Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Read today’s Scripture: Romans 4:4-5

In Romans 4 Paul is talking about membership. What identifies you as a
member of this covenant family? The Jews were “members” and believed
that to be a member there were some very important rituals and symbols
that needed to take place in order to be a true Israelite. These symbols
and rituals were important distinctions which separated them from the
culture of their day. The 2 main marks or works of membership were: 1.
Following the elaborate law. 2. Circumcision. It was what set them apart
from other groups. They were not earning there way with God through
works which we have tended to believe, but these works were marks of
what it looks like to be God’s chosen people. This is what made them
justified and righteous. These works/marks are what confirmed their
membership status with God.

According to Paul since the messiah Jesus has come the membership marks
have completely changed. In chapter 4, Paul uses Abraham as the one
chosen to receive God’s promise, to be the father of the world wide
covenant family.

Abraham trusted God to do what God promised, this is what gave him
membership status. This covenant family was never intended just for
Israel, but has always been for everyone. Through Jesus, God’s divine
plan to fulfill this promise was now being ushered in at last. These new
believers (gentile non-Jews) don’t need to carry all the marks of what
this covenant used to look like since the marks of Christ and His death
and resurrection gave them status as members. They are already in. They
have been credited righteous through Christ’s marks. The very essence of
God is to forgive and to justify (set things right). This is a blessing
as David says in 4:6-8. This faith in Christ has its own marks. God
didn’t just wipe out our sin debt and credit us as righteous just so we
can go to heaven.

For Paul the gentiles being included in the covenant family meant they
are now part of the world wide movement with the Spirit to establish
Gods’ Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Paul could never imagine a
membership in this covenant family limited to being forgiven for sins,
going to church, and going to heaven. Forgiveness is essential, but the
context in Romans 4 is membership. Membership status is now loyalty to
Jesus as King. Jesus has given his life to usher in God’s Kingdom. This
kingdom vision is to redeem the world in which we are not only
recipients, but participants and servants. For Paul there is not one
without the other, those are the marks. We have not been “saved” to do
nothing, but saved to be God’s kingdom people. The marks of membership
are no longer obey the law and be circumcised, but obey Jesus as King
and live as kingdom people under His rule and reign.

Sean Blomquist, Shelter Covenant Church