Why should we know God's Word?

In our day and age where anti-intellectualism runs rampant in the visible church, it is not surprising to see poll after poll verify what students of scripture have known for many years. The visible church does not know much about the scriptures they profess to believe in. This is sad considering many saints during the Reformation period lost their lives for the sake of being able to read and study God's word. Not to mention the many passages in scripture that speak as such:

Isaiah 66:2 This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
John 8:31-32 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Psalm 19:7-8 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
Psalm 119:11 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

The posts on this blog will address essential Biblical doctrines of the Christian faith. You can find much of the background for the posts here. My prayer for these posts is that the people who read them will be encouraged to open their Bibles and not just read a verse or two, but learn them and indeed, be transformed by them. As Jesus prayed, "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17). This is my prayer as well.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Sin and its effects part 2

- Inherited guilt – We are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin. Roman 5:12-21 speaks in depth about this.

o First, it is important to notice the context.

§ The context shows Paul is not talking about actual sins committed by people.

· The section is a comparison of Adam & Christ

o Adam and Christ are also mentioned together in 1 Cor 15:22;45

· Also notice how Adam & Christ relate to US.

o This helps us with the seemingly difficult vs 12.

§ Particularly the phrase, “because all sinned”

· Sinned is in the past tense.

o What does Paul mean when he says all sinned?

§ It means that God thought of us all as having sinned when Adam disobeyed.

o Again, the context of Romans 5:12 confirms this is what Adam is saying.

§ Vs 15 – “Transgression of the One many died”

§ Vs 16 – “Judgment arose from One transgress…”

§ Vs 17 – “Transgression of the One, death reigned through the One…”

§ Vs 18 – “Through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men…”

§ Vs 19 – “Through the one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners.”

o In vs 19 we see that through Adam’s disobedience, the many were made sinners.

§ The word “made” is in the past tense and means appointed, designated or constituted.

· We are designated as sinners because of Adam’s sin, and therefore guilty of it.

§ Just as through Christ’s obedience we are constituted as righteous, and therefore innocent.

o In the context what proves this point?

§ People died without breaking an actual commandment.

· This is the idea of vs 13-14.

o All this proves is that Adam is the representative for the entire human race, and therefore all are guilty sinners.

- Is this right of God?

o Regardless, we have committed actual sins which we will be judged on the last day (Romans 2:6; Colossians 3:25)

o By saying it’s not fair, we have already shown to be in agreement with Eve.

o We would have done the same thing in their position.

o We should think it is unfair for Christ to represent us, and count us righteous because of His obedience.

- Applications

o God takes sin seriously.

§ He is holy and just in all His ways.

§ There is nothing we can do to make ourselves right with God; we are guilty apart from Christ.

o We should look to the provision by which we are declared righteous in Romans 5:20-21.

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