Romans Series - NOT Performance, BUT Person & Promise of God

At the end of chapter 4 Apostle Paul drives home the fact that salvation is not based upon our works, but on our faith in God alone.  Abraham is highlighted again as a prime example of that.  Righteousness was credited to Abraham as he put his faith in God and His promise.  This account was written so we will come to understand that righteousness will be credited to us as well when we put our faith in God and His promise.  The key is that we need to continually remind ourselves that our salvation and God’s love for us is not based on our Performance or works, but simply our faith in the very Person and Promise of God.  

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Romans Series - Faith Alone

 

In chapter 4, Paul gets sophisticated in arguing for we are justified by faith alone.
He specifically addresses the Jewish audience who still cannot believe that
being Abraham's descendants was not adequate to be deemed righteous in
God's view.  Here, he proves that it was by faith that God reckoned Abraham to
be righteous; Paul brilliantly succeeds in placing the Jews and the Gentiles into
the same category of being justified.

Romans Series - Paul's Gospel (pt.2)

Romans 3:23-26

Of all characteristics of our God, is there any more powerful / meaningful than
His grace? We are drawn mostly to His unfailing grace. When we are at our
worst, he meets us with His absolute best. He waits for us; He scolds us not, He
condemns us not. He reminds us that we are unworthy not worthless. As He
shares His forbearing love with us, so we move toward others with the same
love. Paul’s Gospel contains the richness of God’s forbearing love and we are so
powerfully impacted by it.

Romans Series - Paul's Gospel

Romans 3:21-26

We reach the heart of Paul’s Gospel in chapter 3.  Paul exclaims that justification comes only by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ—all, Jew or Gentile, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Today, we are reminded of God’s wonderful gift of salvation for us all.  He has made a way for us to be reconciled unto God; instead of judgment, He elevates us to a place where we could never reach on our own.   

Roman Series - False Security

Romans 2:17-29

We often place our trust in wrong things.  And we do, we will eventually be met with pain and disappointment.  The sense of false security also paralyzed the Jews when the good news tried to reach them.  They had relied too much in that they were God’s chosen and that they were given His Law, living out their Godly identity was not their priority.  Many Christians also fall into this trap where we falsely rely on our works and having nominal faith.  We pray to rid of false security and come to the Cross in full humility and repentance. 

Romans Series - I'm Talking to You

Romans 2:1-11

It’s so easy to miss the Good News.  The Jews, while hearing and seeing, failed to recognize that the Gospel was for them.  Their pride and stubbornness which stemmed from their self-righteousness made them feel better than everyone else, too good for the Gospel to actually apply to them.  We must be careful in not making the same error as the Jews, instead, we should be humble and be quick to repent of our selfish ways.

Romans Series - Understanding Homosexuality

Romans 1:18-32

So much attention has been given to the topic of homosexuality in recent history in both secular and Christian platforms.  In spite of the bright spotlight, many Christians lack the Biblical understanding of what homosexuality is and how we as believers of Christ ought to respond to those that identify as homosexuals.  We want to discern and be equipped with proper disposition and service as we can engage the topic more competently with others.

Romans Series - Not Ashamed

Romans 1:16-17

Paul faced heavy persecution for his faith as well as his commitment to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He reminds that such opposition/persecution is an expectation not an exception for all believers.  While we are shamed, we don’t have to be ashamed.  We ought to stand committed to the One that has not only saved us from sin but also commissioned us to share the Good News.

Romans Series - Gospel Driven Life

Romans 1:1-7

Paul had a singular passion in his life—as the good news of Jesus Christ transformed him, he dedicated his life to share that same news with as many people as possible.  His eloquent claim begins with the affirmation of Christ’s legitimacy as the Messiah that the world (Jews and Gentiles) have been waiting for. We must ask ourselves if we, too, live with such vigor to encounter and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul did.