October 16, 2021 — Romans 7:1–25

“What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. Did what is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.” Romans 7:7-13

Paul and the Law. Like all Jews, Paul believed that the law was “holy and just and good.” But Paul also saw a negative side to Torah (law). Paul knew that the Law causes sin to be known, and even incites sin, thus bringing G-d’s wrath. His road to Damascus revelation taught him that, despite his adherence to the law, his persecution of Jesus and followers of “the way” opposed G-d and also taught him that a relationship with G-d is grounded in grace, not law.

“As seen in the example of Abraham, law and circumcision are not the means to righteousness with G-d, but this is only found in faith alone. For the Christian, the only remaining use of the law is as a norm for behavior pleasing to G-d, made possible by the indwelling Spirit of G-d” (Luther’s Third Use of the Law).  (New Interpreter’s Study Bible, p. 2020)

This “Third Use of the Law” is not something to consider lightly — we still need laws that help us to find true boundaries to our living — laws that come from the commonwealth, and laws that come from the common understanding of right and righteous living. But Luther’s “Third Use of the Law” reminds us that we are not free just to live our lives based on our own selfishness – or just forgetting about the Ten Commandments. They still should remind us how G-d intends all people to live.

Let Us Pray,

Lord Christ, we hear your Father’s commands, and we know our sinfulness – we know intuitively that we are lost. But you drank the cup of pain, suffering, and punishment for all people – even though we do not deserve it. And each week the cup of salvation is offered to me, not because I have earned it, or deserve it, but only because you love me. Amen.

Pastor Dave

October 15, 2021 — Romans 6:1–23

“What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:1-11

The words of Romans 6 are often read at the funeral service — “…we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

Nothing brings us comfort more than knowing that “if we have been united with Christ in a death like his, we will certainly be united with Christ in a resurrection like his”. This is a love that is just impossible to comprehend. And when we know this love, then we are moved to live into that love.

We should not wait until a funeral to probe the understanding of what Jesus does for all people – the death he died and the resurrection in which he was raised is a foretaste of eternal life offered for all. Paul asks: “What then are we to say?” What we are to say is to share this reality with everyone who will listen.

Let Us Pray,

Lord Jesus, help us to share the good news of Jesus with everyone we encounter. There are many people who lack real hope in their lives. Help us to give hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved, and the news of the Grace of Jesus to those aching for such grace. Amen.

Pastor Dave