July 22, 2021
WHO CAN PLEASE GOD? The apostle Paul wrote that only those who live according to the Holy Spirit are able to please God. Without the Spirit, we are left to ourselves and to the control of the sin nature, which the Bible calls the “flesh.” The flesh is always hostile to God. It wants its
July 21, 2021
WHAT GOOD IS THE LAW? Sin is aroused to further rebellion by God’s law. Does this mean that God’s law is itself sinful? Certainly not! If a mother tells her toddler not to touch the hot stove, she has given the child her law. Yet, the sin nature within the child is immediately activated to
July 17, 2021
FAITH COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS Paul explained that Abraham, the human founder of Judaism, was not considered righteous by his circumcision, but by his faith. Paul quoted Moses, who wrote of Abraham, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). So, faith has always been the only way to
July 15, 2021
SEEK THE APPLAUSE OF THE ONE NOT THE MANY Paul explained that the Jewish sign of circumcision was not sufficient to please God without the accompanying evidence of a heart changed by the Holy Spirit, which is the result of the new birth. Paul could’ve just as easily said that baptism, or church attendance, or
July 14, 2021
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, 2021
NOT ASHAMED In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he announced his desire to visit them and preach the gospel. He received his wish 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 for two years, he faithfully
August 2, 2020
DO YOU KNOW THE FULLNESS OF GOSPEL BLESSING? As the apostle Paul concluded his epistle to the Romans, he expressed his great desire to come and visit with them. He didn’t know when he would be able to come to Rome. He hoped to one day carry the gospel to Spain and stop off at
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