How Did We Arrive Here?

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. [Romans 8.15-17]

Today's One Year Chronological Bible reading starts with Romans 5.1 and goes through Romans 8.17. I point this out because what comes before Romans 5.1 are chapters 1 though 4. As powerful as today's reading is as stand-alone scripture, it is even more powerful in context with the previous 4 chapters!

So, how did we arrive at chapter 5 today? Paul's letter to the Roman Church began with the topic of idolatry and its gross sexual immorality (chapter 1). From there, Paul pointed out the universality of sin and the death associated with it (chapters 2-3). Then, the model uncompromising, unwavering faith of Abraham is discussed (chapter 4).

Today's reading starts off with the joy of living by faith in chapter 5. This joy is the joy of a slave to God in contrast to previously being a slave to sin. And, here is where it gets interesting because so much revelation is poured out at this point by the Holy Spirit through Paul! His discussion about sin and death is almost mind-numbing, but it must be remembered where Paul's letter began - with idolatry!

Idolatry is the beginning of slavery to sin. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they listened to another god (Satan-inspired self) and what followed was a downward spiral of idolatry. Over time, idolatry has gained increasing strength in the world to the point of enslaving the world to its grip. By the time Paul wrote the Roman Church, idolatry had progressed (or, should I say "digressed") to the extend of gross sexual immorality. Sexual sin has only gotten worse in the 21st century. The solution Paul presented was, and is, the same solution established by God from the beginning, faith in Jesus Christ (either "to come," "present," or "having come").

The idols of the 21st century include, but are not limited to, debt, insurance, medicine and technology. These idols ALL trigger fear in the masses: fear of doing without, fear of not being protected, fear of sickness and disease, and fear of not having the conveniences everyone else has. They quite effectively enslave their patrons in fear and consequently tax them dearly with relentless interest payments, ever-increasing premiums, costly and recurring prescriptions and procedures, and "new and better" gadgetry that is amazingly always one step behind the next "latest and greatest." And, this is where Paul's timeless letter to the Roman Church speaks to us today:

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. [Romans 8.15-17]

New, that last sentence is a problem for us, is it not? But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

When we, by faith, reject the idols of the world, there will be suffering. Whether it is suffering being ostracized by the masses (the worldly Church included) because of a declared "faith in Jesus alone" or it is suffering the consequences of unrealized faith (Hebrews 11.35), there will be suffering - as Paul states, we must also share his suffering.

When we however, are truly in faith, this world and its idols are of no consequence. All that matters is uncompromising, unwavering faith in God's plan, Jesus Christ. And, in that faith, there is peace and there is joy:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. [Romans 5.1-5]

And to think, God's Word has been telling us this all along!

Father, Your Word is amazing. Thank You for the timeless insight it offers us as we navigate life as we know it. May we be found in faith - the only thing that pleases You - and may we be found doing faith in Christ well! So be it.