Theology for Everybody: RomansSample
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Paul addresses the fourth common objection to Christianity: “If God works it all out, then He should not be angry with me.” The same old argument is that “the end justifies the means.” We make a mess, but God can fix it, so why should He be upset? God is famous for taking the bad things we do and using them for good. Joseph said this very thing in Genesis 50:20 to his brothers, who had betrayed, abandoned, and sought to destroy him: “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” The most extreme example of this principle is God using the evilest act—the murder of Jesus Christ—for the greatest good in history—our salvation.
God is gracious, generous, and creative. Just because He takes something bad and redeems it for good does not make what we did good. Furthermore, if we do bad and take credit for God’s good, it only amplifies how bad we really are.
I know a pastor who is a good Bible teacher and a loving and devout husband and father. He has never met or known his biological father, who walked out on his mother while she was pregnant with him. Seeking to learn anything about this man who brought him into this world, the pastor sought out his biological father. When they sat down, the son gave an overview of his life—“I met Jesus, and I’m teaching the Bible. I’m married, I’ve got kids, and God’s been very good to me.” Then the son asked how his father felt hearing who his son had become. In a curious twist, the father replied, “Well, I guess it was a good thing I slept with your mom. If my adultery brought you into the world, and you’re here blessing people, then I’m blessing people.” Ignoring all his failures, the father took credit for the son’s successes.
Some people want to know, “If I do bad and God does good, then why don’t I get credit for the good?” There’s a difference between God using your actions for good and your actions actually being good. None of us are good. Romans 3:10 says, “None is righteous, no, not one.” We are all sinners, and we all need a Savior. We are the problem, and we need a solution. That solution is Jesus Christ.
Today’s Reflection
How have you seen God turn bad into good in your own life?
Scripture
About this Plan
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After Pastor Mark got saved in his college dorm room reading the book of Romans, this 365-day devotional is the culmination of more than 30 years of studying this incredible book. Chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse, this book digs into topics covered in the great book of Romans, such as justification, grace, predestination, legalism, deconstruction, and more.
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We would like to thank Mark Driscoll for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://realfaith.com
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