Words of Redemption

Immobilized

Frozen while burning

Feign composure

Breathtaking, seen and unseen

Culmination of His creation

Depleted yet catalyzed

Faith not religion

Broken – all together – and real

Washing with the Word

The inscription

And desires of my heart

There’s no redemption without failure

No wisdom without a past

No life without choice

All experienced

But I’ve been dead before too

Now alive

The Half Marathon - In Pursuit of JOY

Didn't know I was doing it until the day before really. Nick Bates - errr - "Beast" threw the idea at me about a week in advance. I was like, "Hmmm." It sounded really fun - and possible - yet somewhat ill-advised given my lack of training and certain recurring maladies. Just 4 weeks prior I had finished P90X and was halfway through Insanity when - shazam - my ab injury resurfaced. Anyways, if it weren't for that I might not have started any running workouts at all. Of course, the predictable knee pain commenced when the outdoor running began. Awesome. So given the circumstances, I tell Nick: "Let me go ahead and say 'No' now so the following 'I'll think about it' is properly couched."

However, I sensed the Spirit had lit the fire inside - and Praise God He did! I felt from the core of my soul, certainly although faintly, that I was about to be taken on this ride in spontaneous yet intentional pursuit of joy.

Joy?

Yeah, you might recall it's a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians)? Well it also happens to be my 2011 bulls-eye, by the way. Satan's been robbing me of it ever since I was a kid. He really ramped his efforts up 3 years ago in March of '08 and has continued to fight fiercely since then. Undoubtedly, he'll extend the effort for the rest of my earthly life.

BUT (recalling Ephesians 4: 2-10), thanks to the Almighty, the eternal loser didn't win this time. I had a couple long runs under my belt (5 & 7 miles). Couldn't restart Insanity as of yet, but I figured it and P90 had probably strengthened the legs up enough to endure a 13.1'er (5 longer than the longest run of my life - in high school). Weather was supposed to be great on race day. I sleep well and eat pretty healthily, so I'm clean there already. Plus, without proper training allowance and goal-setting time, I couldn't overtrain nor could my analytical mind derail me. The goal was simply to finish the dang thing and the way to accomplish it was just to freakin' not quit.

Most importantly though, my guy Nick was ready to rock. His enthusiasm was awesome...and comical. Here's the thing; he's 90 pounds lighter than me and also "much" younger. So a couple things were at play here: 1) It would be really cool, from an "iron sharpens iron" perspective, to crush this race with the "Beast" and 2) I'm not turning down any challenge from some dude that thinks I'm old. You can forget it.

So I forced myself to take 3 straight days off of working out, which is about 3 more than the record (during workout seasons of my life), tested out the legs a little on Saturday morning and signed up on Saturday night, about 12 hours before the start.

We showed up at 7:00am Sunday and shredded the pavement from just after 7:30 to a few minutes past 10:00. Turns out your boy Nick unexpectedly had to deal with more knee pain during the race than I did, which was a total bummer. Regardless, we toughed it out. Snagged water and Gatorade at each station. Stopped to walk a couple of times on the back side. Busted through the finish line - together - where we each put down some cookies, and I also a banana...before heading to Huey's for a celebratory burger and "Diet Coke."

It was one heckuva day. So beautiful outside, unlike last year's cold and rainy race (I heard). I gotta say, it sure did seem like most of the race was uphill (figurative meaning unintended but accurate), but I can't ascertain how that would be possible when one starts and finishes at the same precise location. Regardless, I'm thankful for the convergence of all the blessings needed even to be able to participate in an event such as this one. Every one of them is to God's credit and for His glory.

Thanks BEAST. Here's to Philippians 3: 12-14 dude.

What's an ethical grid?

Who am I to split hairs with great ethicists of our time or manipulate the semantics of their words to generate my own unique opinion or perspective? I am but a novice, marginally educated in such matters. Sure, I was reared to hold biblical, spiritual and moral standards in high regard. Via St. Ann Bartlett and Christian Brothers High School, my parents sent me through Catholic schools with that intent. Speaking of family, we also attended church and observed the traditional religious holidays as I grew up. Next, could I say truthfully I haven’t learned life lessons through the accumulation of experiences over the course of my life? Not a chance. Finally, I’d say it’s true as well I’ve been gifted with an analytical mind, although at times that seems more a curse than a blessing. At any rate, I certainly reason using my rational intellect when making decisions.

With that said, I make a different set of conclusions on roles played by Scripture, tradition, experience and reason than those reached by many Christian ethicists on the matter. For me, all related considerations begin and end with God’s Word. True, the aforementioned experts make the same contention, so let me draw the distinction clearly: I believe those other elements are of such lesser value than the Bible it would make more sense not to include them in these discussions, emphatically relegate them to secondary status or at least make critical clarifications about their use.

I won’t get into matters of apologetics, seeking to prove there is a God and that He is the God of the Bible. Nor will I cover pre-evangelism as it relates to the historicity of the Scriptures. I’ll assume common ground on those issues and begin with biblical content itself as the preeminent factor in my ethical grid. Then I’ll critique tradition, experience and reason as supposed sources in ethical decision-making and reframe them as mere illustrations of the varying degrees to which morality is applied. 

Some thoughts on King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

On April 16th, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to the city’s white clergymen in response to their criticism of local protests carried out by African Americans as part of the civil rights movement. These clergymen had argued the non-violent marches needed not take place, stating any process by which racial equality might be considered ought to occur naturally over the course of time, without disruption to society. Ironically, it was their contention the peaceful protests caused the reactionary violence undertaken by many of the city’s police and citizenry. These men wanted the issue to be handled privately, between members of leadership from both sides, with negotiations taking place behind close doors.

As President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, King had traveled to Birmingham at the invitation of an SCLC affiliate, the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. However, he came with a purpose. “I am in Birmingham because injustice is here,” he wrote. First on the agenda for his visit were considerations for a “nonviolent direct action program,” which led to the planning and execution of the famous civil rights protests. Soon thereafter, having led, coordinated and participated in these marches, King was said to be in violation of Birmingham’s preliminary injunction to prevent the participation, organization or promotion of any marches or protests without a permit. It is for that reason he was arrested and imprisoned.

Through the Brown v. Board of Education case of 1954, the Supreme Court had ruled against continued segregation in the United States, as such was in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution. However, systemic racial inequality continued to permeate America’s deep south. King specifically indicted the city of Birmingham in his letter, referencing it as the "most thoroughly segregated city in the United States." Citing the many "unsolved bombings of homes and churches," he descriptively illustrated its "ugly record of brutality” and concluded: "There can be no gainsaying the fact that racial injustice engulfs this community."

King’s letter provides comprehensive insight on his spiritual beliefs and moral standards that in tandem gave birth to his basic convictions. In this regard he was first and foremost a Christian deontologist, basing his writing on the Word of God, which He believed set a singular standard of holy living to which all humanity was called to adhere, including he, his fellow African Americans and his white adversaries. Following his initial address, he aligned his personal evangelistic motivations directly with those of prophets from the Old Testament and Paul from the New. Soon thereafter, he justified the civil rights movement precisely by interlocking its purpose with the authority of the Scriptures: "A just law is a man code that squares with the moral law or the law of God." Quite obviously, he believed in a Heaven inclusive of people from “every tongue, tribe, people and nation (Rev 5: 9).” Throughout this letter, King’s Christianity is underscored, illustrating why he made the prescriptive and normative ethical conclusions he did.

King did not rely on God solely for instruction on matters of right and wrong in order to help him make correct ethical decisions, however. The way in which he pursued justice in leading the civil rights movement reveals he conformed to God’s will on matters of virtue as well. In addressing his oppressors, he demonstrated many core Christian character traits, some of which Paul described as “Fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians. Among other things, King’s writing showed him to be a man of respectfulness, humility, truthfulness, meekness, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, patience and self-control.

MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail - "A Call for Unity" (1963)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Memoirs

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was sold out for the Gospel in the face of Hitler's opposition. Many times he was offered safety and security in America but, at great risk, chose to fight for Christianity with brothers in his native land instead. That decision cost him his life. Bonhoeffer is described in the memoirs of his book, "The Cost of Discipleship." Below are quotes in that regard, as well as others that I found very meaningful.

G. Leibholz:

"Christianity was not the concern of the believing, pious soul who shuts himself up and keeps himself within the bounds of the sacramental sphere."

"Christian principles must in some way be translated into human life and that is in the sphere of the material, in state and society, that responsible love has to be manifested."

"From his (Bonhoeffer's) faith the breadth of vision came which enabled him to separate the gold in life from the dross and to differentiate what was and was not essential in the life of man."

"He believed in man as a free spiritual being, but this freedom was conferred and inspired by divine grace and granted man, not for his glorification, but for the conservation of the divine ordering of human life."

"Hitler was a destroyer of Europe and a traitor to his own country. Men can lose their country if it is represented by an anti-Christian regime."

"He was firmly and rightly convicted that it is not only a Christian right but a Christian duty towards God to oppose tyranny, that is, a government which is no longer based on natural law and the law of God."

"He felt that his church was more concerned with her own existence and inherited rights than with preaching against the war and with the fate of the persecuted and oppressed."

R. Niebuhr:

"The life of the Spirit is not that which shuns death and keeps clear of destruction; rather it endureth death in death is sustained. It only achieves its truth in the midst of utter destruction."

Bonhoeffer:

"When a man really gives up trying to make something of himself...then he wakes with Christ in Gethsemane (where Jesus wept just prior to His' arrest)."

"Christians stand by God in His hour of grieving."

"It is not only my task to look after the victims of madmen who drive a motorcar in a crowded street, but to do all in my power to stop their driving at all."

"The Cost of Discipleship" - A Spiritual Tornado

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote “The Cost of Discipleship” to assert authentic Christian faith must be lived out in uncompromising discipleship of Jesus Christ. He contends: “The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ (p. 51).” A key analysis of his differentiates between two terms he coined, each possessing a diametrically opposed meaning. “Cheap grace,” he states, “is forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession. It’s grace without discipleship, the cross or Jesus Christ (p. 44-45).” Contrarily, Bonhoeffer continues, “costly grace” is that which “costs a man his life,” echoing the words of Jesus in Mark 8:35: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

I’ve found three primary reasons for which Bonhoeffer deemed this writing necessary. From an overarching view, he references original sin: “Adam made himself God, so he no longer had God. Since then, sons of Adam in their pride have striven to recover the divine image by their own efforts. The more serious and devoted their attempt and the more proud and convincing their apparent success, the greater the contradiction to God (p. 299).” More practically, he discusses faulty paradigms and strategies of those in the Body of Christ: “The real trouble is the pure Word of Jesus has been overlaid with so much human ballast - burdensome rules and regulations - false hopes and consolations - it has become extremely difficult to make a decision for Christ (p. 35).” Finally, he underscores struggles Christians will endure after giving their lives to Christ. Mirroring Paul’s words in Philippians 1: 29, Bonhoeffer writes: “We have forgotten the cross means rejection and shame as well as suffering (p. 89).”

This book has furthered my knowledge in many areas, the first relating to a residue of self-orientation that surfaces when I serve others. Bonhoeffer convicts me to mature: “If you do good, you must be quite unconscious of it. Otherwise you are simply displaying your own virtue (p. 159).” He probes further, “If we want to know our own goodness or love, it has already ceased to be love.” Second, I’ve sought to make radical career transitions based on the presupposition they were necessary both for my continued growth in intimacy with Christ as well as my ministerial success. Bonhoeffer challenges overemphasis on vocational ministry: “Let the Christian remain in the world to engage in full frontal assault on it, and let him live the life of his secular calling in order to show himself as a stranger in this world all the more (p. 264)!” He reiterates: “The cross is right there, (the Christian) has only got to pick it up: there is no need for him to go out and look for one or to deliberately to run after suffering (p. 89).” Third, throughout much of my sanctification I’ve placed too much emphasis on obtaining knowledge as opposed to living out the gospel. Bonhoeffer implores: “An abstract Christology, a doctrinal system and a general religious knowledge are essentially inimical to the whole conception of following Christ (p. 59).” Finally, I’ve struggled to understand my incapability to save others. Bonhoeffer informs: “Every attempt to run after people, to use our own resources to arrange salvation for others, is both futile and dangerous, because swine do not recognize pearls cast before them and because it profanes the word of forgiveness by causing those we serve to sin. Worse, we only meet blind rage of hardened and darkened hearts, which is useless and harmful (p. 186).” I must understand it is the Lord alone who “knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44: 21)” and only He can soften or harden hearts (Exodus 10: 20, 27).

A Strong Foundation

“A Strong Foundation”

SERMON on MATTHEW 7: 24-29

INTRO:

Well, it’s Super Bowl week once again! All the Steelers and Packers fans say “Amen - thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (2 Cor 9:15)!” Yeah, that’s not what Titans fans are saying. After 17 years, we’ve lost Coach Fisher, dare I say our “Moses,” but have no idea who our “Joshua” will be. We're complaining like Israelites in the wilderness! No, really, on one hand this time of year is a sign of God’s blessings, no matter which team you love. Football. Food. Fellowship. We get to find out which team is the best of the best. Now, I’m a native Memphian, and even though this game could be labeled “North vs. Northeast,” my excitement remains at full tilt. On the other hand, the Super Bowl itself denotes that the football season is about to end. So, this weekend does challenge football fans to live joyfully in the moment. Much to our dismay, God is sending us into a famine without football until September! Pray for me…

This year’s Super Bowl carries special significance. The storied tradition of both teams has sports analysts everywhere asking the same question (no, not just “Who will win,” but): “Which team has the richer history, the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Green Bay Packers? Each has won multiple Super Bowls. The Steelers, residing in “The City of Champions,” have accomplished the feat 6 times. The Packers, from “Title-town USA,” have done so on 3 occasions. That’s 1^st and 3^rd respectively in the NFL’s Super Bowl era, where winning 1 ring alone is of the highest degree of difficulty. And this year, one of these squads yet again will earn trips to both Disney World and the White House. So what is it about these organizations that has paved the way for this continued championship-level success?

We could say it’s the players. They’re the ones on the field making plays right? Surely its not the “Terrible Towels” or “Cheese-heads” for Pittsburgh and Green Bay respectively that put them over the top (although, ask any player from these two “small market” teams and they’ll tell you just how important their fans are to them). No. I submit this; the quality of these franchises should be attributed primarily to one fact: each rests on a strong foundation! I’ll tell you what, why don’t we come back to this in a bit? For now, open with me to Matt 7: 24-29, where we find the powerful conclusion of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” Let’s see what our Savior says on the topic: “A Strong Foundation.”

BIBLE PASSAGE:

MATTHEW 7: 24-29:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

PREVIEW:

CONTEXT, EXAMINATION, CLOSING

Let's do 3 things:

1.     Uncover the CONTEXT of this passage.

2.     EXAMINE Jesus’ definitions of and contrasts between stable and unstable foundations.

3.     CLOSE with clarification, illustration and application.

1 Story. 4 Parts. 8 Sections.

Never thought it'd be possible to chart the story line of a 2,000 page book from A-Z in only 3 pages! Can't imagine the benefits the completion of this project will provide, both in my life and in conversation with others. Very enlightening!

Quick Intro:

Comprised of 66 individual books written by over 40 Holy Spirit-led authors (2 Tim 3: 16, 2 Peter 1: 21), the Bible tells the story of Jesus Christ as creator (John 1: 4) and redeemer (Isaiah 60: 16) of all things.


I. CREATION

The Pattern of the Kingdom: Genesis 1 & 2

God is eternal (Isa 26: 4) and created all things by his Word (Gen 1: 3). He created man in His image, both male and female, beginning with Adam and Eve (Gen 1: 26, 2: 22). They lived in the Garden of Eden (Gen 1: 8) under His rule, receiving blessings from Him through His spoken word (Gen 1: 28-30, 2: 16-25).


II. FALL

The Perished Kingdom: Genesis 3-11

At the serpent’s temptation, Adam and Eve brought sin into the world (Gen 3: 6-7). So, God banned them from the garden and sentenced them to suffering and death (Gen 3: 16-19). He foretold His redemptive plan by prescribing the destruction of the serpent (3: 15). Adam and Eve’s offspring included Cain, Abel and Seth (Gen 4, 5), the latter of which connected Adam’s lineage to Noah. Stemming from human rebellion, God wiped out humanity (excluding Noah and family) through a flood (Gen 6-9) and gave rise to many nations by dispersing His people at the Tower of Babel (Gen 11). At this time, God’s people (Noah’s line) were under God’s rule, outside of Eden, enjoying only some of God’s blessings (due to sin).


The Promised Kingdom: Genesis 12-50

Next, Abraham (of Noah’s line) was chosen by God and promised land and descendants through whom He’d bless the entire world (Gen 12: 2-3). His lineage continued with Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s twelve sons (Gen 12-50). Israelites had reached 70 in number. In Egypt due to famine, they awaited God’s deliverance to His place, their promised land of Canaan.


The Partial Kingdom: Exodus-1 Kings 10

Here, God released his people from bondage under Pharoah (Exo 14: 21) and established His covenant with them through Moses at Mount Sinai (Exo 19: 5-6). His people, however, continued to rebel against him (Exo-Jgs). At their behest, God provided them with a king, Saul (1 Sam 9: 16-17), who God later rejected due to disobedience (1 Sam 13: 13-14). He then chose David, with whom He established an eternal covenant (2 Sam 7: 9-16). Israel’s most prosperous days were enjoyed under David’s son, King Solomon. In these years, the Israelites were a multitude and inhabited Canaan. God’s blessings or curses were conditional upon their obedience or lack thereof.


The Prophesied Kingdom: 1 Kings 11-Malachi

As a result of Solomon’s sin, wickedness increased, leading to the split and subsequent decline of Israel. Removed from God’s land, the Israelites faced a variety of exiles (most notably Babylon), were deprived of blessings and refused His rule. In faithfulness to Abraham, God brings them back to their land (Isa 48: 20), where they waited in anticipation for hundreds of years the fulfillment of God’s promise of restoration. These were the days when prophets such as Isaiah presented a vision of God’s Kingdom coming through His Chosen Messiah.

III. REDEMPTION

Present Kingdom: Matthew-John

Those prophecies were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Messiah, who proclaimed the arrival of the Kingdom (Matt 4: 17). Through the power of the Holy Spirit in Him (Matt 3: 16), as well as by his death, burial, resurrection and ascension, Jesus redeemed God’s people. At this time, followers of Jesus, regardless of location, were God’s people, receiving His blessings through forgiveness and living under His rule through His teachings.


Proclaimed Kingdom: Acts-Jude

Since Jesus’ ascension, His followers have become an international community of people scattered throughout the earth, awaiting His New Creation and living under His rule (through the Bible). They are blessed securely in the new covenant (Jeremiah 31: 31-34) with Christ, who poured out the Holy Spirit on the church equipping them to spread his gospel to people all over the earth.

IV. NEW CREATION

Perfected Kingdom: Revelation

In the New Creation (God’s place), will be people from every tongue, tribe and nation (Rev 7: 9). They will live under His rule and blessing forever. “He who began a good work” will have seen it “through to completion (Phi 1: 6).” Where the first Adam failed miserably, our Creator and Redeemer Christ excelled perfectly.

Resources: The Bible (NIV), Dr. Aaron O'Kelley (Union) and G. Goldsworthy (According To Plan).

"The Song of the Vineyard"

OK - scratch the comment about how difficult it was to summarize Romans 3: 21-26. I've never worked as hard on a paper as I did this one! Trying to discern the meaning of an Old Testament prophet and then boil it down to 2 pages has now taken the top spot as the ultimate biblical writing challenge. Something tells me there will be frequent turnover at that position. Dalton - Road House: "Pain don't hurt."

INTERPRETATION of ISAIAH 5: 1-7

Isaiah wrote “The Song of the Vineyard” in Isaiah 5: 1-7 imploring Israelites in Jerusalem and Judea to repent of their wicked ways, obey the LORD and produce good fruit for His Kingdom. To spur them to action, he spoke sharply of God’s impending judgment on those who enjoy His provision yet produce only bad fruit. Gifted with His words (6: 8-10), he prophesied: “Now I will tell you what I am going to do with my vineyard: I will take away its hedge…I will break down its wall…I will make it a wasteland…I will command the clouds not to rain on it (v. 5-6).”

Stated five times consecutively, Isaiah’s declaration “I will” attested to the severity of God’s looming discipline. However, detailing the story’s symbolism remained necessary for him to make his point. Therefore, he specified: “The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in (v. 7).” This provided important yet distressing context to the figurative content preceding it. Further, it had retrospective significance for his Jewish audience, as King David’s post-exodus imagery was synonymous: “You transplanted a vine from Egypt…You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land (Psa 80: 8-9).”

Israel’s historical cycle of faithless disobedience and subsequent discipline also provided an agent for this parable’s relevance. Following the aforementioned miraculous exodus from Egypt, for example, the Israelites complained about God’s provisions for food (Exo 16: 17) and questioned the certainty of His covenant to deliver them to the Promised Land (Num 14: 1-4). Cognizant of their stubborn unfaithfulness, Moses prophesied: “But those who hate Him He will repay to their face by destruction… Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today (Deu 7: 10-11).” This caution carried pertinent substance, as the success in inhabiting Canaan was contingent on following God’s instructions (Deu 7: 2-5).

Much occurred between the above warnings of Moses and those of Isaiah in this passage. Most importantly, the Israelites had taken possession of the land under Joshua’s leadership (Jos 21: 43-45), but their continual rejection of God’s decrees (Jgs 1: 27-36) resulted in a series of further exiles (Jgs 10: 7-17, 13: 1). Isaiah hoped his harsh prophecies would lead the Jews to repentance, obedience and production of good fruit (4: 2, Gal 5: 22) en route to a peaceful, prosperous and permanent stay in their homeland.

To provide an encouraging counterbalance, Isaiah opened and closed this prophecy illustrating God’s love, provision and hope. His own intimacy with God is revealed in verse 1: “I will sing for the one I love, a song about his vineyard.” He underscores God’s care of the vineyard in verse 2: “He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well.” Finally, in verses 2 and 7 he spoke of God’s looking for “good grapes” and “justice,” respectively. In the original Hebrew text, the specific word Isaiah used for “looking” was “qavah,” denoting hopeful expectation.

Woven throughout Isaiah is the interplay between God’s justice and grace in the context of Israel’s disobedience. Sadly, the Jews continued to struggle with infidelity to God both during and after Isaiah’s writing, just as we do today. Several hundred perplexing years passed until the arrival of Jesus Himself, an event Isaiah didn’t mention specifically in this passage. However, whether directly or indirectly, it is Him as salvation for humanity to which all of Isaiah’s writings point (42: 1, 52: 13-15, 53).

SALVATION FOR ALL

Now this is classic. How's this for an assignment?: "Summarize the entire Bible." Well believe it or not that's what it feels like to try and recap Romans 3: 21-26. At any rate, here's the attempt:

INTERPRETATION of ROMANS 3: 21-26

Paul wrote Romans 3: 21-26 to Jews and Gentiles of the church in Rome to fortify their faith in Jesus Christ and magnify His all-sufficient redeeming propitiation for the whole of mankind. He emphasized these foundational overarching principles in verses 22-24: “This righteousness from God comes through faith to all those who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

            To the Jews, Paul’s message carried with it unique significance. First, given his Jewish status and heritage, he was keenly aware of the self-righteous morality that had plagued his people ever since God established covenants with their forefathers (Abraham, Gen 12: 2-3; Moses, Ex 19: 5-6; David, 2 Sam 7: 9-16). Pride of this sort was not in congruence with the faith and did not glorify God, as He had not chosen Israel based on the righteousness of its people (Deu 7: 7, 9: 6). As Paul clarified throughout this letter, the gospel is both “first for the Jew” and “then for the Gentile (2: 16).” Second, Paul knew past inter-faith disputes on the issue of Jesus’ deity, in combination with Rome’s politically charged and spiritually conflicted culture, had led to the previous expelling of Jews from the city at the ruling of Emperor Claudius (Acts 18: 2). In light of this, he understood unity specifically amongst the Jews in the church played a key role in ensuring its security, stability and longevity (3: 1-2).

Addressing both issues, Paul began this particular passage connecting the highly regarded Torah with its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ: “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify (v. 21).” Undoubtedly, Jews received both encouragement and admonishment through Paul’s writing, as he validated Mosaic Law, but did so by linking it to Jesus Christ as the Messiah! In these remarks, Paul attempted to prevent Jewish overemphasis on adherence to religious rituals and encourage them to maintain unified belief of Jesus’ divine identity. Gospel writer Matthew, also a Jew, echoed this to his audience when scribing Jesus’ words: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matt 5: 17).”

            Romans 3: 21-26 also had special implications for Gentiles, who were as sinful as the Jews (3: 11) but by definition were not part of God’s original “chosen” Israelite family. As if to comfort them and answer any doubts they had regarding their salvation, Paul wrote in verses 25 and 26: “God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…to demonstrate justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Christ Jesus.” In essence, here Paul detailed that God’s justice for human sin was not ignored. Rather, it was paid in full through Jesus. Paul wrote on this topic directly to the Gentiles in 11: 11, stating: “salvation has come to the Gentiles,” a revelation that certainly provided much needed sustenance and refreshment. In Him they were ransomed! It should be noted, however, Paul later takes a different angle, warning the Gentiles against feelings of superiority (11: 18). Again, neither salvation nor sin was reserved for the Jews!

Jews and Gentiles at the church of Rome were of differing historical and spiritual backgrounds. Yet, Paul’s meaning in Romans 3: 21-26 triangulated both groups towards unified faith in Jesus Christ and the sufficiency of His sacrificial death as redemption for all of mankind. 

The Roman Centurion

Here's my 2nd crack at this one. Got some good feedback on the first draft from "the Prof" and was given clearance to increase the length from 1 page to 2. Shazam.

INTERPRETATION of MATTHEW 8: 5-13

Matthew wrote of the centurion’s faith in Matthew 8: 5-13 in exhortation to his Jewish readers that their salvation was not granted on the basis of their hereditary Israelite lineage, nor by extrapolation their legalistic efforts to adhere to Old Testament law. Key evidence of this is found in verses 11 and 12, wherein Jesus said: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But the subjects of the Kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

The foundation for Matthew’s argument was laid through opposing, yet parallel contexts, the first of which involved Jewish history. Through covenants established by God with their Israelite forefathers Abraham (Gen 12: 2-3) and David (2 Sam 7: 9-16), the Jews were given laws that they as “subjects of the Kingdom” were to follow to remain faithful to the relationship. However, Matthew recorded in his book at least ten instances wherein Jewish descendants in Jesus’ day misunderstood the means by which their relationship with God was forged, denied their total depravity and egregiously overvalued their righteous religious acts (9: 3, 12: 2, 12: 24, 15: 2, 16: 1, 19: 3, 21: 23, 22: 15, 22: 23, 22: 34). Although none of these particular sins contributed directly to Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion as later ones did, each demonstrated the Jews’ unwillingness to recognize Him as the prophesied Messiah, the sole source of eternal life and the fulfillment of the very law they claimed to hold in such high regard (5: 17).

The other important contextual consideration involved the social climate of Rome. At the time of Jesus’ birth and approaching His death, Roman leaders and those aligned with them were among the worst offenders in Jesus’ persecution. Matthew 2: 16 documents the attempted murder of the newborn Jesus at the hands of King Herod, a pawn of the Roman government. 33 years later, Roman officials teamed with Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, as well as various chief priests and elders in plotting and executing Jesus’ arrest (26: 4) and subsequent trial (26: 57). Finally, it was Roman governor Pontius Pilate that delivered Jesus to be crucified (27: 26) and soldiers from the Roman Army that stripped, mocked and beat Jesus en route to performing His crucifixion (27: 27-31).

It is through these lenses Matthew’s intent becomes clear. First, it was despite this intense cultural climate the Roman centurion, who by nature of his veteran rank was both highly regarded and well compensated, boldly came to Jesus in search of his servant’s healing (v. 6). Here, Matthew contrasted the centurion’s selfless and loving risk on behalf of his servant against the prideful predisposition of those in his Jewish audience to protect their own image at cost to their relationship with the Lord. Second, as Matthew specified, the centurion came to Jesus, not vice-versa, and did so as a Gentile nonetheless, not a member of God’s “chosen” people Israel. Salvation, Matthew emphasized, is for all who believe, “from the east and from the west,” not solely those born into a select genetic lineage. Finally, the centurion’s humble and desperate response to Jesus is juxtaposed with the ego and self-righteousness of Matthew’s Jewish readers: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed (v. 8)."

In context, Matthew’s writing revealed why Jesus publicly magnified and celebrated the centurion’s faith: “When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those following Him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith (v. 10).’” Matthew drew for his readers in this narrative the essential distinction between authentic faith and ritualistic morality. He reminded the Jews that God saves His people on the basis of His love, grace and mercy, not as a result of their supposed adherence to spiritual guidelines or religious tradition. Through his writing, Matthew defines for his audience authentic faith as radical, self-denying and others-centered reliance on Him. More importantly, he communicates that those with true faith in Jesus Christ will “take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,” whereas the same cannot be said for those whose faith is impure. To those Jesus will say: “Depart from me, I never knew you. Evildoers! (7: 23)”

Philadelphia and Forgiveness

Michael Vick, QB of the Philadelphia Eagles, is a compelling figure to say the least. At Virginia Tech and later with the Atlanta Falcons, he demonstrated serious game-changing talent. Of course, the public perception of him changed dramatically when it was revealed he is as sinful as the rest of us (Romans 3: 10). Quickly, why again were we surprised?

Each of us is raised in a unique culture and particular environment, but two primary differences exist between us and those in the spotlight: opportunity and visibility. Haven't we all made mistakes in use of our talents and resources? How would we handle an exponential increase in both our skills and our bank accounts (Exodus 32: 4)? We don't and can't know the answer to that question, but we do know that no matter what terrible decisions we make, the result will not be widespread public disgrace. We won't be shamed by the community at large, because we aren't famous and don't produce ratings!

So, here are 3 questions for you. Do you acknowledge your brokenness? Are you a forgiver (Mark 11: 26)? Do you know greatness when you see it? If your answer to #1 is yes, so then it must be for #2. If you answer yes to all 3, you've definitely got reason to root for Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles in this year's NFL playoffs. There isn't a better story of redemption to consider in today's sports world.

Below are your other options. Make your selection and vote in the adjacent poll. Just pick your favorite team or the one you think will win. Whichever. Then, pray for the Titans!

Blessings,
Ed

Other NFL Post-Season Teams and Themes:

True Grit

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers

Do What You're Good At - Gunslingin'

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers