Romans 5:20-6:18
Something has been running over and over in my mind that I have found disturbing. Even more disturbing was that, upon reflection, I found myself somewhat in agreement with this particular thinking. It is often used to make someone feel less guilty about sin, almost like a way to excuse the sin, and it goes something like this: Well, God knows how I am, and that I can’t help it. Besides, He’ll forgive me. He always does.
Let that sink in a minute… We just flippantly expect God to accept our excuses for sin, even when we intentionally sin.
I have applied to have my felony record expunged. In speaking with my attorney a few weeks ago, I found out that specific signatures must be obtained in order for the judge to consider expunging my record, including the DA, and the local police department who arrested me. Even if all required signatures are received, the Judge can refuse to expunge the record if he feels it best serves the interest of justice, or public safety.
Bottom Line: Am I dead to sin?
1) The Law EXPOSES our sin (5:20a)
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. (NLT)
If there is no law written down, then there is no crime. For something to be considered illegal, the specific act must be written down, and the elements of the crime must be described. For a drug to be illegal, its chemical composition must be specified in the law as being illegal. Rapidly changing technology has made things very difficult in some cases, as those who seek to do harm seek out new ways to avoid detection.
Before God gave a law, there was no sin. However, once He told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from a specific tree, there was a law. Once they violated that, sin entered the world, and it rapidly became anything goes, so long as my wants and needs are met.
God’s law allows us to see just how sinful we are. If you haven’t dealt with the criminal justice system, when you hear the word “conviction,” you may think of it in terms of what you might have heard in church. “She’s under conviction,” meaning that the Holy Spirit is dealing with her, and calling her to repentance. But it is so much more than that. In legal terms, a person under conviction refers to someone who has been convicted of violating the law. It’s the same with the person in church who is under conviction. God has found them guilty of violating His law.
2) Grace COVERS our sin (5:20b-21)
But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful kindness became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NLT)
Now that our sin has been exposed, what are we to do? Even while we were still sinning, God the Son, Jesus, came, and fulfilled the law, paid the penalty for sin with His own life, and breaking the hold that sin had on us. Through His resurrection, He broke the hold that death had over us.
Back to this word, “conviction:” in an earthly court, upon a person being convicted, the court imposes punishment. However, when we are convicted before God, in His undeserved grace, He calls us to repent, and accept His grace and forgiveness, because He does not want us to be separated from Him. He wants us to spend eternity in fellowship with Him. If we accept His grace, because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have a right standing, and a right relationship with God.
Before I was eligible to request a pardon from the governor, I had to complete the punishment that had been imposed on me by the court. Then, I had to also prove, through my behavior, and obedience to the law, that I might deserve forgiveness. And even then, the Pardon and Parole Board could have denied me. Even after they recommended me to the governor, the governor could have rejected my plea, and denied my request. Then I have to request the court to expunge my record.
Compare that to God. Even while we are still sinning, God reaches out to us, and offers to forgive us, and to expunge the record.
3) Holiness REPLACES our sin (chapter 6)
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin how can we continue to live in it? (vv 1-2, NLT)
So since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? (15-16) Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness. (18)
I received my pardon last March. And this past Friday, my attorney called me to let me know that the judge had signed the order to expunge my record. Two acts of grace from the state that I am so very thankful for. And I know without a doubt that God was at work, and made it happen.
Now, imagine that I commit another crime, even after the grace and forgiveness that the state has granted. As I am standing before the court, I look at the judge, and I say, “Your Honor, I couldn’t help it. It is just the way I am wired. You know how it is. I just wasn’t able to resist my desires. But I know you’ll forgive me again.” How do you think the judge is going to respond to that? Then after being convicted, I apply for another pardon. How do you think the members of the Pardon and Parole Board will respond? Likely, the request wouldn’t even make it to the governor.
And yet, so often, we act in ways that are flagrant violations of God’s law, and we make those same excuses. “Well, God, I just couldn’t help it.” “I know I shouldn’t have cussed that person out, but you know how my temper is.” I know I shouldn’t be gossiping, but, well God, it started out as a just a prayer request for someone, and I just had to get all the details.”
Remember, God forgives us even while we are in sin. In the Bible, Jesus always met people right where they were. He met their need, healed them, and then told them to stop sinning. Today, the Holy Spirit still meets us right where we are. God calls us from our sin, and He still tells us to sin no more. We are called to holiness. He doesn‘t tell us to try to be holy. He tells us to be holy, because He is holy. But he doesn’t leave us alone to figure it out. The Holy Spirit is always with us, always calling, always guiding us; IF we listen. Too many times we pray “lead us not into temptation,” as we continue to walk right into it, knowing full well what is going to happen. We are no longer slaves to sin. We are dead to sin. The old lifestyle no longer fits us.
We need to ask ourselves, “Am I just playing at being a child of God? Or am I truly dead to sin, and alive in Christ?
Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but that God’s free gift is eternal life through Christ Jesus.
Tag: holiness
The Christian’s Relationship to Government
A society without government is anarchy. There is no law, everyone is free to do as he or she sees fit. In such a society no one is safe. The stronger are free to take what they want from the weaker. If you have something that I want, I am free to take it from you. Of course you are free to try to prevent me from taking it, but, the golden rule in such a society is do unto others before they do unto you. So, God, in His wisdom, set up a system of authority. The family unit is the most basic system of authority. Of course societies are made up of many family units. And whether by geography, ethnicity, or beliefs, these family units have become grouped into clans, people groups, and eventually nations. And every step of the way a system of authority and rule has been set up.
We frequently hear people demanding their rights. And, especially here in the United States, we are a nation that has prided itself on individual rights. To be sure, our nation has committed it’s share of sins throughout our history, and those should be acknowledged, repented of, and lessons learned. And then we look to the future.
In his address to congress on January 8, 1790, President George Washington said “Knowledge is in every Country the surest basis of public happiness. In one, in which the measures of Government recieve (sic) their impression so immediately from the sense of the Community as in our’s, it is proportionably essential. To the security of a free Constitution it contributes in various ways: By convincing those, who are entrusted with the public administration, that every valuable end of Government is best answered by the enlightened confidence of the people: And by teaching the people themselves to know and to value their own rights; to discern and provide against invasions of them; to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority; between burthens proceeding from a disregard to their convenience and those resulting from the inevitable exigencies of Society; to discriminate the spirit of liberty from that of licentiousness, cherishing the first, avoiding the last, and uniting a speedy, but temperate vigilence against encroachments, with an inviolable respect to the laws.” -George Washington, to the United States Senate and House of Representative, 8 January 1790 (https://founders.archives.gov/docu…/Washington/05-04-02-0361)
I want to focus on our relationship to government. I think that this can be applied no matter where you live, but of course, my only real experience is living here, in the United States. I keep seeing, and hearing people demand their rights. We have people who take a camera, or their phone, and they literally go looking for a fight with government officials. They may call themselves First Amendment, or Second Amendment, Auditors. They go out with the intent to draw attention to themselves, and demand their right to do say what they want, or to carry any firearm how they want and where they want. And then they cry “That’s not fair” when they are targeted as being suspicious. But then they will also probably be the first ones who will wonder how something bad happened, why someone didn’t say anything when someone else actually commits a heinous crime. Of course this happens with many political and social issues. People are so focused on their rights, that they have forgotten about their own duty to be responsible. We are witnessing in our society an attitude of I want my rights, but I don’t care about my responsibilities.
The Bottom Line: Demanding the free exercise of our rights also demands that we exercise our responsibilities.
Romans 13:1-7 (NLT)
Respect for Authority
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
We have a duty to submit to government authority
It seems that it has become common today to disrespect authority. We see it far too often: people who refuse to obey anyone in authority. Children who disrespect teachers, adults who refuse to respect government, government officials who refuse to respect the law. If you want examples, just watch the evening news. Or check out some of the videos you find on facebook, and youtube. But this is certainly not how we, who proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ, are to behave. Indeed, Paul admonishes us, in no uncertain terms to submit to government authority. In fact, by refusing to be obedient to authority, we are in fact refusing to obey God. Paul makes this quite clear in verse 2. Rebelling against authority is rebelling against God.
Now please, do not misunderstand me. There certainly is nothing wrong with the people holding their government officials accountable. But we are responsible to do so in a way that honors God.
Government officials are to be God’s servants for the good of those governed
This point is directed at government officials, as well as to “we the people.” We have a system of government in order to avoid the lawlessness of anarchy. Every nation has a government that is in place to protect their citizens, and all who reside within their borders, from lawlessness. If I am doing what is right, and behaving in a manner that does not harm others, or my country, then I can reasonably expect that, for the most part, the government will not bother me.
But, if I choose to behave in a manner that may be harmful to others, if I decide to ignore the law, then I can reasonably expect to be punished. It is the government’s job to punish those who do evil. So we are commanded to be obedient, not simply to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clean conscience.
Government officials deserve their pay
We hate to pay taxes, don’t we. In fact some people hate paying taxes so much that they make it their mission to find ways to cheat the government. We get our first job, and we’re excited for that first check, and when we get it, right away we realize that something isn’t right. Some of our money is missing. And as we examine or check stub closely, we see that some of our money has gone to the state, and the federal government got its cut too. In some places, the city gets a share directly out of your paycheck. Well, don’t government officials deserve to be paid for their work, too. Now look, this isn’t about debating how much we should be paying in taxes; I am simply pointing out, as Paul does, in verses 6 and 7, that government workers deserve to be compensated for their work.
However, Paul isn’t referring only to paying our taxes and fees. He goes a step further, and also tells us that we are responsible to pay honor and respect to those who are in authority. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Quick, someone needs to point this verse out to many of our government leaders.” And, I agree with you. So many of them seem to be more focused on tearing down each other, and anyone who doesn’t agree with them, that they are not getting anything accomplished. But, before I go there, I need to ask you, what is YOUR attitude toward those in government positions? Wait; I need to ask myself that same question: “What is MY attitude toward our government leaders, and workers?” Do I show respect to those in authority. Do I behave in a way that, if they are not already a Christ follower, would make them want to be one, or at least gives them reason to respect me? Or am I a Christian in name only?
Maybe, just maybe, there is a reason that our government, and our society, seems to be so out of control. When was the last time that you complained about government workers, and government leaders. Now, when was the last time that you prayed for them? Just maybe, we bear some of the responsibility for some of the problems. Lets look at 1 Timothy for just a minute.
N1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NLT)
Instructions about Worship
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior.
We are to pray for our government officials
I like how the NLT titles this section: Instructions about worship. Too often, we think of worship as what we are doing right now. It’s just for Sunday morning. We come to church, sing a few songs, say a prayer or two, and listen to a preacher say something that is hopefully inspirational. And if we are really lucky, the message lets us feel good about ourselves. But that is not worship.
Worship is not just about going to church, and playing a part. Worship is a lifestyle. And a part of that lifestyle is praying for others. Interceding, speaking with God, on their behalf, including government workers, and officials; maybe ESPECIALLY, them. Why? So that we can live peaceful lives, that display godliness, and dignity. I love the way the NIV says it best. Instead of dignity it uses the word holiness. We pray for others, and especially our government so that we can live lives that are marked by godliness, and HOLINESS.
Bottom Line: We do have rights, however, being free to exercise those rights demands that we recognize, and honor, our responsibilities.