The Power of God

Paul closes with this very personal commending of Phoebe who is apparently delivering this letter to the church there at Rome.  And even though he has yet to visit, he knows many there by name, because of their travels and his connections in other parts of the Roman Empire.  There is a final call to hold firm to the Truth of the Gospel, avoiding those who attempt to create obstacles and cause divi...

As Paul wraps-up his words to Rome, he reminds them that it is his full intention to visit as he makes his way to Spain where the Gospel was still unknown. Yet first he must head to Jerusalem to convey an entrusted gift of money given to help the saints who were in poverty there.  The Gentile churches, especially in the areas of Achaia & Macedonia (generally modern-day Greece/Macedonia) were b...

Though the church in Rome has the true Spirit of God in them, with love and purpose, Paul clarifies that God has called him to proclaim with clarity, the unifying Good News to all people.  This requires a gentle boldness, because there is only One Gospel and so One people of God, and One Way of obedience to God, which is life in Jesus Christ.  All people are called to be saved (justified: declared...

In primary view is the practical unity of Jews and Gentiles in Jesus, so that there is now no difference in all of mankind before God.  God sent His Son who came to keep His promise to the Jews, while also giving mercy to the Gentiles, so that He might make ‘one new man’ with one voice that glorifies God in Jesus.  He came to unify all people in Himself by serving all people who would be in Him. ...

Love is willing to sacrifice freedoms in matters of conscience for the sake of others around us who might struggle with such freedoms in their own conscience unto God.  For to violate one’s conscience in action is to sin against God who is alive in you. To self-sacrifice a freedom for the sake of a brother/sister, is not to avoid causing offense, but to avoid causing the ‘weak in faith’ to stumble...

With such diversity in the church of Jesus, we must humbly seek to live together in and with a diversity of ‘practices of faith’ without holding another with contempt or passing judgment on one another.  Eating of foods (or not) and the keeping of special days (or not), and all secondary elements that reflect our faith unto God are simply matters of our conscience as we walk before our Master to W...

Paul continues with his description of a ‘Life as a Sacrifice’ offered to God.  He strikes a parallel of paying what we owe to civil leaders and paying what we owe to each other, which is ‘love.’  This indebtedness is a response to the mercies of God in Jesus. Since he fulfilled the Law by His perfect life and sacrifice, we now also fulfill the Law by living-out His Spirit in us, and God is love. ...

Let’s reconnect to Romans by recapping the key points that have led us to the spot where we left-off in Chapter 13.  After Paul’s thesis statement (1:16,17), there are Three Great 'Therefores' that will allow us to do that quickly.  After declaring with depth, that all humanity is in the pit of death (1:18-3:20), Paul gives us the resolution of the Good News that brings Life… the Gift of R...

The intimate connection to what was just stated in Chapter 12, about not seeking personal vengeance, must now be seen in what Paul says next to the church at Rome, and to all of us who are part of the church.  God has instituted governing authorities to maintain civil obedience with the means of executing punishment; in so doing, they represent the wrath of God upon evil. This does not mean that a...

As the meaningful climax to living-out God in this newness of transformed life, Paul now seems to focus on how we respond to those who do not show us love.  Again, much of this parallels Jesus’ theme in the Sermon on the Mount regarding how we respond to those who position themselves as our enemies.  Love your enemies and do your best to be a blessing to them, even if they seek to do harm to you! ...

We are all becoming something, whether it is more like the world or more like Jesus is the primary question. Romans 12:9-13 is a look at the transformed heart and life considering Romans 12:1-2 and all previous 11 chapters that Paul writes. When we allow ourselves to be transformed by the Spirit living within us, our desires and our nature begin to change to look more like Jesus. As we learn to lo...

The offering of yourself to our merciful God is now explained in application.  Given that this life you now live came from God, you must not think too highly of yourself apart from Him, as you seek to make your offering… which is your very self.  Your Savior’s presence has uniquely equipped you to bring Him glory by serving Him as you serve others in Him.  In fact, since He is in you, and you no l...

We have stated that there are three great mountain-peak ‘Therefore’ passages in Romans, 5:1 (peace with God), 8:1 (no condemnation) and now this one: offer all of yourself living to God.  Beginning here, Paul engages his final broad topic in the letter (Chapters 12 – 15): a believer’s response to their salvation, which is God’s mercy.  This is the climactic response to the mercy of God that has be...

This is the climax of Chapters 9 through 11 as Paul points to the end of this age when God will rescue Israel and she will call Jesus her Savior.  There is a clock that is ticking when this age will close and Jesus the Messiah will return, but it is not about years and months and days, but about the fullness of salvation of those outside of Israel (the Gentiles/Nations).  When that fullness is rea...

Paul continues to explain his sure hope for Israel, acknowledging that he desires that his ministry to the Gentiles will produce a sense of spiritual jealousy among the Jews.  Jesus came as the Messiah to the Jewish nation, but she, as a nation, rejected Him, opening the door of salvation to the Gentiles.  Therefore, mercy shown to the Gentiles who were far away and undeserving should never result...

Paul addresses God’s irrevocable heart for Israel.  Though, as a nation of people, they are disobedient to God’s call, as they still stand in opposition to Jesus as their Messiah, God is still working in their midst on the basis of His sovereign grace.  Their fall and rejection of God’s grace and His Son, their Messiah, served to allow salvation to come to the world.  So even now, as national Isra...

Given that salvation comes to those who simply have to call out to Jesus and believe upon Him, Paul raises the issue of those who have never heard of the One to whom they are to call.  How can someone place their faith upon the Good News of Jesus if they have never heard the Good News of Jesus?  The question is not posed as some kind of unsolvable puzzle, but rather one where the answer compels us...

As Paul continues to express his sadness over Israel, he makes the clear point that salvation is received by faith and not by the keeping of the Law (self-righteousness before God); this was Israel’s great error with her Lord.  God is calling us to believe on Him alone for our righteousness, knowing that the Good News of this salvation, received by faith alone, is close and available.  There is no...

The sad truth of Israel is the sad truth of all mankind… If God does not interrupt our wickedness and hardness, then none of us would remain before Him.  And God patiently endures the wickedness of some, up until the point of wrath, for the purpose of revealing the greatness of His mercy to those who have received it.  Paul concludes that Israel failed to attain righteousness, because they were un...

With such an emphatic statement of the security in Jesus that comes from God’s loving call, Paul turns his heart to the condition of Israel, who has, as a nation, rejected Jesus.  As Paul is broken-hearted over this reality, he wants the church to know that their rejection is not a result of God’s Promise being broken or His call being somehow compromised.  He chose Israel, yet not all of Israel r...

This is the climax of everything that Paul has stated in this letter concerning your salvation that comes by the Gospel of God.  This is the climactic conclusion that now must motivate the child of God to live a life that glorifies God.  The fact of the matter is this… that God has loved us with an everlasting love that can never be damaged, broken or separated from us.  Never.  Anyone or anything...

In the midst of this mountain-top proclamation of no condemnation, given that we are Sons of God that now cry-out ‘Abba Father’ to God Himself, Paul is not slow to recognize that suffering will be part of our lives on this earth.  We should and must expect to suffer.  For it is clear that all creation groans in the Fall, and we who are fallen, yet Sons, will groan inward, and the Spirit who dwells...

With such a great cry of ‘no condemnation at the beginning of this chapter,’ Paul now moves to the next great cry from the believer in Jesus, that is, ‘Abba, Father.’  The assurance of belonging to Jesus by the presence of His Spirit is demonstrated by living for Him, and not for our old nature.  This living is the life of a child that brings glory to their father.  It is, in-fact, living proof of...

Romans 8 may well be the pinnacle of the entire letter to the church in Rome. The opening words (literally) are: ‘ Nothing Therefore Now Condemns Those In Christ Jesus .’ Wow! Do you believe that truth? Neither sweeter nor stronger words can hardly be spoken to those who believe in Jesus. It is this confidence and security that compels us to live our lives for God as we await what is yet to come,...

What shall we say then?  It’s the question Paul asks again as he has given us much to consider.  What does it mean to be dead to sin?  What about dead to the law?  How are we to put that into practice in our daily lives?  These are the questions that get addressed in this next passage.  Not just addressed, but answered in a personal way that I hope encourages and challenges you today. Though we ar...