together? (this is actually plausible because the Moral Law stems out from Who God (Being) is, and God without the Being, doesn't sound like that is God at all) *Brain juice squeezed dry, another day* But whatever it is, it is fair to say that all natural laws governing the universe did not define the Law, but rather this Law is unchanging and hence murder would be wrong in another set of universe where there is no gravity, if there is any.
But perhaps God plays the role of affirming which was good and which was evil. So, it's kinda like a trial and error game which all humans play. Maybe I should always give, and let's see if God thinks that is good or not. But by doing that, then God is like slowly building up His Laws, and perhaps with some salesmen's skills, 1 can convince God to think that your murder was good. Then how can God judge?
I think the former is more plausible.]
Rom 3:21-25 ESV
(21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
(25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
[So, we have a big problem...
v21-25:
In order for God to intervene that all men may be saved, a righteousness has to be apart from the law, for if it is a righteousness that is from the works of the law, God has to somehow cause us to immediately become like Him, totally perfect from birth.
Therefore, God imputes His righteousness unto all who believe in Christ Jesus through faith, and anyone can be the believer of this faith and is opened to all -
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
This righteousness apart from the law works as so:
all our terrible works have been justified by the price Jesus paid by the shedding of His blood and by His death (in that the ceremony of sin offering is the shadow of which was come).
and Christ in His ressurection redeems all men (who beleives) who were undoubtedly destined for destruction, for the work of the Law in sinful men is death.
and the wrath of God which was resulted in His subject's foolishness and rebellion, was satisfied in the shedding of Christ's blood and in Christ's death, that we may be reconciled to God.]
Rom 3:26 ESV
(26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
[God displays His righteousness that:
God is 100% intolerable of sin
but yet, He justifies sinners through His son (grace and love)
God defines that justice cannot be tempered with, or inviolate.
"The attribute of justice must be preserved inviolate; and inviolate it is preserved, if there was a real infliction of punishment on our Saviour. On this plan all the attributes harmonize; every attribute is glorified, and not one superseded no, nor so much as clouded." - Wesley's commentary.]
Rom 3:27 ESV
(27) Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
[That would render us not able to boast in our flesh anymore. "I saved Perak from falling the hands of BN!", would be a short-term glorification of men, but it doesn't bring 1 to eternity.
therefore, our boasting is excluded, or our basis of entering heaven is excluded, not by our works, but indeed by faith in Christ Jesus.
hence, a righteousness apart from the law.]
Rom 3:28-30 ESV
(28) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
(29) Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
(30) since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
[v29-30:
God is God of all...otherwise, it's kinda like polytheism.
'by' - origin is 'ek' means "A primary preposition denoting origin" (Strong's Hebrew and Greek dictionary)
'through' - origin is 'dia' means "A primary preposition denoting a channel of an act"
'...circumcised BY faith...' - in that God made a Covenant with Abraham, and hence all Jews who already have these revelations will be saved by faith in Christ Jesus, who was prophesied by the Law and the Prophets.
'...uncircumcised through faith...' - faith is a channel for the Gentiles did not receive the revelations from God, and hence required a channel to be saved.
*need more evaluation...I'm rushing for time*]
Rom 3:31 ESV
(31) Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
[Hmm....So it is righteousness apart from the law...
then, we don't need the law?
Read on to see Paul's argument that the law is upheld by this righteousness.]
(10) as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
(11) no one understands; no one seeks for God.
(12) All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
(13) "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips."
(14) "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness."
(15) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;
(16) in their paths are ruin and misery,
(17) and the way of peace they have not known."
(18) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
[Notice Paul quotes from David, Solomon and Isaiah on the character of human beings. It is a broad generalisation, and therefore cannot be translated in an absolute way - that a person at any point in time is full of curses and bitterness, for example. in other words, all a person seek to do intentionally is...evil, like the Joker.
rather, these OT authors seek to establish the fallen nature of man, and note Paul arranges it with a progression, starting from the being of seeking the true God.
failing to understand and to identify the image of God, their inner being is expressed in their actions. 1st the mouth which destroys others by words and deception.
then increased in severity - shedding blood (which taking Isaiah's definition, will not only be the physical murder of a person, but murdering a being, in that a person feels less than a normal human, ie slavery.). their actions lead to a path full of destruction and misery, that indeed we can all identify the vanity in life when it is shrouded with strive, misery and destruction.
And all these happens until 'the way of peace they have not known.'
There is no fear of God before their eyes - a point where even God is not at all recognize as the Supreme Sovereign Being that all men are accountable to.
Considering that it is a broad generalisation, I am not saying that a Buddhist or whoever for that matter, can never do good and hence their strive for merits is plain vanity. Rather, consider Solomon's Eccesiastes:
'Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.'
Yes, people DO good, but like Earl in 'My Name is Earl', his list of correcting the wrong things just lengthens as he seeks to correct the wrongs.
Afterall, who can REALLY track all the good and bad things he has done? what assurance can one depend on good works, when every action (even as I type now), leads to a reaction that may result in something beneficial or not.
Paul establishes this assurance... read on.]
Rom 3:19 ESV
(19) Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
[Paul begins his explanation by somewhat recalling:
Rom 2:12 ESV
(12) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
and that all will be judged/held accountable to God - only 1 God, no one escapes from this process.]
Rom 3:20 ESV
(20) For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
[Indeed, seeking deep in ourselves, neither of us can have a strong assurance that our small act of love for others outweighs the bad stuff we have done along the way in life.
Afterall, good deeds won't render us escape the verdict of a human judge - if a law was broken, you still are a law breaker, how can you justify yourself?
since through the law comes knowledge of sin -
Rom 7:7 ESV
(7) What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."
Since the Law comes from God:
Is it that God decided which was good and which was evil? and if yes, by what basis did God decided? But perhaps, he did NOT need any basis to decide, for in so doing, there exists something higher than God or relative to God, which will be a double-whammy-contradiction. Therefore, God, in His fulness and all glory already defined which was good or evil in all circumstances as God continues to Live in all eternity. then the next question is, did God and Moral Law came into the picture together? (this is actually plausible because the Moral Law stems out from Who God (Being) is, and God without the Being, doesn't sound like that is God at all) *Brain juice squeezed dry, another day* But whatever it is, it is fair to say that all natural laws governing the universe did not define the Law, but rather this Law is unchanging and hence murder would be wrong in another set of universe where there is no gravity, if there is any.
But perhaps God plays the role of affirming which was good and which was evil. So, it's kinda like a trial and error game which all humans play. Maybe I should always give, and let's see if God thinks that is good or not. But by doing that, then God is like slowly building up His Laws, and perhaps with some salesmen's skills, 1 can convince God to think that your murder was good. Then how can God judge?
I think the former is more plausible.]
Rom 3:21-25 ESV
(21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
(25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
[So, we have a big problem...
v21-25:
In order for God to intervene that all men may be saved, a righteousness has to be apart from the law, for if it is a righteousness that is from the works of the law, God has to somehow cause us to immediately become like Him, totally perfect from birth.
Therefore, God imputes His righteousness unto all who believe in Christ Jesus through faith, and anyone can be the believer of this faith and is opened to all -
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
This righteousness apart from the law works as so:
all our terrible works have been justified by the price Jesus paid by the shedding of His blood and by His death (in that the ceremony of sin offering is the shadow of which was come).
and Christ in His ressurection redeems all men (who beleives) who were undoubtedly destined for destruction, for the work of the Law in sinful men is death.
and the wrath of God which was resulted in His subject's foolishness and rebellion, was satisfied in the shedding of Christ's blood and in Christ's death, that we may be reconciled to God.]
Rom 3:26 ESV
(26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
[God displays His righteousness that:
God is 100% intolerable of sin
but yet, He justifies sinners through His son (grace and love)
God defines that justice cannot be tempered with, or inviolate.
"The attribute of justice must be preserved inviolate; and inviolate it is preserved, if there was a real infliction of punishment on our Saviour. On this plan all the attributes harmonize; every attribute is glorified, and not one superseded no, nor so much as clouded." - Wesley's commentary.]
Rom 3:27 ESV
(27) Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
[That would render us not able to boast in our flesh anymore. "I saved Perak from falling the hands of BN!", would be a short-term glorification of men, but it doesn't bring 1 to eternity.
therefore, our boasting is excluded, or our basis of entering heaven is excluded, not by our works, but indeed by faith in Christ Jesus.
hence, a righteousness apart from the law.]
Rom 3:28-30 ESV
(28) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
(29) Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,
(30) since God is one--who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
[v29-30:
God is God of all...otherwise, it's kinda like polytheism.
'by' - origin is 'ek' means "A primary preposition denoting origin" (Strong's Hebrew and Greek dictionary)
'through' - origin is 'dia' means "A primary preposition denoting a channel of an act"
'...circumcised BY faith...' - in that God made a Covenant with Abraham, and hence all Jews who already have these revelations will be saved by faith in Christ Jesus, who was prophesied by the Law and the Prophets.
'...uncircumcised through faith...' - faith is a channel for the Gentiles did not receive the revelations from God, and hence required a channel to be saved.
*need more evaluation...I'm rushing for time*]
Rom 3:31 ESV
(31) Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
[Hmm....So it is righteousness apart from the law...
then, we don't need the law?
Read on to see Paul's argument that the law is upheld by this righteousness.]
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Romans 3a
Today - 5/2/2009
Rom 3:1-9 ESV
(1) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
[After hammering the Jews so hard, it sounds like all these precious covenants that God gave to the Jews were pretty useless, and that they never really had any special position as they had always believed.
But of course, they were entrusted with the oracles of God when everyone else were lost and some others (I say others because I do think there are the rest of them who actually believed in this God, ie king of Salem) distorted the image and identity of God (and thus become futile in their thinking and darkened in their hearts, Rom 1:18-32)]
(2) Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
(3) What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
[But again, there are Jews who were unfaithful to the Covenant and oracles of God, that of which God faithfully gave and revealed to them - does this nullify the faithfulness of God?
Does that mean God's faithfulness have failed in bringing the Jews to His presence?
God hence argue with the example of truth and lie.]
(4) By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
[What is truth, 1 may ask. Is it relative or is it absolute?
If it is relative, then no one really is a liar, since he is more truthful to a more blatant liar; but then again, that blatant liar is NOT really a liar, since it's relative.
Paul suggests that it is absolute, and 'God be true'.
Consider that we have always live in happiness, there's no sadness or grief or whatever that is not happiness (please don't consider the chaos due to this condition, just assume that it is possible that everyone is happy all the time). We kinda know what happiness is, but suppose when 1 crawls out of this happiness and becomes sad, in his sadness, he'll truly appreciate what this happiness is about, and in a sense, this guy understands happiness better than anyone else.
In other words, our lies becomes the contrast for God's truth, so why should God judge us?
Duh...cause we lied. For if God did not judge our lie, then can he be just? It is like a judge aquitting a murderer because the murderer caused an enlightenment of how important life is.]
(5) But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
(6) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
(7) But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
[Again, if our lie actually cause us (or others) to appreciate God's truth even more, 'God, come on la, I did you a favour, didn't I?'
God didn't really need my lie to abound God's truth to His glory, His truth was already abounded in His glory!
(continuing in the same logic that our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God)
Hmm... you know, it's good to put others 1st, I want the best for others, so I should do evil... muahahaha
again, Paul doesn't need to repeat himself, 'By no means! For then how could God judge the world?' - since everyone is a sinner...]
(8) And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
(9) What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
[In this sense, Jews aren't more righteous nor unrighteous than the Gentiles, they were special for by God's grace He chose to reveal Himself to them, and in a way the Jews had a head start.]
Rom 3:1-9 ESV
(1) Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
[After hammering the Jews so hard, it sounds like all these precious covenants that God gave to the Jews were pretty useless, and that they never really had any special position as they had always believed.
But of course, they were entrusted with the oracles of God when everyone else were lost and some others (I say others because I do think there are the rest of them who actually believed in this God, ie king of Salem) distorted the image and identity of God (and thus become futile in their thinking and darkened in their hearts, Rom 1:18-32)]
(2) Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
(3) What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
[But again, there are Jews who were unfaithful to the Covenant and oracles of God, that of which God faithfully gave and revealed to them - does this nullify the faithfulness of God?
Does that mean God's faithfulness have failed in bringing the Jews to His presence?
God hence argue with the example of truth and lie.]
(4) By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
[What is truth, 1 may ask. Is it relative or is it absolute?
If it is relative, then no one really is a liar, since he is more truthful to a more blatant liar; but then again, that blatant liar is NOT really a liar, since it's relative.
Paul suggests that it is absolute, and 'God be true'.
Consider that we have always live in happiness, there's no sadness or grief or whatever that is not happiness (please don't consider the chaos due to this condition, just assume that it is possible that everyone is happy all the time). We kinda know what happiness is, but suppose when 1 crawls out of this happiness and becomes sad, in his sadness, he'll truly appreciate what this happiness is about, and in a sense, this guy understands happiness better than anyone else.
In other words, our lies becomes the contrast for God's truth, so why should God judge us?
Duh...cause we lied. For if God did not judge our lie, then can he be just? It is like a judge aquitting a murderer because the murderer caused an enlightenment of how important life is.]
(5) But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
(6) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
(7) But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
[Again, if our lie actually cause us (or others) to appreciate God's truth even more, 'God, come on la, I did you a favour, didn't I?'
God didn't really need my lie to abound God's truth to His glory, His truth was already abounded in His glory!
(continuing in the same logic that our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God)
Hmm... you know, it's good to put others 1st, I want the best for others, so I should do evil... muahahaha
again, Paul doesn't need to repeat himself, 'By no means! For then how could God judge the world?' - since everyone is a sinner...]
(8) And why not do evil that good may come?--as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
(9) What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
[In this sense, Jews aren't more righteous nor unrighteous than the Gentiles, they were special for by God's grace He chose to reveal Himself to them, and in a way the Jews had a head start.]
Romans 2 (sometime in January)
Rom 2:1-29 ESV
(1) Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
[Rom1:18-32 is possibly referring to Gentiles who are mainly pagan worshippers. Although, i think, it can be extended to all men.
Here, 'you' refers to the Jews, that if the section prior to this refer to Gentiles, because the Jews have the written code and revelation from God (and therefore know 'that the judgement of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.'Rom2:2), and therefore judge the Gentiles, but nonetheless true that they themselves are sinners and practice the very same things.]
(2) We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
(3) Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?
[Hypothizing 2 situations.
Is it even possible to escape God's judgement because we judge others, even though we practice the very same things?
If it is possible, then there exist the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience. However, is it not meant to lead us to repentance?
either ways, impending doom is before us, unless we repent.]
(4) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(5) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
(6) He will render to each one according to his works:
(7) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
[It may seem salvation by works.
Strong assumption: in seeking God's glory and honor and immortality, it is seeking God and His righteousness, and in such desire therefore will be revealed to him and transform him.
However, does this mean that a person is able to seek after these things but do not know Christ? If yes, does this mean he is saved? If no, then how do we justify this passage?
or is this pursuit totally IMPOSSIBLE without Christ/God (in the case of OT). Consider Job, who did not have the Law.
Perhaps, in desiring these things, God reveals Himself. or does God reveals Himself then 1 would desire these things?
Whatever it is, Paul is not establishing the above argument, he is stating that who will be given eternal life and who will not be, in a general sense.]
(8) but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
[Am I doing these things in Christ?
What if I am not? Does it render me to destruction?
Check out Rom6.
Because I am in Christ, it seems an illogical choice to continue in sin.]
(9) There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
(10) but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
(11) For God shows no partiality.
[To clear any superiority among the Jews who think they are children of Abraham and are therefore saved. God shows no partiality.]
(12) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
[Here Paul writes about accessibility to the written law that of which the Jews enjoyed for God revealed to them through the Law He gave by writing them on the tablets.
'sinned without the law will also perish without the law...' In view that not one is righteous (rom 3), all men have sinned with or without the law and thus be judged/perish... and we know, therefore that only in Christ we are saved... does this imply that people who have not heard the Gospel will perish without the law?
Or can this verse here supplement his argument in the next verse and the above proposal is invalid/out of context?]
(13) For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
[Doers and not mere hearers...
A reminder to the Jews that having the law does not make them righteous, but those who obey it and therefore, even if Gentiles who do not have the law and do what the law requires, they too are righteous!
in the same way, Gentiles who do not obey the law will likewise perish without the law.
Thus, this verse can be used to argue that the verse preceding this is a supplement to this verse rather than to imply all men who have never heard to Gospel will perish. (still inconclusive (I feel)...why?)
But then again, Paul qualified that there are some without the law, then how can they be 'doers' of the law? next verse.]
(14) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
[Paul proposes that even if Gentiles do not have the written law given by God to the Jews and yet by nature do what the law requires, in that sense they have the law although they do not have the law. and this shows that...]
(15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
[God has cause the work of the law written on their hearts, the conscience (is somewhat their memory of their actions? when doing bad, feel awful and in doing good, the sense of achievement and purpose?) bear witness to their actions while their thoughts (rationalising?) would accuse or excuse them (plaintiff and defendents).
But again, how do we define this law? Is it an absolute law that is set by God? or is it a law that is defined by every culture (since nobody really want to do bad, but all has done bad, but does he really intend to do bad on purpose, just to see others crash and burn and cause chaos like the Joker? therefore, in others' light it seems bad, but to him, he feels right. but again, is that justifiable for eternal life? (in that he stole the chicken from the rich man cause he had no other means of getting $$ despite beggin for help from all the rich men in his reach, lets just assume that all rich men doesn't wanna help this poor old guy, so in a sense he did something bad not out of malice)
But Paul argues in the verse before that 'by nature do what the law requires' - evidently qualifying that there IS a law...and all men subscribe to that law in their conscience.]
(16) on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
(17) But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
[But if a Jew, who rely on everything that God chose to reveal to them and is capable of passing on that knowledge to those who need them...]
(18) and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
(19) and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
(20) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
(21) you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
[are you not a hypocrite? do you not sin like they (Gentiles) do?]
(22) You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
(23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
(24) For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
(25) For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
[Paul summarizes his argument of Rom 2.
Even though the Jews may have the law and circumcision and everything outwards, but have broke the law, then everything outwards that was given is reversed in value. for the purpose of circumcision is to set aside for God's people who would reflect His glory and righteousness.
therefore, for those who were uncircumcised but yet kept the law, are they not circumcised in that they are set aside for God. But how are they circumcised if their foreskin is not removed?
it is the matter of the heart (v28-29)]
(26) So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
(27) Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
(28) For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
[For no one is a Christian who is merely one outwardly, nor is church/family (which is seen to make you Christian) outward and physical.
Paul is regarding again the 'oracles of God' that were revealed to the Jews. and in this regard, Paul is paving the way for the later part in Romans.]
(29) But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
(1) Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
[Rom1:18-32 is possibly referring to Gentiles who are mainly pagan worshippers. Although, i think, it can be extended to all men.
Here, 'you' refers to the Jews, that if the section prior to this refer to Gentiles, because the Jews have the written code and revelation from God (and therefore know 'that the judgement of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.'Rom2:2), and therefore judge the Gentiles, but nonetheless true that they themselves are sinners and practice the very same things.]
(2) We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
(3) Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?
[Hypothizing 2 situations.
Is it even possible to escape God's judgement because we judge others, even though we practice the very same things?
If it is possible, then there exist the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience. However, is it not meant to lead us to repentance?
either ways, impending doom is before us, unless we repent.]
(4) Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
(5) But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
(6) He will render to each one according to his works:
(7) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
[It may seem salvation by works.
Strong assumption: in seeking God's glory and honor and immortality, it is seeking God and His righteousness, and in such desire therefore will be revealed to him and transform him.
However, does this mean that a person is able to seek after these things but do not know Christ? If yes, does this mean he is saved? If no, then how do we justify this passage?
or is this pursuit totally IMPOSSIBLE without Christ/God (in the case of OT). Consider Job, who did not have the Law.
Perhaps, in desiring these things, God reveals Himself. or does God reveals Himself then 1 would desire these things?
Whatever it is, Paul is not establishing the above argument, he is stating that who will be given eternal life and who will not be, in a general sense.]
(8) but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
[Am I doing these things in Christ?
What if I am not? Does it render me to destruction?
Check out Rom6.
Because I am in Christ, it seems an illogical choice to continue in sin.]
(9) There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
(10) but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
(11) For God shows no partiality.
[To clear any superiority among the Jews who think they are children of Abraham and are therefore saved. God shows no partiality.]
(12) For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
[Here Paul writes about accessibility to the written law that of which the Jews enjoyed for God revealed to them through the Law He gave by writing them on the tablets.
'sinned without the law will also perish without the law...' In view that not one is righteous (rom 3), all men have sinned with or without the law and thus be judged/perish... and we know, therefore that only in Christ we are saved... does this imply that people who have not heard the Gospel will perish without the law?
Or can this verse here supplement his argument in the next verse and the above proposal is invalid/out of context?]
(13) For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
[Doers and not mere hearers...
A reminder to the Jews that having the law does not make them righteous, but those who obey it and therefore, even if Gentiles who do not have the law and do what the law requires, they too are righteous!
in the same way, Gentiles who do not obey the law will likewise perish without the law.
Thus, this verse can be used to argue that the verse preceding this is a supplement to this verse rather than to imply all men who have never heard to Gospel will perish. (still inconclusive (I feel)...why?)
But then again, Paul qualified that there are some without the law, then how can they be 'doers' of the law? next verse.]
(14) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
[Paul proposes that even if Gentiles do not have the written law given by God to the Jews and yet by nature do what the law requires, in that sense they have the law although they do not have the law. and this shows that...]
(15) They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
[God has cause the work of the law written on their hearts, the conscience (is somewhat their memory of their actions? when doing bad, feel awful and in doing good, the sense of achievement and purpose?) bear witness to their actions while their thoughts (rationalising?) would accuse or excuse them (plaintiff and defendents).
But again, how do we define this law? Is it an absolute law that is set by God? or is it a law that is defined by every culture (since nobody really want to do bad, but all has done bad, but does he really intend to do bad on purpose, just to see others crash and burn and cause chaos like the Joker? therefore, in others' light it seems bad, but to him, he feels right
But Paul argues in the verse before that 'by nature do what the law requires' - evidently qualifying that there IS a law...and all men subscribe to that law in their conscience.]
(16) on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
(17) But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
[But if a Jew, who rely on everything that God chose to reveal to them and is capable of passing on that knowledge to those who need them...]
(18) and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
(19) and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
(20) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
(21) you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
[are you not a hypocrite? do you not sin like they (Gentiles) do?]
(22) You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
(23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
(24) For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
(25) For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
[Paul summarizes his argument of Rom 2.
Even though the Jews may have the law and circumcision and everything outwards, but have broke the law, then everything outwards that was given is reversed in value. for the purpose of circumcision is to set aside for God's people who would reflect His glory and righteousness.
therefore, for those who were uncircumcised but yet kept the law, are they not circumcised in that they are set aside for God. But how are they circumcised if their foreskin is not removed?
it is the matter of the heart (v28-29)]
(26) So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
(27) Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
(28) For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
[For no one is a Christian who is merely one outwardly, nor is church/family (which is seen to make you Christian) outward and physical.
Paul is regarding again the 'oracles of God' that were revealed to the Jews. and in this regard, Paul is paving the way for the later part in Romans.]
(29) But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Romans 1 (sometime in January)
Rom 1:1-32 ESV
(1) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
(2) which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
(3) concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
(4) and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
(v3-4: Jesus who was both man and God. But while on this earth, identified with man firstly by his lineage, descending from King David and whoever after David or before David. Not only so, living in the flesh throughout His days on this earth, He suffered as a man, yet without sin (Heb2:14-15, 4:15)
However, in the ressurection, Christ not only ressurrected of the flesh but also spiritually in that His ressurrection testifies His divinity.)
(5) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
(The Great Commission)
(6) including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
(7) To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
(9) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
(10) always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
(11) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--
(12) that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
(13) I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
('...that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.' indicates that Paul was writing to:
1)the Jews or
2)the church in Rome, regardless Jew or Gentile.
otherwise Paul was definitely writing to the church in Rome, of which historical fact shows that it was more Gentile than Jew. And also, composition of Rome population would definitely be majority Gentile.)
(14) I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
(expression that Paul is obliged to reach out to all
Greek - civilised and learned. vs barbarians - not so civilised and learned
wise vs foolish.
if Paul would reach out to both extremes of comparison, it wouldn't be a problem to reach out the in betweens.)
(15) So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(As Paul is convicted that this is the way to his ministry and is reflected throughout Acts, ie, he will preach in the synagogues first before going on to preach to the Gentiles.)
(17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
(For in it...
'it' refers to the Gospel
from 'faith for faith' can be better translated as 'faith to faith' and 'to' giving the notation of time rather than transfer from one object/point to another. (to check Greek origin)
therefore, this faith has never changed from the beginning, and it is through this faith and in the Gospel we have today, God's righteousness is revealed in Christ and in His sacrifice on the cross, imputing His righteousness unto us, a righteousness that cannot be gained but is graciously given to us.)
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
(19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
(20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
(v19-20: implies that all men can know God's invisible attributes: eternal power and divine nature, through His creation.
to know God's invisible attributes implies that:
1)we recognize there is a God
2)and this God is Almighty and is Sovereign over all things
3)therefore, some would intentionally seek God and honour and worship Him while others who turn away in ignorance are condemned by God and by their conscience for they are without excuse.
Is this recognition of a God innate in all human beings?)
(21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
(23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
(24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
('therefore' indicates that Paul links idolatry (failing to recognize the attributes of the only One and Eternal God) would lead a person to do contrary to what God desires - sin.
this is further anchored when Paul writes 'because they exchanged the truth about God...'
for since God was and always been there, to exchange the truth about God would mean the invention and creation of an idea of who god is by men, therefore not only just statue idols but abstract idols that does not reflect the truth about God.
and since we are created in the image of God, we are able, and is innate, that we reflect the truth about God. but because we have contaminated ourselves with the false idea of who God is, we are slowly devoured and reflect this false image.
This therefore corrupts our relationship with God and with one another, for we fail to recognize the truth about God and subsequently man who is created in His image.)
(25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
(26) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
(27) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
(28) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
(29) They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
(30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
(31) foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
(32) 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.
(1) Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,
(2) which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
(3) concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
(4) and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
(v3-4: Jesus who was both man and God. But while on this earth, identified with man firstly by his lineage, descending from King David and whoever after David or before David. Not only so, living in the flesh throughout His days on this earth, He suffered as a man, yet without sin (Heb2:14-15, 4:15)
However, in the ressurection, Christ not only ressurrected of the flesh but also spiritually in that His ressurrection testifies His divinity.)
(5) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
(The Great Commission)
(6) including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
(7) To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(8) First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
(9) For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you
(10) always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
(11) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--
(12) that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
(13) I want you to know, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
('...that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.' indicates that Paul was writing to:
1)the Jews or
2)the church in Rome, regardless Jew or Gentile.
otherwise Paul was definitely writing to the church in Rome, of which historical fact shows that it was more Gentile than Jew. And also, composition of Rome population would definitely be majority Gentile.)
(14) I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
(expression that Paul is obliged to reach out to all
Greek - civilised and learned. vs barbarians - not so civilised and learned
wise vs foolish.
if Paul would reach out to both extremes of comparison, it wouldn't be a problem to reach out the in betweens.)
(15) So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
(16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
(As Paul is convicted that this is the way to his ministry and is reflected throughout Acts, ie, he will preach in the synagogues first before going on to preach to the Gentiles.)
(17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
(For in it...
'it' refers to the Gospel
from 'faith for faith' can be better translated as 'faith to faith' and 'to' giving the notation of time rather than transfer from one object/point to another. (to check Greek origin)
therefore, this faith has never changed from the beginning, and it is through this faith and in the Gospel we have today, God's righteousness is revealed in Christ and in His sacrifice on the cross, imputing His righteousness unto us, a righteousness that cannot be gained but is graciously given to us.)
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
(19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
(20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
(v19-20: implies that all men can know God's invisible attributes: eternal power and divine nature, through His creation.
to know God's invisible attributes implies that:
1)we recognize there is a God
2)and this God is Almighty and is Sovereign over all things
3)therefore, some would intentionally seek God and honour and worship Him while others who turn away in ignorance are condemned by God and by their conscience for they are without excuse.
Is this recognition of a God innate in all human beings?)
(21) For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
(23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
(24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
('therefore' indicates that Paul links idolatry (failing to recognize the attributes of the only One and Eternal God) would lead a person to do contrary to what God desires - sin.
this is further anchored when Paul writes 'because they exchanged the truth about God...'
for since God was and always been there, to exchange the truth about God would mean the invention and creation of an idea of who god is by men, therefore not only just statue idols but abstract idols that does not reflect the truth about God.
and since we are created in the image of God, we are able, and is innate, that we reflect the truth about God. but because we have contaminated ourselves with the false idea of who God is, we are slowly devoured and reflect this false image.
This therefore corrupts our relationship with God and with one another, for we fail to recognize the truth about God and subsequently man who is created in His image.)
(25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
(26) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
(27) and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
(28) And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
(29) They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
(30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
(31) foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
(32) 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.
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