Reading the Bible in 2014 - Day 148: Romans 1-3 - Guilt

Today, May 29, marks the first of three catch-up days.  I love catch-up days.  Life is so busy.  Having no reading on these days allows us to catch our breath and maybe make up some readings without getting further behind.  The title of my post is not a typo.  Yes, I know that Romans was our reading from early May.  Although I am caught up with my reading (whew!), I will publish these in order for the benefit of those who are at least a little behind.  If you are really behind, I can't help you. I will post devotional material on several of the biblical books we’ve read recently: Romans, Ephesians, 1 Samuel, and 2 Samuel.  Are you still in Romans from earlier this month?  Maybe you're thinking, "I wish I were as far as Romans!"  Well, maybe in the next few days you can get there.  Here is the first of three posts on Romans:

Guilt

 

We gain a clear picture of what is wrong with the world in verse 1:18.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.”  I consider the truth that God is Lord over all.  That he has created the stars and planets (Psalm 33), that he spoke all creation into being (Genesis 1:1-13).  All of these, and more, are truths about God.  They are as plain as day.  But they are not acknowledged as true.  Their truth is ‘suppressed.’  Just considering it should make us weep.  How could the love, righteousness, and might of such a God be ‘suppressed?’  How could we miss it and cause others to miss it as well?  The answer cuts us all to the heart.  The wickedness of the ungodly suppresses it.

It is certainly true that God alone is worthy to be worshiped.  This is the truth that humans exchanged when we fell from our original purity and innocence with God.  We “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!” (1:25)

It is a truth that we have cast aside, like it was nothing.  When Paul talks about truth, this is what he means: God alone is Lord of all.  He created all things.  He alone is worthy to be glorified and worshiped.  But this is what does not happen.  God is not enthroned in human hearts.  He is not enthroned in their lives.  He is not enthroned in their relationships or families.  We shouldn’t be surprised then, that he is not enthroned in our nations.

It is suppressed.  It is hidden by all the false gods which have taken the Lord’s place in our lives.

Have you ever gone through a bad break-up?  We call it being "dumped".  It is hard enough to deal with.  But what makes a bad break-up even worse is when that person has traded you in for someone far worse.  It is extra hurtful because it doesn’t only hurt us now.  We hurt for the other person who has made this bad decision.

We have dumped God.  And we traded the most beautiful, joyful, creative being in the universe for a lie.

Now, you've probably heard someone say, "Excuse me?"  Well, with sinful humans it isn't even a question.  We direct it at God like a command: "Excuse me!"  We all love excuses.  We love to avoid blame.  Paul makes the case that Gentiles and Jews alike are without excuse.

 

Gentiles are without excuse.  Gentiles may not have had God’s law.  But God’s power and nature are seen in what he has made, so they have no excuse. (1:20).  So Paul can say, “All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law…” (2:12).

Do religious people have an advantage here?  After all, who has known the beauty, faithfulness, and holiness of God better than his people, the Jews?  Don’t they get a leg-up on the rest of humanity by being the chosen people?  Paul says no.  Jews also are without excuse.  They have God’s law.  But do they obey?  The Old Testament testifies that they don’t.  What then?  Can the law save them?  Absolutely not!  Paul says, “All who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” (2:12)  Religious hypocrites who say they know God but don’t obey him suppress the truth about him just as much as those who don’t know him at all.

Paul closes his account in chapter 3 by maintaining that Jew and Gentile alike are “under the power of sin.”  We are imprisoned under God’s judgment and wrath.

I know this is hard to hear.  It feels like you’ve been knocked down a peg, that you’ve fallen down a flight of self-esteem stairs.  But the step down in this case is really a step up.  You will not be able to hear the good news unless you hear it from down there.  When we think we’re doing ok, we are still living a lie.  Why isn’t the truth of God seen in the world?  Because of us. It is because our words and our lives don’t testify that God is Lord.  Our words and our lives, then, are one big lie.  If this truth hits home for you, know this: even when our sin is clear to us, it is always clearer to God.  God knows more than you can imagine.  But remember this too.  If God says in his Word that he will be gracious, we can trust that it will be enough.  It is true that if we assess ourselves by God’s standard, we find “nothing to lift our heart to self-confidence.” (John Calvin).  But salvation does not come from us.  It comes from God.  “I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?  My help comes from the Lord.” (Psalm 121:1-2)  We can’t count on ourselves.  If we cling to God’s grace, we’ll find that it is enough.  In the next post, we will move on in our Romans road to the next chapter, the chapter of grace.