Romans 5:1-21
Just before I move on to verse 7 of Romans chapter 5, I want to share
a little about the religious, 'woe is me,' trials and tribulations subject.
I used to think that trials and tribulations were the cause of external
circumstances. I pretty much modeled after other religious people and
said things like: "Oh brother, I know that God is testing my faith and
patience by putting me through some trials and tribulations. My next
door neighbor is being mean to me. I lost my job last week. I recently
noticed a growth on the side of my butt. I know that God has turned
me over to the devil for a little while, but in the end all of these
things will make me stronger."
Today I almost want to put my finger down my throat whenever I hear
such self-righteous religious testimonial garbage coming out of the
mouth of people. Friends, as far as I am concern, real trials and tribulations
is when your heart, mind and soul are being tormented with the idea
that you haven't done enough for God, and you need to do better in order
for God to approve of you. Trials and tribulations are caused more by
the things that we believe we need to do for God in order to be right
with God. The heart and mind cannot possibly enjoy and rejoice in the
grace of God as long as it continues to believe that it is 'Christ,
Plus What I do,' instead of "Christ, Me + Nothing."
In verse 7 Paul says that there aren't too many people that would dare
put their lives on the line to save an ungodly person. But they will
do it for someone who they believe is a good person. Yet Christ did
the very opposite of that. Christ died for all sinners as much as He
also died for all so called religious church attending believers. In
my opinion, there are more ungodly people inside the church building
than there are outside. When people who were once themselves on the
outside of a church building, all of a sudden turn religious and begin
to condemn those on the outside, they are actually denying that Jesus
died for the ungodly.
I bubble all over verse 8 "But God (love that 'BUT' )
commendeth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet
sinners (notice the word 'WERE,' meaning that there are no more
sinners) Christ died for us." Again, for how many
sinners did Jesus died for? How did we all become sinners? How did we
find out that we were sinning? What is the strength of sin? What is
sin? Who did away with sin? When were we forgiven of all sin? What sin?
What was the sin? What was it that God commendeth towards us? When did
He first begin to love us? Was it when we were doing it all right or
was it when we were doing it all wrong?
How many right sinners are there? How many wrong sinners are there?
Who wants to be the best sinner that ever entered heaven? Friends, the
above questions need to be addressed and pondered. These and more are
the questions that puts a legalist back on their heels. These are about
the best questions that a person with the understanding of grace can
minister and witness to an Evangelical Christian. it is the Evangelical
Christian that needs to be witnessed and ministered to. It is the Evangelical
Christian that needs to hear the Gospel of God's Grace. It is the Evangelical
Christian who is lost and deceived.
It is the Evangelical Christian who needs to hear about the unconditional
love of God and how Jesus has shed His blood for the remission and forgiveness
of all sins for all of humanity. It is the Evangelical Christian who
needs to come to the knowledge of the truth. It is the Evangelical Christian,
more so than the street drunk that needs to hear the Gospel of God's
grace. It is the Evangelical Christian who needs to know, be told and
taught that just as in Adam all became sinners, so in Christ all were
made righteous. This Gospel of the grace and peace of God that Paul
preached to the Romans and the '3 Amigos' is what the Evangelical Christian
needs to hear.
If there was ever a time for a revival and a Gospel Revolution it is
now. The television, radio preachers, teachers and evangelists are the
ones that need to hear the Gospel of God's grace. The pulpit pastors
are the ones who need to hear the goodnews. God has more in common with
those outside the church walls than those inside. This message and all
of my articles on my web page may not be to the liking of many who read
them, but the truth of the matter is that the Evangelical Christian
Church are the one's who need to hear the Gospel more so than the world
at hand.
The Evangelical's are the ones who are lost and deceived. They are the
perverted ones. If it were possible for anyone to be still in sin and
sinning, it would have to be none other than those who preach that this
Gospel of the saving Grace of God is only for those who believe. Nothing
can be further from the truth and here in Romans Paul spell it out clearly,
without confusion, question or doubt. Just as in Adam all became sinners,
so now in Christ all have been made righteous. When Jesus nailed the
law to His own body at the cross, the whole world was justified by His
blood and sin was done away with once and for all. He saved us all from
the wrath of the law. Romans 5:9, Romans 8:2.
To be continued....
Grace N Peace
Eddie Narvaez