All Roads Lead to Romans

[Pray4Isrel]

I find the book of Romans to be such a critical turning point when it comes to our outlook upon the Jew and upon the Gentile.  I am currently going through an intenseive study on the book of Romans with my study group.  Commonly weaved throughout Romans is the message of the position of the Believer - regardless if Jew or Gentile.  Paul seems to urge the Jews to understand that the Law itself is not salvation, whereas to the Gentile he explains that grace under the law is not to be abused (meaning using grace as an excuse to commit sin).  I look around today and I see the very same issues:  The forsaking of the importance of the Law or the Legalism of the Law as though salvation depends upon it.  Where is the balance?  Why have we and do we forget our position? 

  

[Pray4Isrel]

Any takers?

[SonWorshipper]

I can't speak for the gentiles of the first century, but coming out of a pagan background I am sure they were tainted in the way they looked at religion, which at first this must have looked like to them. But today coming from a Christian background aren't we tainted from years of instillation of over emphasis in some areas and the glossing over in others?

[Live4Jesus]

Not sure I get your question perfectly, or maybe I can't answer it perfectly, you judge,,,

But with the jews, they had for so long, even in times of their own apostosy, been used to the ordinances, sacrifices of animals, different rituals by the priests for the cleansing/forgiveness from sin..

With the gentiles, maybe they saw forgiveness which they accepted readily, as a way into the temple, the House of God. They never knew the law like the jews did, and so their behavior probably at times was a little less than commendable... Paul mentions repeatedly in their respect, idolatry, witchcraft, fornication. Not wanting to go into it here but study a bit the rituals of the pagans, the sex cults especially. Homosexuality, you name it, again, they never knew the law. The goddess Diana for instance...

I think essentially, the biggest fear was/is that some will always try to put back into the new covenant, rules for salvation (indulgences for example, rituals) which would have maybe been the jews... with the gentiles the fear being that they would, once baptised/forgven would revert to their previous behaviour and then contnually need to be forgiven or else try to soften the law, (which is still in effect somewhat, 10 commandments for example, though you have the grace of God as salvation now, the gift of the Holy Spirit and it is a free gift....) and bring into the church changes that would allow them to continue in their previous customs....

I think everyone converted or baptised in or even just born into a christian family, all the time gets the one idea right, that there is ONE God, that Jesus is the savior... but past that they don't neccessarily study to be approved of God, even today it is much needed..

2 Timothy 2:15 - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

People want God, they want eternal life and they want to go to 'heaven', thats not in question, it's just that a lot of times they'll not only deceive others but they'll deceive themselves as well concerning what is GOD'S truth, they want to conform God to themselves and their habits/traditions instead of conforming to what God has repeatedly requested... and it doesn't work that way in reality. They want to bargain with God, alittle of this for a little of that... they want to shape and form their ideal of Him... well it's not reality.

In reality there IS God. And God cannot bend the rules to accomodate what He knows doesn't work, wherein His law is established and is life for those who can grab hold of it, for those who bend and twist it, take away here, add there,,, well I just don't really know. But I see a lot of it.... Jesus said only a few will find the way, I do believe him. Accepting Christ and professing with your mouth is not the same as giving your life, even everything you are or have to him, and that is what He requested... He said, give away everything you've got, and follow me. And as far as I know He meant it... you have to put down your old ways completely entirely, and let Him make you into the person He wants needs you to be to live eternally, in grace with God.

And most people have a real hard tme with that, self is always in the way. You gotta let go of this life in order to enter with Him into His. completely. You gotta be able to say and mean it in your heart, Lord on a moments notice I will drop what I have here and follow you, I will never say no to you, and I will not look back. You gotta trust Him so much that you will give everything you got for him... and know for sure that He will provide for you.

He will too. And He'll get you home, He's the only one who knows the way.... no saints no, no co-redemptors, it's all fables and lies of the devil.

if you read the bible through and through, the old testament especially you'll notice one thing... God repeatedly talks about idolatry, repeatedly, over and over again, how many forms and ways of it,,,,that should tell you something about a lot of religions you see today that call themselves christian but have placed something else next to God...something of their own making... and that that one item is especially important to God, it doesn't matter why, just knowing it's important should be enough for you... you should love the law...the Holy Spirit is a free gift of God, the new covenant doesn't however negate the law, the ordinances are done away with yea, Jesus provide the final and complete sacrifice, one time was enough, God said.. but the 10 commandments for instance still stand... all of them.

Jesus, the first and the last, never forget.

[visionary]

Pray4Isrel started a good thread question way back when... Do we have a clearer picture of the spiritual battle between that which is the Lord's Will and that which is of the world today?