Submit and Clothe Yourselves with Christ

Romans 13:1-14

Welcome back to our study of Romans, as we look at chapter 13 today. It might feel like we are on the downhill side of this book now, heading toward the conclusion. In the first 11 chapters we climbed a long, steady theological mountain. Paul was step by step making his case about the universal need for salvation and the fact that Jews and Gentiles alike can only be reconciled to God by his grace through faith in the work of Jesus to pay the price for our sin. We reached the top of the mountain, the climax of the book in chapter 12, verse 1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” God in his mercy has provided this wonderful way of salvation – now what are we are supposed to do with it? The other side of the mountain, the remainder of this book, is about our response, motivated and empowered by grace. What does it mean to live a life of worship as a living sacrifice? These are very practical chapters that bring us down to earth in our spiritual walk. Paul describes how our thoughts and behavior should be different from “the pattern of this world,” mentioned in 12:2. What does transformation by the renewing of our minds actually look like in daily life?

Live Love

Romans 12:9-21

Good morning!  We are continuing on through the second half of chapter 12 in Paul’s letter to the Romans.  We’ve moved into a more practical section of instruction and exhortation about how to live the Christian life.

Last week, Carl shared the ultimate secret of how to live the Christian life.  Do you remember?  It is found at the beginning of Romans 12 in verse 1, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”  This doesn’t mean our outward body alone.  Body here includes our physical body and also our minds as verse 2 alerts us, “Stop conforming to the pattern of this world.  Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Offer Your Bodies and Use Your Gifts

Romans 12:1-8

Welcome! Today we continue our series on the book of Romans, venturing into Chapter 12. Now, don’t look at the verse until I tell you to do so. (Otherwise, you will spoil my introduction.) Today, we are going to learn the ultimate secret about how to live the Christian life. Am I over-hyping this passage? I don’t think so.

You Grafted Ones and the Future Salvation

Romans 11:17-36

Good morning!  We are moving forward in our series on the book of Romans.  Today, we are at the end of a section in the letter which addresses the people of Israel, the Jews.  This section began three weeks ago and covers chapters 9, 10 and 11.

In chapter 9, we saw how Israel had stumbled over the stumbling stone.  They had not accepted Jesus as their Messiah.  Chapter 9 concludes with these words from Isaiah, “The one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”  (9:32) Believing in Him is what we are called to do.

In chapter 10, we were reminded again there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.  “The Lord is Lord of all, and richly blesses all who call on Him.” (10:12) And yet, the Jews in large measure stuck to seeking their own righteousness by effort and works.  That chapter concludes saying God stretches out His arms to Israel desiring to draw them to Himself.

Last week, in the first half of chapter 11, we were told again that God has not rejected Israel.  There is even a blessing for the Gentiles, the non-Jewish, believers.  According to Romans 11:11, Salvation has come to the Gentiles because of Israel’s transgression.

What is the big deal about this division between Jews and Gentiles?  The Jews trace their ancestry back to Abraham.  Then, of course, there was the time that the nation spent in Egypt before receiving the Law through Moses.  God called Israel His chosen people.  The Law told them to keep separate from those who did not follow the Law.  Instead of the people of Israel becoming a kingdom of priests who displayed God to the world around them, there was enmity between Israel and those Gentile nations around her.

God’s plan was clear from the beginning.  God gave this promise to Abraham, “All peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)  In writing to the Galatians, Paul explained this further, “Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ ” (Galatians 3:8)

Would They Be Envious!

Romans 11:1-16

As we have seen over the last couple of Sundays, this section of the book of Romans, chapters 9 to 11, focuses on the relationship between God and the people of Israel. Paul had a great burden for his own people. He begins chapter 9 saying that he would gladly be cut off from Christ himself for Israel to be saved. That is a serious statement! Paul means that would do anything to save the Jews; he is heartbroken over their refusal to accept Jesus as their Savior. They had stumbled over the stumbling stone of Jesus himself, rejecting a righteousness that comes by faith and instead continuing to apply their own effort in pursuing the law as though salvation was on the basis of works. They missed the fact that Christ had come as the culmination of that law, paying the price himself for sin, so that there could be righteousness for everyone who believes, both Jew and Gentile.