The book begins and ends with the same concept, i.e., obedience of faith. Chapter 1:5 and 16:26 both have the phrase. All the rest has been commentary. This is the goal of the message, that is, to move us to obedience of faith.
My mind instantly shifted that to say "faithful obedience" but maybe that is not the same. Faithful obedience seems to feel like "sticking it out and always being obedient no matter what happens". Yet obedience of faith seems to strike me more as obedience that flows from faith. Rather than gritting it out in obedience, it seems we have been given revelation that inspires a belief that is compelling enough to move us to action. Obedience flows from faith. Rather than focusing on obedience, the focus is on faith which is simply manifest in obedience.
Somehow we seem to do well at obedience because its "right" and faith which has no actions. I sometimes wonder if the early followers of Jesus would recognize us by our lives or not.
Showing posts with label actions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label actions. Show all posts
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Romans 6:1-14; Offerings
The idea of new life continues to jump off the pages at me. For years I read this thinking of the next life. Somehow I think many of us hear the message of "we die to sin so that after we physically die we will have a new life." I don't think that is at all what he is talking about. Paul is concerned with how people are living in the here and now. He is concerned with their actions today and what living for God looks like 24/7. If that is the case, then "new life" is not about some ethereal experience yet to come. It is about a new experience now.
If the "body of sin is done away with" already, then this new life must be ongoing at this moment. Either that, or we are dragging around dead bodies with us. Honestly, I think that is the way many Christians are perceived, i.e., dragging around death and decay rather than overflowing with life.
The "master" language grabs me here. To whom do I "offer" myself as a sacrifice? The text says "do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but offer yourselves to God. . ." Every action today will be an offering. Every choice, every thought, every word, every behavior will be an offering to one of two gods. Tomorrow morning when I look back at the last 24 hours, my composite offering will tell me whom I truly serve and if I truly lived . . . or just dragged around death for another day.
If the "body of sin is done away with" already, then this new life must be ongoing at this moment. Either that, or we are dragging around dead bodies with us. Honestly, I think that is the way many Christians are perceived, i.e., dragging around death and decay rather than overflowing with life.
The "master" language grabs me here. To whom do I "offer" myself as a sacrifice? The text says "do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but offer yourselves to God. . ." Every action today will be an offering. Every choice, every thought, every word, every behavior will be an offering to one of two gods. Tomorrow morning when I look back at the last 24 hours, my composite offering will tell me whom I truly serve and if I truly lived . . . or just dragged around death for another day.
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