Tuesday, January 31, 2012

No Excuses!


Romans 1:18 – 21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be made known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

God's wrath is revealed against man that is rejected him. Every man is accountable because God has revealed himself to them. God reveals his attributes through creation and through these created things takes away all our excuses for not submitting.

“Paul’s point here is that, even apart from His written revelation, that which is known about God is evident within even pagan Gentiles, for God made it evident to them. The Lord testifies through Paul that His outward, visible manifestation of Himself is universally known by man. It is evident within them as well as without them. All men have evidence of God, and what their physical senses can perceive of Him their inner senses can understand to some extent. The Philistines both saw and acknowledged God’s power, as did the Canaanites, the Egyptians, and every other people who have lived on earth. The rebels who built the tower of Babel both saw and acknowledged God’s greatness, as did the wicked inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. All men know something and understand something of the reality and the truth of God. They are responsible for a proper response to that revelation. Any wrong response is “inexcusable.”

Unregenerate man has “no help and [is] without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12), not because he has no knowledge of God but because he naturally rebels against the knowledge of God that he has. As Paul has already attested (Rom. 1:18), sinful mankind naturally suppresses God’s truth with his own unrighteousness.”[1]

No one can claim that they were ignorant of God.  Everyone is accountable to God to respond to His revelation.

David affirmed in Psalm 19 that God reveals Himself in nature.  Psalm 19:1–3 (NKJV)  1The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

God’s revelation makes all of us accountable to Him such that when the day of judgment comes we will indeed be without excuse and though we will bow the knee and confess Christ as Lord then (Phil 2:10-11) for many it will be too late.  They will be subject to the wrath of God as it is released.

 May you come to know the God of Creation!


[1] John MacArthur, Romans (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996), 77.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Obedience - Sparks highlights 1-25-12


Obedience to God is very important. We learned how the Hebrew men obeyed God and were saved from certain death in a very mighty way.  And because of their obedience and God’s amazing power of salvation displayed, others – including two very important kings believed.  This week we see some disobedience - Jonah was a prophet of God that had a job to do – specifically outlined to him by God.  But Jonah was unlike Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as he chose to disobey God.  Through Jonah’s running, he boarded a ship going the opposite direction of God’s directions.  Jonah wasn’t on that ship very long as he found himself thrown overboard into the sea.  God sent a large fish to swallow him so that Jonah could repent of his sin of disobedience and purpose in his heart to serve God.  God saved him from drowning- certain death – so that Jonah could have another opportunity to obey.  Jonah did repent of his sin in the fish and praised God for that second opportunity to obey.   God again proved His salvation from punishment once man repents and plans to turn his ways.
You are welcome to join us anytime at Sparks!    You can also check out the AWANA program at           www.fbc.littletonil.org.     
Mrs. Jennifer Schroeder, Mr. Roger Fox, Mrs. Barb Stein.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

OT Illustrations of the Just Living By Faith


Having seen the connection between Habakkuk and the theme of Romans "the just shall live by faith" we were challenged and have a greater understanding of the book of Romans, but our information does not end there.  On this side of the story we have the privilege to read of the saints who endured the captivity, the story of the remnants release, and the stories of their journeys home.  In other words, we get to see exactly how it all played out with the “just” lived “by faith.”  We read the stories and laments of Jeremiah, the prophet who stayed back in Israel, the stories of Ezekiel who was the prophet carried away, the four who refused to eat the meat of Nebuchadnezzar—three of which were thrown into a fiery furnace where four appeared and the other who was thrown to the lions, all without any harm.  We can read the story of Esther.  All of these stories were direct fulfillments of the prophecy put forth in Habakkuk 2:4 and can be carried into our understanding of Romans. 
The connection may not be so obvious at first, but if we keep Habakkuk in the back of our mind as we read Romans we will so more and more how it relates.  The structure of the epistle is such that justification and faith are defined in a prolonged explanation.  Indeed, this is what most of the first eleven chapters tell us.  To have in mind the real life examples given to us puts flesh to the bones of what would otherwise simply be doctrinal statements.  They are the life behind the definitions.  They are the stories that help us connect the dots and make direct applications to our personal lives.
It goes beyond this though too.  When we look at the end of Romans 8 we can scarcely make the connection between Paul’s words and those of Habakkuk 3.  Romans 8:33-39 (NASB)
33Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?36 Just as s it is written,“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
         WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  May we each have the faith of these Old Testament saints.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/users/churchoflittleton   FW # 66

The Just Shall Live By Faith - Habbakuk and Romans


Paul’s theme to the book of Romans is stated in 1:17 in the line, “The Just shall live by faith.”  Today this line resonates in the hearts of evangelical believers some nearly 500 years after the Spirit regenerated Martin Luther while he was in the privy and studying the book of Romans.  Indeed this short line rocked the world some nearly 1500 years after Paul wrote it in his epistle to the Romans.  But the fact of the matter is that Paul was merely quoting words penned some nearly 500 years before he was even born.  He was quoting Habakkuk 2:4 which is evident when he wrote, “As it is written.”  In order to understand better what Paul was trying to convey in the book of Romans we would do well to have some understanding of the book of Habakkuk. 

Habakkuk lived in that perilous time after Israel had fallen, and Judah was a weak nation far from the Lord.  Indeed, he was a contemporary of Jeremiah; however, whereas Jeremiah focused more on the people repenting Habakkuk focused more God’s apparent reluctance to judge his people.   He pleads in chapter 1 for God to intervene and stop the destruction, violence, and complete disregard of godliness, and God answers that Habakkuk will not be waiting long for his answer.  The Babylonians (Chaldeans) would soon charge through as the chastening hand of God.  The idea of the Babylonians, an even more vile nation than Judah, being the chastening hand of God was utterly repugnant to Habakkuk who stated such in the rest of chapter 1.   After he had made his case to God in 2:1 Habakkuk says, “I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what he will speak to me, And how I may reply when I am reproved.” (NASB). 

Well answer God did, and part of the answer was in 2:4 when he said to Habakkuk “The just shall live by faith” or “his faithfulness.”   The victory of the wicked would be short lived, to be sure.  One may argue that this doesn’t seem like much of an answer, but indeed Habakkuk’s perspective changed dramatically.  We get to see his answer in chapter 3, and the final verses are some of the most encouraging of all verses in scripture.  Habakkuk 3:16-19 (NASB)

16 I heard and my inward parts trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered.
Decay enters my bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.

   For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.
To be sure, the whole world could fall apart and Habakkuk’s resolve to serve the Lord had only been steeled. 
 May we all show the faith of Habakkuk.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/users/churchoflittleton FW # 65

Monday, January 23, 2012

Paul's Debt


Romans 1:14 – 16 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

In this verse when Paul uses the word debtor he's not referring to money that he owes he's referring to the obligation he has to the Greeks and the barbarians to all who have never repented. This was made clear even to Ananias following the calling of Paul on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:15 – 16 but the Lord said to him," go, for he is a chosen vessel of mind to bear my name before gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my namesake." From the time Paul came out of the desert till he died, he was faithful to this call, faithful to this obligation to share the gospel with those who had never heard it. He recognized his responsibility.

Not only was Paul faithful in his responsibility of fulfilling his obligation. But Paul was also faithful that he was ready to go. As we look to the previous verses we see that Paul had desired for some time to go administer the word of God to the Romans. But in God's will he'd been hindered from doing so. Although God had not allowed him to go, he continued to seek the opportunity and pray for the right time. He also continued to be ready to preach to these people at the first opportunity he that God provided.

The reason that Paul remained ready was because he recognized with the gospel was and is. It is the power of God to salvation to all who believe. Paul recognize that he had to preach the gospel and that individuals had to hear the gospel before they could ever trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. Paul clarifies this gospel in I Corinthians 15.

 I Corinthians 15:1 – Four Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also he received in which you stand, but which also your saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

Paul's readiness Paul's responsibility and Paul's reason all centered on the fact that each and every individual person must put their faith in the death burial and resurrection of Christ, believing that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for their sin. And that his resurrection proves him to be Lord and gives us hope for the future resurrection for all believers.

May we understand the power of the gospel and be ready to share it with those we love.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton  FW #64