Submit or Obey?

Stay true to Jesus, no matter how people treat you.

As a Christian, am I supposed to obey the government?
What did Peter and Paul tell us?

Every soul must submit themself to the highest authorities, for there is no authority except by God, and those which are, are arranged by God. Romans 13:1, RAW

Therefore (it is) a requirement to submit oneself... Romans 13:5, RAW

What Have We Learned Today?

Jesus called people to follow him—literally walk behind him and follow his lead

(Jump to word families)

We’ve all attended the same school. The School of Hard Knocks.
The day we were born, we were learning. Who feeds us, and what to do to get them to feed us. How to walk, how to talk, how to feed ourselves. How to play, how to get things done, how to rest.
And we were curious! That ant, where’s it going? That dog looks soft, is it? I want that thing on the shelf and—ouch!—it hurts to fall down!

When is God making all things new???

And the (one) sitting on the throne said,
“Look! I am making all+ (things) new.”
And he is saying,
“Write! Because these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5, RAW

The passage above is one of my favorites. But it raises this huge question:

Is God “making all things new” now or later?

Now means right now, in this present time, our mortal existence marked by days and months and years.
Later means the end of the world. This certainly applies to the end of the world. John had just witnessed the arrival of the new sky and the new ground, and the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-2).
Does that mean God will only make things new after the world ends? This verse reminds me of another favorite (thank you cross-references).

As a result, if someone [is] in Christ, [this one is] a new creation; the original (things) went by. Look! New (things) have happened. 2 Cor 5:17, RAW

That’s a really awkward translation, but it’s not my fault. The "if" is a Greek way of saying "because". And the "original (things)" are spoken of as passing by like nouns, but the "new (things)" have occurred like verbs. Here’s the feeling of the passage, in my humble opinion:

As a result, anyone in Christ is a new creation! The original things moved on. Look! New things have happened!

This verse is clearly in the present. God’s not waiting until the end of the world to make things new. He’s making things new right now!
But there is a difference. At the end of the world, God will make everything new. Right now, God is making people new.
If you are in Christ, you are a new creation—right now!

All things new

And the (one) sitting on the throne said,
“Look! I am making all+ (things) new.”
And he says,
“Write! Because these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5, RAW

Happy New Year!
When we take down the old calendar and put up a new one, I get thinking about this new year. What could I accomplish this year? Which of my dreams could I make a reality in the next 365 days? All the hopes for myself, my family, my church, my community, my world…
And God says,
“What will I make new?”
Indeed! I can make all the plans I want, but God’s plans are the ones that will really happen!

I was struggling with the message this week—the first sermon of the new year for my church. It’s called “Hope for When the Bottom Falls Out” and it’s based on the destruction of Jerusalem and exile of nearly all the Jews (2 Kings 25 and 2 Chron 36).
Not exactly an inspiring passage.
I wish I could preach it like my colleague, who wrote the title and already prepared his sermon and showed it to me. But I just couldn’t get in the right frame of mind--his frame of mind. “I guess I’m just not as good as my colleague.” I bemoaned my pitiful state to God.
Later, I realized one of my hopes for the new year: that I would care about my church more. That I would be warmer and more approachable. It’s my hope, but I think it’s God’s hope, too.
So I kept the title (it’s already printed) but I put aside my colleague’s sermon. I will speak to the church about the hope we have in God. I will speak about my hope in God, my trust in God. I will encourage and invite them to do the same.
New year, same God.
Blessed New Year!

A "FISH" story

To outsiders, it was just a fish. But to Christians, it was a reminder of Jesus the Christ.

Draw two curved lines like this:






What do people see? A fish.


The first Christians had enemies among Jews and Romans, government and citizens. It was not always safe for Christians to identify themselves. So the Christians adopted a symbol as their code--the fish.

Simple Greek study basics

Here is a visual guide to simple Bible study the RAW way.

You have some Bible software. And you have a copy of the RAW Greek Dictionary. So... what's next?

Simple Greek Dictionary

Simple Greek Dictionary by Root and Stem

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