Romans 5:1-11

Peace with God Through Faith

5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The blessings of justification [Romans 5:1-11] (ESV Literary Study Bible):

The word therefore at the beginning of this section signals that what comes next follows logically from the doctrine that Paul has just been defending. In being justified by faith in the blood of Christ, the believer gains many further benefits: peace with God, access to grace, the hope of glory, joy in suffering, reconciliation with God, salvation from wrath, and the love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Here’s Martin Luther comments on Romans 5:

In chapter 5, St. Paul comes to the fruits and works of faith, namely: joy, peace, love for God and for all people; in addition: assurance, steadfastness, confidence, courage, and hope in sorrow and suffering. All of these follow where faith is genuine, because of the overflowing good will that God has shown in Christ: he had him die for us before we could ask him for it, yes, even while we were still his enemies. Thus we have established that faith, without any good works, makes just. It does not follow from that, however, that we should not do good works; rather it means that morally upright works do not remain lacking. About such works the “works-holy” people know nothing; they invent for themselves their own works in which are neither peace nor joy nor assurance nor love nor hope nor steadfastness nor any kind of genuine Christian works or faith.

Grace Church San Diego–home to Drew Shirley, lead guitarist for Switchfoot–has a very informative page on their website that outlines what makes their church distinct.  I must admit that it is comprehensive and concise in its content and brevity.  Very interesting… have a look for yourself–here it is in full:

We think the Gospel changes everything.

There are hundreds of churches - even dozens with the same name. Grace Church can be described in many ways. Here is one of the simplest ways we say this: we want to build a church that is characterized by passionate, Gospel-centered orthodoxy.

Now that may not have answered the question too well - it may make you more confused - so let’s take a moment to explain.

We are Gospel-centered. The Gospel is a story — the story of God’s action to redeem people from sin by becoming man and being put to death. In the greatest act of human evil, the crucifixion of Jesus, God brought about the ultimate end to all evil as Jesus died for sinners. Three days later Jesus emerged triumphantly from death. He offers forgiveness to any who will trust in Him. His resurrection is a promise of a new day when all the sin and evil of the world will be purged and Jesus will rule over his people.

When we say Gospel-centered we mean that the Christian life is, from beginning to end, a response to Jesus death for us. It is not self-help or self-improvement. It is God doing everything to save us from sin. It is the good news of God’s appointed Savior for all of us - Jesus. He is the Gospel.

We think orthodoxy is a wonderful thing. The doctrines of the Bible are not boring; they are astounding. They are astounding because they tell us of the most wonderful being in all of the cosmos - the true God. No one in the Bible ever met with the true God and walked away with a yawn.

We also think that passion is a good thing. Passion is expressed in worship. We celebrate the Good News in worship. Passion drives us to the application of truth to life. We seek to experience the Gospel by working it into the details of life. Passion involves power - as the Holy Spirit works in our lives and relationships to make us like Jesus.

It is one thing to talk about passionate, Gospel-centered orthodoxy, it is quite another to work that out in the details. If the Gospel is the truth and the most important message in history - what values grow out of that message? Here is a short list:

1. Encouragement - the story of God’s saving grace for us in Jesus should lead us to be encouragers of each other. Being overly-serious is not the fruit of the good news.  Because of Christ, God is now for us and will spare nothing to finish the work he has begun in us.

2. Humility - nothing seems to be more opposed to the Gospel than pride. Ee could do nothing to rescue ourselves from sin.  God has done it all, even when we deserved judgment.  How can we be proud?

3. Authenticity - becoming a Christian means admitting we that are far worse than we have ever thought.  Therefore we do not need to work so hard at impressing others.  We can be real.

4. Community - the Gospel informs me that I am not able to save myself.  God must do it all.  It also says I cannot grow as a Christian alone. I need the help of others in the church.  The Gospel should lead us to community. The Gospel creates communities where the relationships demonstrate the beauty of Christ.

5. Service - the God who made us stooped to become a man, and a slave, even to the point of dying the most shameful death imaginable.  So, we should not be people who seek the highest place or bring our self-importance and ambitions into the church.

6. Mission - the Gospel is designed to increase. Churches are to multiply. We do not think we are called to get comfortable in this life. We are here on the same redemptive mission as Jesus.

2 Peter 1:3-9

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to  his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Hebrews 10:19-31

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 3:12-13

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I often get made fun of by Americans down here in Kentucky because I am Canadian and thus speak various Canadian slangs and idioms without knowing it.  Them Americans can be quite uninformed about us Canucks who just live north of the border!

Anyways, here’s some help in learning to speak Canadian, for those ignorant Americans (and closet Canadians) among us!

Terms and Phrases

• Eh - “Eh?” is a word you add to the end of a sentence, to ask for a response of agreement or disagreement, similar in meaning to “don’t you think?” ex. “Looks like a storm comin’ in, eh?” It is also sometimes used with “I know”, and in that case it doesn’t really mean anything. -”Wow, the Oilers really kicked butt tonight!” -”I know, eh?” Basically ‘do you not think so too?’
• Bathroom - Bathroom and washroom are used interchangeably in Canada to refer to a place where you would find toilets. Say “Bathroom” in some parts of the US, and you’ll get a place with a bathtub in it. Biffy can also be used.
• Deadly - A reaction to something done “over the top”; overdone; excessive. Can also be used as a response to something done very well. Circa 1974ish.
• Touque - A knit cap. Usually worn in winter.
• Hoser- calling someone is a “hoser” is really just calling them a loser. In the old days, the team that lost the hockey game would have to hose down the rink, and hence the reference “hoser”.
• Loonie - the Canadian one-dollar coin.
• Toonie - the Canadian two-dollar coin.
• Brown Bread - Whole wheat bread.
• Homo Milk - Whole Milk
• Dooryard- The front garden.
• Wicked - Something or someone amazing. i.e. “Cheryl is wicked at her job”
• How’s She Bootin’er? - It’s the equivalent of “How’s it going?”
• Beauty - A reaction to something done extremely well.
• Double-Double - Said when ordering a coffee; indicating two creams and two sugars.
• Growl - to yell.
• Brutal- to be very bad at something.
• Chesterfield - A couch.

Read the rest of this entry »

I started reading Ezekiel on Sunday for my devotions, and I came across this powerful image of “abominations in the temple”.

Ezekiel 8:

8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. [1] Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. [2] 3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.

5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”

7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’” 13 He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.”

14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.”

16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their [3] nose. 18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.”

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Back in 2005, I gave up coffee for a month — and that has endured for almost three years now. (My old blog records tell me that it was on May 28, 2005 that I recorded that momentous occasion.)  I’ve had sporadic instances here and there when I have had coffee, whether on road trips or with friends who were having “fine” authentic imported coffee.  But other than those sporadic instances, I do not buy coffee or drink coffee anymore.

(FYI: I don’t consider espresso drinks “coffee”; I do still drink and love espresso drinks like lattes and macchiatos!  When most people say “coffee”, they mean brewed coffee.  Espresso ain’t brewed coffee!)

In those days, back in the middle of this decade, I thought that my coffee consumption was excessive and thus detrimental to my health. It still is, since coffee has not changed; my caffeine alternative these days — energy drinks — are no better for my health wise then coffee itself.  I made a change in the past that has changed my life forevermore, and I don’t regret making it.  I cannot agree more with the age-old saying, “What doesn’t kill ya only makes you stronger.”

I am alive and well today because I stopped drinking coffee in days past. I have contemplated starting up drinking coffee again, not because I need to or really really want to, but because on those special occasions in life, it would be nice to have — and there are many such special occasions in life!  My life is pretty simple, and I never really drink or eat anything outside of the box, so to speak. But I do think I am open to trying new things :-)  If it means stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new in the pleasure of good company, I am certainly — definitely — up for that!

I’m up for getting back on coffee.

Not just any coffee — good coffee, the best coffee that I can possibly find, that God can possibly make! The expensive stuff, the valuable stuff, the treasured kind that is worthy of my hard-earned money and precious taste buds. The kind that you need to search far and wide to find just the right — perfect — bean.

I’m looking for that kind of coffee.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger.
May you never take one single breath for granted,
God forbid love ever leave you empty-handed.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens.
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…

**I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance.
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances, but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake, but it’s worth makin’.

Don’t let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider.
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance…**

Time is a wheel in constant motion, always rolling us along.
Tell me who wants to look back on their years
and wonder where those years have gone.

Leann Womack - I Hope You Dance