Author: Will

Romans 10:7 – Risen Christ

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Romans 10:7 – Risen Christ

or, ” “Who will descend into the abyss?” ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ is God and He is risen from the dead!

Behind the Words

The word translated “abyss” is the Greek word abussos, from which we get our English word, abyss. It is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” or “without” and a form of buthos, which refers to “the bottom or depth of something.” Hence, this word properly means “something that is so deep as to be perceived as bottomless.” In the New Testament this word is used to refer to the depth of the oceans, but it is also used to refer to the bottomless pit in Hades where spirit beings (like fallen angels) are incarcerated. This word is only used two times outside of the book of Revelation, here and Luke 8:31.

“Bring up” is from the verb anagō, which is made up of ana, meaning “up, again, or away” and agō, meaning “to lead or to bring.”

Meaning Explained

This part of Paul’s reference to the Old Testament is not identical to what is contained in Deuteronomy (either in the Hebrew version or the Septuagint), but the sense of it is the same. Moses referred to going to the region beyond the sea. In the time when Moses made this statement, sea travel was very difficult, and to travel to the region beyond the sea was a task of nearly infinite proportion. Also, the ancients believed that the ocean was bottomless. Moses was telling the Israelites that the commandment (that which could bring righteousness) was not far away from them, and it did not require a huge effort to obtain it. He was referring to faith, not a task to be done.

What Paul is saying about the righteousness of faith is essentially the same thing; it is not far away and it does not require huge effort to obtain it. However, since sea travel in Paul’s day was far easier than in Moses’ day, a direct quotation of Moses would not carry the impact that it did in Moses’ day. Instead, Paul uses the concept of descending into the abyss. Since Paul is talking about bringing Christ up from the dead in this verse, he obviously is referring to Hades. Note that Paul is not saying that someone has to go down and bring Christ up from the dead because He has already risen. In fact, only God could accomplish this. Paul’s statement is that we don’t have to do this impossible thing in order to obtain faith. As in the previous verse, the monumental task of bringing Christ up again from the dead could not produce righteousness. In fact, it’s just the other way around, only the righteousness of God in Christ could raise Him from the dead.

It is interesting to note that the two primary attacks against our faith are in regard to these two aspects of Christ. Attackers say that He is not God (He did not come down from heaven) and He is not alive today (He has not been raised from the dead). We can’t prove these two facts, we can only accept them by faith, the faith which produces righteousness.

Application

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He is 100% God and He is 100% man. As such, he completely satisfied God’s law of righteousness and then voluntarily gave his life for us, proving His righteousness by rising from the dead. Amen!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:6 – Righteousness Speaks

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Romans 10:6 – Righteousness Speaks

But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, “who will ascend into heaven?” ” (that is, to bring Christ down from above)

Truth to Learn

Even the greatest of works does not produce righteousness.

Behind the Words

“The righteousness of faith” is from hē ek pisteōs dikaiosunē, which literally means “the out of faith righteousness.” It refers to the true righteousness, that which can only come by faith, and Paul uses a personification of that faith here to let it speak for itself.

The expression “say in your heart” is a Hebraism (a Hebrew expression) which means “to think or say to oneself.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verses Paul talked about the Jews who have a zeal for God but who try to obtain the righteousness of God by keeping the Law. He then quoted a passage from Leviticus 18:5 which says, You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

Now, since Paul is contrasting the righteousness which comes from obeying the Law with the righteousness which is a result of faith, he makes a statement about the righteousness of faith. This is roughly taken from the book of Deuteronomy.

For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

In this passage from Deuteronomy, Moses has just warned the Israelites what will happen to them if they turn from Jehovah and serve other gods. He then tells them that if they turn back to Jehovah, even while they are in the land of their captivity, He will once again bless them. The message Moses is giving is not one of “obedience produces life and disobedience produces death,” it is a message of “faithfulness produces life, leading to works of obedience and unfaithfulness produces death (spiritual), leading to works of disobedience.” As Moses continues in Deuteronomy 30:15, he says: See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. He does not say “goodness and life” because goodness does not produce life, he says “life and good” because only spiritual life produces good.

The Israelites were confused. They thought that obedience could produce righteousness. Moses, on the other hand taught that faith produces righteousness. In today’s verse, what the righteousness of faith is telling us is that works, even works as great as ascending into heaven to bring Christ’s righteousness down to us, don’t produce righteousness.

Application

The Apostle Paul tends to hammer on a subject from every possible angle until there is absolutely no wiggle room for the critics to argue against him. That’s what he has been doing with regard to righteousness. We cannot earn it; we can only receive it by faith.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:5 – Earned or Received?

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Romans 10:5 – Earned or Received?

For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “the man who does those things shall live by them.”

Truth to Learn

Eternal life can’t be earned by obedience.

Behind the Words

“Does” is from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle, so it can be translated as “having done.”

The word translated “live” is dzaō, meaning “to live” or “to have life.” It is expressed here in the future tense. In other words “he will live” or “he will have life.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is quoting from Leviticus 18:5 which says, You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. Also in his treatise to the Galatians, who had tried to add works of the Law onto faith, Paul quotes this same passage.

Paul’s point is that the zealous Israelites who went about to establish their own righteousness by keeping all of the Law, were trying to fulfill the command of God who declared that the person who has kept all the commandments of the Law throughout his or her life shall live in them. Notice that this quotation does not declare that the person who has kept the entire Law “is alive,” but “shall live in them” (future tense).

The problem is, as Paul told us earlier in this letter, no one can keep the whole Law. Remember back in Romans 3:23, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And if we look at the Galatians passage, we see that Paul is contrasting faith and works of the Law. In the book of Galatians he says,

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “The just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “The man who does them shall live by them.” (Galatians 3:9-12)

In order to receive future life (that is, eternal life) from the Law one would have to keep the entire Law for their entire life, which is not possible for any man with a sin nature. But since the only man to ever live without a sin nature is Jesus Christ (as Paul explained earlier), it is impossible for any of the rest of us to fulfill the entire Law.

Therefore, no one can attain the righteousness of God by keeping the Law. And no one can get saved by following any methodology of any church, or by going through any kind of classes taught by a church, or of partaking of any sacraments of any church. Salvation (and God’s imputed righteousness) can only come through faith, that is, believing in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross to pay for our sins. The perfect, sinless, Lamb of God was slain for us imperfect, sinful, human beings.

Application

We can’t satisfy God’s righteousness by obeying the Law or all the rules of our church. His righteousness is only granted by faith to those of us who know we don’t deserve it.

Thank you, Lord, for faith and for the sinless Lamb of God!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:4 – Condemned or Forgiven?

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Romans 10:4 – Condemned or Forgiven?

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Truth to Learn

Christ completely fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law. We achieve His righteousness by faith in His blood.

Behind the Words

The word translated “end” is the Greek word telos, which means, “the point aimed at as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state.” This word telos can also mean “the design or object of something.”

“Everyone” is the translation of the word panti, which means “all, the whole, or everyone.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has just told us that in spite of their zeal for God, the Israelites were ignorant of God’s righteousness and, as a result, tried to establish their own righteousness. The Law and the Prophets prescribed what was required for anyone to satisfy God’s righteousness. In fact, it is much more than just the Ten Commandments. Anyone who has read through the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy quickly becomes aware of all the ceremonial practices that the Jews were required to perform. Included in these was the annual sacrifice of the Pascal Lamb whose blood covered over the sins of the people.

If you compare these practices to what Jesus Christ went through, you will see that He perfectly fulfilled what the Law required of the Pascal Lamb. In fact, the practices prescribed in the Old Testament were an image, a foreshadowing, of what the real Sacrificial Lamb would do for the people. Jesus completely fulfilled the requirements of the Law. Not only did He live without sin but He offered His blood as the payment for all of our sins. Recorded in the book of Matthew we find what Christ Himself said in the Sermon on the Mount;

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

In the current verse Paul says that Christ is the end of the law, that is, the conclusion or fulfillment. Christ said of Himself that He came to fulfill the Law. Paul now tells us that He did just that. He completed it.

As we pointed out in Behind the Words, telos also means “the design or object of something.” Christ also fulfilled this meaning of the word because He is what the Law had in view as the object when it was first given. So we see that not only was the death of Christ foreseen and foreshadowed by the Law, but His death was the full satisfaction of it in every way.

Application

Paul tells us that the righteousness of God is a reality only for those who believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus as the Lamb of God. He says that this righteousness is applied to everyone who believes God’s promises. No one who believes in Christ will be left out. However, for those who don’t believe in Christ, righteousness cannot be achieved no matter how hard they try and no matter how zealous and sincere they are. They can’t achieve it by works and they are still responsible for their own sins. They will stand before God condemned instead of forgiven!

How will you stand before God?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:3 – Completely Submitted

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Romans 10:3 – Completely Submitted

For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Truth to Learn

Righteousness only comes by voluntarily submitting your will to the will of Almighty God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “ignorant” is agnoeō, which is a compound word made up of a, indicating “not” and noeō, meaning “to perceive or understand.”

The word translated “establish” is histēmi, meaning “to stand.” By application, it also means “to make something to stand in place” or “to establish something.”

“Submitted” is a form of the word hupotassō, which is a compound word made up of hupo or hypo, meaning “under” or “beneath” and tasso, which means “to place in an orderly manner.” It is a military term which means “to place oneself under the authority of someone else.” This word does not imply that someone is forcibly put under the authority of another, rather a voluntary placing of oneself under the command and authority of another.

Meaning Explained

Paul now explains what he meant in the previous verse when he said that his Jewish brothers had a zeal for God but not according to knowledge. He starts off this verse by stating that they were ignorant of God’s righteousness. The Israelites did not understand God’s righteousness or the fact that we cannot attain God’s righteousness because we are spiritually flawed by our sin nature.

He then goes on to say, not only did the Israelites not understand God’s righteousness, they also tried to establish their own form of righteousness based on what the Law told them to do. They firmly, even zealously, believed that by keeping the whole Law they could become as righteous as God Himself.

But, as Paul will tell us in the next few verses, there is only one person who can completely fulfill the Law and that is Jesus Christ. The reason that Christ was able to keep the whole Law is twofold. First of all, he doesn’t have a sin nature and secondly, because He is God, he cannot sin.

Finally, Paul tells us in this verse that the Israelites could not obtain the righteousness of God because they have not submitted themselves to God’s righteousness. These Israelites who had a great zeal for God were trying to obtain that righteousness by their own means instead of humbling themselves before God and allowing Him to grant His righteousness to them.

There are many professed Christians today who are still trying to earn righteousness when what they need to do is to submit themselves to God. Instead of working hard to obtain righteousness we need to submit to God’s will and receive His righteousness by grace.

Application

Are you still trying to obtain your own righteousness by obeying all the rules and ordinances of your church? Or are you humbled before the hand of Almighty God and completely submitted to His will?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:2 – Zeal for God

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Romans 10:2 – Zeal for God

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Truth to Learn

Zeal and devotion are good if they are not misplaced.

Behind the Words

Paul starts off this verse with “For I bear them witness.” This is translated from the Greek words marturō gar. The Greek word gar is a primary particle which assigns a reason. Hence it is usually translated as “for.” This particular word is always post positive; that is, it always appears after the word to which it applies. The Greek word marturō is the word from which we get our English word martyr. It means “to be a witness.”

“Zeal” is from the Greek word dzēlos, which literally refers to “heat.” Figuratively, it is a reference to the heat of a person’s passion. Thus it is often translated as “zeal.”

The word translated “knowledge” is epiginōskō, which is made up of epi, meaning “on or upon” and ginōskō, which means “to know, to perceive, or to be aware of.” Hence epiginōskō literally means “to know upon.” That is, to perceive and understand based on the facts.

Meaning Explained

Paul is now declaring the reason why he is desirous of seeing all of Israel saved, while at the same time declaring the reason why they aren’t all saved. He tells us, “For I am a witness of the fact that they (his fellow Jews) have a zeal for God.” His witness is driven by the fact that not only was he that way himself, but he has personally known many devout Jews who were earnestly seeking after God and His righteousness.

The problem, according to Paul, is that they have been seeking after the righteousness of God in the wrong way. It hasn’t been “according to knowledge,” he says; that is to say, they haven’t recognized or understood the proper way to attain God’s righteousness because they didn’t understand the proper way.

As part of his calling from God, Paul is declaring the facts of salvation through the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He wants them to have knowledge of their Savior so that they might accept the truth and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul knows that many of his fellow Jews are ignorant of the truth. Because of that ignorance, even though they are very passionate about God and His righteousness, they are going about it all wrong.

Application

There are many who call themselves Christian today who are very passionate about God. But instead of seeking God through faith, they are trying to earn His favor. Some would call them devout, but their devotion is to their church or to living up to some set of standards. Some of them even believe that they can reach a point of sanctification in which they no longer sin. That, however, is a works oriented religion; it is not walking by faith.

Being zealous is a good thing. Being devoted to a good cause or to a church is wonderful. But it’s not the way of salvation. Salvation only comes through faith in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Only through living by faith can we please the One who is our Heavenly Father. And we can only live by faith if we have knowledge of the truth. That’s why it is so important that we study the Bible!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 10:1 – Hate Sin, Love Sinners

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Romans 10:1 – Hate Sin, Love Sinners

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

Truth to Learn

Paul loved his lost brothers and prayed for them while he proclaimed the Gospel message to them.

Behind the Words

The word translated “brethren” is adelphos, which is made up of the connective a, implying unity and delphus, meaning “the womb.” Hence, adelphos refers to those who have the same mother. It is frequently used metaphorically referring to those who are of the same lineage, as Paul does here.

“Desire” is translated from the Greek word eudokia, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of dokeō, meaning “to think.” Thus we see that this word literally means “to have good thoughts.” Eudokia is often translated as “desire, delight, kindness, or wish.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapter the Apostle Paul expressed his great concern for his brothers in the flesh, the nation of Israel. He was troubled by the fact that so many of them were out of the way of salvation. Here’s how he expressed it in the opening verses of that chapter:

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, (Romans 9:1-3)

He loved his fellow Jews and was deeply grieved by the fact that they rejected Jesus as their Messiah, the One for whom they had been waiting for centuries. He went on to show that God has chosen some of them for salvation but not others. He also showed that God has also called some of the Gentiles to salvation over his Jewish kinsmen.

But, you may ask, if Paul truly believed that God is the one who chooses who will be saved, why was Paul so intent on evangelizing the Jews, calling on them to accept Jesus as the Messiah? The answer is in the Great Commission. All Christians are commanded to preach the gospel. We don’t know whom God will choose, but they must believe God’s promise through His grace in order to be saved.

In the first half of the current chapter, Paul will show that the reason why so many Jews were lost is because they tried to earn their way into righteousness by keeping the Law instead of receiving the gift of salvation through faith.

Paul had been accused by some of his countrymen of deserting his Jewish brothers in favor of this new Way called Christianity. He starts off the current chapter with a declaration that not only has he not deserted them, but that he has a strong desire for them to be saved. And, he will show that salvation is to be received through faith, not through works.

Application

We are told to hate sin but to love sinners. We are told to proclaim the good news of God’s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. We do not save sinners, only God can do that. We are to pray for sinners and proclaim the gospel. And we are to be a witness for God by the way we live our lives.

Are you fulfilling the Great Commission?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 9:33 – Little Stone or Massive Rock

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Romans 9:33 – Little Stone or Massive Rock

As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Truth to Learn

To the Jews Jesus is merely a stumbling stone in the pathway of life. To Christians He is a solid rock of salvation.

Behind the Words

“Lay” is from the Greek word tithēmi, meaning “to set in place” or “to lay something down.”

The word “stone” is from lithos, which refers to a stone (anything from the size of a pebble to the size of a millstone or a block of a building).

“Rock,” on the other hand, is from petra, which refers to “a huge mass of rock like a rock outcropping of a mountain.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul was very well versed in the Law and the Prophets. He studied them under Gamaliel, one of the greatest rabbinical teachers of his day. As a result, he had a thorough understanding of what we now call the Old Testament. Here’s what he told the Israelites of his time (after He was saved):

I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. (Acts 22:3)

In the current verse Paul not only demonstrates his knowledge of what is written in the Old Testament but also what is meant by these writings. He does this by quoting two separate verses and combining them in a manner that reveals the intent of both passages. The first verse quoted is Isaiah 8:14, which reads:

He will be as a sanctuary, but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

The second verse quoted is Isaiah 28:16, which reads:

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever believes will not act hastily.”

The stone which Isaiah referred to is the Messiah, the Christ. He is the chief cornerstone upon which the church is built. But the Israelites rejected their Messiah and, as a result, He has become a stumbling stone to them and a huge rock of offence. To the Jews of Paul’s day (and the Jews of our day) Jesus was an imposter who was executed for His crimes. To them He was simply a pebble or a small rock, but to God He is a huge, massive, solid rock of salvation. So, instead of believing on the rock of salvation and receiving God’s imputed righteousness, they continue to try to earn their own righteousness by obeying all the precepts and commandments in the Law and, as a result, miss out on righteousness completely.

Application

Are you righteous, my friend? If so, was that righteousness granted to you by God’s choice alone or do you believe that you earned it by doing something?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 9:32 – Seeking God’s Favor?

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Romans 9:32 – Seeking God’s Favor?

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

Truth to Learn

Works don’t produce God’s favor, only faith can do that.

Behind the Words

“Stumbled” is from the Greek word proskoptō, which means “to strike against” or to “trip over.”

Meaning Explained

The Apostle Paul now explains why the Israelites failed to achieve righteousness even though they pursued it vigorously. He says very clearly that the reason they failed to achieve righteousness is because they did not pursue it by faith. Instead, he says, they pursued it by works of the Law.

The devout Jews did many things daily in an attempt to please God. They prayed, they fasted, they sacrificed, they gave their tithes, they studied the Law and the Prophets, and they listened to the Rabbis to learn the oral laws so that they could be sure to obey all that they were commanded to do. Because they were so intent on earning God’s favor by obedience, they denied, even rejected the one in whom they could have obtained God’s favor, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. They tripped over the stumbling stone whom they called Jesus of Nazareth, denying that He was their Messiah.

But before we get too condemning of these Israelites, let’s look at our churches and church members today. Many of us are putting our effort into praying, fasting, offering our time in service to the church, giving tithes, reading our Bibles daily, and listening to all that our priests and ministers tell us so that we can be obedient to God and to the church with all of its expectations. In short, we are trying to earn God’s favor just as the Israelites did a couple of thousand years ago, and still do today.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, the writer recounts example after example of those who obtained God’s favor because of their faith, not because of their obedience to God or to a set of church rules. Tucked away in this chapter is the sixth verse which says:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

The writer doesn’t say “without obedience,” he says “without faith.” Trying to be obedient causes stumbling, while living by faith produces victory! God is pleased with a life of faith, not a life of obedience.

Application

So let me ask you, why do you pray? Why do you read your Bible? Why do you give to your church? Why do you obediently attend church regularly and listen carefully to the sermon or homily each week? Are you trying to earn God’s favor like the Israelites did? Or is it because you believe God’s Word and you want to Glorify Him in all you do? Do you do it out of obligation and a hope of rewards? Or do you do it out of grateful, humble actions of faith?

Think about that and be honest with yourself!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 9:31 – Faith, not Obedient

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Romans 9:31 – Faith, not Obedience

but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

Truth to Learn

God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith.

Behind the Words

The word “pursuing” is diōkō, the same root word as was translated pursue in the previous verse.

“Attained” is phthano, which we talked about in the previous verse also. It means “to come suddenly upon something” or “to arrive at a goal.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul made the point that the Gentiles who do not vigorously pursue righteousness have, nonetheless, seized upon it with eagerness. He now tells us that the Israelites did vigorously pursue righteousness but they have not arrived at the goal.

So, why couldn’t the Israelites reach the goal (righteousness) they were working so hard to obtain and why did the Gentiles seize the righteousness which they weren’t pursuing? The difference is works verses faith. The Israelites tried to please God and obtain His righteousness by doing works of obedience. They tried to work their way to righteousness. However, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith. Let me say that again, God does not reward obedience, He rewards faith.

Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament. After God led the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them the Law through Moses’ leadership, he led them into the Promised Land where they began to eliminate all the inhabitants of the land. Under Joshua’s leadership they were successful at driving the people out of the land. After Joshua’s death, however, the new generation failed to drive the remainder of the people out of the land.

On the surface, this looks like a failure of obedience. After all, God told them to do it, but they didn’t. However, if we look at it closely we will see that it was not a lack of obedience, it was a lack of faith. Here’s how it is expressed in the book of Judges:

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. (Judges 2:11,12)

God considered His relationship with the Israelites like a marriage relationship just as He considers the relationship between the church and Christ a marriage relationship. But the Israelites were unfaithful to their husband-God. God’s anger against the Israelites was because of unfaithfulness, not disobedience. That’s the point that Paul is making. Righteousness is not obtained by works, but by faith.

Application

Are you still trying to please God by your good works? Or do you perform your good works out of gratitude because you believe God’s promise of salvation through the blood of Christ. God does not reward obedience, he rewards faith!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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