Perhaps you have heard the poem, “To live above with the saints we love, Oh, that will be glory! But to live below with the saints we know? Now that’s a different story!” This is sad, but often true. Christians are to be loving people. God wants you and me to have sacrificial love, cherishing […]
People in our world have a distorted view of love. They love what God hates and hate what God loves. They think that love is a feeling. They call lust, love. They think that permissive parenting is love. Without realising it, many Christians have learned their definition of love from the world. God wants you […]
Beginning this chapter, Paul urged his readers to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God. Then, he commanded them not to allow themselves to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by allowing God to renew their minds. This will enable them to know and follow God’s good, well-pleasing and perfect will. […]
In Romans 12:1, we learned that after all Christ has done for us, we ought to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. That sacrifice is costly and permanent, but it is not an end in itself. Because it is a living sacrifice, it impacts all that we do and say. Transition […]
The best time to find the answer to this question is while you are young. Looking back on a life that is nearing the finish line is a bit late. Ask yourself, what DOES God expect from me? Transition In Romans 12:1, Paul begins to answer the question, “What does God expect from you?” This […]
In Romans 10, Israel had heard the way of righteousness by faith, but they rejected it. God said in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” However, Israel as a nation rejected Christ’s offer. As Romans 11 opens, Paul assures us that God did not cast away […]
The First Century orthodox Jews who heard the Gospel message had mixed feelings about it. Some angrily rejected it and held tightly to their Judaism. Others considered the message, but bristled at the thought of salvation by faith in Christ alone without the works of the law. A few gladly received the Gospel and trusted […]
In Romans 9-11, Paul turns his attention to the Nation of Israel. In that day, a majority of the Nation of Israel had rejected Christ as Messiah. Christian Jews were confused by this and by the fact that sinners of the Gentiles were receiving the Gospel. Thus, in Romans 9-11, the Holy Spirit had the […]
Years ago, Publius, a Greek sage, said, “I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.” I think all of us could say the same. Read Proverbs 12:18. Scripture frequently refers to the sword as an instrument of death. A sword had a deadly blade. Swords were used to destroy entire cities. In this verse, […]
One of the most difficult and divisive topics in the Bible is the topic of election. I do not claim to understand it fully. Some Bible verses sound like God elected or chose certain people to be saved and left the others to go to hell. At the same time, the Bible clearly says, (John […]