Theology Thursday
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
Sin. It’s a word out of fashion. But just like it’s Father, Satan, ignorance doesn’t equal absence.
In the beginning (of humanity), God declared us to be good. Adam & Eve were made in His image and likeness and were without sin. But through the temptation of Satan, the negligence of Adam and the desire of Eve sin entered the world.
Sin is two things. It is the polluting of the body and soul. Adam & Eve’s first feeling of sin's effects is shame at their nakedness. Paul speaks in Romans that our sins darken our hearts. Sin turns us against God and His ways and this invariably leads to decisions that harm ourselves and others.
Sin is also an illegal act. Much as speeding breaks the NSW covenant of the road. Or stealing, the NSW covenant of property. To sin by omission (failing to do what we should) or commission (doing what we should) is to break the covenant between creature & creator. To break the law is to invite punishment and consequence. To sin is to be under a sentence of death.
When God rescues Israel out of Egypt, He establishes another covenant with them. He has saved them and now gives them His good law to follow. If they trust Him and follow His ways, He will bless them and they will enjoy the promised land. If they sin against Him, He will reject them and they will return to exile from God and land. We know how that turned out.
But there was another promise. A covenant made with Abraham. An unshakeable promise that God would bless all nations through the line of Abraham. In this promise Abraham trusted and his faith was counted as righteousness (he was considered blameless in the eyes of God).
After Israel’s failure, when the world seemed condemned in its sins, a Saviour was born. Jesus Christ was without sin. He trusted in His Father, keeping perfectly the covenant that God made with Adam and with Israel. He is the true Son of God and Son of Abraham.
And through Him sins pollution and its punishment can be abolished. When we trust in Him by faith, our sins are forgiven - we are considered blameless in the eyes of God. When we trust in Him by faith we are no longer slaves to sin’s desires but free to pursue righteousness and as we follow Christ, walking by the Spirit, the poison of sin’s effects is slowly drained from our systems.
One day, sin will be no more. We will be in a state of perfect righteousness - no longer lured by sin’s deceitful promises and no longer polluted by its effects. We will be completely free. Praise God.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for His good ways and for His grace to sinners. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who saves us from sin’s punishment and pollution. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others trust in Jesus by faith and pursue righteousness through Him.
Romans 1:18-20
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
Sin. It’s a word out of fashion. But just like it’s Father, Satan, ignorance doesn’t equal absence.
In the beginning (of humanity), God declared us to be good. Adam & Eve were made in His image and likeness and were without sin. But through the temptation of Satan, the negligence of Adam and the desire of Eve sin entered the world.
Sin is two things. It is the polluting of the body and soul. Adam & Eve’s first feeling of sin's effects is shame at their nakedness. Paul speaks in Romans that our sins darken our hearts. Sin turns us against God and His ways and this invariably leads to decisions that harm ourselves and others.
Sin is also an illegal act. Much as speeding breaks the NSW covenant of the road. Or stealing, the NSW covenant of property. To sin by omission (failing to do what we should) or commission (doing what we should) is to break the covenant between creature & creator. To break the law is to invite punishment and consequence. To sin is to be under a sentence of death.
When God rescues Israel out of Egypt, He establishes another covenant with them. He has saved them and now gives them His good law to follow. If they trust Him and follow His ways, He will bless them and they will enjoy the promised land. If they sin against Him, He will reject them and they will return to exile from God and land. We know how that turned out.
But there was another promise. A covenant made with Abraham. An unshakeable promise that God would bless all nations through the line of Abraham. In this promise Abraham trusted and his faith was counted as righteousness (he was considered blameless in the eyes of God).
After Israel’s failure, when the world seemed condemned in its sins, a Saviour was born. Jesus Christ was without sin. He trusted in His Father, keeping perfectly the covenant that God made with Adam and with Israel. He is the true Son of God and Son of Abraham.
And through Him sins pollution and its punishment can be abolished. When we trust in Him by faith, our sins are forgiven - we are considered blameless in the eyes of God. When we trust in Him by faith we are no longer slaves to sin’s desires but free to pursue righteousness and as we follow Christ, walking by the Spirit, the poison of sin’s effects is slowly drained from our systems.
One day, sin will be no more. We will be in a state of perfect righteousness - no longer lured by sin’s deceitful promises and no longer polluted by its effects. We will be completely free. Praise God.
For Today:
- Do you feel the pollution of sin?
- Do you trust in Jesus for forgiveness and freedom?
- Do you look forward to the day when sin will be no more?
Pray:
Praise the Father for His good ways and for His grace to sinners. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who saves us from sin’s punishment and pollution. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others trust in Jesus by faith and pursue righteousness through Him.
Posted in Theology Thursday
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