Tag Archives: Faith

Bible, Discipline, Excuses, Forgiveness, Grace, Scripture, Sin

STUPID QUESTIONS

ROMANS 6:15

“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it!”

You’ve probably heard someone say, “There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.” That may be true in the academia world where students are seeking more knowledge about a subject. They can ask all sorts of questions of their teachers with the hope of learning more. The purpose of that quote above is to encourage students to ask for clarification and to not be afraid of seeking the information they are after.

However…Paul introduces a question today that is really stupid. Pardon me for saying so, but this question is so bizarre that he quickly answers it himself by saying, “Far from it!” It’s very similar to Romans 6:1 that we saw earlier. This whole chapter has been showing us the answer to these two questions. Repetition of thought is important to reinforce learning. That’s exactly what Paul is doing here. He is trying to drive home a point to the Romans and us.

APPLICATION

Concerning this verse, Ellicott’s Commentary says this, “The Apostle returns to a difficulty very similar to that which presented itself at the beginning of the chapter. The answer is couched under a slightly different metaphor. It is no longer death to the one, life to the other, but freedom from the one, service to the other. These are correlative terms. Freedom from sin implies service to God, just as freedom from God means service to sin. The same idea of service and freedom will be found worked out in John 8:32-34; John 8:36, and in Galatians 5:1.”

As followers of Christ, of course, we shouldn’t take grace for granted and sin willfully. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. “Before Christ, we chase sin. After Christ, sin chases us.” Don’t ever think Jesus excuses our sins just because we are in the family. Now wait! I am not saying He doesn’t forgive our sins. I said He doesn’t excuse them. Sins have consequences. We may escape an eternal punishment, but we could face discipline here on earth for repeated disobedience.

You don’t hear that preached much, do you? The whole notion that God is love and would never allow anyone to go to hell is just plain hogwash. It is true that God doesn’t send them there, but they do go because of their refusal to follow Him. As a child of God, we can receive a good ole fashion whooping for our continued disobedience. So, to echo Paul’s answer today in this verse concerning choosing to sin – “Far from it!”

O Lord, keep me far from sin and close to You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Grave, Life, Scripture

WE ARE DEAD!

ROMANS 6:2

“Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Death is final or is it? For a believer we believe that death is simply a portal from this life on earth to eternal life with Christ. For the unbeliever, their physical death also leads to an eternity of their choosing, one of eternal separation from God and His light. Their end is not as precious as the believers. But we all will die one day unless the Lord returns in our lifetime. That would be fine with me.

Paul makes a great theological point in today’s verse when he writes “we who died.” This verb is in the Aorist tense which means it happened in the past. In regard to this verse and this verb, Lightfoot writes, “that they are not, and cannot be, their former selves—and that it is a contradiction of their very being to sin any more. It is the definiteness, the absoluteness of this change, considered as an historical crisis, which forms the central idea of St. Paul’s teaching, and which the aorist marks.” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers). That’s a powerful statement.

APPLICATION

Let’s think about this for a second. When you die, the affairs of this life cease for you. You will no longer have to worry about money, work or even losing weight. All those things are dead to you. You died a physical death which released you from all earthly concerns. The same is true for us in regard to sin. Once we surrender our life to Christ, we are dead (a one-time event) to sin. So why do we struggle with it every day?

Barnes says, “All Christians are thus in fact dead to sin. They do not live to sin; nor has sin dominion over them.” That is the key. Sin no longer rules our life. We have power over it through Christ. We simply yield to His commands daily and sin is avoided. We see sin clearly and we steer ourselves away. That’s being dead to sin.

Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If we are hidden with Christ in God, sin has to penetrate Christ to get to us. That’s just not possible. Why? Because He defeated sin and the grave at Calvary. We are standing on shouting ground, believer. Rejoice and claim your authority over sin today.

O God, I am so thankful that sin no longer rules over me. I have the power through Christ to defeat sin in my life.


If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Grace, Righteousness, Scripture, Sin

GRACE WOULD REIGN

ROMANS 5:21

“so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

If you have ever seen two skilled lawyers argue their cases against each other in court, it is really a sight to behold. Both are convinced their side is the right side. Both are fighting for their clients, whether that be the defendant or the government. Jabs are thrown at each other. Objections are raised at the other’s comments or questions. But in the end, there is only one truth.

Paul has been showing both sides of mankind’s situation. One side is arguing for death. Our sins demand it. Satan demands it. Evil wants to keep us in its grip. But Jesus came to loose that grip and give us live. In today’s verse, Paul says it well when he writes, “so also grace would reign.” He goes on to tell us how grace will reign, “through righteousness.” And then he tells us why grace will reign, “to eternal life through Jesus Christ.” You see, there’s a purpose behind the reign of grace.

APPLICATION

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary explains this reign of grace so well. “and of Grace, the grace which originated the scheme of salvation, the grace which ‘sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world,’ the grace which ‘made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin,’ the grace which ‘makes us to be the righteousness of God in Him,’ so that ‘we who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness do reign in life by One, Jesus Christ!’” That’s quite a synopsis of what Paul has been saying.

Can I get technical for just a second? The verb “would reign” is in the Aorist Subjunctive Active. This is not something that just might happen. This verb is described as conveying a simple, discrete action that has not happened yet but is seen as a single, completed event. Did I lose you? What this means is our eternal life with Christ has not happened yet, but it will and it will be the result of the reign of grace that defeated death once and for all at the cross of Jesus and that empty tomb. You should be shouting about now!

As we end chapter five today, let me encourage you to go back and reread all my blogs on 5:1-21 in one sitting. See the flow of thought that is in Paul’s words, not mine. We are about to start one of the most central chapters in the whole Bible. Paul had to set this up by laying out the battlefield between sin and grace, between death and life. Get ready for Romans 6!

Lord, I thank You that grace reigns and one day I will be with You in Glory!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Grace, Jesus, Law, Salvation, Scripture, Sin

BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS

ROMANS 5:20

“The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,”

Have you gone into an old house that has been closed up for a while and turned on the lights in the kitchen? What is that scurrying all around on the counters and floors? It’s none other than those nasty cockroaches that can survive forever and wherever. The light exposes them, and they run for cover. They were there all the time, but you couldn’t see them until the light was turned on.

Paul describes a similar situation today in our verse when he says, “The Law came in so that the offense would increase;…” This does not mean that the law caused sin to become more. It means the law showed us our sinful state. We were already sinning before the law (just like the cockroaches were already in that kitchen). It just showed our filthiness and ungodliness. Light exposes things.

APPLICATION

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says this about today’s verse. The phrase “[that the offence might abound] Q. d., ‘that the disease might be brought to the surface.’” That’s exactly what our sin is – a disease. It has been passed down to every generation from Adam and Eve. There is no cure besides Jesus and His shed blood on Calvary. All other attempts (religions) fall short of giving us freedom from these sins.

But… Don’t you just love that word in Scripture? Paul goes on to write in today’s verse, “but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” Look at what Albert Barnes says about this. “Did much more abound – Superabounded. The word is used nowhere else in the New Testament, except in 2 Corinthians 7:4. It means that the pardoning mercy of the gospel greatly triumphed over sin, even over the sins of the Jews, though those sins were greatly aggravated by the light which they enjoyed under the advantages of divine revelation.”

Isn’t that great news? In 2 Corinthians 7:4 Paul uses this same word to say, “…I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” Shouldn’t that be the same for us? Because of the good news of the abundance of grace in our lives, we should be overflowing with joy even if our life circumstances say different. Choose the good news today, not the bad. Sin is still present in this world, and we must deal with it. But grace is bigger and better.

Father God, I praise You for the gift of grace that superabounds over sin.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Death, Eternal Life, Grace, Life, Scripture

DEATH REIGNED

ROMANS 5:14

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

You may have heard the expression “There are two absolutes in the world – death and taxes.” That is true. We will all face a physical death one day. I had that discussion recently with some family members. As a believer and follower of Christ, death does not frighten me. Now, the way in which I die can cause some anxiety, but not the actual death part. I am certain where I am going afterwards. I know death will come for me one day.

The word translated “reigned” is the Greek word that means exactly that. It means to rule, to reign, to have dominion over. Paul knew the finality of death. He was there when Stephen was stoned to death. He had witnessed some of the other early martyrs being killed for their testimony. And he knew that behind all that death was sin. Sin had entered mankind through Adam and has traced its way through the centuries.

APPLICATION

Did you know we can ward off the sting of death? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “55 WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Death’s reign has been defeated by Jesus Himself. Praise God!

In direct contrast to the reign of death is the reign of Christ. Look at what the angel Gabriel told Mary about her unborn son when he brought her the news about the immaculate conception. In Luke 1:33 it says, “‘and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.’” The day Jesus burst forth from that sealed tomb, death’s reign ended.

But…until you have given your life over to the reign of Jesus, you remain under the penalty of death because of your sins. Do you understand that? If you do and you have given your life to Him, don’t waste any time telling everyone around about Him. Physical death is coming for everyone, but spiritual death can be averted through the blood of the Lamb. Are you ready?

Lord, I am thankful that I have been purchased by You and my future is sealed.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Accountability, Bible, Forgiveness, Jesus, Law, Reconciled, Salvation, Scripture

HELD ACCOUNTABLE

ROMANS 5:13

“for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.”

Wouldn’t it be awful to be arrested, charged and imprisoned for breaking a law you never knew existed? I have heard it said, though, that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it. Laws exist to keep people safe and, hopefully, allow for an efficient government (that’s not always the case). There have been laws on the books for centuries, some good and some bad. We are told to respect those in authority and submit to them. That’s hard to do

Paul continues to lay out the necessity for our reconciliation with God by showing us that sin has existed since the fall of Adam. There was no written law for people before God gave it to Moses, but there was still an unwritten law which God had given all mankind. It would indeed be cruel for God to hold people accountable for sins if they did not know they were sins. Paul tells us that was not the case in today’s verse.

APPLICATION

Look at what Poole says about this. “It appears there was a law before the law of Moses, for if there had been no law all that while, then sin would not have been imputed to men, so as to make them liable to punishment or death; but sin was imputed or charged upon men before the law of Moses, and death passed upon all. Therefore, there must have been a law, by the transgression of which men were sinners, before that time. And that was either the law of nature, or the positive law which God gave to Adam,…” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)

Paul has already covered this back in Romans 1:20. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” No one can claim they did not know any better. They cannot claim God just made me this way. Boy, I’ve heard that a lot. Sorry, it doesn’t work.

How does this apply to us? I think it’s pretty clear. We have no excuse for our sins. We cannot claim ignorance. Christ came to die to cleanse us of all sin. Nothing prevents anyone from receiving that free gift. It doesn’t matter where you live, what you do for a living, who your family is or any other excuse you want to throw out there. Christ died for YOU! Never deny that. And if you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, give Him praise right now. Bless His holy name.

Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Helplessness, Jesus, Scripture, Strength, Sufficiency, Weakness

HELPLESS

ROMANS 5:6

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Nothing is more depressing than to be helpless to change a situation that you desire so deeply to see changed. Without going into any detail, my wife and I are in that situation. We have been dealing with something for quite a while now that we are powerless to change. It’s out of our control. Now, we could choose to wallow in our self-pity and get mad or depressed. We have chosen (even though it is very hard) to lay it down at the feet of Jesus and let Him handle it. After all, whatever is over our head is under His feet.

The word Paul uses here translated as “helpless” is asthenés which comes “from a ‘without’ and sthenos, ‘vigor, strength’ – properly, without vigor, living in a state of weakness (depletion).” (HELPS Word-studies). Paul, knowing the futility of the law or the futility of the Gentiles’ gods, says we were all helpless, devoid of the ability to save ourselves. We need a Savior.

APPLICATION

I love the fact that God takes us in our weakness, saves us and then uses us. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:27, “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,” Isn’t that awesome? You see, it’s not about our strength or our ability. You’ve heard it said, “God doesn’t want our ability. He wants our availability.”

Not only does Christ take our weakness, our inability to save ourselves, but He also commands us to help others who are weak. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” As we know the strength of Christ in our own lives, we are to be quick to pass that along to others who are weak and helpless.

My wife and I are expecting our sixth grandchild in a few weeks. She will be born a helpless baby, totally dependent on her parents to feed, clean and protect. She won’t be able to walk for many months. She won’t feed herself for a long time. But as her parents and her grandparents care for her in her weakness, she will be getting stronger. Christ takes us in our spiritual infancy and strengthens us. He does not judge our immaturity. He builds on it. Today thank the Lord for your weakness which necessitates His strength.

Lord, I give You praise that in my weakness, You are my strength.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Danger, Protection, Scripture, Sin, Transgressions

GUARDRAILS

ROMANS 4:15

“for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”

I live in Tennessee and often drive on roads that have guardrails that protect cars from steering into a gulley or drop off. Those guardrails are meant to protect, but you can still go over them if you are driving recklessly or at a high rate of speed. The best guardrails can’t protect you from your own stupidity. Pay attention to them.

Paul points out in today’s verse that the law played the role much like a guardrail. The word translated as “violation” is “parábasis (from pará, ‘contrary’ and bainō, ‘go) – properly, an ‘overstepping’; a deliberate going over ‘the line.’ parábasis  (‘a stepping over the line’) in the NT refers to the willful disregard (breaking) of God’s law which defies His drawn-lines (boundaries); an arrogant ‘over-stepping.’” (HELPS Word-studies)

APPLICATION

That’s the same picture as going over the guardrail. Listen, God gave the law to guide men towards Him, knowing they would buck against it. What happens when you tell a two-year-old not to touch something? He touches it, right? The guardrails of the law pointed us towards God, but since it was given to Moses men have rebelled against it.

Now, you can go over the guardrails accidentally. You may get knocked over by someone else. That’s where my analogy ends. (By the way, no analogy is perfect) But with the law, men have deliberately chosen to jump the rail. They have chosen the pathway of sin. Instead of staying on the road prepared by the Lord, they decide to take the route most traveled by other sinners, one in which there are major potholes and pitfalls.

1 Timothy 6:9 warns us of one particular problem men face. “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge people into ruin and destruction.” The guardrail of reliance on God for our provision instead of chasing wealth is there for a reason. God knows what lies on the other side – ruin and destruction. He is protecting us against such transgressions.

The next time you see a guardrail on the highway, think about this verse and thank God for His guardrails He has given us to walk in. Thank Him for Jesus.

O Father, keep me inside the guardrails and away from danger.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Blessed, Blessing, Happiness, Scripture

BLESSED

ROMANS 4:8

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”

I often use an expression when I am asked how I am doing. I say, “I’m too blessed to be depressed.” That’s not original to me. You’ve probably heard or perhaps even said it yourself. But what does being blessed actually mean. Let’s take a few minutes to look at that from today’s verse.

Paul continues his quotation of Psalm 32:1-2 with verse 2 of that passage. The Hebrew word for “blessed” is esher. Strong’s Concordance says it is always used as interjection as in “How happy!” Paul uses the Greek word makarios which can be defined as “supremely blessed.” I really like that, don’t you? That’s the same word used in Matthew 5 in the Beatitudes.

APPLICATION

The word “blessed” is also used in Psalm 1:1 where it says, “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” Why is he blessed? Well, that psalm goes on to say it’s because our delight is in the law of the Lord. Look at Psalm 1:2-3. “2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” What a promise!

Blessings are ours, if we are obeying and believing. I don’t mean to imply we can just name it and claim it or blab it and grab it. Nope! I mean God wants to bless His children just like earthly parents want to bless their obedient children. In Exodus 19:5 the Lord gave these words to Moses on Mount Sinai to share with the people. “‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;’” God wants to bless His children.

What does a “blessing” mean to you? It’s not just something you say before you eat. It’s a God given happiness or joy because you are walking in obedience. Blessings come in all forms. I challenge you today to look back and count all the blessings you have been given from Him. I know I can’t even begin to do that. Yet, He has more for me and you. Live obediently today and watch how He blesses you.

Lord, I thank You for the blessings that flow into my life simply because I am obedient and follow You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Belief, Bible, Justification, Justified, Scripture, Works

DON’T WORK, JUST BELIEVE

ROMANS 4:5

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,”

Sentence structure is important for a writer. Jumble up your words and thoughts and the reader has a hard time understanding what you are trying to tell them. I have had some tough English teachers in my lifetime. I won’t call any names, but one that I had in college was the worst ever. She threatened to fail any student that had a comma splice in their final essay. I found out later that she was known as the toughest English professor there. Wish I had known that before.

Paul uses three different verbs in today’s verse. Actually, two are participles that are tied to the main verb which is “is credited.” We saw that verb in the previous verse. If there was any doubt as to what Paul has been saying about works and faith, he makes it clear here. It is not our works that justify us and bring righteousness. It is belief in Him – plain and simple.

APPLICATION

Take a look at what God does for us. I love that Paul writes that He “justifies the ungodly.” Can you raise your hand on that one? I sure can. When I think back to my position before Christ, that is exactly what I was – ungodly. That word “ungodly” is the negative of “respect.” It means to show a lack of reverence or a failure to honor what is sacred. Boy, that was me. I knew all about God but failed to live for Him. But He justified me anyway when I turned to Him.

We are not required to clean ourselves up, to do some kind of hard labor before our belief kicks in. We simply believe. We recognize Him for Who He is – Lord. And we are given that gift of faith that will lead us to a righteous lifestyle. We don’t get there overnight. It takes time for us to learn how to live godly. But through prayer and His Word, we learn what He expects from us.

Do you believe? Do you really believe? Have you accepted this gift of grace and received your justification? God loves you with an everlasting love. He reached down from heaven and has chosen you to be His child. He called your name and, if you have answered, you are forever His. He will never leave you or forsake you. Now, stop trying to work for your salvation. Trust in Him and believe. Follow Him and obey.

Father, I thank You that since I did nothing to get saved, there is nothing I can do to “unsave” myself.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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