“For those whom he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son . . . And those who he predestined he also called, and those who he called he also justified, and those who he justified he also glorified.” Reformed T.U.L.I.P vs. Wesleyan D.A.I.S.Y.
We sell God short if our salvation is limited to the hereafter. Rather, Paul tells us that the salvation of the Gospel is a very present realized status that we are the very children of God and heirs with Jesus Christ. For if God is with us, then who can be against us?
“No one voluntarily pursues evil or that which he thinks to be evil. To prefer evil to good is not in human nature.” Plato, Protagoras
An alternative and more ancient way of reading Romans 7:7-25 is that Paul is not speaking autobiographically, but is impersonating Adam in vv.7-13 and impersonating those currently in Adam in vv.14-25.
Paul’s argument closely tracks the history of the Israelites in the Exodus. They were delivered out of slavery into freedom, but when tempted they wanted to return to Egypt, and Moses reminds them not to yield to this desire to return to slavery.
One of the perspectives from which to read Paul, and particularly Romans, is to see Paul as writing within his contemporary philosophical traditions which would have been well known by both his Greek and Jewish Hellenistic audience. Paul’s teaching on conversion is Stoic in its basic logical shape.
If we seek righteousness through our obedience, once we fail, then justice demands our punishment. But if we seek righteousness through Christ and his victory, then righteousness is immediately ours. And in this reckoning of righteousness, we rejoice not in works, but in the goodness of God.
Do not understand our reconciliation to God through the death of Christ as if He now began to love those whom He formerly hated, in the same way as enemies are reconciled so that they become friends; but we were reconciled unto Him who already loved us, but with whom we were at enmity because sin.
Focusing on Adam and sin in Romans 5 is similar to focusing on the shadows and background of a painting to the detriment of seeing the brightness and centrality of the subject matter. Paul’s proclaims the gospel of the risen Christ and not to answer the question of why we sin.
Paul’s argument in this section begins with the statement from Genesis 15:6 that “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” For tonight, think through what this phrase means. When the Scriptures speak of “Abraham believing God” what exactly is Abraham placing his faith in?
