Reflecting the Image (by Carla Sunberg)

  A Christmas recipe from my mom.  Scripture: Rom. 10:5     Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from 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, on your lips and in your heart”  (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on h

Alana enjoying a Christmas outing.  Scripture: Rom. 10:1     Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Observation: After commenting on the stumbling block for the Jews, Paul goes on to become an intercessor. He does not believe that the Jews are beyond the reach of God’s grace. The Jews are filled with zeal, just as Paul had been. Wesley makes an interesting comment, “They had zeal without knowledge; we have knowledge without zeal” (Wesley Notes). More on that later.  Paul has recognized that the Jews fail to see the work of Christ as fulfilling the words of the law. Christ is the telos , or the goal of the

Little Alana was so enamored by the  baby in the mirror! We could hardly pull her away.  Scripture: Rom. 9:30     What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith; 31 but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law. 32 Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” Observation: Suddenly Paul’s conversation shifts to one about faith. None of us are deserving of righteousness, and there is nothing that we can do to earn this righteousness either. By trying too hard, Israelites were stumbling. Their over-zealous desire to follow the law took their eyes away fro