Paul Roos, Sydney Swans AFL coach, was awarded Father of the Year earlier this month and I recall the press reports on the News, and the images of Roos with his wife and children. Here is a man, like a lot of others, who makes time for his family despite what would be a very busy schedule; that reality would seem to be at odds with holding family as the number one value in this man’s life. So many busy Dads and Mums don’t achieve it. Such a story is an inspiration to all fathers. Not only is he rewarded with great relationships with his family, he was awarded a prestigious honour to recognise the fact.
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And so it is with us. We shall soon find out what rewards there are for our earthly conduct. The apostle Paul says in Romans 2:6 (paraphrasing Psalm 62:12), “God ‘will repay everyone according to what they have done.’”[1] And it would not seem to be too much of a leap to jump through to James 2:17, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”[2] Grace might be one thing, but we’re not to “show contempt for the riches of [God’s] kindness, tolerance and patience,”[3] i.e. his grace, when it was intended all along to bring us to repentance -- and make our faith based upon righteousness (doing what is right).[4]
And so it is with us. We shall soon find out what rewards there are for our earthly conduct. The apostle Paul says in Romans 2:6 (paraphrasing Psalm 62:12), “God ‘will repay everyone according to what they have done.’”[1] And it would not seem to be too much of a leap to jump through to James 2:17, “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”[2] Grace might be one thing, but we’re not to “show contempt for the riches of [God’s] kindness, tolerance and patience,”[3] i.e. his grace, when it was intended all along to bring us to repentance -- and make our faith based upon righteousness (doing what is right).[4]
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We might think we’re here for a long time, but ask most octogenarians and they will say life’s swift. Looking backwards over a lifetime it certainly must look that way -- that life is fleeting -- even if we can’t see that now. The message is plain; we’ll get what’s coming to us. God sees even what happens in the secret places.[5]
We might think we’re here for a long time, but ask most octogenarians and they will say life’s swift. Looking backwards over a lifetime it certainly must look that way -- that life is fleeting -- even if we can’t see that now. The message is plain; we’ll get what’s coming to us. God sees even what happens in the secret places.[5]
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Isn’t it interesting how sharply Paul turns to the coming wrath of God in this letter of Romans -- we’d normally associate this sort of chastening with the Corinthian correspondence, but it’s here too, from 1:18, as he builds the gospel story. The early section of Romans is a warning to obey, and not merely be legalistic and religious.
Isn’t it interesting how sharply Paul turns to the coming wrath of God in this letter of Romans -- we’d normally associate this sort of chastening with the Corinthian correspondence, but it’s here too, from 1:18, as he builds the gospel story. The early section of Romans is a warning to obey, and not merely be legalistic and religious.
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It could even be entertained here that Paul departs from the traditional ‘call on Christ to be saved’ gospel message, as he decrees it’s better to actually do what the law requires than know the law and not do it, viz, “but it is those who obey the law (and not just hear it) who will be declared righteous.” (2:13b) The Message says, “Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.” Yet so many are blind to their own disobedience! And this is what discredits God in the sight of unbelieving, good-doers.
It could even be entertained here that Paul departs from the traditional ‘call on Christ to be saved’ gospel message, as he decrees it’s better to actually do what the law requires than know the law and not do it, viz, “but it is those who obey the law (and not just hear it) who will be declared righteous.” (2:13b) The Message says, “Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.” Yet so many are blind to their own disobedience! And this is what discredits God in the sight of unbelieving, good-doers.
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Paul alludes to a quote from Isaiah 52:5 which says, “all day long, my name is constantly blasphemed,” [says the LORD] and puts it in his own terms thus, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[6] He actually talks in present tense. Every time we disobey the laws of love, grace, forgiveness, spirituality, or become hypocritical etc, we cause blasphemy toward God in the heart of the unbelieving good-doer who Paul says has more claim to the things of heaven than does the self-righteous Christian. Blasphemy is the opposite of what’s worthy of God. It’s irreverence, calumny, defamation, slander, and contumely -- it’s utter filth, and that, for God!? That’s an utterly oxymoronic schema.
Paul alludes to a quote from Isaiah 52:5 which says, “all day long, my name is constantly blasphemed,” [says the LORD] and puts it in his own terms thus, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[6] He actually talks in present tense. Every time we disobey the laws of love, grace, forgiveness, spirituality, or become hypocritical etc, we cause blasphemy toward God in the heart of the unbelieving good-doer who Paul says has more claim to the things of heaven than does the self-righteous Christian. Blasphemy is the opposite of what’s worthy of God. It’s irreverence, calumny, defamation, slander, and contumely -- it’s utter filth, and that, for God!? That’s an utterly oxymoronic schema.
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At the end of chapter 2 Paul mentions what makes a true ‘Jew’ (read Christian). It is not “outward and physical,” but inward -- it’s a “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit... [and our] praise is not from men, but from God.”[7] The Pharisees, Stephen noticed, loved to gain notoriety from men. At the end of his long speech in Acts 7, he concludes regarding their ‘uncircumcised hearts,’ that they “received the law that was put into effect through angels but [did not obey it].” (v. 53) There are still many Pharisees about; 21st Century Pharisees. The heart of virtue is contrary to the Pharisaic. It is what God requires; “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”[8] That is the start of obeying God.
At the end of chapter 2 Paul mentions what makes a true ‘Jew’ (read Christian). It is not “outward and physical,” but inward -- it’s a “circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit... [and our] praise is not from men, but from God.”[7] The Pharisees, Stephen noticed, loved to gain notoriety from men. At the end of his long speech in Acts 7, he concludes regarding their ‘uncircumcised hearts,’ that they “received the law that was put into effect through angels but [did not obey it].” (v. 53) There are still many Pharisees about; 21st Century Pharisees. The heart of virtue is contrary to the Pharisaic. It is what God requires; “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”[8] That is the start of obeying God.
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We must think of the negative impact we can have for God out in the world. Let’s not dismiss it as small stuff -- it’s of eternal relevance. Christians and spiritual people draw to themselves scrutiny among others. People notice our initiatives, acts, responses, and general mood; when it’s negative, God gets it in the throat.
We must think of the negative impact we can have for God out in the world. Let’s not dismiss it as small stuff -- it’s of eternal relevance. Christians and spiritual people draw to themselves scrutiny among others. People notice our initiatives, acts, responses, and general mood; when it’s negative, God gets it in the throat.
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“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”[9] And when he comes, “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.”[10] That time is coming. There is no delaying it. We will all account. The rewards we will get, for a good life lived.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”[9] And when he comes, “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.”[10] That time is coming. There is no delaying it. We will all account. The rewards we will get, for a good life lived.
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Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Copyright © 2008, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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ENDNOTES:
[1] Today’s New International Version.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Romans 2:4a (New International Version)
[4] See Romans 1:5-17 as Paul hooks faith together with obedience and righteousness. “The righteous will live by faith,” (Habakkuk 2:4) which also means the faithful will do what is right, living in obedience.
[5] Ecclesiastes 12:14.
[6] Romans 2:24 (NIV).
[7] Romans 2:28-29 (NIV).
[8] Micah 6:8 (NIV).
[9] 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).
[10] Isaiah 40:10 (NIV); see also Revelation 22:12.
[1] Today’s New International Version.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Romans 2:4a (New International Version)
[4] See Romans 1:5-17 as Paul hooks faith together with obedience and righteousness. “The righteous will live by faith,” (Habakkuk 2:4) which also means the faithful will do what is right, living in obedience.
[5] Ecclesiastes 12:14.
[6] Romans 2:24 (NIV).
[7] Romans 2:28-29 (NIV).
[8] Micah 6:8 (NIV).
[9] 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV).
[10] Isaiah 40:10 (NIV); see also Revelation 22:12.
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