Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 10

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE MEANING OF SIN

THE MEANING OF SIN

In Romans it is stated that: “For all have sinned, and have come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, KJV). The Bible also says that: “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) meaning that everyone will reap the consequences of our daily activities.

But what really does ‘to sin’ imply? Does it really refer to all the overt things an individual does each day, thus making “the evil that man does” so much greater for one than for another? After all, not everyone starts a war or commits murder so that perhaps some will avoid the “death” that may be due to others. So what does sin really imply? 

According to Barnhouse*, there are at least 12 different Hebrew and Greek words that are all similar in meaning and thus translated by our word sin. These can apparently be loosely summarized by five different meanings.

Perhaps the most common is missing the mark. In Paul’s time, archery was as common as shooting is today. Similar to our events today, as one became more proficient at the activity, the target would be moved farther and farther back allowing a greater development of skill and accuracy. At some point, no matter how proficient one became, the target could not be reached. The target God has set for us is so far removed that no one ever becomes able to reach it and, therefore, no-one can satisfy the demands of God.

Sin apparently is also falling short of the righteousness of God. Romans states that: “They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). In other words, no matter how good we consider ourselves to be or how much good we attempt to do, no one can meet the righteousness of God and in His view there is no one who is considered righteous. Just as we can’t hit the target by our skill, we also can’t meet His righteousness by our goodness. In a sense, this also refers to “overstepping a boundary” in that our lack of complete goodness often becomes out right rebellion, and as children often refuse to do the bidding of their parents, we likewise refuse to follow God’s direction as well. Thus, our lack of goodness may become outright rebellion, and as well, sin.

A third word for sin means falling instead of standing. A synonym for standing is upright and the word used for falling implies a position of weakness rather that of standing straight and upright before God. We tend to be weak and crooked instead of standing upright and steadfast as we should and therefore no one has maintained a righteous position before God

Sin also implies being ignorant instead of knowing. This implies that being ignorant of the laws of God is not an excuse. This also follows from the first words of Satan in the first Interrogation in the Bible: “…‘Has God indeed said…’”(Genesis 3:1). The sin is not being ignorant of general knowledge, or of not having advanced education, but of the knowledge and commandments of God. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2 that we should “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby”(1 Peter 2:2). This concept is also seen in Hebrews 5:12-14:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, 

you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; 

and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled 

in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, 

that is, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 It is a sin for one to be ignorant of God’s way of salvation, and one day we will all be examined on our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Finally, the fifth word for sin means diminishing that which should be rendered in full. We are to “…love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength…and keep His charge, His statutes, His Judgments, and His commandments always” (Deuteronomy 6:5 and 11:1). Luke 10:27 says: “…‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’” By not doing such, we have short changed God and have diminished that which God has required of us. We have cheated God by spending on ourselves that which was rightfully His and not ours until we had yielded it fully to Him.

It’s hopeless for us by ourselves because no one can avoid sin and, as mentioned before, the penalty of sin is death. That is why nothing we can do ourselves is sufficient; the target is too far removed for our abilities. We can only avoid the penalty justly awaiting for each of us by accepting the gift Christ gave. He paid the price of our sins on our behalf. “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”(1 Corinithians 15:3).

The gift of payment has been made, therefore, it is up to us to accept it. Otherwise, the penalty for sin awaits all of us. “For all have sinned, and have come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, KJV).

It is something we all must think about.

*adapted from Romans volume 1 Section 2 God’s Wrath pgs.195-198 by Donald Grey Barnhouse

  

Pastor Caroline - Mortal/Immortal

Pastor Caroline - Lost In Your Walk

 

Lost In Your Walk

 

Philippians Chapter 4 Verses 6-7 in the Good News Bible reminds us:

(6) Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

(7) And God‘s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

 

Lost in your walk? Do you feel as if every road is a dead end? Nothing seems to come into place for you. You see others getting answers to prayer and you wonder; why not me?

 

Now is the time to read the above scripture again slowly, using your name before the word worry. Take a moment to do that, please.

 

When you feel lost, away from God, just know that God is not lost and He has not left you. He is not away from you. He wants you to continue to press into Him, read His word, listen to worship music and worship onto Him.  Ask Him to calm your anxious spirit. Ask Him with a thankful heart, as we are told in verse 6 of our scripture today. And verse 7 gives you assurance that God‘s peace, which is more than you can understand, will keep you safe.

 

Sometimes we feel so far away from God that we tell ourselves He does not even see us. Nothing could be farther from the truth so please let me remind you that God is the very One who created the whole world and sat it at all in place. Also in Matthew Chapter 6 Verse 26 we are told –

(26) Look at the birds flying around: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in the barns; yet your Father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds?

 

Think of this for a moment. Don’t you think you mean more to God than the birds? I can assure you, you do!! God loves, supplies, and takes care of everything and we need to be grateful for His supply.

 

Stress in life can cause us to feel lost or separated from our faith and from God. Sometimes we cannot see the forest for the trees. The things that stand in our way draws us from God, when in reality; they should push us towards the very One who can help us get through the stress, grief, loss of a job, or separation of a loved one. And these are just to mention a few. God can and will help us with the daily pressures that draws us from Him and those He has in place around us for support. When life is upside down and inside out, that is when we need to do some troubleshooting. Access the problem and call in the professional. Stand on your faith; call on God and pour your heart out to Him.  He will direct you and show you how to move forward.

 

Count your blessings and look back, see what God has done before, for you. Look at today and know that He gave you the start to this day. Don’t miss what He has for you today, thanking Him before you even see the blessing. That’s standing in your faith. You are not lost – you simply have taken a misstep. Now plant your feet solid on the ground under you and take a deep breath and talk with someone you trust, God, or someone He has appointed to be there for you. Let this person help you find your way and one day you may well be able to return that favor. Do something nice for someone else, an act of kindness, and this will help you feel better about yourself.

 

You are not lost in your walk – you may simply be on a new path, one God has chosen. Don’t be afraid, do not worry, He is leading. You are in good hands as God leads the way. Let your faith guide you as you trust in the Lord and His peace will surround you to a point you may not fully understand, but that is OK – just trust in Him. You are safe in union with Christ Jesus and there’s no safer place to be. The Lord in His word tells us in Philippians Chapter 4 verse 9, last line,

And God who gives us peace will be with you.

What an assurance we have.

Be blessed in this day for you have truly found your way!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Romans Part 9

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - JUDGMENT

 JUDGMENT

In Hebrews, it is stated that “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”(9:27). There are many verses and statements in the Bible which could be open to interpretation, often in a way that one would like the interpretation to infer, but the statement given above is really not one of these. It is pretty straight forward; each of us is to die once.

The second part of that statement, however, is not as often repeated or as well defined. After all, we can only relate to judgment as we know it, and it is quite obvious, in some cases, that judgment and justice do not at times correspond. Judgments, as we perceive them, are often modified by certain conditions such as: extenuating circumstances, innuendo, undue delay, and/or by human bias. In courts, judgment is at times modified by “tricks” used by either the prosecution or the defence. In other words, judgment is often not perceived as rendering justice.

However, the Bible does not indicate that such manipulation will be available when divine (heavenly) judgment takes place. Apparently no extenuating circumstances will be permitted for the judgment has already been rendered; we are all guilty. And the one chance to have that judgment reversed has already been offered to us; we have to decide whether to accept or not that chance because any judgment will be considered justice and, according to the Bible, will be based on seven principles (remember that number) which are worth noting.*

1. TRUTH: “…we know that the judgment of God is according to truth…” (Romans 2:2).

2. ACCUMULATED GUILT: “…in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Romans 2:5).

3. WORKS: “…who will render to each one according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6).
                   “And they were judged, each one according to his works” (Revelation 20:13).

4. NO FAVOURITISM: “For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:11) .

5. PERFORMANCE: “…for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified…” (Romans 2:13).

6. SECRETS: “…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ…” (Romans 2:16).

7. REALITY not RELIGIOUS PROFESSION: “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God…(but) do you dishonour God through breaking the law?…he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God” (Romans 2:17, 23, 28-29).

Judgment is coming at some time for each of us. It is something we all should be aware of and keep in mind.

*Seven Great Principles of God’s Judgment by William Newell as recorded in David Guzik’s Commentary on Romans 

   

Pastor Caroline - Loving God - Loving Each Other