READINGS FOR MARCH 25, 2024: JOB 25, ROMANS 8, PSALM 22:22-31 JOB 25 Bildad’s response, as with others in these extended discussions, doesn’t seem to speak directly to Job’s just-completed comments. One wonders if they were really listening to each other or just using the time to formulate their next response. A common problem for many of us. In verses 1-3 Bildad correctly captures the power and transcendent nature of God as also expressed in Psalm 19:1-3 and Roman 1:18-20. In verses 4-6 he lands on the key question that most people throughout the world never really worry about: How can flawed humans be found just before such an almighty and holy God? Today’s increasingly pervasive answer is that, because God is love, we are accepted as we are and need not worry about how we live.
As we are learning in Romans this is not the case: “He (Jesus) who was delivered up because of our transgressions and raised because of our justification. Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 4:25-5:1). As Bildad said, we could never become just in God’s sight through our own actions. It is only though the death and resurrection of Jesus that the gift of justification is offered, and we can only receive this by faith. Also inferred in this passage is that by receiving Him as our Lord, we commit to obeying His commands as they are revealed in His Word. We don’t ignore them by not seeking them out. We don’t disregard them because we believe they are out of date or inconvenient.
A final word about Bildad’s statement that man is much less than the moon and the stars, more on the level of a maggot or a worm. Even in our fallen state, we are made in God’s image. Remember the words of Psalm 8: “Yet Thou hast made him a little lower than God and dost crown him with glory and majesty! Thou dost make him to rule over the works of They hands.” This truth impacts how we treat each other and how we value each human life.
ROMANS 8 If the interpretation presented before for Romans 7 is correct, then Romans 8 contrasts what it means to live as a Christian by the power of the Spirit of God compared with our prior attempts in chapter 7 to obey the law in the power of the flesh. The first step is to embrace our new status as believers who are freed from condemnation. This is because Jesus was condemned in our place (8:1-2). The requirements of the law, including the sacrificial system, the ceremonial obligations, and the moral law, are fully met by Jesus (8:3).
As we learned in chapter 7, the moral law still describes sin (7:7), but before being freed by the Spirit, we were unable obey this law (7:19) or to please God (8:8). Now through faith, the Holy Spirit dwells within us (8:8). We are able set our minds on the Spirit (8:6), put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit (8:13), and then be led by the Spirit (8:14). Although the Spirit, not our efforts, transforms us internally, there still is intentional human involvement: setting our mind, putting deeds of the flesh to death, and allowing the Spirit’s leading.
READINGS FOR MARCH 23, 2024 CONTINUED: ROMANS 8 The indwelling Spirit then changes our character, from which behavior (obedience) automatically flows. Think back to Matthew 5. The standard of the Mosaic Law was not to murder. Through the power of the Spirit within us, we are now able to live out Jesus’s higher character standard of freedom from anger. The standard of the Mosaic Law was not to commit adultery. Through the power of the Spirit within us, we are now able to live out Jesus’s higher character standard of freedom from lust.
Other benefits of this new life include the following: a sonship relationship with God the Father; the internal witness of the Spirit that we are children of God; a promised eternal inheritance shared with Jesus; and the honor of suffering with Jesus so that we might be glorified with Him. Paul says that because we know of all these current and future benefits, we can live now with hope and perseverance, eager for what comes next.
Even more benefits: the Holy Spirit prays for us when we are at a loss for words; God works out all the events of our lives for His good purposes; God is conforming us to be more like Jesus; we can count on the God who predestined, called, and justified us to also glorify us; since God is for us, our adversaries have no chance; and Jesus Christ is currently praying to the Father on our behalf.
Final benefit: nothing can separate us from God’s love, although as Job and even Paul discovered, life may have many unpleasant features with which to contend. It is all bearable knowing that God’s love and all the benefits listed above can never be taken from us. LET’S CONSIDER EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN JESUS.
Fine Print Theology. While some (Presbyterians) believe this last promise guarantees that we cannot lose our salvation, others (Methodists) think that believers still have the freedom to reject Jesus. This is because human rejection is not mentioned as one of the external separating possibilities in Romans 8 and because of other biblical passages describing falling away from faith (e.g., Heb.10:35-38; 2 Peter 2:20-21).
PSALM 22:22-31 Verse 22 definitely refers to Jesus. How can we know that with certainty? Because the writer of the Hebrews tells us: “ For both He (Jesus) who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason, He (Jesus) is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, ‘I will proclaim Your name to My brothers, In the midst of the assembly I will sing Your praise’” (Heb. 2:11-12). Think of it. When we sing praises to God in the assembly, Jesus is singing with us.
Verse 27 talks about the worldwide nature of God’s kingdom. Because of numerous scriptural passages, including the words of Jesus and later in Revelation, we know this does not mean all will be saved. It does mean that people from every nation and tongue will be saved and praise Him in heaven: “I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”’ (Rev. 7:9-10).
