Date: 2/9/2004
Time: 11:54:38 AM
I remember reading somewhere that various names given to Jesus including "Lord" were in response to the fact that Ceasar was called Lord. It was like saying, "my alliegence is to Jesus. Jesus is Lord. Ceasar is not." Ceasar was even called "Son of God." Saying that Jesus was Son of God was also saying that Ceasar was not. (I think I read this in Marcus Borg's new book.)
I encountered a woman in one of my previous churches who insisted that the ONLY way one was "saved" was by saying certain words out loud (confessing with the lips). She quoted this scripture a lot to prove her point. But to me, confessing with the lips can mean what you say to a distraught neighbor, or an advisary, or someone who makes you angry or hurts you. Can we respond as Christ would respond?
Of course, believing in our heart is crucial. But is it mere belief? I guess I would question belief that isn't evident in the way one lives. Saying that I believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord means nothing if I don't live like Jesus is Lord. It will be evident in whether or not we treat others as Jesus would treat others and whether or not we do our part to right the injustices of the world.
Hope this makes sense. I'm trying to make sense of it all myself.
Grace and Peace, MEL in NE
Date: 2/24/2004
Time: 10:51:01 AM
Paul reminds the Christians at Rome of the foundational affirmation of those who are saved: the confession of faith in the risen Jesus as Lord.
Date: 2/26/2004
Time: 7:15:30 AM
Here we have the expression of the heart. In one way or the other, the matter of our heart will be expressed by our lips. Similarly, our inner devotion to God should manifest by our outward actions.
Is this the reason why this passage was picked to start Lent?
Coho, Midway City
Date: 2/26/2004
Time: 10:24:50 AM
I'm intrigued with "the Word is near you, on your lips and in your heart". I'm thinking of how Jesus used the Word in time of temptation (gospel lesson). Anyone can quote scripture, and the devil did quote scripture (the lesson from Ps. 91). Yet it was a misuse of scripture, at least in that context. How do we use scipture rightly? How do we get it in our hearts, as Jesus did, so that we can draw on it appropriately? I'm preaching to a congregation, half of whom are Biblically illiterate.
DGinNYC
Date: 2/26/2004
Time: 1:57:27 PM
The Jewish members of the church at Rome thought that God favored them over the Gentiles, meaning that God treated them differently...better. Paul reminds the church at Rome that God hears everyone's prayers or cries for help. God is the same God to everyone. Human beings do not determine the number of persons who can call on God for help, or their identity.
How wonderful to know that there is no limit to God's grace or power, especially since I feel pretty small in the shadow of the cross. NG
Date: 2/28/2004
Time: 7:20:40 AM
DG in NYC -- You must be pretty lucky if only half your congregation is Biblically illiterate! -- Mike in Maryland