Romans

Romans is one of the most insightful and profound books in the Bible that I've ever read. Or maybe I'm just at a point in my life that it's really speaking to me. Regardless, I feel that it could have been written yesterday. A lot of times when I read the Bible I get bogged down in all the "foreignness" of it. It's old. The parables don't fit our times. The wording is strange. I can never forget that I'm reading the Bible. It's difficult sometimes, and confusing a lot of the time. It's not like that with Romans. All the points and arguments that Paul uses are so very relevant to our society today. For example:

Romans 3:5-9-"But if our unrighteousness brings out God's righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, "If my falsehood enhances God's truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" Why not say-as we are being slanderously reported as saying and as some claim we say-"Let us do evil that good may result" Their condemnation is deserved. What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin."

So as I write this I feel I should point out that sometimes Romans feels like a tongue twister, or a riddle, but after you read it a few times I believe you'll be as astounded as I am by it's truths.

This morning, as I was having my "quiet time", I came across one of the coolest (and most confusing at times) passages that I've read in a long time. The title at the top of the passage is Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ. It is Romans 5:12-6:4.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

I realize that's really really long, but it is such a good passage that makes me think about things in such a different light. I had to read it at least 3 times before I could make it stop sounding like a riddle, but once I did it was fantastic. :)

And one of my favorite verses right now:

Romans 4:7-8-"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

That verse just lifts my spirits. We are SO lucky.

Jennica.