David Bahn – Reflections

Today’s readings are Romans 10; Deuteronomy 30; Psalm 19; Ezekiel 20. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 10:5-13

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I had an interesting conversation with Keith, a fellow passenger on our cruise. He describes himself as an agnostic. His understanding of the Christian faith is fairly superficial, and he is quick to dismiss the Bible as factually untrue. Since his wife’s death two years ago, he has embraced a hedonistic lifestyle. He seeks as many casual relationships as possible, and he stopped attending worship the day after her funeral.

I pressed him on the resurrection of Jesus, because that is the event that changes everything. He isn’t sure what to make of it, but he has come back to talk with me more than once since our first conversation.

I think of him in light of this passage: “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What a promise! And what a clear witness to our need for salvation. Many people feel self-satisfied and see no need to be saved. Their lack of awareness, however, does not negate their need – nor does it weaken God’s promise.

The Christian faith is not ultimately about whether Noah’s Ark can be proven – though dismissing God’s account in favor of a godless, accidental origin of life is both foolish and dishonoring to him. I believe the account of Noah is true, but even more importantly, I believe that Jesus, the Son of God, lived and died for the sins of the world, rose for our justification, and will come again to bring our salvation to completion. I believe that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

What a promise. What a call to repentance and faith.

Today’s readings are Romans 9:1-21; Genesis 25; Exodus 9; 33; Joshua 11. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Exodus 33:18-23

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” ¹⁹ And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” ²¹ And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, ²² and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Today’s passages are a challenging read. But they all point out that God is utterly free in his purposes, unfailingly faithful in his promises, and abundantly gracious in his ways. These passages show that God works through both mercy and judgment, and that his saving purposes flow not from human effort or lineage but from his own gracious will.

Holiness

God’s holiness is seen in his absolute distinction from human plans and expectations (to be holy means to be unique – set apart). In Genesis 25, the choice of Jacob over Esau defies cultural norms; in Exodus 33, God reveals his glory to Moses on his own terms; and in Romans 9, Paul reminds us that God’s dealings are never arbitrary but rooted in his pure and perfect character.

Justice

In Exodus 9 and Joshua 11, God’s judgments on Pharaoh and the Canaanite nations arise from long-standing rebellion and violence. These passages show that divine justice is not capricious but the righteous response of a holy God who has been patient and slow to anger. Romans 9 frames God’s justice within the larger story of his redemptive purposes.

Reign and Rule

Each passage emphasizes that God’s purposes stand, regardless of human resistance. His reign and rule is absolute and will be fully revealed in Jesus. But until that time no one will be able to see God’s face.

• Genesis 25: God chooses Jacob before birth.
• Exodus 9: God raises Pharaoh to display his power.
• Exodus 33: God proclaims, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.”
• Joshua 11: God gives Israel victory according to his promise.
  Romans 9 ties these threads into a theological whole: God’s ultimate reign does not negate responsibility but assures that his saving plan will be fulfilled.

Grace

Grace shines through in God’s compassionate choice to bless Jacob, to show mercy to Israel, and to call people to himself despite their unworthiness. Paul in Romans 9 shows that God’s grace is not earned or deserved—it is given. Even within narratives of judgment, God preserves a people and advances his promise of redemption.

Today’s readings are Romans 8; Psalm 44; Genesis 50; Job 16; Isaiah 38. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 8:28-39

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:28 was our theme verse when Diane and I were dating. Before we had made any plans for our future together, we would say, “We can’t lose.” We met during her summer break from college while I was still in school in my hometown. We dated and quickly realized there was something special between us. Still, we didn’t know what the future would hold. Although I hoped my future would be with her, neither of us could be certain. What we did know was that something real was taking shape — fragile and undefined, yet unmistakably present.

During those days of uncertainty, the promise that God was working all things together for our good brought great comfort. We leaned heavily on it.

Later, we were married and set out to serve together — I to seminary, Diane in countless ways of support and service. As our life together unfolded and our family grew, that same promise continued to steady us.

In difficult seasons, Romans 8:28 has anchored our souls. But it is a promise meant not only for hard days, but for every day. God is always at work — for his glory and for our good. We are loved by him, and nothing can separate us from that love. Nothing is more important than living connected to it.

Often, we recognize God’s good purposes only in retrospect, as Joseph did (cf. Genesis 50:19–20). But the promise of God, and the conviction that, “We can’t lose,” does not stop with us. His providential care is not only for our benefit, but for the sake of all those we may serve, impact, and bless. As we live and serve our neighbor, we are drawn into God’s larger work of love — a blessing meant for many.

For the past 20 years I have offered a prayer at our photo club’s Christmas party. This year I was not able to be present for the gala, so I sent a video and written copies to be shared. They kindly shared the prayer at their Christmas party last night. So now I share it with you. Enjoy!

I Wish I Could Be There – A Christmas Prayer for My Photo Buddies

In Absentia

I wish I could be there
With my photo buds,
But the cruise ship called me,
So I’ll miss you and the spuds.

But that doesn’t stop me
From offer’ng this Christmas prayer:
May God bless and keep you
Whate’er your camera gear!

Some of you shoot Sony (like me!),
Others Nikon gear.
Canon, Pentax, and cell phones—
All are welcome here.

Celebrating our art,
Taking our best shot.
So much talent on display—
Whether you win or not!

So I’m praying for you,
Even though far away.
For Christ the Light came near to us
On that first Christmas Day.

The Light no darkness overcomes,
The hope no night can hide—
And that same Light still warms us,
Even when miles divide.

Thank you, God, for good friends,
Whatever the gear they shoot.
Bless this food and friendship
(And this rhyming substitute!)

I’ll miss this year’s party,
But_I_send this prayer with cheer—
Grateful for a club whose joy
Shines bright throughout the year.

You can join in ending
This year’s prayer again
By adding your_own short blessing
And singing your Amen.

Here’s the video if you wish to see and hear me sing it. Enjoy!

Today’s readings are Romans 7; Deuteronomy 5; Psalm 1; 1 Kings 21; 2 Kings 10. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 7:14-24

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹ So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. ²² For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, ²³ but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴ Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! .

St. Augustine – the 5th Century reluctant convert to Christianity – is famously to have said, “Give me chastity, but not right now.” He was living a profligate life while his mother was praying fervently for his conversion. God answered that prayer and Augustine became a great figure in the Early Church, impacted deeply by Paul’s letter to the Romans. Augustine delighted in God’s grace but didn’t see it anymore after his conversion as an excuse for sin.

Many would identify themselves with Augustine in thanking God for his amazing grace. So how is it that we still struggle with sin? We who are no longer under God’s law and who live under God’s grace still battle with temptation and fall prey to the lure of sin and Satan. We read these words of Paul in Romans 7 and say, “That’s me!” The good we would do we do not do. The very evil we hate we do.

The surest sign that we are not fully awake to God’s holiness and our sinfulness is if we claim not to have to fight battles against temptation. The greatest evidence that we have been brought to faith and have the Holy Spirit within us is that we struggle with sin and temptation.

Still it is a battle. And we rightly wish we didn’t have to fight the war. But there is deliverance. And One Day we will be fully delivered – thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ! So, don’t give up the fight!

Today’s readings are Romans 6; Psalm 119:129-136; Proverbs 10; Ezekiel 18. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 6:1-11

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹ We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. ¹⁰ For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. ¹¹ So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

More sin? More grace. That’s the message of Romans 5:20. Then comes the logical question, “If there is so much more grace than sin, why not sin more so that we may receive more grace?” We know better than to buy into that idea. We know sin is destructive. We know that sin kills. And although grace abounds more than sin, we know better than to follow the false logic of gaining grace by sinning more.

Paul’s answer to the false notion is not that grace won’t abound, it’s because we’ve died to sin. We know it’s danger and deception. We also know the grace of God. And we want to live in that grace.

So comes the conclusion by which we live in grace: So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. It’s a matter of intentionally embracing God’s grace, considering ourselves to be God’s people, alive in the grace and goodness of God.

Today’s readings are Romans 5; Nahum 2; 2 Samuel 14; 18. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 5:1-11

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

When you see “therefore,” you need to stop to see what it’s there for. And in this case this therefore, it is a hinge on which great weights of significance swing. The implications of being justified by faith sets up all manner of moral and spiritual implications. Because we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God, we rejoice in hope – even in the face of trials and tribulations – and we stand in grace.

In other words we never have to do anything to gain God’s favor. But since we have been justified by faith and stand in grace there are implications. This is not just a state of grace, it is a launchpad for grateful and faithful life.

One of my professors in seminary made the appeal to translate the “we have” as “let us have.” Romans 5:1 contains a textual variant that affects whether Paul is making an indicative statement (“we have peace”) or issuing a hortatory/cohortative exhortation (“let us have peace”). This is one of the classic examples in textual criticism where a single vowel changes the sense of the verb. Note well, however, that this does not change a teaching of Scripture or undercut the gospel in any way. But it does provide a nuance worth considering.

So today I will rejoice in my tribulations (they are very few at this moment), and live in peace with God. Not in order to be right with God, but because God has put me right with him through faith in his Son, Jesus, my Lord and God.

Today’s readings are Romans 3; Psalm 5; 10; 14; 53. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 3:11-26

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

The Roman Road is an evangelism tool that summarizes the message of the Gospel through passages from the book of Romans. It starts here in chapter 3 and includes these five passages:

1. Romans 3:23 — Everyone has sinned.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Humanity’s universal problem: no one meets God’s standard.

2. Romans 6:23 — Sin brings death, but God gives life.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Sin earns death; God gives life as a gift through Christ.

3. Romans 5:8 — God shows his love by giving Christ for sinners.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God takes the initiative; salvation is an act of grace.

4. Romans 10:9–10 — Salvation comes through confessing and believing.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Faith in Christ’s lordship and resurrection is the means of salvation.

5. Romans 10:13 — The promise is open to all.

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The gospel is for everyone, without distinction.

These truths are essnetial and foundational to our faith in Christ. And there is one more:

Romans 10:14-17 — The message must be shared with others, so that according to God’s good will, all will be saved by grace through faith by preaching the word of Christ.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Today’s readings are Romans 2; Psalm 62; Isaiah 52; Jeremiah 4; Joshua 5. I’ll be away for the next few weeks. I will, however, attempt to post a link to the readings for the 49 Week Bible Challenge so you can follow the plan easily. During this time there will be no audio versions of these blog posts.

Romans 2:1-5

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. ² We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. ³ Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

We humans are a conundrum, a paradox in our being. We are created in the image of God, glorious and noble. Yet we are fallen creatures: sinful, rebellious, and blind to our own depravity.

The clearest expression of the latter is our propensity to see ourselves as righteous, justified in our actions and good in our core, while seeing the faults and failures in others. Self-righteous and other-condemning.

Paul leans into this here in Romans 2. In chapter 1 he mentions obviously deplorable behavior – sexual indecency of every kind. But right along with that list of deplorable behavior he lists disobedience to parents and even a failure to thank God and honor him as we should. There is no one righteous. Not even one (cf. Psalm 53:1-3).

Yet God is kind. Kind! Loving. Gracious. Abounding in steadfast love. Merciful and good. All this should lead us to repentance. Every one of us needs to repent of our sins. And everyone of us can be certain of God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness and kindness in the face of our repentance. When we turn to God we need not worry about facing further chastisement.

God welcomes all who come to him in repentant faith. I hope you will go with me in that spirit today.