We're all the Same, Romans 3:21-31

(21)But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(22)This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(23)for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,(24)and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.(25)God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—(26)he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
(27)Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.(28)For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(29)Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(30)since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(31)Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Most of you have probably heard verse 23 in this passage. However, I’d like to look at the broader context to see how it plays in with the rest of its sentence and paragraph. Paul is speaking to his Jewish readers at this point in the letter, and his purpose in verses 21-24 is to say that they aren’t any different from the Gentiles. It is faith in God that saves, not the Law. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. There’s no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. It really gives a new meaning to verse 23 than how I’ve always heard it used. Instead of “YOU have sinned, and YOU have sinned, and so have YOU!” It’s actually “You’ve sinned, but so have I. We’re no different because we both sin and we’re both saved through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Verses 25-26 add some additional explanation of Paul’s message that his Jewish audience would have understood. They were well familiar with the sin offering that was set up in Leviticus 16:15-16 where a goat would be sacrificed in lieu of the people bearing the brunt of God’s wrath (hence the word scapegoat). God waited and “passed over” (sound familiar from the plagues on Egypt?) the sins of the people so that Christ could be the sin sacrifice once for all. Then and only then would the sacrifice be accomplished. God and God alone judges because only through God are we saved.
Paul ends this section with a Q&A session with himself. He refutes some arguments that people may choose to use against Him. The law is about faith, not works. God is the God of everyone. We declare the law by keeping the faith. That last part can be a tad confusing, but we proclaim God’s love and forgiveness when we uphold the way and demonstrate our faith, so law and faith go hand-in-hand.
We are not alone in our sin. Even though we all sin, we are all also justified freely and equally through Jesus’ blood on the cross. Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice for us. Walk by faith. In doing so, uphold the law. Christ is our righteousness.

Gifts and Passions, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)

(7) Now to each one of the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (8)To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, (9)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, (10)to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. (11)All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

This is probably a familiar passage to a lot of us. Those of us who have grown up in the church have heard several sermons about how to find your gift and how to best use it in the church. For the record, this is not nearly a complete list, but it is the longest contiguous list in Scripture. The second longest comes at the end of the same chapter, just in case you were curious.

I don’t intend to try to define and dissect every spiritual gift in Scripture or even here. There are several additional resources available if you’d like to look around some more. The Bible talks a lot about when/when gifts are to be used within a church service, and it also provides examples throughout of people who display those gifts. Solomon is promised in 1 Kings 3 that he will essentially be the wisest person to ever walk the earth. Jesus was called Rabbi/Teacher (was that too easy of a reference?). Genesis is full of people who walked faithfully with God. Peter and John are healing people all through the book of Acts. Moses and Aaron performed incredible miracles in front of Pharaoh. Aaron did most of the actions (staff turning into a snake, the Nile turning into blood), and Moses actually did most of the prophesying. God placed prophets like Samuel in Israel to judge the people and get them back on track. Acts 2 records the primary example of tongues at Pentecost, when people from all around the region with different languages suddenly heard the Word of God being spoken in their own language.

So the Spirit was definitely active in the Old Testament as well as the New, and the people were using their gifts outside the church/synagogue as well as in, and that’s my primary focus this week. Finding where each person’s spiritual gifts are to be used outside the church. As many gifts as God has given, He has also given passions to individuals. The question is how do your gifts come into play with your passions?

For example, I think my primary gifts are service, hospitality, encouragement, and teaching. If anyone disagrees, please let me know. Those are the activities that really get my juices flowing; I love making sure people feel welcome and comfortable when I’m around and will go out of the way to make sure they’re ok. If they’re not, I like to encourage them and teach them some ways to be more comfortable, whether it’s people’s names or how to do an activity better. That plays out in my job a lot on a day-to-day basis by going into random people’s houses to work on their U-Verse services. I’m there to serve; they have to want to invite me in; I help them know that everything’s going to be ok, and I explain in words they understand what I did and what the problem might have been. Outside of work, I love having people over (hint, hint) and hosting anyone and everyone. Even with Frisbee, whenever people are nervous about playing, I get a huge rush from helping them get comfortable with other people first, then the sport by teaching them how to adjust what they are or aren’t doing. That is a primary method of interaction for me and a primary mission field because that is my passion. Helping people feel welcome and wanted brings the biggest smile to my face and warmth to my heart because that’s how God has wired me to be. Those are my gifts. That is what God pushes me to use for His kingdom.

My encouragement and challenge to everyone this week is to find your gifts through prayer, action, and reflection. I have learned that administration is a weak area, and only through prayer and God’s grace can that be strengthened. Once you have a hint towards your gifts, look for opportunities to use them in the church, as that is their primary purpose. God’s kingdom comes first. Then look for ways to use those gifts outside of the church body. How can your gifts be used within your passions to bring people to God?

A Call to Security, Psalm 59:14-17

(14)They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. (15)They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. (16)But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. (17)You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.


David had originally come into King Saul's service as a musician to play the lyre whenever "an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul" (several references beginning in 1 Samuel 16). David would be called in from the fields to play for Saul to calm his nerves and remind him that God is in control. Saul, however, began to get more and more jealous of David as God used him to lead the armies into several victories and make David's name greater than Saul's. Eventually, Saul began trying to kill David almost any opportunity he had. David would be playing the lyre as normal, then "an evil spirit from the Lord (would come) on Saul," and he would try to pin David to the wall with a spear. It got to the point where David had to go into hiding most nights because Saul would send out assassins to kill him, and anyone they ran across would either lie on David's behalf or, in Samuel's case, they would begin prophesying, which is pretty cool to see God working in very adverse situations.

So David wrote this psalm either during a time of hiding or reflecting on said time. He goes back and forth about being worried about death and praising God for deliverance. He ends the song with these lyrics, with verses 16-17 being the final ending punch. In the midst of people trying to kill him, David knows that God is his Savior. Look at what he calls God: fortress, refuge, strength, God. David's total dependence is on God the Father, and God delivers for His kingdom.

And the persecution doesn't end with David, or Jesus, or even the apostles. If any of you have ever heard Dr. David Platt speak during a service at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, during a Secret Church (next one in April 6!), or if you have read Radical, you've heard stories about persecuted Christians all over the world dying because of the Gospel. People are being put in jail, tortured, and killed simply for believing in God. These families need prayer. These people are in desperate need of prayer and supplies in many cases, so they can continue to spread the Gospel. There's an organization called Voice of the Martyrs whose aim is to assist the persecuted church worldwide. If you're interested you can check out their website and read stories of people who have prayed through jail and sung to their deaths, knowing that God is their fortress, refuge, and strength.

In middle class America, it's kind of hard to get a full grasp of what's going on without having seen it myself. I may complain about a very stressful day at work and lose sight of God's love and what He is planning. Who cares if the computer systems go down? Who cares if I can't find a cable in the middle of someone's total mess? Who cares if a DVR won't hook up to a 72" LED TV? I shouldn't, and God definitely doesn't. All He is concerned with at that point is my heart and whether or not I'm giving Him the glory. Humming is a great way to relieve stress, and if people ask about the song, there's a ministry opportunity right there. Yesterday, two of those "who care" questions happened. At the beginning of the day I sent out some texts asking for prayer, but after 9 hours at one house, I had honestly forgotten about it. Then I read my brother's text:

"'Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith develops perseverance.' -James 1:2-3. Try to stay patient today and find God moving in whatever you do today. Hope your day gets better man."

Wow. I just had to sit back and let that soak in. Consider it pure joy. Find God moving in whatever you do today. I had forgotten that God is my fortress, refuge, and strength. I praise God that in the smallest of things He is still moving. When tiny little things go wrong, God still calls us to rely on him. When we're being imprisoned, beaten, and murdered for God's name, we still rely on God solely. Asia Bibi has been in solitary confinement in Pakistan for two years for her protection while awaiting a death sentence appeal. So what does she do all day? Pray. Jail officials and superintendents have come to like her and are very sympathetic to her case now. They've promised to bring her any books she wants and are taking very good care of her.

That's what faith can do. That's what true reliance on God can do. When in prison, hiding from death, or watching our team lose a preseason exhibition game, God is still our fortress, refuge, and strength. Forever and always, let us remember that He is God, and He is with us.