Good Morning!
It has been a while since I last updated this blog and for that I apologize. My reasoning is not particularly sound so I suppose I will just say that sometimes we just need a little break from our routines, and I took one.
In our Koinonia Sunday School Class we have began a study of the Book of Romans. This study was the result of the Class having finished the Book of Acts and it seemed like a good segway to move into Romans. Coincidentally, the singing chorus I belong to performed at a local Jewish Community Center and for the first time I had the opportunity to encounter not only the Jewish faith but also its people in a setting focused on Judaism. I found the experience to be very interesting and impactful, especially since the Koinonia Class had just completed Acts and was starting Romans. I gained a better understanding of the "mind set" Paul encountered when he began to preach the Good News of Christ. Not only what he encountered but I also experienced a part, albeit a small part, of the deep faith the Jewish community has with God. Theirs is not a superficial faith and is a integral part of their existence. I was led to remember Jesus was a Jew and it is from the Jewish people that the nature of God is pronounced to the World.
It is from this experience I began leading the Koinonia Class in our Study of Romans. I began to read the Book of Romans as a letter written by a Jew (Paul) whose focus is upon another Jew (Jesus) and how in his letter Paul sets forth the principles of how Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles) are to respond to Christ. I can't say this new perspective greatly affects the fundamental understandings of Romans but it would seem to be akin to adding a little salt to a meal. The flavor just seems to be enhanced.
This last Sunday (April 25, 2010) our Koinonia Class read thru Romans Chapter 1 verse 17, and through this reading we came to understand Paul is writing to a mixture of Christians who have only been Christians a very short time. As a result these new Christians were subject to various interpretations of Christ and Paul is writing Romans in part to give the new Christians a firm understanding of the Christian faith and how to live within that faith. There are three items within these first verses of Romans that I want to highlight here.
First - In Verse 17 Paul lays out the fundamental principle of the Christian faith in very simple and straight forward language. "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." This concept of "faith" will be a main focus of Paul in his letter.
Second - In Verse 16 Paul writes - "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ." Many of the new Christians of Paul's Time may have been reluctant to discuss their new faith because of ridicule they may receive. Many of us today may also have this same hesitancy and Paul is telling them and us to not be ashamed and to not be afraid of discussing our faith with others.
Third - In Verse 12 Paul states - "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." I mention this passage because we see here that Paul needed feedback from other Christians. Can you imagine what it would have been like for Paul to be constantly preaching and receiving minimal feedback. At times he may have wondered whether he was getting his message across effectively, and thus it appears he is hoping that he will receive feedback from his Christian friends in Rome.
In this next Sunday's class we will read and discuss Romans Chapter 1 Verse 18 thru Chapter 2 Verse 16. This can be a difficult passage to understand at first but I believe when we look at its overall context we will see what Paul is trying to communicate to us. I would specifically ask you to read Chapter 2 Verse 1 and ask yourself what is Paul saying to us.
Again, its nice to be back on my blog and I hope someone out there reads it and receives something positive from it.
Have a Great Day and Enjoy Life!
Terry Pursley
Thursday, April 29, 2010
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