Romans 7:1-8:4
Exposition
This is one of the most misunderstood sections in Romans. Paul’s just got done in Romans 6 telling us that Christ’s death and resurrection kills our old nature which was governed by sin, and gives us a new nature which follows God. He teaches this in response to this question: if God justifies people on the basis of Christ’s obedience, received through faith alone, will we go on living in sin?
The answer of course is ‘no’ – Christ’s death and resurrection not only takes care of God’s requirements that we be righteous, but also gives us a new heart that does righteous things.
Chapter 7 begins to answer another objection. What about the Law? Paul’s addressed the Law a little bit with reference to Jews – they thought they could be justified by trying to obey it. Paul’s response has largely been to say, ‘no, it just shows you’re a sinner and condemned because you don’t keep it.’ (See 3:19, 20.)
Paul begins chapter 7 by talking about the fact that we’re not judged under the Law in vv. 1-6, Paul shows that our severance from being judged by the Law results in actual fruit bearing for God. The reason that we need to be cut from it, is because if we’re judged by the Law, sin in us rebels against it and disobeys it (see v. 8).
He starts this section by talking about marriage. It ends when you die. That’s the point. Don’t get stuck in the details.
Christ died the punishment that the Law demanded for lawbreakers. So we no longer have to respond to an external code by works, but we respond directly to God. The Holy Spirit works holiness in us (v. 6). Thus, we bear fruit – or ‘have results’ – for God. Note that they’re for God.
In v. 7, Paul raises an objection – is the Law sin? If the presence of the Law means we’re going to rebel and God’s going to kill us, isn’t the Law a bad thing? Paul’s answer to this question takes him through v. 25 in the famous ‘I do what I don’t want and don’t do what I want’ passage. But the ‘I’ is not the main character of the section – the Law and sin are. To focus on the ‘I’ – whoever Paul is talking about – is to miss the point.
Besides, what we’ve just seen in Romans 6 is that a Christian can’t go on living in sin. So if one takes this section to be about Christian experience, one is really missing the point.
So the Law shows what sin is (v. 7). But sin, reacting against God’s commands, rebels. Thus, in v. 9, people, because of rebellion, die. Even though if we did obey God’s commands we’d enter his kingdom, sin in people rebels and earns us death (vv. 10, 11). So the conclusion – in v. 12 – the Law is good. (We’re not!) And we see the Law didn’t kill us, sin did – the law just shows that it is sin (v. 13).
In defense of this, Paul begins to talk about how sin and the Law interact. If the flesh owns humanity, it results in us doing what we know isn’t good (v. 16).
And what we see in the next verses is conflicting desires – to do what the law requires – but the inability to do it. One might really love the Law (v. 22) – but being owned by sin and trying to obey the Law results in mere captivity to sin.
And this is the punchline – if you try to obey the Law, you will necessarily fail. Anyone who is trying to look good before God on the basis of the Law – Christian or not – is going to be stuck in sinning. That is the opposite of 6:17-23 and 7:6. Those verses say that God gives us a new nature and the Spirit and causes us to act in a holy way.
So the point of this whole thing – you try to obey the Law to be good before God, you’ll fail.
And you resultantly cry out what Paul cries out in v. 24. A person trying to obey the law is incapable of doing it (wretched) – and in need of rescue from his own inability to obey.
Verse 25 tells us that God rescues people from that helplessness. And the conclusion is that anything we do under the reign of the flesh is going to be sin. This person is divided – but rescue is here in Jesus.
Romans 8:1-4 tells us how that happens – and how we’re rescued from the condemnation we’d incur if we were ruled by sin (and therefore breaking the Law). There are two kingdoms at work – the Spirit’s – and the flesh’s (the old, sinful kingdom). The Spirit freed us from the old world because Jesus died – and when he died, our old natures which were governed by the old world also died (v. 3).
And the result of this is in v. 4: the Holy Spirit causes us to walk in such a way that we begin to fulfill the Law.
The practical application of all this is this: God’s Law is good, but we need to be separated from being judged by it to produce holiness – because if we treat it like we’re going to be judged by it, we’ll rebel more. On the other hand, we need to know that the Holy Spirit has given us new life because of Jesus’ death and resurrection – and will cause us to walk with him – so depend on him and realize that judgment has been carried out on Jesus – it won’t be on us. Praise God!
Discussion Guide
-The first thing you’re going to have to do is recap chapters 1-5. Make absolutely sure that the students know how we are justified. You also need to recap the objection in ch. 6, telling them how Paul answers it.
-Read 6:17-7:6
-What was true about you from these verses before you decided to rely on Jesus for forgiveness and submitted to him as your King?
-What became true of you after you did turn to Jesus?
-(You may want to define the Law here and look at Romans 3:19, 20).
-How did Jesus accomplish this?
-How does the Law relate to all this?
-Read 7:7-24
-(You have to explain here that the ‘I’ is not the subject – the Law and sin are.)
-What do you see sin doing in these verses?
-What does the Law do?
-What’s going to be true of a person who’s trying to be on God’s good side by trying to obey all that the Law requires?
-Read 7:25-8:4
-What do you see God doing in these verses?
-What did Jesus’ death accomplish?
-Explain vv. 3-4 if necessary.
-How does this contrast with the person’s experience in vv. 7-24?
-So how do you obey God? What should we do? (You’re looking here for believe that God has changed our nature because of Jesus’ death and resurrection - and has declared us righteous by his works - and depend on the Holy Spirit to produce obedience to the Law in us.)
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
How to Disciple Someone
Cross Training IX – Make Disciples
I. What is discipleship? (Matthew 28:18-20)
A. conversion - baptism
B. being taught to obey, including doctrine – Titus 1:9, 16; 2:1
C. with the ultimate authority being Jesus (for teaching/obedience)
II. Different types
A. general
1. public teaching – 2 tim 4:1, 2
2. personal instruction/shepherding – Titus 2:3, 4; 1 Peter 5:1, 2; Jesus’ example
B. for church leadership – 2 tim 2:2
III. Selection
A. Jesus selected certain people – John 15:16
B. Have to be available
C. Must realize they’re submitting to authority/teaching
D. Have to be responsible (if they’re going to take on responsibility!)
E. Of good character (see elder requirements in titus, 1 tim)
F. FAT –faithful, available, teachable
G. given 2 tim 2:2 – demonstrate ability to understand/explain Scripture
IV. What’s involved – relationship, duh!
A. A challenge – let them know what they’re getting into
1. Disciples in Jesus’ day understood that culturally
2. Understanding that elders have authority (1 tim 5:17)
B. Doctrine – 2 Tim. 2:2
C. Ministry skill
1. governing (ruling, administrating, responsibility)
2. evangelism (Matt 10:5-7)
3. study/teaching of the word
D. Model ministry (as Jesus did)
E. Delegate things to them to grow (like evangelism, etc.)
F. Character (elder requirement lists)
V. Tools of the trade
A. The Bible – not your advice or wisdom – you’re making disciples of Jesus – not you
B. www.centerfieldproductions.com (niucru - pass: huskies)
C. Westminster Larger Catechism (10 Commandments)
D. What Jesus Demands from the World (Piper)
E. http://derekjoseph.blogspot.com
I. What is discipleship? (Matthew 28:18-20)
A. conversion - baptism
B. being taught to obey, including doctrine – Titus 1:9, 16; 2:1
C. with the ultimate authority being Jesus (for teaching/obedience)
II. Different types
A. general
1. public teaching – 2 tim 4:1, 2
2. personal instruction/shepherding – Titus 2:3, 4; 1 Peter 5:1, 2; Jesus’ example
B. for church leadership – 2 tim 2:2
III. Selection
A. Jesus selected certain people – John 15:16
B. Have to be available
C. Must realize they’re submitting to authority/teaching
D. Have to be responsible (if they’re going to take on responsibility!)
E. Of good character (see elder requirements in titus, 1 tim)
F. FAT –faithful, available, teachable
G. given 2 tim 2:2 – demonstrate ability to understand/explain Scripture
IV. What’s involved – relationship, duh!
A. A challenge – let them know what they’re getting into
1. Disciples in Jesus’ day understood that culturally
2. Understanding that elders have authority (1 tim 5:17)
B. Doctrine – 2 Tim. 2:2
C. Ministry skill
1. governing (ruling, administrating, responsibility)
2. evangelism (Matt 10:5-7)
3. study/teaching of the word
D. Model ministry (as Jesus did)
E. Delegate things to them to grow (like evangelism, etc.)
F. Character (elder requirement lists)
V. Tools of the trade
A. The Bible – not your advice or wisdom – you’re making disciples of Jesus – not you
B. www.centerfieldproductions.com (niucru - pass: huskies)
C. Westminster Larger Catechism (10 Commandments)
D. What Jesus Demands from the World (Piper)
E. http://derekjoseph.blogspot.com
Jan. 24 Cru Talk on Mark 10:17-30 Notes
-Anchorman clip/Intro
-Ron loved Baxter. Losing him -> glass cage of emotion
-what would cause you to cry out?
-Brent talked about…
-turning to God means you have to see him as valuable
-when you thought about what’d put you in a glass case, was it knowing Jesus?
-Tonight: talking about what we have to turn from to turn to God – sin.
-sin – stuff (activities, ideas, things) – we love more than God
-results in us either not caring about him like we should
-or disobeying his rules and laws.
-What I want us to see tonight, is that to enter God’s eternal Kingdom,
it is necessary to turn away from seeking what we want
and to reorder our lives to be governed by seeking the spread of his Kingdom –
and that that life change can only be produced by God
-Looking at Mark 10:17-30 (remind, read)
-We’re going to take a look at five things
1 – desire to get eternal life
2 – 2 misconceptions about getting et. Life
3 – how to get eternal life – turning from sin to God (MBI)
4 – that that whole life change is a work of God
5 – what you can expect if God has changed your life
-(Pray)
-First, let’s look at the desire to have eternal life (read v. 17)
-makes sense
-Think about his situation – what he’s seen Jesus do… (death reversed!)
-(I am Legend example)
-So yeah – we should want to escape this world and enter Jesus’ Kingdom
-Second, let’s look at two misconceptions this guy has (read vv. 18-20)
-First, this guy was looking for what to do rather than the source (v. 18)
-his question doesn’t say not God (as cults); but asks re: identity
-trying to look for what to do, not source
-like asking world’s greatest painter what brush…
-Second misconception: (vv. 19, 20)
-Thinks he’s kept commandments! (earlier, murder – anger, etc.)
-Low view of sin; external, not heart/mind level
-How do we judge ourselves? Not murdering? Pr0n? Bible reading?
-They are sin if not done because you’ve reordered your life to spread God’s Kingdom – and missing the point that the external commands exist to show us that we need God to rescue us from our wrong desires
-Third, let’s look at how to enter Jesus’ eternal Kingdom – by organizing your life around the goal of spreading God’s Kingdom through the world (read vv. 21-25)
-loved him! (v. 21)
-the answer: (vv. 21, 22)
-points out this guy loves his stuff more than Jesus
-note: not go to church, read bible, and be willing – it’s do it
-doesn’t mean we sell our stuff and physically follow Jesus
-principle communicated: organize all your life around
-doesn’t mean do what you want and see if you can use it for the Kingdom; it’s do stuff because you want to spread the Kingdom
-I was thinking, well, college students don’t have a whole lot of money
-but time is the commodity - wasting it? Spring Break/Summer? Dating?
-And note that without real life change, no entry (vv. 23-25 – note on camel)
-Note that it’s a pattern for life (follow) – future job, spouse, income –everything
-Unsettled? Maybe you should be? Leads us to how that change is made –
-Fourth point: the heart and lifestyle change required to enter the Kingdom is something God does in a person. (vv. 26, 27)
-disciples amazed (v. 26) – makes sense – aren’t you?
-But Jesus tells us how this heart/lifechange happens – God (v. 27)
-God causes person to turn from sin and towards spreading Kingdom
-God produces life change – organization of one’s life around…
-God is the author of heart change – rescues people who don’t love him and changes their hearts so they’ll enter his eternal Kingdom
-Let’s look at Romans 8:1-4 (read)
-first, no condemnation – (v. 1) – why? First, Jesus died for us
-No condemnation because the old nature for all who turn was destroyed when Jesus died and a new nature was given! (vv. 2-4 – explain)
-New nature walks in a way that obeys God
-(T1 v. T2 example)
-Paul – killing Christians -> being killed for being one
-Zacchaeus
-What should we do?
- if you haven’t reordered your life around…. Do it, please…
-if you have, keep on living that way
-if you have, depend on God for continued life change (honor him)
Fifth: let’s look at the results of this heart change that God produces (vv. 28-30)
-here: (vv. 29, 30) (broken relationships, persecution, the love present among God’s people)
-later: eternal life! The Kingdom! Gaining Jesus forever. The righting of everything that’s wrong, suffering, sickness – and the ever presence of God
-if you’ve reordered your life, v. 30 is true of you
-be comforted – God has done it!
-enjoy the love present among God’s people
-expect your lifestyle to result in people treating you bad
-live in light of the fact that you are inheriting the Kingdom
-depend on the Spirit to produce real life change
-keep on choosing to do things because you love God/Kingdom
-time here, prep for future (major, spouse, etc.), sb, sp’s
-if you haven’t – Jesus loves you – do.
-Ron loved Baxter. Losing him -> glass cage of emotion
-what would cause you to cry out?
-Brent talked about…
-turning to God means you have to see him as valuable
-when you thought about what’d put you in a glass case, was it knowing Jesus?
-Tonight: talking about what we have to turn from to turn to God – sin.
-sin – stuff (activities, ideas, things) – we love more than God
-results in us either not caring about him like we should
-or disobeying his rules and laws.
-What I want us to see tonight, is that to enter God’s eternal Kingdom,
it is necessary to turn away from seeking what we want
and to reorder our lives to be governed by seeking the spread of his Kingdom –
and that that life change can only be produced by God
-Looking at Mark 10:17-30 (remind, read)
-We’re going to take a look at five things
1 – desire to get eternal life
2 – 2 misconceptions about getting et. Life
3 – how to get eternal life – turning from sin to God (MBI)
4 – that that whole life change is a work of God
5 – what you can expect if God has changed your life
-(Pray)
-First, let’s look at the desire to have eternal life (read v. 17)
-makes sense
-Think about his situation – what he’s seen Jesus do… (death reversed!)
-(I am Legend example)
-So yeah – we should want to escape this world and enter Jesus’ Kingdom
-Second, let’s look at two misconceptions this guy has (read vv. 18-20)
-First, this guy was looking for what to do rather than the source (v. 18)
-his question doesn’t say not God (as cults); but asks re: identity
-trying to look for what to do, not source
-like asking world’s greatest painter what brush…
-Second misconception: (vv. 19, 20)
-Thinks he’s kept commandments! (earlier, murder – anger, etc.)
-Low view of sin; external, not heart/mind level
-How do we judge ourselves? Not murdering? Pr0n? Bible reading?
-They are sin if not done because you’ve reordered your life to spread God’s Kingdom – and missing the point that the external commands exist to show us that we need God to rescue us from our wrong desires
-Third, let’s look at how to enter Jesus’ eternal Kingdom – by organizing your life around the goal of spreading God’s Kingdom through the world (read vv. 21-25)
-loved him! (v. 21)
-the answer: (vv. 21, 22)
-points out this guy loves his stuff more than Jesus
-note: not go to church, read bible, and be willing – it’s do it
-doesn’t mean we sell our stuff and physically follow Jesus
-principle communicated: organize all your life around
-doesn’t mean do what you want and see if you can use it for the Kingdom; it’s do stuff because you want to spread the Kingdom
-I was thinking, well, college students don’t have a whole lot of money
-but time is the commodity - wasting it? Spring Break/Summer? Dating?
-And note that without real life change, no entry (vv. 23-25 – note on camel)
-Note that it’s a pattern for life (follow) – future job, spouse, income –everything
-Unsettled? Maybe you should be? Leads us to how that change is made –
-Fourth point: the heart and lifestyle change required to enter the Kingdom is something God does in a person. (vv. 26, 27)
-disciples amazed (v. 26) – makes sense – aren’t you?
-But Jesus tells us how this heart/lifechange happens – God (v. 27)
-God causes person to turn from sin and towards spreading Kingdom
-God produces life change – organization of one’s life around…
-God is the author of heart change – rescues people who don’t love him and changes their hearts so they’ll enter his eternal Kingdom
-Let’s look at Romans 8:1-4 (read)
-first, no condemnation – (v. 1) – why? First, Jesus died for us
-No condemnation because the old nature for all who turn was destroyed when Jesus died and a new nature was given! (vv. 2-4 – explain)
-New nature walks in a way that obeys God
-(T1 v. T2 example)
-Paul – killing Christians -> being killed for being one
-Zacchaeus
-What should we do?
- if you haven’t reordered your life around…. Do it, please…
-if you have, keep on living that way
-if you have, depend on God for continued life change (honor him)
Fifth: let’s look at the results of this heart change that God produces (vv. 28-30)
-here: (vv. 29, 30) (broken relationships, persecution, the love present among God’s people)
-later: eternal life! The Kingdom! Gaining Jesus forever. The righting of everything that’s wrong, suffering, sickness – and the ever presence of God
-if you’ve reordered your life, v. 30 is true of you
-be comforted – God has done it!
-enjoy the love present among God’s people
-expect your lifestyle to result in people treating you bad
-live in light of the fact that you are inheriting the Kingdom
-depend on the Spirit to produce real life change
-keep on choosing to do things because you love God/Kingdom
-time here, prep for future (major, spouse, etc.), sb, sp’s
-if you haven’t – Jesus loves you – do.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Romans 6: Exposition and Discussion Guide
Romans 6
Exposition and Notes
The beginning of chapter 6 is a pivotal point in Romans. As is the case with a lot of the book, Paul argues with an imaginary opponent of the gospel. But what he’s just taught in the last 5 chapters is going to bring a few objections to it, isn’t it? If justification before God – and therefore entry into glory – is on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness alone, received through faith alone, can we just go on sinning?
That’s the objection faced by Paul (and provided by him) in v. 1. His presentation of the gospel has been so clear that this is a very natural objection. I’m going to divide this chapter into three smaller sections: vv. 1-7, 8-14, and 15-23. The themes of these sections might be we died and so are no longer responsive to sin as if we were its slaves, Christ’s resurrection has given us a new life so we should act like it, and we’ve changed owners because of Christ – from sin to God – so we need to act like it and will get eternal life because of it.
In vv. 1-7 we first see the objection raised, and Paul brings up the symbol of baptism to refute it. We know that he’s using baptism as a symbol here – not a causal thing – for the following reasons: first, ch. 6 follows chapters 1-5 – which show that justification is by faith alone. Second, in v. 3 he makes baptism as a symbol the cause of being in Jesus. Third, in v. 5, he says that our ‘baptism’ will necessarily result in our future resurrection.
Now, on the other hand, Paul is assuming that all believers have been baptized. We should take note of that.
We also should take note of what this passage says baptism represents: not a public declaration of faith – but a celebration in the sovereignty of God in bringing them from death to life, from guilt to justification, and from this world to a future glorious one - because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So v. 3 tells us that we have a new life because in v. 5 – Jesus’ resurrection guarantees ours (both present-spiritual and future-physical.) vv. 6 and 7 show us that since we died in Christ, or in other words, our old nature died in Christ, we’re free from sin’s mastery over us.
In this section, you really want your folks to get what baptism represents: everyone who has trusted Christ has crucified the old nature – and has a totally new one – and will be resurrected in glory. We’re no longer mastered by sin.
In vv. 8-14 we have the concept of our new life explored, and it’s applied finally in the first command in Romans – v. 11. V. 8 Tells us that everyone who’s died with Christ will also (in the future Kingdom) live with him. Vv. 9 and 10 tell us that Jesus died because of the sins of others – it was the justice of God. But he now lives for God, or towards God – being responsive to him. V. 11 then says that since we’re united to him, we have to think about ourselves the same way. We’re no longer under the rule of sin – but rather we’re alive – we have a new nature – a nature that is responsive to God and lives for him.
And in 13 and 14 we have this instructed in a command: don’t give your ‘members’ – or different aspects of who you are (mind, body, words, etc.) – to sin for sin to control them – act like who you are! Give your members to God for his control! In 14 Paul gives us the basis for this command – sin will not dominate us, because we’re not under law (or not held guilty by it) – but we live in the economy of grace. We have been saved by Jesus’ works. So the basis for the command is a promise – we aren’t slaves of sin because God has changed everything in Jesus.
In 15-23, Paul stretches out this analogy of slave and master (and sort of apologizes for the ‘human terms’ he uses in v. 19). He raises an objection to what he’s said last. Does not being judged by the law but in the economy of grace result in us sinning more? No – and his answer, in v. 16, is that you’re a slave to whatever you obey – but God (in v. 17) caused us to be obedient to what Paul taught (we trusted Christ), and so we’re no longer slaves of sin but of righteousness.
Because we’ve changed owners, he says in v. 19, we need to act like we have. And as we do, the result is ‘sanctification’ – or ‘holiness.’
He draws things out more in 20-23. He says in 20 and 21 that when we were slaves of sin, righteousness didn’t control us – and the ‘fruit’ – or ‘result’ – was death.
On the other hand, having changed owners, the result is holiness, and the end of that path is eternal life.
In 23 (which is widely misquoted), he gives us the basis for that. If sin is our master and we its slaves, it gives us a wage: death. But if we’re in Christ, God gives us a free gift: eternal life on the basis of what Jesus did.
Suggested Bible Study Discussion Guide
-What are some things you do to try to obey God and fight temptation?
-What has Paul taught about how people stand right before God in ch’s 1-5?
-Is there any connection between trying to be Christlike and the way God declares us righteous?
-Say that you’re going to be looking at the answer to the objection: “If salvation is totally a results of Jesus’ actions received by faith alone, can we go on disobeying God?”
-Pray
-Have someone read vv. 1-7
-Tell them that what’s coming is a treating of ‘sin’ as a master that controls people.
-What are some themes or repeated words you notice?
-What did Jesus death do?
-What did his resurrection do?
-What should we believe about ourselves from this passage?
-What does baptism represent?
-Have someone read vv. 8-14
-What do these verses say about Jesus?
-What’s true of us as a result?
-What are the commands in this section?
-How does this section empower us to obey?
-What kind of thinking about ‘having a sinful nature’ does this passage correct?
-Have someone read vv. 15-23
-What does this section tell us about those who act like they’re slaves to sin?
-What does it tell us about people that have genuinely submitted to Jesus as King?
-How does this passage fix our thinking about our relationship to sin?
-How does it affect how we try to obey God?
Exposition and Notes
The beginning of chapter 6 is a pivotal point in Romans. As is the case with a lot of the book, Paul argues with an imaginary opponent of the gospel. But what he’s just taught in the last 5 chapters is going to bring a few objections to it, isn’t it? If justification before God – and therefore entry into glory – is on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness alone, received through faith alone, can we just go on sinning?
That’s the objection faced by Paul (and provided by him) in v. 1. His presentation of the gospel has been so clear that this is a very natural objection. I’m going to divide this chapter into three smaller sections: vv. 1-7, 8-14, and 15-23. The themes of these sections might be we died and so are no longer responsive to sin as if we were its slaves, Christ’s resurrection has given us a new life so we should act like it, and we’ve changed owners because of Christ – from sin to God – so we need to act like it and will get eternal life because of it.
In vv. 1-7 we first see the objection raised, and Paul brings up the symbol of baptism to refute it. We know that he’s using baptism as a symbol here – not a causal thing – for the following reasons: first, ch. 6 follows chapters 1-5 – which show that justification is by faith alone. Second, in v. 3 he makes baptism as a symbol the cause of being in Jesus. Third, in v. 5, he says that our ‘baptism’ will necessarily result in our future resurrection.
Now, on the other hand, Paul is assuming that all believers have been baptized. We should take note of that.
We also should take note of what this passage says baptism represents: not a public declaration of faith – but a celebration in the sovereignty of God in bringing them from death to life, from guilt to justification, and from this world to a future glorious one - because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
So v. 3 tells us that we have a new life because in v. 5 – Jesus’ resurrection guarantees ours (both present-spiritual and future-physical.) vv. 6 and 7 show us that since we died in Christ, or in other words, our old nature died in Christ, we’re free from sin’s mastery over us.
In this section, you really want your folks to get what baptism represents: everyone who has trusted Christ has crucified the old nature – and has a totally new one – and will be resurrected in glory. We’re no longer mastered by sin.
In vv. 8-14 we have the concept of our new life explored, and it’s applied finally in the first command in Romans – v. 11. V. 8 Tells us that everyone who’s died with Christ will also (in the future Kingdom) live with him. Vv. 9 and 10 tell us that Jesus died because of the sins of others – it was the justice of God. But he now lives for God, or towards God – being responsive to him. V. 11 then says that since we’re united to him, we have to think about ourselves the same way. We’re no longer under the rule of sin – but rather we’re alive – we have a new nature – a nature that is responsive to God and lives for him.
And in 13 and 14 we have this instructed in a command: don’t give your ‘members’ – or different aspects of who you are (mind, body, words, etc.) – to sin for sin to control them – act like who you are! Give your members to God for his control! In 14 Paul gives us the basis for this command – sin will not dominate us, because we’re not under law (or not held guilty by it) – but we live in the economy of grace. We have been saved by Jesus’ works. So the basis for the command is a promise – we aren’t slaves of sin because God has changed everything in Jesus.
In 15-23, Paul stretches out this analogy of slave and master (and sort of apologizes for the ‘human terms’ he uses in v. 19). He raises an objection to what he’s said last. Does not being judged by the law but in the economy of grace result in us sinning more? No – and his answer, in v. 16, is that you’re a slave to whatever you obey – but God (in v. 17) caused us to be obedient to what Paul taught (we trusted Christ), and so we’re no longer slaves of sin but of righteousness.
Because we’ve changed owners, he says in v. 19, we need to act like we have. And as we do, the result is ‘sanctification’ – or ‘holiness.’
He draws things out more in 20-23. He says in 20 and 21 that when we were slaves of sin, righteousness didn’t control us – and the ‘fruit’ – or ‘result’ – was death.
On the other hand, having changed owners, the result is holiness, and the end of that path is eternal life.
In 23 (which is widely misquoted), he gives us the basis for that. If sin is our master and we its slaves, it gives us a wage: death. But if we’re in Christ, God gives us a free gift: eternal life on the basis of what Jesus did.
Suggested Bible Study Discussion Guide
-What are some things you do to try to obey God and fight temptation?
-What has Paul taught about how people stand right before God in ch’s 1-5?
-Is there any connection between trying to be Christlike and the way God declares us righteous?
-Say that you’re going to be looking at the answer to the objection: “If salvation is totally a results of Jesus’ actions received by faith alone, can we go on disobeying God?”
-Pray
-Have someone read vv. 1-7
-Tell them that what’s coming is a treating of ‘sin’ as a master that controls people.
-What are some themes or repeated words you notice?
-What did Jesus death do?
-What did his resurrection do?
-What should we believe about ourselves from this passage?
-What does baptism represent?
-Have someone read vv. 8-14
-What do these verses say about Jesus?
-What’s true of us as a result?
-What are the commands in this section?
-How does this section empower us to obey?
-What kind of thinking about ‘having a sinful nature’ does this passage correct?
-Have someone read vv. 15-23
-What does this section tell us about those who act like they’re slaves to sin?
-What does it tell us about people that have genuinely submitted to Jesus as King?
-How does this passage fix our thinking about our relationship to sin?
-How does it affect how we try to obey God?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
An Apology Regarding the Last Talk I Gave at Cru
When I say the word ‘apology’ in the title, I’m using it to refer to two senses of the word. First, I’m using it to say “I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” Second, I’m using the word ‘apology’ to signify a defense for statements made.
So first, I greatly wronged the audience by a failure to write that talk well. When I stated that Jesus caused the World Trade Center tragedy, I did not consider my audience; I merely considered myself. And frankly, emotionally speaking, I celebrate God’s sovereign reign over disaster and suffering.
What I did was twofold – I failed to put in the time necessary to write that talk, first. Second, and as a result, I failed to take the time to consider you, the hearer, and how you would respond. In doing those things, I detracted from the glory of Christ and distracted you from him and from his word. I’m ever so sorry, and will work to never do that again; though I’m sure that before he comes back or I go to heaven, I always will poorly reflect him.
That said, let me defend the statements I made regarding the sovereignty of Christ in causing suffering and death – which specifically shook some of you when I mentioned the World Trade Center tragedy. I will do so in the immediate context of Revelation 5:9, 10; in terms of how God is working in the world through history, and finally in terms of theology in general.
First, let’s look at the immediate context. God says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The picture here takes place after Christ’s death and resurrection. He appears at God’s throne and takes a scroll from the one in a position of authority. Scrolls contained edicts or decrees of kings. The songs that are sung make it clear that Jesus has conquered and is ruling (v. 5), and owns all things, including authority (v. 12), and glory – which is garnered by what one does (v. 13). So he takes a position of authority, takes the King’s edicts, and is honored as the one who is reigning over a world and acting in it.
Then, his opening the seals causes world events. These include much suffering. And in the context of the book of Revelation, we’re dealing with Jesus judging the world – there is going to be suffering that results from that judgment.
One of these things being caused is the fear of human rulers, and they take note in v. 17 that what is being experienced is Jesus’ wrath – his just anger at humanity. And note that all this takes place before the final judgment! (The martyrs are not yet avenged – 6:9-11.)
So in the immediate context we have Jesus acting authoritatively, clearly causing suffering in the world prior to the final day of judgment, after his resurrection.
Second, let’s look at the fact of Jesus judging the world in terms of how God has worked in history. A huge thing to note is that Jesus was given all authority – or all power over all things - as a result of his death and resurrection.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 2: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestwed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(vv. 8-11).
And in Romans 1 Paul describes the Gospel – or Good News – and he says that it’s about Jesus, who “…was appointed to be the Son of God in authority according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We see this in Hebrews 1 in God talking of his Son as ‘begotten’ – which in this context means ‘crowned as King.’ We see it after Jesus resurrection in Matthew 28:18, where he said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
That Jesus has started to use his power for judgment is evident from specific texts and from redemptive-historical theology. Some specific texts include John 3:18, 19: “The ones believing in him are not being judged; and the ones not believing have been judged already because they didn’t believe in the name of the unique son of God. And this is the judgment: that the late came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light.” Judgment has already begun.
Also, take a look at John 5:19-30 – Christ is judging (v. 30) and that judgment has begun in his not calling certain people to life (v. 21, etc.). He leaves some of the dead as – dead. That death will be finished on the final day (vv. 28, 29).
There are a plethora of texts in John – one significant one, right before Jesus’ death, is John 12:31: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now, the ruler of this world will be cast out.” That’s pretty clear, right?
Let’s look at one final one. 1 Peter 4:6 says that people are all judged in the flesh (they die – remember that sin leads to God taking away life – Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-14). And then, in talking about Christians suffering for their faith, Peter goes on to say in v. 17, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In the context here, we suffer as if we were sinners because we model Jesus, and Jesus suffered as if he was a sinner in the place of sinners. We also see God bringing suffering and death to the world in a way that will be consummated at the final judgment.
Now, in short form – in redemptive-historical theology, judgment of the world began with Jesus’ advent – his being here. I’m not going to show this here, but hopefully the aforementioned texts will begin to help point to it.
Third and finally, let’s look at some theological facts to establish that Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. It is clear from Scripture that God has decreed everything that happens. Amos 3:6 tells us, “Does disaster come to a city, unless YHWH has done it?” Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God is the one who “…works all things according to his purpose.” Note that he doesn’t react to things – he works the things themselves.
This of course doesn’t take away from human responsibility. Humans make choices and are responsible for them. But it is God who brings about their choices. For someone who is not a Christian, they are a slave of sin and all their choices, thus, are sinful. But God may direct their hearts in particular directions as they are motivated by sin (and as we’ve seen from John 5 – God directs things such that they would remain in sin.)
A couple examples of that include Cyrus and those who put Jesus to death.
First, Cyrus – I’m just going to cite a chunk of Isaiah 44, in which God talks about himself.
God is the one…
Is. 44:26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
Is. 44:27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
Is. 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Is. 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
Is. 45:2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
Is. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Is. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
Is. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 45:6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Is. 45:7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Many, many choices went into all that God was saying that he was causing. But note that God is the one causing all this! This confirms what God has said in Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; he turns it wherever he will.”
Note also Peter’s statement regarding Jesus’ death in Acts 2:23 about Jesus – “…delievered up according to the definite plan and forechoice of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” We have here both God having done something – caused it – and it having been done by people. Their actions had been chosen by God.
A couple final notes: God has the right to judge the world and is doing so. Look at Romans 3:6; at Romans 1 (we’re handed over to sin more by God in his righteous wrath); and death reigns over the world because we sin (Romans 5:12-14). That death exists now as punishment for sin is clear all over Scripture. If you want another example, look at the Tower of Siloam incident in Luke 13:1-5.
So all this to say, yes, Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. He is indeed the one that creates calamity and rules over all things. And we need to – as they did in Revelation 5:9, 10 – honor him for it. This is our King. This is the real Jesus.
But this is the real Jesus who also died for the sins of people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation – and thus has secured their entry into his Kingdom.
I realize that this is tough stuff. We don’t like considering ourselves sinners, really, when it comes down to it. We don’t like to think that God has complete rights over people to do what he pleases (Psalm 115:3). But he does, and we must worship him for it.
I do not want this all to detract from the point I was making in my talk. Jesus’ death secured the entry of a particular people from every people-group on earth into his Kingdom. He did not die for everyone. Those he died for will come into his Kingdom. They will do so by hearing the gospel from other people and believing. For this reason, evangelism is vital.
We should feel mercy for every individual. But there is a practical reality in the world – the gospel is accessible – even prevalent – in America. It does not exist in many places on earth. God is all about his glory among every people group. We need to be too. And that means that foreign missions among unreached people groups is more vital than ministry in America. Yes, people need to stay here to disciple the Church of God here. But more are needed to go.
I suggest this: go unless it is clear that God has called you to remain. (Knowing that is a subject for another blog entry, eh?) Get discipled here, learn the Scriptures, learn some practical ministry skill, and abandon comfort for the sake of the glory of Christ among every nation – and out of love for his Church.
May God grant us sinners here mercy, as we serve him ever so imperfectly – but as he brings in the fullness of his Kingdom. Amen.
*For the Scripture quotations, I either did the translating myself or cited the ESV.
So first, I greatly wronged the audience by a failure to write that talk well. When I stated that Jesus caused the World Trade Center tragedy, I did not consider my audience; I merely considered myself. And frankly, emotionally speaking, I celebrate God’s sovereign reign over disaster and suffering.
What I did was twofold – I failed to put in the time necessary to write that talk, first. Second, and as a result, I failed to take the time to consider you, the hearer, and how you would respond. In doing those things, I detracted from the glory of Christ and distracted you from him and from his word. I’m ever so sorry, and will work to never do that again; though I’m sure that before he comes back or I go to heaven, I always will poorly reflect him.
That said, let me defend the statements I made regarding the sovereignty of Christ in causing suffering and death – which specifically shook some of you when I mentioned the World Trade Center tragedy. I will do so in the immediate context of Revelation 5:9, 10; in terms of how God is working in the world through history, and finally in terms of theology in general.
First, let’s look at the immediate context. God says, “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The picture here takes place after Christ’s death and resurrection. He appears at God’s throne and takes a scroll from the one in a position of authority. Scrolls contained edicts or decrees of kings. The songs that are sung make it clear that Jesus has conquered and is ruling (v. 5), and owns all things, including authority (v. 12), and glory – which is garnered by what one does (v. 13). So he takes a position of authority, takes the King’s edicts, and is honored as the one who is reigning over a world and acting in it.
Then, his opening the seals causes world events. These include much suffering. And in the context of the book of Revelation, we’re dealing with Jesus judging the world – there is going to be suffering that results from that judgment.
One of these things being caused is the fear of human rulers, and they take note in v. 17 that what is being experienced is Jesus’ wrath – his just anger at humanity. And note that all this takes place before the final judgment! (The martyrs are not yet avenged – 6:9-11.)
So in the immediate context we have Jesus acting authoritatively, clearly causing suffering in the world prior to the final day of judgment, after his resurrection.
Second, let’s look at the fact of Jesus judging the world in terms of how God has worked in history. A huge thing to note is that Jesus was given all authority – or all power over all things - as a result of his death and resurrection.
Look at what Paul says in Philippians 2: “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestwed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(vv. 8-11).
And in Romans 1 Paul describes the Gospel – or Good News – and he says that it’s about Jesus, who “…was appointed to be the Son of God in authority according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead – Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We see this in Hebrews 1 in God talking of his Son as ‘begotten’ – which in this context means ‘crowned as King.’ We see it after Jesus resurrection in Matthew 28:18, where he said, “All authority/power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
That Jesus has started to use his power for judgment is evident from specific texts and from redemptive-historical theology. Some specific texts include John 3:18, 19: “The ones believing in him are not being judged; and the ones not believing have been judged already because they didn’t believe in the name of the unique son of God. And this is the judgment: that the late came into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light.” Judgment has already begun.
Also, take a look at John 5:19-30 – Christ is judging (v. 30) and that judgment has begun in his not calling certain people to life (v. 21, etc.). He leaves some of the dead as – dead. That death will be finished on the final day (vv. 28, 29).
There are a plethora of texts in John – one significant one, right before Jesus’ death, is John 12:31: “Now is the judgment of this world. Now, the ruler of this world will be cast out.” That’s pretty clear, right?
Let’s look at one final one. 1 Peter 4:6 says that people are all judged in the flesh (they die – remember that sin leads to God taking away life – Genesis 3, Romans 5:12-14). And then, in talking about Christians suffering for their faith, Peter goes on to say in v. 17, “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” In the context here, we suffer as if we were sinners because we model Jesus, and Jesus suffered as if he was a sinner in the place of sinners. We also see God bringing suffering and death to the world in a way that will be consummated at the final judgment.
Now, in short form – in redemptive-historical theology, judgment of the world began with Jesus’ advent – his being here. I’m not going to show this here, but hopefully the aforementioned texts will begin to help point to it.
Third and finally, let’s look at some theological facts to establish that Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. It is clear from Scripture that God has decreed everything that happens. Amos 3:6 tells us, “Does disaster come to a city, unless YHWH has done it?” Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God is the one who “…works all things according to his purpose.” Note that he doesn’t react to things – he works the things themselves.
This of course doesn’t take away from human responsibility. Humans make choices and are responsible for them. But it is God who brings about their choices. For someone who is not a Christian, they are a slave of sin and all their choices, thus, are sinful. But God may direct their hearts in particular directions as they are motivated by sin (and as we’ve seen from John 5 – God directs things such that they would remain in sin.)
A couple examples of that include Cyrus and those who put Jesus to death.
First, Cyrus – I’m just going to cite a chunk of Isaiah 44, in which God talks about himself.
God is the one…
Is. 44:26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
Is. 44:27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
Is. 44:28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Is. 45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
Is. 45:2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
Is. 45:3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
Is. 45:4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
Is. 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
Is. 45:6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Is. 45:7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Many, many choices went into all that God was saying that he was causing. But note that God is the one causing all this! This confirms what God has said in Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of YHWH; he turns it wherever he will.”
Note also Peter’s statement regarding Jesus’ death in Acts 2:23 about Jesus – “…delievered up according to the definite plan and forechoice of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” We have here both God having done something – caused it – and it having been done by people. Their actions had been chosen by God.
A couple final notes: God has the right to judge the world and is doing so. Look at Romans 3:6; at Romans 1 (we’re handed over to sin more by God in his righteous wrath); and death reigns over the world because we sin (Romans 5:12-14). That death exists now as punishment for sin is clear all over Scripture. If you want another example, look at the Tower of Siloam incident in Luke 13:1-5.
So all this to say, yes, Jesus does indeed cause suffering and death. He is indeed the one that creates calamity and rules over all things. And we need to – as they did in Revelation 5:9, 10 – honor him for it. This is our King. This is the real Jesus.
But this is the real Jesus who also died for the sins of people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation – and thus has secured their entry into his Kingdom.
I realize that this is tough stuff. We don’t like considering ourselves sinners, really, when it comes down to it. We don’t like to think that God has complete rights over people to do what he pleases (Psalm 115:3). But he does, and we must worship him for it.
I do not want this all to detract from the point I was making in my talk. Jesus’ death secured the entry of a particular people from every people-group on earth into his Kingdom. He did not die for everyone. Those he died for will come into his Kingdom. They will do so by hearing the gospel from other people and believing. For this reason, evangelism is vital.
We should feel mercy for every individual. But there is a practical reality in the world – the gospel is accessible – even prevalent – in America. It does not exist in many places on earth. God is all about his glory among every people group. We need to be too. And that means that foreign missions among unreached people groups is more vital than ministry in America. Yes, people need to stay here to disciple the Church of God here. But more are needed to go.
I suggest this: go unless it is clear that God has called you to remain. (Knowing that is a subject for another blog entry, eh?) Get discipled here, learn the Scriptures, learn some practical ministry skill, and abandon comfort for the sake of the glory of Christ among every nation – and out of love for his Church.
May God grant us sinners here mercy, as we serve him ever so imperfectly – but as he brings in the fullness of his Kingdom. Amen.
*For the Scripture quotations, I either did the translating myself or cited the ESV.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A Brief Exposition about THAT part of 1 Timothy 2
God says, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." Paul here is talking about teaching in the church and exercising church authority. How do we know this? Well, he's writing to Timothy first of all - who was overseeing the appointment of elders/pastors in churches! He's addressed teaching already (1:6) and goes right on to talking about qualifications for eldership. The reason this is important is because this does not prohibit conversations between men and women regarding the BIble - but it does prohibit the teaching of men publicly. And in our culture, that sounds rather strange. After all, women can be Professors, CEOs, etc - but this isn't really addressing those particular jobs. And so we should ask 'why?'
God begins to give us the reason why in the following verse: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." That sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? Why would it be significant that Adam was formed first? Paul really only addresses Adam here in 1 Timothy - and in Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 15. In two of those cases when Paul talks about Adam it's in the context of Adam's breaking of the Law having the effect of subjecting all humanity to death. In one (1 Cor. 11), it's about how men and women are to operate in the Church - acting accordingly to how God has created the genders differently - with men acting as the authorities. I'll return to that in a second, though.
And then we look back at Genesis 2 - and we see something very significant happening. Adam was given the prohibition not to eat from the tree before Eve was around; and Adam was given the command to begin ruling the earth (in naming the animals) before Eve was around. So in other words, because Adam (man) was there first, God put him in a position of exercising doctrinal and practical authority. (Eve was given to him to compliment and help him as he led in doing that.)
And so when Adam broke God's Law (covenant, specifically - see Hosea 6:7), it wasn't Eve's lawbreaking that counted for humanity - it was Adam's - because he was acting as the 'covenant head.' That means that he would exercise authority over people in the covenant that humanity had with God - and that he represented them. Adam's being created first put him in that position. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11 and it's focus on 'headship' - that is, authority.
In 1 Timothy 2 - unlike in Paul's other writings - we see Eve's lawbreaking/transgression referred to. Given what we've just looked at, isn't that odd? And isn't it weird that Paul calls her deceived and a transgressor - and says that Adam wasn't deceived? Yeah, that's weird. We need to ask why that is, because Adam indeed WAS deceived and DID become a transgressor.
What happened in Genesis 3 is this: Satan addressed Eve and asked her to make a decision for the family! For the first church! It wasn't that she was more easily tricked or something like that - it was that she was the object of Satan's deception. (The form of the word 'deceived' in Greek permits this idea, and the context, as shown, supports it - Adam was deceived and did transgress.) So what did Satan do? He overthrew gender roles in tempting Eve and having her act as the authority in the relationship - as it regarded God's word and his commands.
And this overthrow results in a further overthrow of what gender roles are to look like. When God curses them (in Genesis 3:16), he tells Eve that her desire will be for her husband, and he will rule over her. That's a weird expression, but it is used again in a more clear way in Genesis 4:7 - Cain sinned against God, and God told him that sin was crouching at his door - and sin's desire was for him - but he must rule over it! In other words - sin was seeking to supplant man - to take him over by deception and manipulation - trickery. And Cain was commanded to 'rule' it - but 'rule' isn't a kind, gentle rule here - it's a dominating, abusive rule that would hurt 'sin' a lot. So the curse becomes further sin - women become manipulative, seeking to supplant man's authority. Men use their authority to abuse - or like Adam, don''t use it at all - even though they should be using their authority for the protection of the Church from sin!
So what is happening in God's recreating the world by what Jesus did - and now in the Church - is that God is restoring human relationships to the way they are supposed to be. Man is to act as the authority at home and in the church - but in a loving, serving way that points us to God. They are to act as God's representatives as elders in churches, communicating God's covenant-message and enforcing it - and in the home, doing the same - and in both - representing the Church's new covenant head - Jesus.
Women are to be subject to men (see this passage, Ephesians 5:21, Titus 2, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.). This does not mean they are not to have a ministry in the Church! They ARE supposed to. Rather, it means that their ministries should fit within the rubric of how God has created - and is reforming - relationships - with man as loving and sacrificial authority for woman's holiness - and with woman as responsive to God's word, communicated by the men in authority, serving in the church in various ways for the progress of God's Kingdom - including teaching God's word to other women (Titus 2).
God begins to give us the reason why in the following verse: "For Adam was formed first, then Eve." That sounds a bit odd, doesn't it? Why would it be significant that Adam was formed first? Paul really only addresses Adam here in 1 Timothy - and in Romans 5, 1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 15. In two of those cases when Paul talks about Adam it's in the context of Adam's breaking of the Law having the effect of subjecting all humanity to death. In one (1 Cor. 11), it's about how men and women are to operate in the Church - acting accordingly to how God has created the genders differently - with men acting as the authorities. I'll return to that in a second, though.
And then we look back at Genesis 2 - and we see something very significant happening. Adam was given the prohibition not to eat from the tree before Eve was around; and Adam was given the command to begin ruling the earth (in naming the animals) before Eve was around. So in other words, because Adam (man) was there first, God put him in a position of exercising doctrinal and practical authority. (Eve was given to him to compliment and help him as he led in doing that.)
And so when Adam broke God's Law (covenant, specifically - see Hosea 6:7), it wasn't Eve's lawbreaking that counted for humanity - it was Adam's - because he was acting as the 'covenant head.' That means that he would exercise authority over people in the covenant that humanity had with God - and that he represented them. Adam's being created first put him in that position. Hence, 1 Corinthians 11 and it's focus on 'headship' - that is, authority.
In 1 Timothy 2 - unlike in Paul's other writings - we see Eve's lawbreaking/transgression referred to. Given what we've just looked at, isn't that odd? And isn't it weird that Paul calls her deceived and a transgressor - and says that Adam wasn't deceived? Yeah, that's weird. We need to ask why that is, because Adam indeed WAS deceived and DID become a transgressor.
What happened in Genesis 3 is this: Satan addressed Eve and asked her to make a decision for the family! For the first church! It wasn't that she was more easily tricked or something like that - it was that she was the object of Satan's deception. (The form of the word 'deceived' in Greek permits this idea, and the context, as shown, supports it - Adam was deceived and did transgress.) So what did Satan do? He overthrew gender roles in tempting Eve and having her act as the authority in the relationship - as it regarded God's word and his commands.
And this overthrow results in a further overthrow of what gender roles are to look like. When God curses them (in Genesis 3:16), he tells Eve that her desire will be for her husband, and he will rule over her. That's a weird expression, but it is used again in a more clear way in Genesis 4:7 - Cain sinned against God, and God told him that sin was crouching at his door - and sin's desire was for him - but he must rule over it! In other words - sin was seeking to supplant man - to take him over by deception and manipulation - trickery. And Cain was commanded to 'rule' it - but 'rule' isn't a kind, gentle rule here - it's a dominating, abusive rule that would hurt 'sin' a lot. So the curse becomes further sin - women become manipulative, seeking to supplant man's authority. Men use their authority to abuse - or like Adam, don''t use it at all - even though they should be using their authority for the protection of the Church from sin!
So what is happening in God's recreating the world by what Jesus did - and now in the Church - is that God is restoring human relationships to the way they are supposed to be. Man is to act as the authority at home and in the church - but in a loving, serving way that points us to God. They are to act as God's representatives as elders in churches, communicating God's covenant-message and enforcing it - and in the home, doing the same - and in both - representing the Church's new covenant head - Jesus.
Women are to be subject to men (see this passage, Ephesians 5:21, Titus 2, 1 Peter 3:1-7, etc.). This does not mean they are not to have a ministry in the Church! They ARE supposed to. Rather, it means that their ministries should fit within the rubric of how God has created - and is reforming - relationships - with man as loving and sacrificial authority for woman's holiness - and with woman as responsive to God's word, communicated by the men in authority, serving in the church in various ways for the progress of God's Kingdom - including teaching God's word to other women (Titus 2).
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