These verses need to be viewed in the context of Paul's point in the previous verses. He began by speaking about God's righteous judgement and the fact that it is handed out in accordance, or corresponding to the works evident in our lives. Now, Paul describes another aspect of God's righteous judgement.
There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil
but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good
These two lines are basically repetition of what Paul has already laid out in verses 7 and 8. If your life is chararcterized by evil (evidence of a lost soul) - your judgement is tribulation and distress, leading to eternal wrath. Then, if your life is characterized by good (evidence of a regenerated heart) your judgement is glory, honor, and peace that can only come from a Sovereign God.
It's important to note that "evil" and "good" used by Paul here are not based on our perspective, but God's. With God as a reference point, evil works are anything that steal glory from Him, and good is God working and creating works through us that glorify Him! We need to remove ourselves from the equation, all glory and honor are to deflected directly to God.
I believe it's no small thing that Paul saw fit to explain this and then repeat it, providing extra emphasis on the fact that how we live our life is a direct reflection of the state of our heart - a window to our soul.
the Jew first and also the Greek
I think Paul wrote these words to deal with the fact that many of the Jews were sure that their heritage had something to do with their salvation. Here, Paul is saying that yes, as Jews your ancestors were the first nation to be exposed to the truth, and the condemnation or salvation that stems from that knowledge - but this is by no means limited to you. It has been made available also to the Greek - meaning the rest of the world.
For God shows no partiality.
Another sentence that can be both convicting and encouraging. God does not base our salvation on our wealth, position, influence, or even anything that we do.
This should be convicting if we are of the mindset that I have a better standing with Him because of who I am - a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a small group leader, an elder, etc.
It should also be convicting if we think something that we are doing is improving our standing with God. No amount of service, giving, or self denial will ever improve our standing with God.
If covered by the blood of Christ, we are 100% accepted by our Heavenly Father!
Please do not confuse this with drawing close to God - serving, giving, and dying to self are things that every Christian is to practice as a means of drawing close to God, and building a personal relationship with Him.
These same things are why we should be encouraged by the fact that God shows no partiality. As we draw close to God, we begin to recognize just how sinful we really are. It's not uncommon to go through periods where we wonder how we could ever actually be saved. These are the times when we can boldly and confidently cling to promises like this that God has given us. Our salvation is not based on how good we can be or how high we can climb the ladder - salvation is based solely on the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As God's children, I believe that we would greatly benefit by asking God help us grasp that we are co-pletely accepted by Him, as we are. Chris Tomlin has a great song - well, he has many - but these lyrics from one called "Come Home Running" fit perfectly with the topic of acceptance:
Oh child of God so dearly loved
And ransomed by the Savior's blood
And called by name, daughter and son
Wrapped in the robe of righteousness
So come home running
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
You are looking for
So come home running
Just as you are
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
You are looking for
So come home running
Just as you are
As always, I look forward to your thoughts on these or any verses!
Next Post: 1.9.13
It's easy to look at someone else and think they are trying to earn salvation, yet they may be trying to perpetually say: thank you Father.
ReplyDeleteI am married, I don't buy my wife flowers so that she will love me (though one may say that's all I'm doing), but often for loving me despite my imperfections, and for the simple reason that I love her and want to communicate my love.
When we live a life of gratitude, for what He has done and is doing, good works will pour from our lives. Not to earn what has been given, but in appreciation and thankfulness.
I do not know what motivates another to come to church, to open a door for another, to give to the poor, or work at a soup kitchen; but I can see my motivation and this is what I will be rendered due recompense for.
Thank you kindly for your thoughts,
Calvin
Thanks for your input Calvin, and I agree completely.
ReplyDeleteWhether an individual is living a life of gratitude or attempting to earn their salvation is between them and God - these can look the same to people watching.
Each of us needs to examine ourselves daily to ensure that the motive behind all that we do is for God's glory - anything that we do to "earn" the acceptance of God destroys grace and robs God of glory that is His - which is why I feel so strongly about this.
While actions over a lifetime will reveal the condition of the heart, I want to emphasize that we must be very careful if we think we are able to determine a person's motive based simply on their actions. The heart is what matters, and God knows the heart.