Friday, March 19, 2010
From the study on Romans by Max Lucado ...
‘I have a duty to all people,” Paul told the Roman church (Rom. 1:14 NCV). He had something for them—a message. He’d been entrusted as a Pony Express courier with a divine message, the gospel. Nothing mattered more to Paul than the gospel. “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” he wrote next, “because it is the power of God for the salvation of everone who believes.” (Rom. 1:16 NIV).
Paul existed to deliver the message. how people remembered him was secondary. (Else why would he introduce himself as a slave? Rom 1:1). How people remembered Christ was primary. Paul’s message was not about himself. His message was all about Christ. (From it’s Not About Me by Max Lucado)
Reaction:
6. How would you describe righteousness to a new believer?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 8:57 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Righteousness – following in Christ’s footsteps, glorifying him every step of the way.. umm.. having God in our mind through all our actions thinking what he would do (WWJD?)
I don’t know. I suck.
What do you think?
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:03 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Maybe the good that Gods sees in us because of Jesus?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:12 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
Haha you do not suck.
The word “righteousness” is seen mostly two way in the bible, and its' significance depends upon context. In some places it means, an attribute of God; in other places, the imagined attainment of human merit.
In Rom. 1:17, the use of the word here: "For in it," [in the gospel plan], "the righteousness of God is revealed." Here the significance is the condition or quality of being right in the sight of God.
So, the way I’d define ‘righteousness’ to a new believer would look something like: While living in sin, disobeying God's law and trying to guide yourself through life without God, you are not right; your state is wrong; you do not enjoy or necessarily want/like fellowship with God. BUT, in the gospel, God reveals how you can be right, in condition, in quality and in life. The gospel tells us HOW WE CAN BE RIGHT by learning about God’s attributes and how we can be obedient-motivated by love and fellowship with Him through the gospel; our ‘instruction’ book. without God, we try to do things on a "do-it-yourself" plan of salvation, which just won’t work.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:27 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
I don’t see how that is righteousness.. I gotta think on this one for a bit..
So, in fewer words – righteousness is what God creates in us once we accept God in our lives and we start learning about God and his character? OR so, once we accept Christ in our lives and know he died for our sins, he begins to change us.. these changes are what makes us righteous in Gods eyes? right? like, we don’t have to do anything to become righteous.. We just.. Become it.. ??
Ok – grace. Grace is how it happens, but righteousness is what we are..?
Wow. I’m in over my head here…
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:46 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
So, self-righteousness would be depending on ourselves to live and be and do what we think is right; which is wrong. Righteousness is being right with God, which we learn what that is and means through the Gospel and knowing God’s character because through knowing God and his character, we learn what is right, what sin is, what he wants from us, etc. Righteousness=Right with God. (In fewer words)
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 9:54 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Ok – so in a round about way, its like Gods grace and mercy, etc.
Good talk. That is cool. I haven’t ever focused on righteousness. SWEET!
Ok – moving on: 7)Based on this passage, explain what is required to be right with God. What does John 14:6 say?
From: Nicole Casper
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:12 AM
To: XXXX
Subject: RE: hey
Well, wait. No, I don’t think righteousness is God’s grace and mercy. It’s a…way of life? It’s an attribute you put on as you learn more about God. It’s a standing. You are either right with God, or you are right with yourself. I’m not so sure there is any other option. I think it’s one of those things that can interchange with our decisions to do what we want and not what God wants; sin. It’s not necessarily a gift I don’t think. It’s a choice. To be right with God means to not try and do it yourself. To be a righteous ‘man’ of God is to not be self-righteous, or self doing, directing and deciding.
From: XXXX
Sent: Friday, March 19, 2010 10:12 AM
To: Nicole Casper
Subject: RE: hey
Hmm.. ok.
Lots to think on here.