Posted by David on May 3, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
Today’s need for commitment is overwhelming! The failure to grasp the meaning of commitment provides many false concepts of loyalty! It seems selfish attitudes control more of our actions and behaviors than does the concept of commitment. Today people seem more concerned about personal pleasure, freedom from difficulty, or convenience than in being a person God or others can trust. “Is it fun?” or, “What’s in it for me?” seem to be the important questions, not, “Do I keep my promises?” or, “Is my word valuable?”
In the concept of marriage, in the bond of the parent-child relationships, in employment, in being friends, or in being caring neighbors, are human-to-human relationships based on commitment or selfishness? In matters of faith in God, is the human-divine relationship sustained by commitment or by selfishness?
Discipleship to Jesus Christ is based on service. Service is based on unselfishness. Paul wrote the Christians at Philippi, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3, 4). Service to God means less of me and more of others-just as it did in Jesus!
Think of this in another way. If God used my concept of commitment to forgive me, to redeem me, to sanctify me, to provide me grace, or to show me mercy, would I be blessed or cursed? Look at Jesus’ cross and justify your behavior. Look at Jesus’ tomb and explain a selfish attitude. An unselfish God does not lead a band of selfish disciples!
Even the incredible apostle Paul knew times of fear, yet he never forgot his commitment. Read 2 Timothy 2:1-13. Remember that Paul, while facing certain death, wrote this to encourage Timothy. Serving Jesus killed Paul, but he knew it was worth it!
You are a Christian? Wonderful! Serve God in a spirit of commitment, not a spirit of selfishness. Be a servant, not a watchdog! While the world barks, Christians serve.
Posted by David on April 26, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
The above text is among the curious gospel statements about Jesus. Jesus and the 12 toured Jewish cities and villages teaching about the kingdom of heaven. A group of women accompanied who helped support these men by contributing from private funds. On this tour the women were among those who had been healed of demonic possession and sicknesses. Mary Magdalene also was mentioned as being among the group of women from Galilee who followed Jesus at the time of his crucifixion (see Matthew 27:55, 56; Luke 23:49).
That produces some interesting questions. Why did Jesus allow these women to associate with him in public? In Jewish society then, a woman was not to be in public with a man. This socially unacceptable practice was forbidden and contained enormous danger for misunderstanding. Whyever would Jesus permit that?
Why those kinds of women? Most of what we know about biblical references to evil spirits is speculation. Evidently, unclean spirits, demonic spirits, and evil spirits refer to the same phenomena. Though there are differing views about whom these evil spirits entered or why evil spirits entered such persons, there is common consensus that evil spirits represented Satan and his interests, not God and His interests.
Were you a person possessed of an evil spirit in Jesus’ ministry, and Jesus cast that spirit out of you, how grateful would you be? Were you a Jewish woman who was so blessed, and were you restricted in ways to express your gratitude, what would you do?
A way to express gratitude in keeping with the good received was to minister to Jesus and his work. Would you be grateful? Oh, yes! Would you wish to show your gratitude? Oh, yes! Would you wish to express gratitude in keeping with the good you received? Oh, yes! Interestingly, these women served, they served honorably, and they expressed their gratitude in serving Jesus and the 12 as these men taught about God’s kingdom. Mary had seven of these evil spirits removed!
Lessons: (1) Jesus permitted gratitude. (2) Gratitude was expressed in service. (3) No one had been too bad to help! (4) Great helpfulness produced profound gratitude! Is that also true with you?
Posted by David on April 19, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
God called Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), and Abraham listened. By God’s action, Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, Jacob had 12 sons, and from those 12 sons came Israel. Through Israel God sent Jesus who, by God’s intent, brought a blessing to all humans. That was God’s intent from the call of Abraham (see Genesis 12:3b, 22:18, Acts 3:25, and Galatians 3:16).
God solved a problem: the problem was produced by human rebellion that perverted His good creation. Nothing is the same since that rebellion! We could not “fix” the results of human rebellion! The human inclination continually seems to be toward evil, not God’s purposes! Too often we exploit God’s goodness as we are motivated by greed and an insatiable appetite for pleasure. What was impossible for us to solve of ourselves, God, in His incredible love, solved for us with mercy shown in divine forgiveness.
For what purpose? Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the 12 sons, and Israel served God’s intent. Jesus served God’s purpose. So did the 12 apostles, Paul, John Mark, Timothy, Titus, Acquila and Priscilla, the early church, etc. What about you?
To be God’s people is bigger than a clique, a group, a society, or even a nation. To be God’s people means God is allowed to work through us to bless our relationships- family, friends, the unknowns we meet, jobs, neighbors, the church, society, the nation, and the world. Because of God working through us, all we touch is blessed because of our relationship with God. Our reason for existing: to proclaim His excellencies because He enlightens our lives. You are a Christian because you are dedicated to God working through Jesus Christ in your life. That good is produced by nothing else!
Nowhere should that be more obvious than when people blessed by divine mercy assemble to worship the patient God who gave us Jesus Christ. Do you exist to allow your life to proclaim His excellencies? Or, do you exist to attempt to use God? Can people see the benefit of belonging to God by observing your behavior and your worship? Is God’s goodness obvious in your life as you worship and as you interact?
Posted by David on April 12, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
Last weekend was, in specific ways, a difficult time for Joyce and me. For one thing (speaking for me), I felt very old. When I am among people ten years older, and I am the “decrepit” one, I tend to feel old! When older people feel compelled to assist me [and I need it], I tend to feel old! When people who were kids when I was a young adult have retired, I tend to feel old! Who knows-maybe I am old, even if I refuse to admit it! [No way-when I am old, I will know it (maybe)!]
It was a difficult time because three friends died. One was a friend for 35 years with no children, a husband who died years ago, and no siblings. The second was a friend who blessed us for 47 years. He left a family who loved him dearly. The third was someone we only had known 12 years, but we loved and appreciated deeply-as did many of you!
We were not surprised at Wilma Brummet’s death.
Dr. James Carr, at 95, was one of those persons you expect to keep living.
Retha Wood was a shock! She died so quickly! She blessed us so much with her faith, her humor, and her kindness. She was the type of person you want to say, “No! You can’t die! All of us need you too much!”
One of the difficult things in physical life is saying “good-bye” to people we love and appreciate. Nothing makes that easy-not words, not distractions, not anything. The more we love and appreciate, commonly the more difficult death is.
Years ago I heard of a person who spent hours catching wasps and taking their stingers out in order to play a practical joke. He scared some people silly who imagined they were in danger.
In Jesus’ death and resurrection, God took death’s stinger out-no joke! Death is a time of grief for the physical. However, death leads to resurrection for those who die. Never forget we focus on life! Never forget we are resurrection people. Bottom line, that is why we place our hope in Jesus Christ! The danger was real, but God took care of it.
Posted by David on April 2, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
The choices we make in life are critical. Often what appears as a simple choice of no consequence becomes an important choice of multiple consequences. Choices made early in life seem insignificant because numerous options seem to be a part of living. “After all, we always seem to have numerous options that come with most of our decisions. If we choose poorly, big deal! We will just make another choice.”
Choices are not as easily undone! (a) A choice resulting in an addiction [regardless of the kind of addiction] rarely is simple to abandon because it is powerful. (b) Choices that require an investment of resources often devour those resources. Would you use your credit or savings differently if five years ago you saw the recession coming? (c) Choices which require time do not return time if abandoned. Time spent is life lost!
As life diminishes, one’s choices diminish. As time and life pass, the person is reduced to living from the choices he or she has made. How often have you met a person over fifty years of age that does not wish “I could go back and do this differently.” Fortunate is the person who has only one such thing! What we all discover is this: “I can change me right now, but I cannot change how I used the past.” Even if we have the joys of changing “now,” we still have the “sorrows” of a lost past. The joys of “now” are real, but so are the “sorrows” of a misused past.
The Israelites knew many blessings from God: the ten miracles that released them from slavery, the crossing of the sea, the sustaining and guidance in the wilderness, and the gift of Canaan. Yet, they either took God for granted (“Look at how important we are!”), or they rebelled against God (“We will do things our way!”). The result: centuries later their descendants continued to pay for their ancestors’ bad choices.
Choose soberly and wisely-you and your descendants will be affected powerfully by the choices you make. The more God is incorporated in your decisions, the more good choices you will make!
Posted by David on March 19, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
The world we live in is constantly attacking us. No matter what front of life we examine, there is stress-not “run-of-the-mill” inconvenience, but hard, gut-wrenching, attacking self-worth stress! Whether it is maintaining relationships, keeping the “roof over our head,” having a job, producing a lifestyle, or struggling to “keep it together,” it often seems there are more problems than there are answers.
In an attacking existence, we are prone to be distrustful, resentful, and filled with self-pity. If we react to the stresses in our lives by going in these directions, we become very “me” centered, very self-centered in our considerations. The more “me” centered we become, the less Christ-centered we are. The less Christ-centered we are, the less people-centered we are. We grow more into “existence” than into “helping.” The end result: we do not attract those who are interested in Jesus because we are more concerned about “us” than we are concerned about representing Jesus.
People who represent Jesus are known for humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance. “But these are not the days for humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance!” Correct–or so it seems. Neither were Jesus’ death and resurrection a time for humility, gentleness, patience, and tolerance. However, His attitudes prevailed and still exist 2000 years later!
Christians do not do things because what they do is a “fix.” They do what represents Jesus’ objectives-fix it or not! Christians do good because it is the righteous, godly thing to do, not because of the time’s influence or the stresses endured.
Christians are committed to Christ’s mind. The humble mind is Jesus Christ’s mind. The humble mind endures both good times and bad. The prideful mind becomes increasingly selfish, resentful, and “turf” centered.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7)
Posted by David on March 12, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
The above passage is about the Jewish Christian Barnabas. Before Acts 10, evangelistic work concerning Jesus Christ was done among Jewish people. The Jerusalem congregation was the first congregation of Christians, so it, with its leadership, was considered the “source” congregation. When new developments occurred, the first question was, “What does the church in Jerusalem think about this?”
In Acts 11 the first gentile congregations were formed (that we of today know about). Not all Jewish Christians approved of Peter’s work with Cornelius and his friends in Acts 10. The hot issue: was Christianity a Jewish reform movement only for Jews and proselytes, or was Christianity a movement that included non-proselyte gentiles as well? To recognize that this decision was a pivotal moment in Christianity is an understatement!
A truly special Jewish Christian must be sent to the gentile congregation in Antioch. He must observe and encourage. He must not alienate or judge; he must not be hostile; and he must not say the wrong things. There were more Jewish Christians NOT equipped for this delicate task than Jewish Christians equipped for this challenge.
Who was sent? Barnabas. Why? He was capable of rejoicing when he witnessed God’s grace working among the gentiles-he did not feel threatened for Judaism or question gentile commitment. He could encourage gentile Christians to remain committed to the Lord-he understood the difference between faith in a Savior and faith in a system. How could he have this understanding? He was a good man who was full of the Holy Spirit and faith in Jesus. He could be committed to Christ instead of defensive for Judaism.
Because Barnabas was committed to Jesus when many Jewish Christians were hostile, in a few years there were more gentile Christians than Jewish Christians. A problem became opportunity. The majority of the Roman Empire had opportunity to respond to Jesus because a Jewish Christian was committed to the Lord rather than his heritage.
Can God use you fully in delicate situations because of your commitment to Jesus Christ? Are you better as a spouse, a parent, a child, a worker, a citizen, and in a congregation because you grasp God’s meaning of Christian commitment?
Posted by David on March 5, 2009 under Bulletin Articles
Most people have experienced THAT moment. What moment? The “Why in the world did you do THAT?” moment. Every parent has experienced it. Good neighbors have experienced it. Dear friends who witness a married couple with marital problems have experienced it. Employers and employees have experienced it. Sports fans have experienced it as have team members. In fact, who has not experienced that moment?
Sometimes it is called by other names. Like what? “What were you thinking?” or “Did you really do that?” or “What did you expect?” or “Duh” moments. This moment involves such obvious consequences that you wonder why the person did not see the obvious downside. Did the person simply not think? Was the person too stubborn to know he (she) would hurt self? The confused observer mutters, “How would you NOT see that coming?”
All of us are guilty of doing stupid things and making silly decisions. The victim later asks, “Why did I do that? What was I thinking? That was a classic ?DUH’ moment!”
Paul experienced that moment when the gentile Christians at Galatia allowed Jewish teachers to convince them that God’s gifts in Jesus Christ were unavailable to them. “We are physically descended from Abraham. We are special-consider what God did for us in Egypt, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and in Canaan. God gave us the Law, scripture, and the prophets-what has He given you? Listen to us; we understand God! We have answers-you don’t! We know your shortcomings! All you need to know now is how desperately you need us! Without our knowledge you cannot possibly understand Jesus Christ! If you are serious about understanding God’s accomplishments in Jesus Christ, listen to us and follow our instructions.”
Paul was deeply confused and anguished. Galatian Christians understood what God did for them in Jesus Christ at their conversion. What happened? Why now put their confidence in human acts instead of divine achievements? Why now think the key to relationship with God was found in human acts instead of divine achievements?
Wonder how often God looks at us and says “DUH!” The key to grasping how much God loves you is found in understanding Jesus Christ. The key to understanding how much God wants salvation for you is found in understanding what God did in Jesus Christ. The key to knowing relationship with God is found in understanding what God did in Jesus Christ. Avoid “DUH” moments by understanding Jesus Christ!
Posted by David on February 26, 2009 under Sermons
(Note to presenters: this lesson contains four graphics [Figures 1-4]. Consider projecting each figure when appropriate as an overhead if your facilities can accommodate such projection, or consider handing the printed graphics to people to refer to as you speak.) Click here to download the PowerPoint file.
This lesson begins a series of lessons which will seek to focus on what God does for us in Christ so He can re-establish relationship with all who are guilty of sin. To approach this series, we need to begin with some background. Our objective is to understand the problem as it existed when Christianity began. Our objective is NOT to be defined by (a) imposing twenty-first century questions on first-century problems, or (b) imposing twenty-first century problems on first-century problems, or (c) or seeking to understand twenty-first century answers to twenty-first century concerns.
Think as we consider–do not just react prior to considering all the information even if the information requires you to think about your concepts. Genesis chapters 1-6 introduce us to the problem. In chapter 1 when creation is completed, God is so pleased with His creation that He calls the creation good (Genesis 1:31). People are in 100% relationship with God. In only 6 chapters, human sin produced such total rebellion against God that He is sorry that He made people (Genesis 6:5, 6). Consider that in only 6 chapters we go from 100% relationship with God to 0% relationship with God! The result: God decided to destroy most of His creation with a flood (Genesis 6:7) At the moment God made His decision, there were no humans in relationship with God. In the first book of our Bible, the first 6 chapters declared people went from total relationship with God to no relationship with God, and the Bible message has hardly begun.
The problem: how will God re-establish relationship with people who have yielded to sin? Will that solution exist on a foundation of human acts or on a foundation of divine acts? Will humans place their trust in what they do, or place their trust in what God does?
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Most of us are familiar with the fact that God worked through the nation of Israel to bring His planned Christ or Messiah to the world. (See Figure #1)
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Do not allow the use of the words "Christ" and "Messiah" to confuse you.
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Both words refer to the same act of God.
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The only difference in the two words is that they come from two different languages–"Christ" comes from a Greek word and "Messiah" comes from a Hebrew word. The two words merely reflect two different languages.
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The meaning of both words focus on the fact that the person sent by God is anointed by God.
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The Bible is not a record of all acts of God, but a record of God’s acts as He worked in Israel to bring the Christ to the earth.
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You are asked to note two things.
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First, you are asked to note that it was God’s beginning purpose to bring a blessing to all mankind through the Christ. (God’s intent to produce a Savior through Jesus Christ was in God’s intent in His promises to Abraham–the solution is ancient, pre-Israel!)
Genesis 12:3b, ‘And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
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Second, you are asked to note that renewed relationship with God would be possible with "all families of the earth" because God sent the Christ.
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The nation of Israel was merely a means (or a vehicle) to achieve God’s objective, not the objective itself.
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Israel is a single nation, a single people.
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God’s objective is to provide a blessing that had the potential of benefiting all families of this world. That is God’s beginning objective. (See Figure #2)
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It is essential for everyone to understand that God’s plan from the beginning of His efforts through Abraham was to re-establish relationship with sinful humanity through faith.
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God’s intent: to work through a man who trusted God, through that man produce a nation who trusted God, through that nation send the Christ or Messiah, and through that Christ or Messiah produce a blessing that could be extended to all people.
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Stated in another way, God would work through a man of faith, to produce a nation of faith, to produce God’s Savior, and to grant the possibility of salvation to all.
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Or, by faith Abraham would be righteous before God, by faith Israel would be righteous before God, the Savior would come, and anyone could be righteous before God if they placed their faith in what God did in the Christ or Messiah.
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Consider this statement:
Genesis 15:6, "Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."
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Context:
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God promised Abraham again that He would protect and reward Abraham.
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Abraham was an old man with an old wife, and they had no children.
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God’s promised blessings must begin with Abraham having a son–without a son there could be no nation.
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Abraham begged God to accept Eliezer, his chief servant to be his heir (a solution that was acceptable in Abraham’s time).
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God said, "No! Your heir will come from you, and your descendants will be uncountable.")
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Childless Abraham believed (trusted) God in this matter, and it was this trust (faith) that God accepted to consider Abraham a righteous person.
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Was it an inactive trust? No!
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Abraham continued to be a nomad in a dangerous place.
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Later, He even was willing to kill Isaac as a sacrifice to God to demonstrate his deep trust in God (Abraham trusted the God who gave the gift of Isaac rather than trusting the gift that God gave him).
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Note two things:
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First, Abraham was accepted as righteous before God because he trusted (had faith in) God before the nation of Israel existed.
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The principle of being righteous by faith in God is older than the Jewish nation.
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Second, after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, all non-Jews were relying on an ancient truth older than the nation of Israel when they trusted what God did in Jesus in order to be a part of God’s people, God’s kingdom.
Galatians 3:28-29, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
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Thus, Jews and gentiles would be a part of God’s people or God’s kingdom by the same means: all of them would trust (have faith in) what God did and does in Jesus Christ to restore relationship with God.
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When Paul, the Christ-appointed apostle to the gentiles, presented this message (the understanding that any non-Jewish person from any nation outside of Israel had access to God through Jesus Christ), Paul was quickly labeled as Israel’s enemy (though Paul had been a prominent, devout Israelite–see Galatians 1:13, 14 and 1 Timothy 1:12-16). (See Figure #3)
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Among the Jewish attacks on Paul by Jewish people, these two were prominent.
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First, Paul was not one of the twelve apostles and never had been.
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This was basically an attack on Paul’s credibility.
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The argument seems to have been, "If Paul is not credible, anything he teaches is false, lacking in credibility."
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Second, Paul was presenting new ideas about the gospel.
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What Paul taught was Paul’s ideas and nothing more.
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Everyone knew from scripture that God worked through Israel.
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Gentiles certainly were welcome to come to God through Christ, but only if they surrendered first to be a part of Israel (by becoming proselytes)–gentiles were not qualified to come to Christ unless they first came to Israel.
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Paul said that gentiles could come to Christ by trusting what God did in the death and resurrection of Jesus–no gentile had to be accepted by Israel to come to Christ.
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Just as Abraham was made righteous by trusting God (which occurred before Israel existed), gentiles were made righteous by God by trusting what God did in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
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Gentiles did not have to come to Christ and God the Father through the nation of Israel.
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The argument was basically this:
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The Jewish argument: gentiles must keep the Jewish law or they cannot be saved.
Acts 15:1-5, Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses."
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Paul’s argument:
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God made an agreement of promise to Abraham over 400 years before the Jewish law came into existence.
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Abraham was made righteous by God’s promise, not by the Law given by God to the Jews.
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While the Law surely came from God, it was not the basis of Abraham’s righteousness.
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Neither is the Law the basis of any gentile’s salvation–gentiles are saved by trusting what God did in Jesus Christ.
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Listen to these words Paul wrote to gentile Christians in Galatia, and you should be able to see the problem that existed between the Jewish Christian Paul and many of the Jews of his day.
Galatians 3:15-18, Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
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The big argument in Christianity in the first-century focused on God’s work in Israel (the nation) versus God’s work in Jesus Christ. (See Figure #4)
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Paul declared that God made a person righteous when the person placed his or her trust (faith) in God’s promises (which produced in time God’s works or acts).
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Most Jewish people said God saves by Jewish Law and Jewish practices
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This argument can be expressed in this way: is salvation (being made righteous before God) the result of performing human acts or the result of divine acts.
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Today many miss the focus of the argument by thinking the argument was and is about obedience.
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That is not true!
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Paul never suggested a person should refuse to obey God.
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The Jews who opposed Paul’s teachings never suggested a person should refuse to obey God.
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They both obeyed!
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They both were doers!
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They both would have taken the disobedient to task!
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The issue did not focus on obedience, but on the why of obedience.
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First, be certain your obedience is a response to God’s priorities, not your own priorities.
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Second, be certain that your obedience is not an attempt to manipulate God through your acts, but be certain that your obedience is an expression of appreciation for what God has done and will do for you.
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Third, never place your trust (faith) in what you have done, but place your trust (faith) in what God has done and does for you.
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Fourth, you never obey in an attempt to place God in your debt.
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Fifth, you always obey because you acknowledge your debt to God.
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The struggle in early Christianity did not focus on the necessity of obedience, but on the motivation for obedience.
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Gentiles were not second class citizens in God’s kingdom.
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Jews were not first class citizens in God’s kingdom.
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Differences in knowledge or ability do not equate to differences in God’s love for those He saves through Jesus Christ.
Several times we have declared or recognized God did something phenomenal in Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus Christ that God saves. What phenomenal things did God plan and do through Jesus’ death and resurrection? This will be the focus of our future thoughts.
Posted by David on under Bulletin Articles
Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. Galatians 3:7
These two passages affirm the incredible thing God did for all people through Jesus Christ. In the Roman Empire of the first century, Jewish people were at times envied by non-Jewish, religious people because the Jews had (1) a preserved heritage that spanned a lengthy time, (2) a values system that honored their people instead of exploiting them, (3) scriptures available to the entire nation, and (3) prophets who urged high ethical commitments. At times Judaizing teachers (Jewish teachers committed to preserving Judaism) disheartened non-Jews who sought relationship with God outside of Judaism (see Acts 15:1-5 as an example).
Paul, who had been a “Jew’s Jew” (see Philippians 3:4-7) before he entered Christ, declared non-Jews who came to God through what God did in Jesus Christ had nothing to apologize about. God’s plan before any Jews existed was to seek people of faith who wanted to be God’s people (see Genesis 12:3b and note “all families of the earth.”) The descendants of Abraham (both Jews and non-Jews) are people who dare to be people of faith-just as Abraham dared to be a person of faith. It is these people-both Jews and non-Jews-who are citizens in the nation God wanted for himself. It is not human deeds that restore relationship with God, but it is God working through Jesus Christ that makes relationship with God possible (see Colossians 2:9-14).
Paul’s statements (here and elsewhere) are not statements against obeying God. Paul spoke of the reason for obedience. Do you trust what you have done, or do you trust what God did for you in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Is it basically, “God, you owe me because I did ?X’!” or is it, “God, I appreciate so much all You did for me in Jesus’ death and resurrection!” Which is it? Do you attempt to obligate God through your deeds, or do you appreciate all God did and does for you in Jesus’ death and resurrection? Is your confidence placed in your acts or in God’s acts on your behalf?
In the distinction of those two attitudes is the distinction between citizenship in God’s kingdom and the citizenship of physical existence. Abraham trusted God, not the physical. Those who are members of God’s kingdom share in Abraham’s faith. Do you seek to be a righteous person because you trust God-as did Abraham?
