Tag: sin

Saab Memories: MT e49

I recall the first time I saw a European car in real life.  It was not a photo in a magazine but real silver Saab. A much younger version of me was near Lexington, KY and this 900S turbo with a sunroof passed by and became my favorite.

Fast forward a few years, now into adulthood, my first car purchase was a silver Saab 900S with a sunroof.  I loved everything about this car.  I l loved the way the doors shut.  I loved the way I felt in the leather seats. The seats were even heated, terrific for those deep cold winter days.

Within literal weeks of owning this car I learned that there was a design flaw. Upon putting the car in reverse, it would pop out of gear and found that around 110K miles, every single car (not some of them but all of them) have a piece of the transmission fail. It is called a synchronizer

The cost of the part was under $20.  The installation was near $2,000.  The engine had to be removed from the car to put the in the new part, thus why the big expense.

This is true for every Saab built in a certain timeframe. All of them.

It reminded me of a situation in which we all find ourselves.  If you are watching this, it means you were born. (no brainer, right?).

Let us take it one step further; if you were born, you were born in the image of Adam. Which means you share Adam’s flesh.

Do you and I have to be taught how to lie?  Were you taught how to be rebellious?

The answer is no.  Why?  Because all of us were born in the flesh of Adam. We inherited his rebellion.  Just like the flaw in ALL the SAABS, the flaw of Adam is in every human.

Romans 5:18, “One trespass led to condemnation for ALL”

This is about our position in this life.  If we are IN Adam, you and I, are like my old Saab, beautiful outside, but flawed inside. 

Our hope is in Christ.  Again, Paul writes, “Through one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”  (Romans 5:19) If you are in Christ, who Paul calls the second Adam, you are perfect.

Through the second Adam, Jesus, the curse of first Adam is cured, fixed, settled. 

But what happens if the transmission breaks again (what if we still have sin and rebellion)?  What does that mean?

We will address this next time – until then S.D.G.

Bad Pie & Proverbs 14: MT episode 32

Around the age of 11 there was a moment when I was looking through our deep freezer.  A frozen pie was found, and I was in the mood for pie.

My mother assured me that I would not like the pie, but I could not imagine any pie that I would not enjoy. A respectful argument ensued and oddly, she said, “Ok, I will make the pie.”

This pie was not microwaveable.  It had to be heated in the oven so in about an hour the pie was ready.

Mom was correct.  This pie was absolutely awful! 

How could something with the word PIE in it taste bad?  It was minced meat pie.  To this day, I still do not know the ingredients for minced meat pie but based upon that experience I don’t really care to know.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.”

This is a strong warning. The writer of Proverbs is making the point that there are times when we may perceive something as right, good, great, fun but in reality, it is not any of those things.

Just like I saw the pie box in the freezer.  It said pie.  I love pie.  I desired something sweet. The picture on the box showed a pie.  It was a circle like a pie.  I desired that pie.

My heart desired the pie but in the end it was horrible.  I had no idea of its ingredients.

In the same way, the world is so appealing.  Just like the picture of the pie on the box was appealing the world appeals to our flesh but in the end, what is delivered is not what we expect. 

My hope today is that any who are younger, please listen to those who are older who may have a helpful word. Any who are struggling with a matter which is at odds with what Scripture teaches, please do not ignore the Spirit’s leading.

Be cautious.  Be aware of the things this fallen flesh desires.  Keep the in mind.  Pray for wisdom and discernment and God will aid and assist you in avoiding disheartening disappointments in your Christian growth.

S.D.G.

Covenant with Man RD 1

Welcome to Rightly Dividing where we marry theology and Scripture. The idea is to promote loving God with all our minds. Each short session we will take Scripture and tie it to the appropriate pieces of theology (the study of God and the doctrines of God).

This first session we discuss the covenant with man. We are introduced to the covenant with man in the Garden of Eden by principle. It is not until Hosea 6:7 that we see the principle defined.

So, do the temptations that Adam and Eve faced in the Garden have any relation to the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness after his baptism and 40 days of fasting? Watch and see 🙂

Jesus completed, in the flesh, what Adam was unable to do.