Second Street PCA

The meaning of the cross.

Chosen, Adopted, Redeemed, Sealed by God.

If Paul could be transformed from a vicious heart of Christ and His Church and them there is hope for all of us. Our identity is in Christ and defined by Christ.

Habakkuk's confusion led to complaint, but his confidence in God led him to joyful worship. How do we move from complaint to rejoicing by resting as power, residing in his pleasure, relying on his plan, and remembering his promises.

How do we move from confusion and chaos to confidence and praise? God speaks and we respond appropriately.

The church's mission is to fill the earth with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.

God answers Habakkuk. Tells him to write the vision on tablets. The word of god is firm and sure. God is the rock of our salvation. The righteous are not only saved by faith but are to live by that same faith, especially things seem darkest.

When life is difficult to understand, we must stand fast on our knowledge of who God is and not try to make Him into someone we want Him to be. God is who He is. And that is good.

How do we move from confusion and anger, as believers, to praise and trust? By remembering who God is and who Jesus Christ is for us.

God tells Habakkuk that He sees the evil in Judah and is in the process of gathering judgment against her. Judgment delayed may be judgement in preparation. If judgment is coming over our nation due to sin, God will first deal with His churches in this nation.

We sometimes see trials, tribulations, and difficulties in our lives and in our world, along with sin and violence. We ask, along with Habakkuk, "Why?" and "How long?" How do we move from the position of confusion and anger to praise for our God, as did Habakkuk?

The believer is strengthened and made stable in an increasingly unstable world by God who has the power to do so through Jesus Christ, who was born in a stable.

Paul begins this section demonstrating personal love for the saints and the work of the church being carried out by hard-working men and women. Then, he moves on to tell them to avoid those who cause divisions and make stumbling blocks, those who deceive with flowery language and flattery. Where do we see this in the church today? Why such division?

The church is weaker than she needs be because we are not striving together in prayer. Why should we pray? Because the Head of the Church commands it and because He loves us.

The task of the church to spread the gospel all over the world, to make disciples. Each believer is to support participating in that great commission

Paul commends the Roman church, reminds them of their need for further sanctification, and a desire for more churches. Are we "full of goodness and knowledge and able to admonish one another?

God is the God of peace. Christ humbled Himself to fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant so that Jews may be saved by faith and also to show mercy to the Gentiles that they may glorify God along with Israel.

In order for the church to speak with the prophetic voice to civil government (or to the world) in a more meaningful way, there first will need to be a greater unification of the churches. This can only be done by the work of the Holy spirit, bringing truth by the Holy Spirit-inspired Scriptures.

The relationship of weaker and stronger brothers in the faith.

We live in the last days. We must not live in a moral and spiritual slumber.

The neverending debt to love others. The law defines love and love is the law's inspiration. (John Stott).

Paul calls the civil authorities His servants. All people are called to submit to their authority. How is the Christian and the Church to respond when civil government oversteps its proper authority or when it commands the evil?

As Paul calls the church to submit to the governing civil authorities we first take a look at the nature of authority and submission and why we have so much trouble with it.

How is the transformed Christian to respond to the world? Our different way of thinking will transform our interactions.

Love should define the relationships amongst the people of God. What should this love look like?