Learning from Romans (1): Jesus was a Jew. Jesus is for all nations.

Jesus was a Jew – “a descendant of David” (Romans 1:3). Jesus is for “all nations” (Romans 1:5). Jesus was a Jew. If we are to understand Jesus, we need to go back to the Old Testament Scriptures, We need to read about what God did for his people, Israel. This is not to say …

Learning from Romans (2): May God help us to stand up for Jesus.

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). What a great declaration of faith and commitment! Paul does not keep the gospel to himself. He shares it with others. We are to be like Paul. In his day, he was …

Learning from Romans (3): Faith: from first to last

In the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Faith, from first to last: this is important. We begin with faith, and we continue with faith. In Galatians 3:1-6, Paul emphasizes the importance of …

Learning from Romans (4): God’s Love Is Reaching Out To Us – To Change Us.

"It is God's kindness that is trying to lead you to Him, and change the way you think and act" (Romans 2:4).  God doesn't want to leave us the way we are. He wants to change us. He wants to make us new men and women. He wants to make us men and women who …

Learning from Romans (5): What a turnaround!

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This is the truth concerning ourselves. God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). This is the truth concerning God's love for us. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we …

Learning from Romans (6): Think, often, of what Jesus has done for you. Thank Him for dying for you.

"When people work, their pay is not regarded as a gift but something they have earned" (Romans 4:4). When God is at work in us, bringing us to faith in His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, everything is very different. His salvation is His gift to us. It's not our reward from Him.   Grace gives …

Learning from Romans (7): Grace and glory

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does …

Learning from Romans (8): We’ve only just begun. There’s so much more still to come.

"Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Romans 5:9). The forgiveness of our sins - this is just the beginning. God has so "much more" for us. He is leading us on to our full enjoyment of His salvation: eternal life. We look back to …

Learning from Romans (9): Sin lives in me, and Christ lives in me.

In Romans 7:20, Paul speaks about "sin living in me." - That was true  of Paul - and it's also true of every one of us. In Galatians 2:20, Paul speaks about "Christ living in me." - That was true of Paul - and it's also true of every believer. What we are, in ourselves, …

Learning from Romans (10): Let’s keep on confessing our sins, and let’s keep on confessing our faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin" (Romans 7:24-25). What …

Learning from Romans (11): No Condemnation

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). What a wonderful Word from the Lord this is! Wherever we look in our life, we feel that we are condemned - but, here, God says something else about us. he says something very wonderful. Jesus was not condemned. He is …

Learning from Romans (12): Faith in the Lord Jesus, reaching our hearts and changing our lives

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Faith in Jesus Christ is more than believing with our minds. We are to believe in our hearts. This faith is not something to be kept to ourselves. It's to be shared: …

Learning from Romans (13): This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Salvation is not in our hands. It comes to us from Jesus. He is our Lord. He is our Saviour. We are to make our response to Jesus, but we …

Learning from Romans (14): Confess with your mouth. Believe in your heart.

"If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9). When He's in your heart, He has to come out. The Saviour is not be kept to ourselves. He's to be shared with other people. We pray, …

Learning from Romans (15): Called by the love of God – to confess our faith in Christ and to live as his followers

"Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever!" (Romans 11:35-36). "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).  Where do …

Learning from Romans (16): The Word of the Lord, speaking to us in the power of the Holy Spirit

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s …

Learning from Romans (17): Wake up. Be awakened by the Lord.

"The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light" (Romans 13:11-12). God is calling us to wake up. How do …

Learning from Romans (18): Our feelings are changeable. God’s love is unchangeable.

"Salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11). We read these great words, and we are encouraged. The Lord is leading us on the most wonderful journey. At the end of this journey, there is the most glorious destination. As we travel towards this glorious destination, we must keep our eyes …

Learning from Romans (19): From God, we receive endurance, encouragement, joy and peace.

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ... May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you …

Learning from Romans (20): Is there any hope for us, Lord?

Is there any hope for us, Lord? Sometimes, we wonder. It seems like we're in a dark hole, and we can't get out! Then, Lord, You come to us. You say to us, "I am the God of hope, I will fill you with hope (Romans 15:13). In ourselves, there is no hope. With You, …

Learning from Romans (21): Lord, when we feel like there’s no hope, show us that You are “the God of hope.”

Lord, when we feel like there’s no hope, show us that You are “the God of hope” (Romans 15:13). This is why we believe that “there is hope” (Jeremiah 31:17). Our hope is in You – the God of great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23). With You as our God, how can we ever feel that we’re …

Learning from Romans (22): Blessing from God – and glory to God

"I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God" (Romans 15:17). Where has the blessing come from? Does it say something about how worthy we are? No! It’s not about us. We haven’t done anything to deserve God’s blessing. The blessing comes from the Lord. To Him be all …

Learning from Romans (23): The revelation of the mystery

In Jesus Christ, there is both mystery and revelation. There will always be mystery. There will always be something that's beyond our understanding. There is, also, revelation. Jesus impresses himself upon us. He calls us to come to him with faith. In Romans 16:25, Paul speaks about "the revelation of the mystery." What are we …

Learning from Romans (24): Strong words – words for today

“Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned… By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Romans 16:17-18). These are very strong words. They are words which have a great deal to say to the Church at …

Learning from Genesis 1 (9): In the beginning, God

Genesis 1-2 "In the beginning, God"  - The first four words of the Bible take us back to the point where we can go no further, back to the eternity of God. What do we find when we are taken back - into the heart of the eternal God? We find love. We discover that …