Sunday, August 11, 2013

DAY 449 - Are You Being Justified by God? (請按此處收聼廣東話Cantonese podcast click here)


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Today's Reading: Romans 2:12-16

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Please click this link to read Romans 2:12-16

Bible Study

      Yesterday's passage we talk about not playing God's role to judge. Today we talk about how we are going to be judged by God. Paul is talking about his most famous "justification by faith". This is not an easy passage for us to understand. We need some help from Bishop N.T. Wright's explanation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._T._Wright):

     Within the lawcourt setting, 'justify' is what the judge does at the end of the trial: he declares that one party in the lawsuit is 'in the right'.  The case has gone their way.  The judge has found in their favour.  They have a new status as a result of the court's decision...so when the judge says 'I find the defendant innocent'...that declaration creates a new state of affairs, in which the vindicated person enjoys a new standing, a new status.  He or she is 'in the right'.  That is 'justification'.

     Paul, remember, has his eye at the moment simply on the future day of judgment, and on the fact that God will judge impartially.  He is facing the question: surely Jews will have an advantage, because they possess the law?  His answer is No: God will judge everyone according to where they are, not according to where they are not.  Those outside the law(Gentiles, in other words) will be judged that way; those inside (Jews) will be judged by the law they possess.  What matters, after all, is doing the law, not just possessing it.  

N.T. Wright. Paul for Everyone, Romans: Part One. Louisville,KY:Westminster John Knox Press, 2004, p.34. 

     So, if you are not playing God's role to judge and know that you are under God's judgement, are you 'in the right', being justified by God? Does God find you innocent because of your faith in Jesus, your being in a personal intimate relationship with Jesus that He is your Savior, Lord and King?
     
                                    
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"



Spiritual Journal

     What I heard from Jesus today is: Are you being justified by God?

    What I got today from Jesus is a serious question. If we are being justified by God, and if Jesus is our Savior, Lord and King, then those sinful behaviour as describes in chapter one should not appears in us. Bishop N.T. Wright describes those characters using these words as the title for the passages in Romans 1:24-27 "Unclean Desire, Dishonoured Bodies" and Romans 1:28-32 "Darkened Mind, Darkened Behaviour".

    If we really experience "justification by faith", those evil behaviour won't be about us. The truth is, quite a number of christians are making a mess in their behaviour but they think that they are being saved. No one can judge them that they are not being saved. But, Paul gives us a question, a challenge today. If we are really being saved, it should not be like that, right? What's wrong really?

Dear Lord Jesus,
Lead us to live out a life worthy to be called justification by faith that you are our Saviour, Lord and King.  In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


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世世代代頌讚你的作為，傳揚你的大能!

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