JADDOG

I’ve been reflecting this past week about Christ’s birth and how this time of the year “the reason for the season” often references Luke chapter 2. Last weekend I spent time in this passage and Romans 3:10-18, John 3:16 and Matthew 7:21-23. These last three versus are the ones God seemed to press on me at the time to depict our sin, need for a saviour, God’s Love, the provision he sent and the requirement to know and follow him for salvation. In this New Testament era this gospel presentation seems like a great explanation of the reason for the reason for the season. Though, today Romans 11 was taught at church and I’ve also been preparing for leading worship at youth group at the January youth group meeting where Romans 12:1-2 will be taught. These passages seemed to open up a gospel message into some theology to chew on.

In college the phrase “what’s the therefore there for?” was burned into my brain for all eternity. Whenever I read Romans 12:1 that phrase pops into my head. Though, I hardly ever take the time to go back to Romans 11 and remind myself of it. It was nice to have just been taught on Romans 11 this morning as I was meditating on Romans 12:1 in preparation for the youth group meeting.

Enter the therefore, helping us understand God’s mercy.

²⁵ Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion,
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;

²⁷“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”²⁸As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. ³²For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

³³Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:25-36 (ESV)

I think the meat of where we can understand the mercy 12:1 is referencing is in versus 27-32. Israel was disobedient and enemies of God so that we could receive mercy, that is, Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. Now by the mercy shown to us, because of their disobedience, they too can receive mercy for their disobedience. Christ is the reason for the season. The reason he came was just not just to save sinners. The reason he came was so that God could have mercy on all (Rom 11:32).

I often get wrapped up in my sinful self-centred-ness. God is quick to remind me that his plan is much bigger than my simple mind can comprehend. After reminding me this, again, a response to this understanding has been so eloquently placed just following the text at the end of chapter 11 with an appeal to begin chapter 12:

¹ I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Merry Christmas

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm and is filed under Depending on Grace.