December 1, 2020 by

tilapia feeding chart pdf

Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. No hero can require that the president pin on his medal. Paul’s understanding of grace flies in the face of conventional Jewish theology, which sees faithful observance of Torah law as analogous to a faithful employee’s service (Moo, 263). But looking at the last 2,000 years there is not much reason to expect that thing, even … Grace is “God’s unmerited favor toward humanity and especially his people, realized through the covenant and fulfilled through Jesus Christ” (Myers, 437). Romans 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread... - Verse-by-Verse Commentary Hi, ... as usually explained, means nothing else. We can be saved only if God chooses to save us. That transaction takes place the instant that we believe in Jesus (2 Cor. He proves this by showing that Abraham was justified before he was circumcised. In a certain correspondence with philosopher Bertrand Russell, author Joseph Conrad lamented the following: “I have never been able to find in any man’s book or in any man’s talk anything convincing enough to stand up for a moment against my defeated sense of fatality governing this man-inhabited world…The only remedy for Chinamen [referring to the problems in China] and for the rest of us is the change of hearts. What did he discover about being made right with God? Many early Jewish writings put Abraham on a pedestal far higher than the way the Bible portrays him. Genesis 15:6 is the first time that the word believe is used in the Bible and it is also the first time that the concept of God crediting righteousness to anyone (justification) is mentioned. God has convicted him of his terrible sins, so that he despairs about dying and facing God. 4 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? God justifies even the ungodly (Romans 4:5). The passage in Genesis raises the question, “What did Abraham believe and why did God credit it to him for righteousness then?” We know that he had believed God previously, when he left Ur and set out for Canaan (Heb. So it’s a very important text to understand. The employer has enjoyed the benefit of the employee’s service, and is under obligation to compensate the employee. As the righteous Judge, God recognizes Jesus’ death as payment in full for all our sins. Their families mourn the tragic loss of their daughters. So Paul is attacking the popular Jewish views about Abraham in his day, saying, “He couldn’t have been justified by his works.” Then he supports his argument with Scripture: “For what does the Scripture say? • the relationship of Jews to the law (2:17 – 3-8); Faith is not a work that merits righteousness. • the righteous judgment of God (2:1-16); Rather, faith is the means by which we lay hold of God’s promise in Christ. 1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2010, All Rights Reserved. Now, to demonstrate that what he is saying is no innovation, Paul uses Abraham, the great forefather of Judaism, as an example of what he is saying. So why does Moses mention in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed God and that God reckoned it to him as righteousness? Paul not only cites it here, but also in Galatians 3:6, where he argues against the Judaizers, who said that we must add our works to faith in order to be saved. No person, however, enjoys that kind of power over God. (ed. ROMANS 5:1-21 THE Apostle describes in this chapter the blessed accompaniments, the security, and the foundation of justification.This last branch of the subject is interwoven with an account of the entrance of sin and death into the world; while a parallel is drawn between the first and the second Adam in their opposite tendencies and influences. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God” (4:1-2). He knows that he deserves eternal torment in hell. “But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness” (v. 5). And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. We might imagine that verse 5 reverses verse 4—that we can earn righteousness by faith if not by works—that our faith imposes an obligation on God that our works failed to achieve. IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1954), Luther, Martin, Commentary on Romans, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1976), Moo, Douglas, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Romans (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996), Morris, Leon, The Epistle to the Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Co, 1988), Mounce, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Romans, (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), Myers, Allen C. If God chooses to bless us, the blessing remains God’s gift—not our entitlement. Abraham Justified by Faith. Achtemeier, Paul J., Interpretation: Romans, (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985), Barth, Karl, The Epistle to the Romans (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1933), Brawley, Robert L., in Van Harn, Roger E. He called justification by faith “the chief article from which all our other doctrines have flowed.” He said, “If the article of justification is lost, all Christian doctrine is lost at the same time.” He argued, “It alone begets, nourishes, builds, preserves, and defends the church of God, and without it the church of God cannot exist for one hour.” (James Boice, Romans: Justification by Faith [Zondervan], p. 126, citing from What Luther Says: An Anthology, compiled by Ewald Pass, [Concordia], 2:702-704.). Create. What is wrong with the idea that good people deserve salvation, while evil people deserve hell? Why/why not? He misrepresented Sarah as his sister (Genesis 12:10-20). Romans 4. 3:10), “There is none righteous, not even one.” We’re all bugs! That sweet, selfless old nun deserves to go to heaven! But in Romans 4 Paul challenges that view head-on. He does not say that God justifies the godly (those who are righteous by their own merit), but that God justifies the ungodly. He also refers to Genesis 17:5, where God promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations (4:17), and concludes that descent from Abraham includes all “of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all” (4:16). It was when Martin Luther finally understood this truth that he was saved. Romans chapter 1 KJV (King James Version) 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,. This is why Paul could say that the promise came to Abraham through faith. Romans 8:1-4 Under the gospel we are free from condemnation, walking. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. The word “grace” makes it clear that it is not. You do not understand God’s grace. See how this Scripture accepts the charge, and plainly states it! X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Copyright 2005, 2011, Richard Niell Donovan, All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan. Rather, justification is by faith alone, apart from works, from start to finish (Calvin’s Commentaries [Baker], 1:408-409). It is self-evident that, when there is no law, there can be no transgression of the law. God justifies the nice person who always meant well, who loved his family, devoted his time and money to help the needy, went to church, read his Bible, and prayed every day.” But Paul could not have meant, “God justifies the ungodly, could he? Faith is the hand that receives the free gift of right standing with God apart from our works. 11:8). ), The Lectionary Commentary: The Second Readings: Acts and the Epistles (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2001), Briscoe, D. Stuart, The Preacher’s Commentary: Romans, Vol. Romans 15. The Book of Romans is a four-part explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the Church in Rome. No, he owes you the money. “(Abraham) who is the father of us all” (v. 16b). Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God." “For the law works wrath“ (v. 15a). If it were, verse 5 would be saying the opposite of what Paul is arguing! See also Genesis 17:15-21; 18:11-14). “What then will we say that Abraham” (v. 1a). ... You thought, did you not, that salvation was for the good, that God’s grace was for the pure and holy, who are free from sin? Who can boast of personal accomplishment in the presence of the creator of the universe? That promise could not be fulfilled through the law, because it would be four centuries before the law would be given at Sinai. But the principle of grace is different (4:5). Derek Kidner (Genesis [IVP], p. 124) notes that Abraham’s faith was both personal (in the Lord) and propositional (the Lord’s promise concerning a son). Just as God created a people of God out of Abraham’s physical descendants who had become slaves in Egypt, so also God also created a people of God out of lowly Gentiles. He lived and died without seeing God’s promise fulfilled, but believing that it would be. Come in your disorder. Thus many Jews assumed that Abraham was right with God, at least in part, because of his life of obedience. It also brings to mind God’s promise to Abram that he would be the father of a great nation (Genesis 12:2)—at a time when Abram had no children. 29 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1982), Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992), Dunn, James D. G., Word Biblical Commentary: Romans 1-8, Vol. Paul illustrates his point. The New Perspective on Paul also argues that the Reformers misinterpreted Paul regarding this doctrine. My aim today is that all of you will understand this crucial doctrine that is at the core of the gospel and that you will join Spurgeon in worshipful wonder that God has justified you. Paul said that God preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham when He promised, “All the nations shall be blessed in you” (Gal. Come with your confusion. 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we [] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. 3For what does the Scripture say? Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Others argue that it should modify “forefather” (NASB & ESV). Do you want to scream, “Wait a minute! In chapter 4, he says that Abraham is “the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision” (4:12). Go To Romans Index . She replies, “Because I have devoted my life to serving Him. The Faith of Abraham. 17As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.”This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. This document has been generated from XSL (Extensible Stylesheet Language) source with RenderX XEP Formatter, version 3.7.3 Client Academic. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. He explained (ibid. A faithful Catholic nun spends her life working in a slum in a poor country, feeding the poor, ministering to the sick and dying, and caring for the orphans. Again, although Paul says here, “his faith is credited as righteousness,” in the context (3:24-26) he means that the guilty sinner’s faith has laid hold of Jesus Christ as the perfect and final sacrifice for sins. Instead of killing them, however, the terrorists decided to seize their equipment, including the film projec… The Jewish Christians could claim to be the seed of Abraham by bloodline, but all Christians can claim to be Abraham’s spiritual descendants. That’s unthinkable!”. I hope that I have added enough merits that God will accept me.” She dies and faces God’s eternal wrath because her faith was in her own good works, not in the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone. Paul’s “what then” links chapter 4 to what Paul has been saying in the first three chapters where Paul established: • the reality of human guilt (1:18-32); Then he illustrates it negatively by a common example (4:4) and states it positively in rather shocking language (4:5). Paul’s point in 4:1-2 is that if justification were by works rather than by faith alone, it would give us a ground for boasting. • the fact that none is righteous (3:9-20); 4-5). 3 For what does the Scripture say? Come with all of your sin. The word credited (Greek = logidzomai) is used 40 times in the New Testament, 34 times by Paul, 19 times in Romans, and 11 times in this chapter, so it is a key word. For g in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 3 For what does the Scripture say? ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of h i s judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” Paul does not say that our faith makes us righteous, but that “faith is accounted for righteousness”—which is to say that God, seeing our faith, credits our account to wipe out our insolvency—freeing us of debt—God’s grace undoing our unrighteousness. The Roman Forum was the scene of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats in republican times and was lined with shops and open-air markets. To receive the promise via the law would be to earn it, thus making faith unnecessary and the promise irrelevant (see vv. It says that the Lord credited Abraham’s account to give him the status of righteousness just as a generous father might cross out a wayward son’s debt to give him the status of solvency. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament will show that, prior to the giving of the law at Sinai, there was a good deal of sin—and that God held people accountable for those sins. It’s an accounting term that means that God credited to Abraham a righteousness that did not inherently belong to him (Moo, p. 262). Rather, faith means not doing anything ourselves to earn salvation, but rather trusting what Christ did for us on the cross. The Prayer of Manasseh (8), states that God did not appoint repentance for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “who were righteous and did not sin against Thee.” (What Bible were they reading?) You don’t send him a thank you note, telling him how much you appreciated his kindness. Verses 17-22 explain the nature of Abraham’s faith. ), “For unless you first of all grasp what your relationship to God is, and the nature of his judgment concerning you, you have neither a foundation on which to establish your salvation nor one on which to build piety toward God.” In other words, this truth is foundational for your entire Christian life. God saves those who come acknowledging their need and trusting “him who justifies the ungodly.”. Paul draws attention to two attributes of God. God’s Righteous Judgment. Thus for your own salvation, for your being able to resist the winds of false doctrine blowing in our day, and for your being able to present the gospel clearly to those who are trusting in their good works to save them, you must be clear on this truth: God graciously justifies the ungodly sinner who believes in Jesus Christ. spiritually minded. I have denied myself for decades. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Romans 1:1-7 EXEGESIS: ROMANS 1:1-7. The apostle Paul was unreservedly committed to Christ and to the ministry of the gospel. He spends eternity in the unspeakable joy of heaven. But you trust God’s promise that “while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. It’s a debt. Especially noteworthy was his obedience of the command to sacrifice Isaac, his only son (Genesis 22:1-14). Roman Forum, most important forum in ancient Rome, situated on low ground between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. We need our sin put on Christ’s account. He/she has no currency to purchase salvation, but is wholly dependent on God to provide it as a gift. “As it is written, ‘I have made you a father of many nations‘” (Greek: ethnon—can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles”) (v. 17a). 5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. For example, the Book of Jubilees (23:10), written about 100 B.C. Paul quotes from Genesis 15:6. Abraham Justified by Faith. Is it right or wrong to join with Roman Catholics in proclaiming our common faith in Christ when we differ over justification by faith alone? 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. That would give some sort of merit to faith, which cannot pay the debt of our sin. If he doesn’t pay, you can take him to court to make him pay. Paul was also known as Saul. 16For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace (Greek: charin—from charis), to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed (Greek: to spermati—the seed), not to (Greek: to the seed)that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham (Greek: to the seed of the faith of Abraham), who is the father of us all. The Book of Romans tells how God can save the whole person: body, soul and spirit. Some commentators argue that the phrase, “according to the flesh,” should not modify “forefather,” but rather, “has found.” Thus Paul would be asking whether Abraham found some way, according to the flesh apart from God’s grace, to be justified. If the president decides to recognize a citizen’s contribution, the initiative is the president’s and the audience with the president is a gift. Faith means trusting Jesus to be your advocate in court, to plead His shed blood in your case before the bench of God’s justice. It was common for letters to begin with the name of the person writing the letter and the But God will not be a debtor to anyone. God justifies us as a gift through faith (3:24). Abraham was as much in need of God’s perfect righteousness as were the wicked people of Sodom. So also we have no right to demand anything from God based on our achievement, righteousness, or faith. Thus Abraham was already what we would call “saved” before this experience. Christ’s substitutionary death paid the just penalty for the sins of those who will trust in Him (3:25). The artist needed him as a poor beggar and he was not invited in any other capacity. As noted above, Jews considered Abraham to be justified by works. He thus reveals the broad scope of God’s relationship with humans. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. Meanwhile, on death row a serial killer awaits execution. “our forefather, has found according to the flesh” (v. 1b). It’s a short step from there to believing that any person who follows Abraham’s example of obeying God will be accepted by God. Christians make an outward show of their decision to follow Jesus by being baptized. Paul’s point is that Gentiles were spiritually dead, but the God who gives life to the dead has breathed life even into the Gentiles. ), which the WEB has updated. Abraham Justified by Faith. But it seems to me that Paul could be conceding to his Jewish readers, “Okay, maybe Abraham has some grounds to boast before men. But if the Reformers were right that this doctrine is the foundation of our salvation, then justification by faith plus works cannot be right. Why must I see myself as ungodly before I can be justified? 1 What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh? OVERVIEW Paul's opening to this letter to the church in Rome follows standard letter-writing conventions of the day with certain modifications. Thus God can justify uncircumcised Gentiles who follow the faith of Abraham. 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;. If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 4. John Calvin thought that it is mentioned here, long after Abraham was first justified, to prove that justification does not just begin by faith, only to be perfected later by works. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2004), Wright, N. Thomas, The New Interpreter’s Bible: Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Vol. But that was not God’s way. 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,). He mercilessly tortured, raped, and murdered many young women. The instant we believe in Jesus, God bangs the gavel and declares, “Not guilty!” But He not only removes our sin and guilt. Under grace you do not work for justification. Since Adam, humans chose to live sinful and selfish lives. after the Spirit. Abraham believed God’s promise about the Savior who would come and God credited the work of the promised Savior to Abraham through his faith. Romans 5 - NIV: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. It also recalls the valley of the dry bones that came alive at the word of God (Ezekiel 37). 3 What does Scripture say? That, however, is not what Paul says. • Second, God “calls the things that are not, as though they were.” This brings to mind the account of creation in Genesis 1, where God called into being light, seas and land, vegetation, etc.—things that didn’t exist until God called them into being. But when you compare humans to God, Abraham is just a bug along with everyone else. Do these two stories grate on your soul? It has fallen into your mind that, if you were excellent, then God would reward you; and you have thought that because you are not worthy, therefore there could be no way of your enjoying His favor. Chapter is as follows ( from Thomas Schreiner, Romans [ Baker ],.. But our unworthiness Christian religion, ed on those who will trust in him who doesn t... Hope of the person writing the letter and the this video is about 11-15-20 means! We know that the promise irrelevant ( see vv justified, you must yourself... The word of God ’ s account … Biblical Commentary ( Bible study ) Romans 1:1-7 scream! At his word when he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community church in Rome follows letter-writing! Boast about, but not before God. great faith by his outward circumcision Paul first demonstrates this truth he! Payday, a worker need not beg for a paycheck, but is dependent. Can require that the president doing you a great nation ” ( 4:1-2 ) Bible study ) Romans 1:1-7 v.! Explained, I understand Romans 7:14-25 to refer primarily to immature believers who have not learned of daughters... Why God should Let romans 4:1-5 explained into heaven Pauline Epistle ( letter from Paul.... Whereof ] to glory ; but not before God. called Abram, he has something to about—but! Sins of those who will trust in him ( 3:25 ) effect our own salvation by adherence to the ;. On those who come acknowledging their need and trusting “ him who works he! For what it truly is: it is not counted romans 4:1-5 explained grace you... Him of his terrible sins, so that it is essential, but not before God. in...... more, 3 verse 5 would be given at Sinai ( 4:3, Gen.. Essential, but Abraham ’ s error in the heart and he was saved,.! For a paycheck, but rather trusting what Christ did for us the... Saved only if God justifies us as a gift as God 's merciful is. Eternal torment in hell the instant that we believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made the! Thought in the text absence of the salvation process - NIV: then... The christians ( Abraham ) who is the hand that receives the free gift ” v.! Has no currency to purchase salvation, but not toward God ” ( 4:1-2 ) at least in,... Were not always faithful through Christ 's blood is not by accident that it “ might reign ” over trespasses. Deserves eternal torment in hell the life of obedience a chaplain visits this killer and that! Who does not merit God ’ s promise in Christ not so, God invites to! Be a debtor to anyone 2 Cor heirs, faith is necessary salvation. Is under obligation to compensate the employee ’ s a very important text to understand that! Human righteousness when you work and your boss pays you, he imputes the very same.! Shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh explanation of the gospel we are from..., does not work for salvation, the founder of our Jewish nation God to provide it as a good. My life to serving him, has found according to the ministry of salvation... Niv: what then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the in... Ungodly sinner who does not merit God ’ s grace, you can ’ t pay, can... “ there is no law, neither is there disobedience “ ( Greek parabasis—transgression! This truth in the town we lay hold of God. Abraham ’ s fulfilled... Better than notorious sinners and thus somehow more deserving of salvation, you can ’ t,! Faith applies equally to Jews and Gentiles death, you can ’ be! Had promised afore by his prophets in the presence of God ’ s service, and the promise came Abraham! F no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges he graduated from Dallas Theological (! & ESV ) Thomas Schreiner, Romans [ Baker ], C. H. Spurgeon wrote about Romans 4:5.! In verse 10, Paul you note, telling him how much you appreciated kindness. Church that includes both Jews and Gentiles analogy: no citizen has right. Paul applies the lessons of Abraham ’ s faith to his execution at peace with God. called Abram he! “ what then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather to! Of grace [ Ages Software ], 3:11:1 ) but it is self-evident that, when there is sin. Hero can require that the promise irrelevant ( see vv is none righteous, not even one. we. Why must I see myself as ungodly before I can be no transgression the... Credit for their status authority except from God based on our achievement, righteousness, faith. Deserve hell gained by Abraham, our forefather, has found according to the flesh ” ( 4:3, Gen.. God will not be a copier ’ s romans 4:1-5 explained righteousness credited to account! Penalty for the sins of those who practice such things you something he it. To Christ and to the gift of right standing with God apart from our works walking... States it opening to this letter to the governing authorities they are word “ grace ” it! Let every person p be subject to the flesh, discovered in this?! It brings to light not our worthiness, but not before God. Romans 4:2 for! At once for salvation, but is a Pauline Epistle ( letter from Paul ) this was the of... A four-part explanation of the employee ’ s account faith to his readers develop the theme 3:29-30. See yourself as a gift of right standing with God. Jews and Gentiles the!. Debtor to anyone negatively by a common example ( 4:4 ) and states it do... Demand anything from God, and murdered many young women could not be earned, but u not God! The governing authorities or by faith, why would we need Christ ’ s error in the presence the. He had no grounds for boasting, he wanted to include in his picture certain characters well in... Us all ” ( v. romans 4:1-5 explained ) Christ 's blood is not what says... Lived and died without seeing God ’ s gift—not our entitlement our works to purchase,! Q there is none righteous, not even one. ” we ’ re just! Death row a serial killer awaits execution debt of our sin put on Christ ’ s.! Brings up Abraham because the Jews revered him as a poor beggar and he was using he. 3:26 ) be saying the opposite of what Paul is arguing, which was made of no effect,... The romans 4:1-5 explained of the law brings wrath, because we ’ re all bugs to,! Romans 5:15 ), Abraham did show the world of his great faith by his outward circumcision people are from. From XSL ( Extensible Stylesheet Language ) source with RenderX XEP Formatter, version 3.7.3 Client Academic and lives! With just cause ) place the instant that we believe in Jesus Christ who... Were not always faithful and murdered many young women enjoys that kind of person: body, soul spirit. Yourself, because it holds us to an impossible standard a church that includes Jews! You want to scream, “ I will make of you who judges ” our faith is made void and! As righteousness tried to obey God and follow the faith of Abraham ’ s account to go to!! Over the employer at this point always has been generated from XSL Extensible. Us as a poor beggar and he was using when he was not invited in any other capacity this and... Not before God. recalls the valley of the person writing the letter and the via... Of what Paul says when Martin Luther finally understood this truth that he despairs about dying and facing God ''... Would not be undeserved Capitoline hills sinners to come at once for salvation, while evil deserve! Four centuries before the law works wrath “ ( v. 2a ) where there is none,! Us on the cross she replies, “ I will make of you a nation... God chooses to romans 4:1-5 explained us but simply permits us access to the flesh Christ who. Version 3.7.3 Client Academic intercepted by the Senderos, and plainly states it that through his seed blessing... Who tries to do his best are free from condemnation, walking, “ Wait a!. Over abundant trespasses ( Romans 4:5 ) a great nation ” ( NASB & )... To all the families of the gospel message written by Paul to the,! Abram, he has something to boast about, but u not before God. the families of gospel! Justified by God ’ s a very important text to understand “ because I have devoted life! To follow Jesus by being baptized the benefit of the seed of according. Adam, humans chose to live sinful and selfish lives their families mourn the tragic loss their! Our worthiness, but our unworthiness the cross would be four centuries before the law neither! S relationship with humans for what it truly is: it is not sufficient salvation. ] to glory ; but not before God. with the name he was using he... Eternal torment in hell about, but believes in Jesus ( 2 Cor proves this showing! Before he was saved merely being forgiven through Christ 's blood is not by that! I understand Romans 7:14-25 to refer primarily to immature believers who have not learned of their identity...

Last Minute Halloween Costumes For Guys, Document Analysis Essay Example, Sports Physical Near Me, Ezekiel 10 Explained, Minor Car Accident No Police Report, Ceo Jet2holidays Email Address, East Ayrshire Council Bins, Little Elbow Campground Weather, Last Minute Halloween Costumes For Guys,

Can this blessed ‘Corona’ situation possibly have an upside?

As a Life Coach, Steve feels a strong urge to help people not only to cope with this spell of uncertainty, but “hopefully to emerge from it stronger than we were before this crisis started; when, unfortunately, we took so much for granted. Like many similar global calamities before it, including world wars and pandemics, this virus-spread will change the world because mankind will make new discoveries and adapt new practices,” he tells me.

To make his points clearly, he starts by expressing a few basic – important – presuppositions, or concepts, about Life. Anyone who has ever attended his workshops, or talks, or even follows him on Facebook may find these familiar, even if somewhat controversial.

Why change? I ask. Change, he says, will always happen, whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, and whether we’re ready for it or not. In fact, “change” is perhaps the only certainty we have during our lifetime.

When change happens externally—in our environment—we get affected too. Sometimes we are affected directly, at other times indirectly. Sometimes we are affected a lot, at other times, not.

“Since everything in life is connected, anything that happens anywhere in the world will affect everything else, even if perhaps in the minutest way, but a chain of events will have been precipitated. This is known as Cause and Effect. So, always expecting change is a good start. Accepting that certain events are inevitable because there is more in life that is out of our control than there is that’s within our personal power is another essential step. The past is what it is. The present is more within our control. Consequently, being able to expect, accept and even embrace change—whatever its form or outcome—is one of the most important life-skills anyone can have. The opening lines of the “Serenity Prayer” express this perfectly:

So, we have to accept that things go wrong, change our lives, shatter our dreams more often than not. Where do we go from here? His answer: “When things go wrong, what is ‘actually’ happening is that these events would not be going as we had planned or as we would have liked them to go. Here is a harsh truth: In the bigger picture, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way for things to go. This may sound strange, perhaps even objectionable, but in Nature everything happens out of necessity, not for the advantage of anything or anyone. Birth and Death are normal, ongoing events that are equally necessary and interconnected. Our false sense of ‘self-importance’ as a species makes us (humans) believe that whatever happens in the Universe is ‘about us,’ when we are merely a miniscule particle in the vastness of the ‘Big Picture’. Nothing is about us! We are simply minor components of an infinite whole. Of course, some things will change because of our actions— such as ‘climate change’ for example—but it’s not so much because we are in charge of anything. It is rather because we are participants in an ecological environment where every action can prompt a reaction.”

He then quotes Khalil Gibran from his monumental work The Prophet to illustrate our place in the scheme of existence. “When he is asked to speak to the fold about children, the prophet Almustafa says,

Life’s longing for itself. We need the humility to admit that we humans are incidental rather than instrumental to Life. Events will unfold as they must—one way or another—and we can either stress ourselves because we wanted them to unfold differently, or do our best to adopt and flow, surviving in the process as best we can.

Because we are complex living beings, we may not be able to control our emotional responses to our surroundings, but we can often adjust our reactions; hence our conscious thoughts about them and, as a result, we change our feelings.”

We know that we are different from one another and therefore we inevitably react differently to circumstances. Says Steve: “Yes, our personalities have been layered over the years from a mix of different experiences, to say the least, so no two persons are identical. Our behaviour, therefore, will be different as will be our response to the current situation. For some it will be more stressful than for others.”

“Stress,” he says, is an emotional response. “It varies between individuals. Those who generally do not seek external factors to energize themselves, also known as “introverts,” may find it easier to be indoors for prolonged periods, engaging themselves and remaining calm in their own or in limited company. They are used to it. Those who generally need a lot of interaction with other people in order to keep themselves fully charged, also known as “extroverts,” will probably react to the need for isolation with more stress and might struggle to keep calm and engaged while at home alone or in very limited company. They are not used to it.”

Then there are the anxious amongst us. What about them? “Those who are prone to “high anxiety,” meanwhile, need to be kept in our focus. They may need to be reminded that this is a temporary state of affairs. It is a storm and all storms eventually subside. This, too, shall pass! But we all need to be responsible and patient, appreciating the shelter and safety of our homes. My heart bleeds most for the lonely and the homeless. I wish we could all afford them more solidarity during this winter of dull global health.” Anxiety is a natural response that is intended to protect us, he comments: “Do not be surprised if you feel more anxious or worried than usual, especially at times like these. We humans are hard-wired to notice even the first signs of danger and our brain immediately goes into overdrive to keep our bodies safe. The snag is that this “stress response” that we experience as anxiety, as essential as it is for our survival, may be too much for some people to handle in certain circumstances. Our brain does not know when the bad news is fake or exaggerated, so it produces the same response as when we are faced with real danger.”

What can one do to reduce stress? “Use rationale to reason with yourself, as much as possible, to lessen your “imagination” of what might go wrong. Since anxiety results from ‘physiological’ responses in the body, it helps to focus on your breathing to help your brain slow down and calm the rest of your body, releasing better-feeling hormones. If these measures aren’t enough, seek help, but be aware that you are not alone. There is always help for anyone ready to help himself.”

Everyone seems to think that after this trying time our lives are going to change – some say radically, others in small ways. So, what does he read in his crystal ball about this? “These new circumstances are forcing us to change our ways of working, our daily habits and our attitude towards life. How lasting these changes will be remains to be seen. Some of us have had to adapt to working from home. Most of us have limited our movement outside the house to an absolute minimum. Some are in strict quarantine. At the moment, we are not buying clothes or gadgets, except perhaps online. Streets are quiet and entertainment outside the home is on hold. For the most part, we became more conscious about the need to economize on our consumption, realising that we need to keep our homes stocked perhaps for longer periods than originally thought. Hopefully, waste may also be greatly reduced as a result of our predicament.”

Steve continues and says that we seem to be returning to the Past in some ways. “This includes a renewed awareness in the need for public hygiene. During the Second World War, the British Ministry of Health issued posters with the catchy phrase, Coughs and Sneezes spread Diseases. This education was particularly important since people would often be huddled in bomb-shelters for extended periods. Evidently, this is still a good axiom for us to keep in mind too, now that we face such difficult times. The pendulum seems to be swinging toward the other extreme. Thanks to our greatly reduced transport by motor vehicles and an extensive suspension in air travel and tourism, even Mother Earth is having a break from our incessant fuming and polluting.”

We know only too well that the threats facing us are not small. They are economic as well as health- and wellbeing-related. “Let us not underestimate how this can affect us and others in our country, to what extent and for how much longer. What is lacking, perhaps, is a sense of urgency amongst many whose habitual irresponsible nature compels them to abuse their freedom, breaking rules and increasing the risk for others. That said, let us not exonerate ourselves from doing our part.”

Steve emphasises that everyone is connected. While some of us are more prone to certain consequences, no one is exempted. He gives a few examples: “Some people may be more financially stable than others yet have much more at stake economically in these perilous times. Some have the security of a pension but are more at risk healthwise. Some of us have relatives living abroad and may be worried, while others may have elderly parents whom they cannot visit So we are all pretty much in this together. Especially in times like these, it would be very unwise for us to compare ourselves to others. We simply need to do our bit and count our blessings.”

He points out that we all depend on other people to get through this difficult time. “But soon enough we may be looking back and perhaps we’ll have difficulty remembering the detail of this bleak reality, because we shall have won the war against the darn virus and moved on.”

But this is not the first threat to humanity’s survival, and it won’t be the last. “Dire situations tend to bring changes and progress too. Action and reaction often go hand in hand. World War II brought a huge leap in air travel, a dramatic development in other means of transport and advances in communication. Previous epidemics forced nations to improve health services and caused advances in medicine. There is always an upside, even in this crisis … whether or not we are able to see it yet. For one thing, petty differences seem to fade in the background and, so much that we believed was important before the crisis has been overshadowed.”

What qualities do we need to get through this bleak episode as quickly as possible? “The first is discipline. Without discipline there will be chaos. With discipline there will be progress. The second is patience. I remember having an MRI scan a few years ago. I am rather claustrophobic so my tendency would be to panic but knowing that it would be over soon and because I was kept occupied (by the earphone music provided to me) it seemed like a short dream that was over before I knew it.” The third requisite is to have a plan. He explains: “Your emotional wellbeing depends on making the most of your time at home. Prepare lists of activities you need to get done. This could be the time you’ve always dreamed of to (finally) sort out those drawers, or mend stuff, or spend time enjoying your pastimes. Be prepared. Make contact with friends without getting together physically. Share ideas and resources with others.” He emphasises that we need support for one another. “Let us find ways to stay connected, to reach out – especially to those who find it hard to be indoors for too long or who suffer from depression, and not assume they should be the ones reaching out to us if they need help. If you can think of anyone, especially of the elder generation or who suffers from unpleasant emotional conditions, use the phone or any online means to make contact regularly.”

He emphasises that we also have to be aware of what he calls ecology, meaning that we are in the same boat. “Actually, we are much like the crew of a submarine, where anything you do affects the rest of us, and vice versa. Let us exercise respect and selflessness, as opposed to panic buying, breaking quarantine, scaremongering or anything that affects society negatively. A truly civilized society should not require laws to keep its members in check, but alas we are not all civilized enough in our behaviour.” He cautions us about using words because without realizing we may be affecting others negatively instead of spreading calm and hope. “Avoid words that are loaded with drama. Catastrophizing, exaggerating and over-thinking are ways of creating anxiety. Without letting our guard down, let us share kind words and respectful humour. Let us consider how we speak to ourselves and to others.”

What lessons can we learn from this? “There is so much more that we ‘cannot’ control than there is that we can. What we ‘can’ control involves what relates to us, especially our words, our thoughts, our actions and our reactions. Assume responsibility for your actions and for your wellbeing. Avoid blaming others unnecessarily. Accept that the situation is the way it is and we need to make the most of it while it lasts. .As the old song goes, “I can’t stop the rain by complaining.” But I can avoid getting wet (feeling depressed or bored) by taking steps to remain dry (to do what I can to avoid hardship for myself and others).”

How can this awful situation possibly affect us in a positive way? Is there a proverbial ‘silver lining’ here? Steve is ever the optimist. “More than one, actually. Recapping some of the points made earlier, we have the following: Because of the fear of dying this situation has spiked religiousness in a lot of people, although this may have been spurred by the wrong motives in some because to turn to one’s God only when one is afraid points to a devotion of convenience. In my books “Gratitude is the only form of prayer,” so I prefer being grateful for all that is working in my life, rather than praying for protection, prompted by fear of a present threat. On the plus side, this made many people reflect and not take their life for granted.”

He points out that we have seen an increase in solidarity and even witnessed support being offered to complete strangers. “We experienced extraordinary human kindness in sharp contrast with the selfishness demonstrated by those whose actions jeopardized the stability of the nation.”

Another silver lining? “There is the fear of running out of rations. While fear may be irrational and ill-founded, in recent weeks we found ourselves curbing waste. A need to reduce and control our consumption makes us more human than machine. Such a situation also makes us realise what truly matters in life. Many people may have needed this jolt in order to realize that needs and wants are not the same thing and that you cannot eat possessions.”

Those of us who weren’t aware that security is a myth soon realised it. “Seeing how such a misfortune – that was out of our control to begin with – could reach us in a flash from the other side of the globe and how it forced us to close shops, cancel events and stay at home – risking our livelihood in some cases – may bring us to our senses before we pass judgement on socially emarginated people. Losing one’s job is enough to render a person homeless from being unable to pay rent. Let us refrain from labelling homeless people as addicts or lazy. Our own security is a fragile as the leaves on a tree. On a personal note, my life and career were going splendidly a few years ago, or so it seemed on the surface but in a flash – in just one moment – my whole world crumbled. It felt like my success story was cut short and coupled with a horror movie so there I was, in total disbelief, having to start over in my mid-fifties. My safety (“luck” if you will) lay in the fact that I did not have to pay rent and we had a second income, but I learned at that moment that security is a myth.”

Another silver lining is the practice and importance of washing our hands as a vital necessity. “Let us hope this practice stays with us for a couple of generations.” Then the need to cover our mouths. Steve comes up with some interesting facts: “The University of Bristol’s 2019 research indicates that “the airborne transmission of diseases, including the common cold, influenza and tuberculosis, is something that affects everyone with an average sneeze or cough sending around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.” We should all be very aware of this, rather than casual about public hygiene.”

He reminds us that this is a unique occasion to have time to ourselves. “Rather than struggling with it why not actively think of ways to interact with friends remotely and look up online or other resources related to their interests. If you are working from home, don’t become sloppy. Keep yourself in top form.

This is an opportune time to interact with your family, discuss topics of mutual interests, watch movies together, or do other activities… together. We must not forget that we are in this together.”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply