Read Romans 13
Key Verse: Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” He was an over-eater. He came into my office grossly overweight and self-disgusted. As he told me his story, I received an education in the devastating bondage of “gradualism”. What’s that you ask? […]
Read Romans 12
Key Verse: Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Chapter 11 concludes with a beautiful doxology praising God’s wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and paths. He is sovereign and does what He wants to do. […]
January 20, 2021
Alms, Prayer, & Fasting 6:1-18 The Lord’s Prayer vv. 9-13 There are so many excellent works on The Lord’s Prayer that anything I write may seem redundant. But, here in the twenty-first century it doesn’t hurt to take another look. Our “internet culture” has its own lens. First of all, a general analysis sees seven […]
Read Romans 11
Key Verse: Romans 11:32 “For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.” The problem is exclusivism. I should know — I’m not only a Gentile but I also pastored a church in Jerusalem for seven years. Many Jews think they have the inside track to Heaven, and many […]
Read Romans 9 & 10
Key Verse: Romans 9:15 “… I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” Chapters 9, 10, and 11 are some of the most controversial in all of Scripture. Controversial because there is explosive potential in interpreting some of what Paul says rather […]
January 18, 2021
The “Golden Rule” is under duress these days. A casual summary of Covid protocols from a governmental medical authority was recently posted, “Stay away from other people”. Blunt, succinct, and counter-intuitive, if not biblically dissonant. Indeed, culturally dissonant too. The core value of reaching out to those in need, let alone achieving social harmony via […]
Read Romans 8
Key Verse: Romans 8:19 “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” “Earth Day” is coming up soon. It is a day of laudable, idealism and provides an appropriate warning: we must assume, finally, our responsibility as stewards of our home planet. As novel as Earth […]
Read Romans 7
Key Verse: Romans 7:25 “…So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Paul speaks for all of us when he cries, “What a wretched man I am!” His wretchedness springs out of what the Law of God exposes in his nature. Until the […]
Read Romans 5 & 6
Key Verse: Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin kills. Before you dismiss this as an overstatement, think again. Let’s look at it from our point of view. Then, with the Bible’s perspective, we’ll try to look at it […]