July 22, 2020
ARE YOU “IN” CHRIST JESUS? When judgment fell on the earth during the great flood, only those “in” the Ark were saved. The rain of God’s wrath fell on the Ark, but Noah and his family were kept safe inside. This is a foreshadowing of Christ. For Christ Jesus is our Ark. There is no
July 21, 2020
THE NEW WAY OF SERVING IN THE SPIRIT We don’t serve God by following a checklist, but by living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Legalism does not please God as it only reveals our unrighteousness and prideful hearts. This new way of living is not about effort or earning, but believing and receiving.
July 16, 2020
MEDITATION ON THE REDEMPTION AND PROPITIATION OF CHRIST Two important words concerning salvation are named here: “Redemption” and “propitiation.” Redemption means that we have been purchased out of slavery to sin by Christ, who gave Himself as our ransom. He took our sin, so that we might receive His righteousness. Propitiation means that Christ satisfied
July 14, 2020
DOES YOUR WALK MATCH YOUR TALK? Paul warned those who taught the Word of God about the hypocrisy of applying it to others without first applying it to themselves. For just knowing God’s Word does not make one just. For it is the “doers of the law that will be justified” (Rom. 2:13). Therefore, teachers
July 12, 2020
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he announced his readiness to visit them and preach the gospel. He got his desire towards the end of his life, though not as he probably planned. For he was brought to Rome in chains, having appealed to Caesar. Yet
November 17, 2019 | Romans 8:31-39 |
Is your life is filled with anxiety and trouble? Do you often wonder whether anyone loves you, much less God? Are you surrounded by hurt and broken relationships? Some of it you blame on others, but if you’ll admit it, you blame yourself for most of it. Where’s the love?
That’s the question that Paul closes this powerful chapter with, it’s the question of God’s love. In fact, the final verses of Romans 8 are made up of 5 questions, each progressing like stair steps up to the 5th and highest step, which is this question, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” In Romans 8:31-39, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that they could rest in the fact that nothing could separate them from God’s love. We can rest in the fact that nothing can separate us from God’s love
November 10, 2019 | Romans 8:18-30 |
Our future glorification of ultimately becoming like Christ will make the difficult journey worth it all. In Romans 8:18-30, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that in spite of the suffering in this present world they could be encouraged by hope in God’s ultimate purpose for their future glorification of becoming like Jesus. We can be encouraged by hope in God’s future glorification of becoming like Jesus.
November 3, 2019 | Romans 8:12-17 |
How do you view God? Does He seem distant and far away? Do you see Him as a Judge? Or do you see Him as near and close? How many of you see Him as your Father, your ever present Abba?
That’s where Paul is taking us today. As he continues to talk about how God is making us holy like Jesus, which is our sanctification, he saves the best for last. That we can relate to God as Father changes everything! In Romans 8:12-17, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that they had received the Spirit of adoption which enabled them to live as God’s children. As believers, we have received the Spirit of adoption enabling us to live as God’s children
October 27, 2019 | Romans 8:1-11 |
Do continue to do what you hate? You’ve received Christ, but you have feelings of guilt and shame because you want to do what pleases God, but you continue to give in to your old sin nature? Or maybe you’ve never received Christ, but you’re sick and tired of living life on your own. You’re ready to admit you need help.
What the apostle described in Romans 7 is the futility of trying to live the Christian life without the Spirit of God. Just as it’s impossible to earn God’s favor apart from faith, so it’s impossible to please God without depending on His indwelling Spirit. In Romans 8:1-8, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that overcoming the flesh is only possible by a total reliance on the work of God’s Holy Spirit for their sanctification. We can understand why overcoming the flesh is only possible by relying on the work of God’s Spirit for our sanctification.
October 20, 2019 | Romans 7:7-25 |
Who’s winning the wrestling match inside of you? The truth is, no matter how long you’ve been a Christ- follower, in this world we will never be so mature in Christ as to no longer see sin in ourselves. The accusation that the church is full of hypocrites is only true if we claim to be without sin.
No, we are sinners saved by grace! We are no longer under law, but under grace. And having been saved by grace, we are being sanctified, made holy by God’s grace too. So, again we ask, “What good is the law?” In Romans 7:7-25, the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that the purpose of the Law for the Christian was never to deliver them from sin, but to expose their sin and drive them back to total dependence on Christ. We can understand that the purpose of the law is not to deliver us from sin, but to expose our sin and drive us to total dependence on Christ.