New Thoughts (8/10/02-8/12/02)
To my thinking, there are two major mysteries which Paul labored to reveal in his teachings. The first of these is the matter of unity, the uniting of Jew and Gentile in one body. Neither Jew nor Gentile could have conceived of this sharing of one promise in Christ until He came. It was beyond imagining, yet it has now been established by His word. Indeed it is a mystery.
Yet, I find the second mystery more powerful. I find it to be something with which the Church still struggles, the mystery is so great. But when it is understood, it truly is powerfully able to establish us in hope, for it is the very word of God. Throughout this Epistle, Paul has placed reminders of this matter, the matter of grace, the matter of salvation by faith alone. In this, He has been working towards the unity that he sought to establish, for when we understand that the work has all been His, we no longer have cause for pride and distinction.
More than this, it is when we truly understand that the work has all been His that we are most fully established in our hope, for we know that our hope is not in our ability to comply, but in His ability to confirm. Our hope is firmly planted on the Gospel, the word of God, which, as Calvin pointed out, is not only the promise of God, but the assurance of His promise being fulfilled. If our faith should grow weak, we need but look back upon all He has done with us so far, and we will find ourselves back on firm footing once more. This is the power of testimony. This is why God has ever commanded His people to leave a record, to review that record, to teach that record to their children; because in that record, His hand is seen over and over again, working all things to the good of His children.
Elsewhere, in writing to the Corinthians, Paul tells us that faith, hope, and love are the things that will remain (1Co 13:13). Here, in writing to the Romans, Paul has shown the foundations upon which those three stand: justification, election, perseverance, protection, favor. All of these have come down from our Father of lights. All of these have been by His hand. This is the greater mystery of which Paul writes; our justification has not been dependant upon our own works, thank God, but upon His gracious mercy towards us. He has elected to save us, we have not elected to follow Him. In His strength alone, by the indwelling Spirit of God, we are able to persevere. His hand preserves us through all our trials, ever providing the way of escape. His favor upon us is cause for rejoicing such as the world has yet to see from us.
It is precisely when we see that it has all been His doing, that we begin to be able to do ourselves. When we know that the eternal stakes are not bound up in our performance, we are freed to express all the love of God that is within us. We are freed to rejoice like David in the presence of our God. We are freed to allow Him to work within us both to will and to work, to pursue those good works He has prepared in advance for us to do.
Complete assurance, Paul tells us, comes from understanding the mystery of God which Christ is (Col 2:2). This complete assurance encourages our hearts, for it is the assurance that it's all in God's hands, that just as our election came not by our works but by His will, just so, our perseverance to the last day is in His hands as well. How can assurance be complete if there remains the possibility of failure? How can victory be assured, if we can't be sure that we won't desert? It's a complete assurance Paul speaks of, the assurance that comes from knowing that the same infallible, unchangeable God who has called us has also justified us and sanctified us; that He who saves is able to complete what He has begun; that He has never lost a one that was given Him; that nothing can snatch us from His hands (Jn 10:29).
This is also why, in that same verse, Paul tells us that understanding what God has done for us in Christ Jesus builds unity. When we recognize that all that we are is by His doing, all that we have is by His giving, all that we have done has been in His power alone; then we recognize as well that there is no place for pride of position. What have we to be proud of? We've done nothing positive. Our power has been shown in choosing sin and death. This is all we are capable of on our own. But God! God, has chosen to recreate us, imbuing us with His own power that we might accept the life He freely offers. He has opened our eyes to the truth of the situation, and brought us to the place of acceptance. He has worked upon us to change our perspective such that, rather than seeing and pursuing only our own selfish ends, we see and pursue the things that matter to Him, the things that serve His kingdom and our brothers, the things that lead to unity, for they are all aimed at one purpose: to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
It is divine power that has established us. It is divine power that has saved us. It is divine power that keeps us. God is greater than all things, be they in heaven, on the earth, or under the earth. Indeed, He created all things, and He continues to control and constrain all things. This is assurance! The God who created, the God who is powerful to control everything that is, the God whose plans are always perfectly good and perfectly implemented, that God has decided in His own unopposable will to work every event, every situation, for the good of His workers, His children! Whom shall I fear?
Lord, I remain so fully in awe of what You have done. I remember who I was, and I see who You have made me, and I bless You. I remember what sort of father I was, and I see what sort of father You have made me, and I bless You. I well know what could have been my future, my present, had You chosen not to reach out to me. Even looking back to the beginnings of this study, seemingly so long ago now, I can see the things You have been doing, and I cannot but bless You all the more.
You have given voice to the song within me. You have placed me in positions, both in work and in the Church, that have tested me, and I hope, found me true to Your purpose. You have brought me to depths of understanding that threaten to overwhelm me, yet You have also been bringing me to a wisdom that can take that understanding and deliver it to my family in comprehensible fashion. You have been bringing balance to this extremist!
Yet, there is another trend that I have seen in myself, Holy Spirit, in the course of these studies, and it disturbs me. There was a time when I could not come to one of these section summaries without bursting out in praise and prayer. There was a time when every glimpse of Scripture was a bursting of fresh insight. In the last year or so, though, I've seen it growing harder and harder, I've seen my thoughts becoming more turned towards the scholarly, and less turned towards the spiritual. I don't understand this. There is great joy in this new depth, yet there is a great dryness. I pray that You would show me where change is needful in me. Is it just that so long has been spent in reading the comments of others? Is it just the exposing of the roots and causes of so many divisions in the unity of Your church?
Certainly, I have felt my convictions as to true doctrine congealing in the course of all this, yet I feel as though I've lost a bit of my first love. God, I'm uncertain what study You'll be bringing me into beyond this point, although I do believe we'll be spending more time on the topic of providence, that great Providence by which You first showed Yourself to me. You've made the need for that abundantly clear, both in whispering in my ears, and in the circumstance of my present. But, wherever these studies may be leading, I pray that they would lead back to a closer communion with You.
God, all this studying is worthless if You are not with me. All this knowledge is empty and vain, if You are not in it. I know, as this study has reached its close, there has been a desire in me to get done with it. This is not the attitude I should be coming to You with. Return me, my God, to that anxious desire to see what it is You have for me each morning. Remove me from these studies, and speak through them Yourself, as before! I love You. I need You. I need Your presence here, now, in these morning times together, or I shall surely whither and die. Come, water this thirsty soul in whatever places You may lead me to next. Bring me to the obedience of faith, my Lord, that I may know that my faith is true, and my works not my own.
Finally, my God, I pray that such as this study is, it will bring glory to Your name. I pray that such as it is, it will produce fruit for Your kingdom, it will bring others to a knowledge of You. I pray that You would choose to make this effort useful to the awakening of those You have chosen. I pray that it would be a tool to unify Your children in the work of the kingdom. All praise, all honor, all glory be unto You, my God and King, my Lord and Savior, my Jesus!
