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.

The Tragedy of Establishing Your Own Righteousness

Romans 10:1-21

Welcome! Today we continue our series into the rich but challenging book of Romans. We are in the middle of a section about Israel that consists of Chapter 9 through 11. Really, to step back a bit, I believe the point of these three chapters is to answer the question: If salvation really is by faith in Christ, and not by works, then why don’t the Jews, of all people, who should have known God more than any other people, because to them the history happened, to them the Scriptures were given – if this salvation by faith thing is really true, why don’t the Jews believe it? It is a good question, and in Chapter 9, Paul lays the groundwork says in effect that this is not a surprise to God; indeed, it is part of God’s sovereign will. The chapter concludes with the thought that, from a human perspective, the rejection of Christ as savior is because they “stumbled over the stumbling stone” – because they pursued righteousness not by faith but as if it could be attained through works. Paul continues in Chapter 10:

Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  – Romans 10:1-3

Stumbling over the Stone

Romans 9:1-33

Good morning!  Today we are going to turn a corner in our series on the book of Romans.  This book is really a letter.  Obviously, Paul is writing to Romans.  In particular, he is writing to the church in Rome.  In the letter, we see that this church is composed of a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers with the Gentiles in the majority.  (Romans1:13) The theme of this letter is Romans 1:16-17.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

Salvation is for everyone who believes first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.  And through the first 8 chapters of Romans, Paul has convinced us about everyone’s need of salvation.  And, he has shown us clearly God’s glorious provision of Jesus Christ His Son as our Savior.

Inseparable

Romans 8:31-39

Welcome! We are at about the halfway point in the book of Romans, and before I get into today’s passage, I want to go back to some of the most encouraging verses we have seen so far in Romans. Now I believe most of you already know these verses – maybe not by chapter and verse, but if I start the verses, I believe you will be able to finish them (or at least come close). So I am going to present you with the first half of the verses, and then encourage you to complete them, one phrase at a time.

Having an Eternal Focus

Romans 8:18-30

By way of review, let’s look at a quick synopsis of Romans.  The first 5 chapters are really about the Gospel.  Chapters 1 through 3:20 show the sinfulness of all man and the need for the Gospel.  From 3:21 until the end of chapter 5, Paul explains the Gospel: salvation through Christ alone.  Then in chapters 6 through 8, he’s been talking about the benefits of that gospel.  Chapters 6 through 7 gave the “negative” benefits.  Not that they are bad, but they are given in a negative light.  We are no longer under the law, slaves to sin, under the curse, dead in trespasses and sin, nor victims of sin.    Chapter 8 shows us the positive benefits of salvation.  We are no longer under condemnation.  We are free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  We live according to the Spirit (8:5).  We are in the Spirit; we belong to Christ.  Then in verses 15-17, Paul says we are adopted children of God.  If we are the children of God, we are the heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. 

Be Led by the Spirit

Romans 8:1-17

Welcome! Today we continue with our series on Romans. Last week, Fred, despite a broken leg, taught us powerfully on Romans 7. In this passage, Paul jumps from third to first person (from “he” to “I”), saying that there are two laws at work in him. The first law is God’s law, and in his mind, Paul says he is a slave to this law, and in his inner being he delights in this law. But the second law is the law of sin, and Paul says that in his sinful nature, in his flesh, he is a slave to this law. This second law wages war against the first law, and Paul calls himself a prisoner of this law of sin. He calls himself wretched – in the Greek, a powerful compound word that literally means pierced with affliction, and asks who will rescue him? Of course, everything Paul describes is not just the situation for Paul; it is also reality for all of us. We all struggle with doing the very things we do not want to do – we all battle ourselves in our struggles to avoid sin. Who will rescue him? Who will rescue us? The answer is God, who delivers us through Jesus Christ our Lord – and how rescue really works is explained in today’s wonderful passage from Romans 8. Let’s get right into this passage:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… - Romans 8:1