Bad News first, then Good News . . .

Most people say they like others who speak their minds, who are open about things and do not have hidden agendas or hide their opinions either in fear or manipulation. Christians are told to be like that. We use the words ‘transparent’ and ‘integrity’ to describe this as virtue, yet not everyone likes it. This is a God-thing, a trait of Jesus that eventually brought Him to the cross. The religious leaders of His day did not want to hear what He really thought of them. They preferred the flattery of the people and were angered by His disapproval.

I see from the first chapter of Romans that Paul was straight-forward in this communication with the Christians at Rome. He began with thanksgiving, moved quickly to his reason for wanting to be there, and then contrasted those who live by faith with those who reject the revelation of God.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. (Romans 1:8)

So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:15–17)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20)

The first two passages are nice on the ears. I love hearing someone thank God for me and give an appropriate reason. I also love hearing the boldness given to those who believe and preach the Gospel which is powerful to change lives. That power is from God given by grace to those who trust Him.

However, the third passage is uncomfortable. I am sure it is quite unacceptable to those who fit its description. Those who know that God exists, see His power in creation, and then turn their backs on what God has revealed to them are in trouble. They know enough to turn to God in thanksgiving at the very least, yet they say NO to what is clear and have no valid excuses for their rejection.

Not that excuses are not made. God’s eternal power is denied with words like fate, coincidence, luck. His divine nature is pushed away as He is blamed for all things unpleasant and not thanked for His goodness. The next few verses say:

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:21–23)

In our culture, the exchange of God’s glory is not usually for images and idols, but instead the worship of money, fame, famous people, success, accomplishment, and human ability. These and other stuff become objects of trust and adoration with God pushed to a back burner or ignored entirely. And no one wants to hear or read what Paul has to say about the wrath of God.

Yet this book of Romans does not stop with these lines that no one likes to hear. It goes on to describe the Good News of salvation by grace, of redemption freely offered through faith in Jesus Christ. The truth is that all need to hear the bad news before we can welcome the good news. Without realizing the reality and danger of my sin, I would not be interested in God’s solution for it and His amazing plan of rescuing sinners from the ungodliness of my soul.

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Jesus, again I am thankful to You, rejoicing that even though I am a sinner, I have been redeemed and given new life in You. Each day is filled with the abundant life that You promise to those who trust in You. For that, I am so grateful. I’m looking forward to this quick dash through Romans, knowing that You took the condemnation I deserve and Paul describes in this letter how You did it and the ways it changes everything.

Today’s thankful list . . .

A changed life.

No longer under the wrath of God.

Energy after a tough workout yesterday.

Soup and sandwiches.

The ability to sew.

Progress in purging my file cabinet.

Finding someone who wants our never-used juicer.

Music on Abiding Radio all day without talk.

Don’t keep my faith to myself . . .

In New Testament days, Rome was the center of the known world. This is one of the reasons that Paul could make this statement in his letter to the church in Rome:

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” (Romans 1:8)

In Christian circles today, some churches have that reputation, such as the Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea and a few in North America that have been noticed around the world. However, Paul was not talking about numbers, but their faith.

What makes faith the mark of the church at Rome? Another letter from Paul clarifies what he was saying. This one was to the Christians in Thessalonica:

“For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8)

Note the wording is about them sharing their faith everywhere. Paul did not need to say anything to this church because they were doing what they were supposed to do. They had turned from idols to serve the living and true God (verse 9) and were waiting for the return of Christ as they told others about what He had done to save sinners from eternal punishment. They had filled their world with the good news, just as the church at Rome was doing and for this Paul was thankful.

Tozer says that true faith means believing everything God has said about Himself and about us. Until we believe that we are as bad as God says we are, we can never believe that He will do for us what He says He will do. The sad part about Christianity today is that many who proclaim to believe “never quite accept the severity of God or the depravity of man.” Instead, most would rather stress God’s goodness and human misfortune. For these, our sin is merely a ‘pardonable frailty’ and God is not concerned about it. He merely wants us to trust in His goodness.

This belief system is one characteristic of the “emerging church” with proponents that have decided they can pick and choose whatever they want to believe rather than accepting that God speaks and faith believes Him, like it or not. They don’t realize their ‘faith’ is in their own ideas and not in God.

Sadly, this ‘faith’ appeals to the independence of people, an independence that turns hearts away from loving and obeying God with, “I will rule my own life.” Such an attitude also describes what the Bible calls sin.

Tozer says, “To hope for heaven by means of such faith is to drive in the dark across a deep chasm on a bridge that doesn’t quite reach the other side.”

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Jesus, Your Word says, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) One of those rewards is that You forgive sin and extend to sinners new life, eternal life. It is not earned or deserved — only given to those who believe in You. Even faith (the ability to believe) is a gift from God for without it, no one will even seek You, let alone believe in You and in what Your Word says.