On Calvin On St. Augustine On Romans 3:21

Calvin on St. Augustine on Rom 3:21 

"It is not unknown to me, that Augustine gives a different explanation; for he thinks that the righteousness of God is the grace of regeneration; and this grace he allows to be free, because God renews us, when unworthy, by his Spirit; and from this he excludes the works of the law, that is, those works, by which men of themselves endeavor, without renovation, to render God indebted to them."

 - John Calvin, Commentary on Romans

On Father God, Father Abraham, Stones And Faith

Always, we should be cautious in appealing to Religion (Judaism), Ethnicity (Being Jew) or Morality (having the Law). It is by faith alone. Consider the following. In Luke 3:8, John the Baptist states:

8 Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Compare that with Paul in Romans 9:6-8.

6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

On Old Perspectives For New Perspectives

‎The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel through the fact that w respect to salvation no one is excluded whether he should come as a Jew, Greek, or barbarian. For the Savior says equally to all, 'Come to me all you that labor and are burdened.

- Origen's Commentary on Romans 1:17 trans Schek (CUAP)

On Romans 8:1-4, Reflection And Observation

Having read Romans 8 countless times, it is easy to oversee the intricacy and brilliance of Paul's argument. There are so many things to think about. For instance: what is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus; or what is the relationship between no condemnation (v. 1) and the condemnation of sin in the flesh (v. 3); moreover, who is the "He" in v. 3; further, what do we do with the en hemin in v. 4; finally, what was Paul doing with the tois in relation to the hemin and the following kata limiting qualification in v. 4?

1 Therefore there is no no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh: God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

- Romans 8:1-4

The Gospel, Blood, And Macbeth

Reflecting on the Cross of Christ and Salvation, I would be remiss not consider themes of blood. Consider: the hope of the world compared to the hope in Christ by faith?

“Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No. This my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnating making the green one red.”

- William Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act II, Scene II, 71-75.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

- Romans 5:6-11

On The Depravity Of Man, God's Mercy, And The Freedom of Man

Today I was reading through Psalm 81 and came across vvs. 11f. Needless to say, my mind immediately thought of Paul's words in Romans 1:24-27. Consider:

So I gave them over to their stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices

- Psalm 81:12

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

- Romans 1:24

For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural.

- Romans 1:26

Needless to say, if one desires a practical illustration of Psalm 81:12, one only has to read Romans 1:18-32. It also raises the question, "What is the natural state of the heart of man?" Scripture seems to be clear, the devices of man are sin, and the heart of man appears to be naturally stubborn and in a state of rebellion against the Lord.

Lord as I read your word, Father, help me to have a repentant and soft heart. That, when I hear your Word that Your Holy Spirit would grant my heart faith, hope and love that would spring forth obedience in order to walk according to Your ways living by faith in the Son of God, Jesus, who lives in me.

On the Faith, Hope, Love and Joy

Paul explains that our peace is grounded in our justification. Our justification is a result of faith in Jesus. Moreover, we are extremely joyful in the hope of the glory of God. I am guessing that means sanctification in that the next verse then discusses the relationship between: tribulations and perseverance, perseverance and proven character, proven character and hope. More specifically, this hope is grounded in grace (similar to our faith) in that, the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (notice the passive verbs).

The text simply strikes me as amazing for four reasons:
1) Faith in Christ is the cornerstone. Everything is grounded in faith and is by grace.

2) Sanctification, tribulation and love are related. Sanctification (tribulation) is the result of the very love of God.

3) Worship and joy is not absent from these key doctrines. Let it be said that the word exult is mentioned twice: once in relation to the hope of sanctification and the next time in relation to tribulation. It seems then reasonable to draw a connection between: sanctification and joy, and also tribulation and joy. Moreover, by extension it also seems reasonable to draw a connection between justification and joy and also the love of God and joy. In my opinion, this only makes sense to draw a connection between God's sovereignty and joy -but that's another blog entry.

4) And finally, where justification comes through Christ, sanctification, it seems, comes through the Holy Spirit. I am no Dr. Earle Ellis, but this seems like a quasi-Trinitarian text (assuming that God the Father is the source).

"1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith in this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

- Romans 5:1-5

On God's Love

While Paul is discussing the nature of man, and his nature in general, he makes a passionate exclamation of reality (v. 24a), then dangles a question that all men, when confronted with their nature, must answer (v. 24b), and he finally provides the glorious answer pregnant with incarnate grace, mercy, hope and love (v. 25). He states:

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a differ net law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 aWrteched man that I am! bWho will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

- Romans 7:21-25 NASB