READINGS FOR MARCH 20, 2024: JOB 22, ROM 5, PSALM 21:8-13 JOB 22 Here Eliphaz responds to Job’s comments from the previous chapter. Let’s follow the logic of the argument he presents or at least implies in this chapter:
Premise 1 God sees all our actions, both good and bad (vs. 12-14); ;
Premise 2 God renders harsh judgment (i.e., suffering) on the wicked (vs. 4-5);
Premise 3 God constantly rewards the honorable and humble man (vs.2-4, 8, 21-29);
Premise 4 Job is obviously experiencing suffering (10-11); Therefore,
Conclusion Job has done evil, is wicked, and not an honorable man (vs 5-7,9).
Let’s evaluate this argument to see if the premises are truth and the conclusion valid: Premise 1--Is God omniscient? YES. “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything” (1 John 3:20). Premise 1 is true. God certainly knows everything
Premise 2—Does God judge wickedness? YES “Whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Rom. 13:2). BUT Rom. 13:2 implies a condemnation in the future. Eliphaz’s premise focuses on current suffering. As we read in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you (current suffering) and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Matt. 5:11). Because Eliphaz’s premise implies all current suffering not final judgment, Premise 2 is not true. It is true only conditionally, when referring to a final judgment. Premise 3—Does God reward the just? YES. This is confirmed in the next verse in Matthew: “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:12). BUT The passage clearly states this reward is in heaven, not during earthly life, as Eliphaz implies. Thus Premise 3 is not true for the same reason Premise 2 is untrue.
Eliphaz’s Conclusion is false because the premises are not all true. God’s ways often transcend our understanding (Phil. 4:7), but they are not illogical. In fact, the Bible calls Jesus the Logos in John 1:1. He is the logic of God. When we hear truth claims, we must evaluate the premises for faithfulness to the Bible and the conclusions for sound logic.
ROMANS 5 The opening of Romans 5 states we can have peace with God through faith in Jesus (vs 1-2). Before being saved, we were/are enemies of God (vs 10). There is no neutral position. For those who are saved, we can frame our troubles as a starting point for a virtuous cycle of development leading to greater perseverance, character, and hope—all enabled through the Holy Spirit. This faith development through difficulties is also seen in James 1:1-4 and with the Leibniz concept discussed on March 1, 2024. Are we framing our troubles with this in mind?
One explanation for Rom. 5:13: There are different interpretations for this challenging verse. Here we will offer one with great humility. Verse 12 states that, through Adam, sin resulting in death entered into the world. Since death spread to all men, we know all men sinned. Verse 13 says before “the Law,” which seems to refer to the Mosaic Law because of the definite article used, sin was in the world. Then Paul makes the observation about sin that it is not
READINGS FOR MARCH 20, 2024 CONTINUED: ROMANS 5, PSALM 21:8-13
“imputed” or credited when there is no law. He did not say that no law existed then, only that sin is not imputed without the presence of law. (Also note no definite article precedes the word “law” in this phrase). Verse 14 reaffirms that death, which we know is a result of sin, indeed reigned from Adam to Moses, even though people may not have sinned in the way Adam sinned. Jude’s statement that Sodom and Gomorrah are undergoing eternal punishment means their sins were imputed against them even though this happened before Mosaic Law.
What might be some law other than Mosaic law that was present before Moses and that could be the basis of holding humanity guilty of sin? Romans 1:18 states God’s wrath comes against all unrighteousness of men who suppress God’s truth. Verse 19 says God’s divine nature is understood through the created universe, but still people did not honor Him (vs 21). As a result, they participated in unnatural acts (Rom vs. 26-27). They did not acknowledge Him (vs. 28). As a result, they committed “shameful acts” (vs.29-31). Finally, they knew the ordinanceof God (32), but still violated it. This could be considered God’s natural law/ordinance as opposed to God’s written law. Romans 2:12 discusses sinners who perish both “with the[Mosaic]Law” and “without the [Mosaic] Law.” They will be judged by the law available to them, which in verse 15 is the inner law written on their hearts: their conscience. Thus, Rom. 5:13 seems to assert that law was present and sin was imputed to man before Mosaic Law.
Ironically sin increased and became more visible with the Mosaic Law (Rom 5:20). The good news is that humankind became more aware of their sinful state and need for redemption. Also, with the work of Jesus, grace increased at a greater rate than sin. Eternal life is now possible through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 5:21).
PSALM 21:8-13 The Psalm 21 prayer team prays with confident anticipation about the time when God will defeat His enemies. What is one victory that has occurred since the Psalm team prayed, about which we can join with our praise? Consider this one: “There is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1-4).
What about a victory over God’s enemies that is still to come, about which we can pray with this same confident anticipation? This is a good one: “But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54-57).
