May 13
“Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,” Romans 15:4.
Generally, when there is a reference to the Scriptures in the New Testament, it is a reference only to the Old Testament Scriptures with which the Jews and non-Jews were familiar. When Jesus said to His Jewish followers, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me,” John 5:29, no New Testament Books had yet been written. Jesus was telling His hearers that they should search the Old Testament to learn about Him and to believe that He was the promised Messiah and Savior.
When the apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans, he told them that what had been written in the Old Testament Scriptures had been written also for the learning of all following generations. This is important for us to remember. For example, the creation of the world by the power of God’s Word is recorded in the opening words of the Book of Genesis. Evolutionists insist that it is some ancient myth that was recorded a few thousand years ago. The apostle Paul says that it was written for our spiritual learning, which gives us hope.
There also are those who try to tell the people of our generation that the Ten Commandments are ancient laws which do not apply to our educated and enlightened generation. This explains why there are those who insist that we should not speak of right and wrong based upon the Ten Commandments. They have a life’s standard which is not based on morality according to God’s law. Our enlightened society speaks of people with different lifestyles and different sexual preferences, which enables them to speak of a same-sex marriage, which is not a marriage but an immoral union in God’s sight.
Whatever things were written before in the Old Testament Scriptures were written for our learning. This is a call to wake up spiritually. As Christians, who are spiritually awake, we must do more than complain. We must stand up and speak up out of love for the spiritual welfare of others who are walking down the broad way that leads to spiritual destruction! Yes, we must speak of both sin and the Savior.
Sin is not determined by the standards of a sinful society! Sin is determined by God, according to the Ten Commandments. “By the Law is the knowledge of sin,” Romans 3:20. Look into the mirror of God’s Law and you will see your sin. By nature, none of us want to take that look! But look we must!
Where then is our hope? “Through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures (we) have hope.” Our hope for this life and the life to come is offered in the Gospel, the Good News, recorded in the Scriptures, which tells us about God’s love revealed in the sending of Jesus as our Savior. God sent His Son, who fulfilled the Law of God in our place. Then He took upon Himself the sins of all people. He suffered and died on Calvary’s cross to wash away our sins. He paid the price to redeem us. Then He rose from the grave and conquered sin, death, and the devil for us. We have a risen Redeemer and an ever-living Lord, who invites us to believe that He is God’s Son and our Savior.
“Lord, when we bend before Thy throne,
And our confessions pour,
Teach us to feel the sins we own,
And hate what we deplore.
Our broken spirit pitying see,
True penitence impart;
Then let a kindling glance from Thee
Beam hope upon the heart.” Amen.