Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve updated about my own Bible study group here in Winona Lake. We’ve missed a few weeks here and there since Christmas. I was gone one week. Grace College’s spring break took place a week ago and everyone was gone. Besides that, it’s been going pretty strong.
We’ve had one new addition start coming to Bible study. Sue Ann, a pianist, was student teaching last semester, but is now finishing up her last semester with the music dept. It’s been good to have her coming. Jenn and Jen still come. Christi came while she could, but now has rehearsals for Steel Magnolias on weeknights which keep her from being available. Katie started doing a prison ministry thing on Wednesday nights, so she can’t come anymore, but she likes what she’s doing. So, usually there are 4 of us. It’s a good number, but I wouldn’t mind more. I haven’t been very pro-active about inviting people though, so maybe I need to try harder.
We’ve still been studying Romans. We just finished Chapter 7. It’s taken a while, and I’m really ready for chapter 8! Actually, chapter 7 was really good. So encouraging. You know, Chapter 7 is one of those chapters where I just din’t get everything I read as I looked it over on my own. It made me a little antsy to lead a discussion on something I don’t fully get myself. You know? But the Lord really worked it out. He is so faithful. He really uses others to bring understanding. It’s so good sometimes just to hash out all the things you don’t understand in a group. Hmm…
I’ve never been very good at summarizing, but in a nutshell, what we learned in the later part of Chapter 7 is this: The law exists for our good, but it exposes sin as sin. Just knowing about my sin doesn’t save me from sinning (vrs. 7-13). Also, trying to will myself to be good isn’t enough. I cannot make myself righteous. I will always fail. (14-20) Even being a Christian and delighting in God’s law won’t keep me from sinning. The truth is, as long as I am a human, there is a battle raging within me between my flesh and spirit (21-24). Is that where it stops? Am I just doomed, period? Nope. Paul says in verses 24-25: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, my deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” There is hope. Jesus saves. We aren’t doomed to these bodies and to death forever. God will rescue us from ourselves.
The law exposes us all for the lousy sinners we are. The good news of the gospel is that through faith by God’s grace we have access to Jesus’ righteousness! We don’t have to be righteous on our own (which is good, because we can’t be). Because of Him, we no longer have to be slaves to sin, but we are also no longer slaves to the law. We are no longer under that law, but under God’s grace, which is apart from our actions. God’s grace is not dependent upon my devotion to him, or upon my keeping my life in order, or in any way dependent upon me. God is gracious because it is His character to be gracious. I do not need to fear coming to him because I am a mess. That’s exactly why Jesus came. He came because we’re a mess and He provided a way to make us clean in the eyes of the Father.
OK, well, I’m getting off on a tangent, but I hope you may all be amazed by God’s grace today. It is available. It is free. It is for me. It is for you. Let’s embrace that truth!
