Unrevealed Glory

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

The Greek word used here for ‘revealed’ is ‘apokalypto’ – it is where we get the term ‘apocalypse’.  Paul is reminding us that there is a day coming in which all God’s plans will be disclosed… where the actual purpose of our lives will be uncovered and the eternal destiny of all will be unveiled.

This day is actively drawing nearer.  The plans are in action now, and God is currently working in the world, leading all of human history toward the day in which all the suffering, toil, pain, and heartache will be revealed as nothing in light of the glory of His eternal plans.  Each day, each second draws us nearer to that ultimate moment.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Objectively Sinful

“I would not have come to know sin except through the Law…” (Romans 7:7)

Sin is not a subjective thing.  It isn’t wrong because it feels wrong, nor are things right because they feel right.  Sin is based upon the law of God.  God tells us what is right and wrong.  Ethics are an objective truth based upon the authority of God’s Word.

Sin is universal – lying will always be wrong, no matter what the scenario.  Sin is not avoided by ignorance – just because a child may not know it is wrong to throw their toys at people doesn’t change the fact that it is wrong.  The first defense against sin is knowledge.  Once you know about the problem, you can begin to avoid it.  The Bible is the map around the land mines.  Through Jesus, it is also the path to reconciliation for past sins, too.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Do You Want Him?

“But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed…” (Romans 6:17)

Sin is still our master as long as it has our heart.  Notice the language of Romans 6 – when we become obedient to God from the heart, then we can truly see our slavery to sin in the past tense. 

When we change our behavior but don’t address our desires, we are going to eventually return to the same mess we just got out of.  We have to be honest with ourselves that sometimes we don’t want to change because even good change is scary.

You cannot fully follow God in a new life while looking back to the old one you left behind.  There is an oddly comforting familiarity that can be found in our old life.  Even if it is unhealthy, it is what we know.  When we look back to our sinful habits with longing, a desire to avoid change, or even a strange self-indulgent wallowing in shame, we inhibit forward progress.  These things need confession and prayer.

Commitment from the heart… obedience through love of the Lord… these things lead to walking in the light.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Universal Appeal

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

When the iPhone hit the market, everyone had to have one.  There was something so enticing about a phone that could do everything – it was sleek, it was new, and it was packed with power.  You didn’t have to have one to live, but it sure felt like everyone had to have one!

Adam may have been the one to introduce sin to the world, but it has had a universal appeal.  It is enticing and darkly appealing. It glitters and shimmers in a way that our senses are drawn to it.  Sensuality is just a way of describing the idea that sin appeals to our senses and instinctual raw selfish desires.

Yet with all its sparkle and siren song, the end of sin is a contagion that spreads spiritual death like a blanket over our hearts and lives.  The culture is darker because of it, our relationships are hindered by it, and most importantly, the separation from God it brings is an eternal wound.

Recognize the universal draw of sin.  You will want it at times – but we must also remember that its desire is for us, and we must master it (see Gen 4:7).

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

His Death Brings Hope

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered!” (Romans 4:7)

Sin requires that we await the consequences.  Every crime requires punishment.  We cannot cry for God to be just and fair and then expect Him to overlook our wrongdoings.  There is a price for all sin.

But what if someone stepped in to pay it?  In Romans 4:7-8, Paul quotes from Psalm 32 to describe how blessed the man is who is redeemed from his sin, not because he did it all perfectly, but because of his faith in the Son of God.

Every crime requires punishment, so Jesus hung on a cross between criminals.  His suffering was done for us, so that we no longer need to await the consequences.  His death brings hope instead of shame.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Stop Talking

“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God” (Romans 3:19)

God isn’t looking for you to explain your choices.  He isn’t looking for you to rationalize how you are better than others or justify how you deserve to go to heaven.  The people of Matthew 25 will try to talk their way through the Judgment day, and it won’t work.

God wants us to STOP talking.  No more excuses, no more rationalizations, no more arguments or self-delusions.  Own that you are a sinner and need help.  Own that you need the help only Jesus can give and that you don’t deserve it and never will.  Own that you can’t fix what you’ve broken; only He can.  Less talking, more listening.

Jew and Gentile alike needed to stop talking and stop justifying and stop pointing fingers at the other people who are worse.  Sin is sin, and finding another criminal doesn’t make you less of one yourself.

Romans reminds us that no one ever makes it to heaven without Jesus.  It’s time to listen to Him and follow.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Judgment Comes Home

“Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” (Romans 2:1)

A man yells at his wife for being too emotional.  From his La-Z-Boy, a football fan criticizes the lack of athleticism of the professional athlete.  Two women gossip about the catty behavior of other women.  A child takes their ball and goes home while calling all the other children rude.

This is humanity.  We point our fingers at the misbehavior of others while exhibiting that exact behavior ourselves.  We pass judgment and condemn ourselves all in one stroke.

Be wary of the tendency to see others’ faults.  Those fault lines run through your own heart, too.  We must recognize our own condemnation first.  Most often our “righteous” indignation belies a deeper problem that can be seen in our own character.  No excuses that others are the problem.  Sin isn’t an issue for other people.  Remember the guy in the mirror.  That person needs Jesus.  Start there.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

Proud of Jesus

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel…” (Romans 1:16)

Shame is based upon humiliation.  We feel shame when we feel we have done something foolish, silly, or wrong.  There are times when we feel shame because we have done something objectively wrong, such as stealing, lying, or other ethically wrong behavior.  This type of shame is godly and righteous.

However, there are times we feel shame because of subjective reasons driven by our own internal inadequacies, fears, or concerns about what others might think of us.  When you become embarrassed because you missed the fashion memo, accidentally tried to get into the wrong car in a crowded parking lot, or were chosen last for a pick-up basketball game, you likely understand this type of shame.  It is driven not by sin, but by environment.

This second shame is what Paul is warning us about.  Do not be shamed into thinking of the gospel of Jesus Christ as foolish, humiliating, or silly.  It is the very bedrock of humanity’s hopes.  We cannot allow the risk of embarrassment to stop our mouths.  Rather let us be deemed foolish for Christ and brave by Christ.  Speak up, speak plainly, and stand tall.  We ought to be proud of Jesus, not ashamed of His message.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

It Was Necessary For Us

“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26)

Luke spends a great deal of time emphasizing the spiritual necessity of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.  Our Savior must be a suffering one in order to triumph over our enemy because our enemy is sin, and the wages of sin are death (see Rom 6:23).  The nature of our problem is one of suffering.  Sin creates suffering.  Suffering in this life, and without redemption, suffering in the next, too.

It was necessary for Jesus to suffer for us, not for Him.  He was glorious beforehand, but to be our Christ (Christ means ‘chosen one’), He had to choose to carry our pain in our stead.  He chose suffering for the glory of being crowned our King.  He chose us, and He knew the cost to redeem us.

Jesus’ suffering was no accident – it was a voluntary suffering so that He might become the triumphing Messiah we needed.  His resurrection is ours as well.  He chose you, and the cross was the price.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

The Masses Are Wrong

“But they were insistent, with loud voices asking that He be crucified. And their voices began to prevail.” (Luke 23:23)

            Pilate chose to crucify Jesus.  What won him over?  It wasn’t truth and logic.  Pilate was convinced by the size of the crowds and the noise of the voices.  The majority cried for Jesus’ crucifixion, and the masses were going to get what they wanted.

            Just because a view is loudly spoken doesn’t make it right.  Insistence isn’t proof of accuracy.  Before you accept a point of view as your own, check its validity.  The loudest religion of Jesus’ day chose to crucify Him.  Religious confusion has always been a problem, and the masses typically end up on the wrong side of history.

            Listen for truth.  Investigate the Scriptures yourself.  Seek what is right, not what is popular.  It is the road less traveled, but as Robert Frost once said, it will make all the difference.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites