Romans 5:12-21

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I just wanted to say that I was greatly blessed by the fellowship of our church this past weekend.  From the sunrise service, which saw around 30 people enduring the cold, to the 11:00 service, we had a great time.  I saw people working together, caring for each other, and generally enjoying what it means to be in Christ.  As I taught I saw the energy in people’s faces and it re-energized me.  This is a glimpse of the eternal kingdom, people sharing in Christ, and I hope it is a glimpse of greater fellowship to come at Mt. Tirzah.

If there was any remaining pride for Jews or Gentiles left with which to exalt themselves, Paul crushes it here in Romans 5:6-11 Continue reading this post…

Paul outlines some of the effects of justification by faith in Romans 5:1-5; Continue reading this post…

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water”

This is a departure from our study in Romans, but as I read Colossians last evening I was struck by the importance of these verses for the growth and health of the church.  Note Paul’s instructions in Col 3:12-17 Continue reading this post…

Paul here explains how faith unifies not only man with God, but the Gentile nations with the Jewish nation. Romans 4:9-25 Continue reading this post…

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains, Ps 36:3

Paul throws back to Abraham to get the attention of the Jews, and of anyone seeking forgiveness. Romans 4:1-8 Continue reading this post…

Paul is very careful to repeat one of the basics of the gospel. He does this in many places such as Ephesians 2:8 “By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves but is the gift of God.” Note his interaction with the idea of law here in Romans 3:27-31: Continue reading this post…

Paul’s argument thus far might present a huge problem to the mind of a Jew, Continue reading this post…

Is Paul equivocating on the value of being Jewish? No, he is just indicting the entire human race. Romans 3:9-19 Continue reading this post…