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June 29, 2008
"Delight in God"
Scripture
Setting: Romans 7:15–25 NRSV
We begin a four-week series on
the Letter of Paul to the Romans. For many in the Community of
Christ, today’s text has been difficult to understand. Perhaps
it is the result of a significant reliance on a reading of the
text as it is found in the Inspired Version of the Bible. What
exists in reality are two very different texts. Accordingly, the
NRSV translation will be the passage considered below.
Some would read this portion of
the Roman letter as Paul’s personal sharing of his own struggle
that is part and parcel of the human condition. That is, Paul
knows what is right, yet does the opposite. Others suggest that
Paul is writing from the perspective of fallen humanity (or
Adam’s). One thing is clear: Humanity finds it difficult to
define accurately the moral dilemma it confronts. Paul equates
this struggle to being a law, that “evil lies close at hand” (v.
21) when we want to do what is right.
Paul places our moral
responsibility within the human heart, “in my inmost self” (v.
22), and describes the war that rages in his mind. He does not
always understand his behavior. He does not act as he ought. He
does things that he hates. Paul wants to delight in the law of
God, but finds himself constantly confronting his own personal
captivity to the power of sin (vv. 22–24). “Who will rescue me?”
(v. 24) asks Paul. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our
Lord!” (v. 25) is his answer. This confession is a fitting
reminder as the congregation shares in the Lord’s Supper. Today
we acknowledge and delight in the grace of God.
June 29, 2008
"Set Your Mind on Life and Peace"
Scripture
Setting: Romans 8:1–11 NRSV
This week’s text continues
Paul’s concerns (arising from his discussion on the previous
week’s text) with the words: “There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (v. 1). In this
pericope Paul demonstrates how those who are in Christ Jesus are
not ruled by the law of sin, but by “the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus” (v. 2) who sets us free from bondage to
self and sin, from life influenced by rebellion and idolatry.
Those who are in Christ, that
is who follow Christ, “live according to the Spirit” (v. 5).
This is sharply contrasted with its opposite: “those who live
according to the flesh” (v. 5) have set their minds on things of
the flesh. Our perspective, our outlook, is determined by our
setting our minds on these respective alternative “worlds.”
These two worlds are described by Paul in verses 9–11 as two
mutually distinctive realms where we live out our existence. The
worlds that we inhabit shape us. They dwell in us. Our world
results from what we have allowed to shape us.
Having Christ dwell in us (v.
11) does not prevent our moral struggles. When we experience the
presence of Christ in our mortal bodies, sin still occurs.
However, the righteousness of Christ begins to influence us
within our lives. We experience sin, but we also experience the
righteousness of God in new life in Christ in the hope of the
Resurrection: “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give
life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells
in you” (v. 11). Therefore, according to Paul, we are able to
set our minds on the Spirit, which is life and peace (v. 6).
From Worship Helps 7/6/2008 and 7/13/2008
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