To appreciate what Paul is saying in Romans 8:5-17, a quick review of what’s he’s said so far is helpful. In chapters 1-4, Paul has been concerned with showing us God’s fulfillment of the promises to Abraham through the gospel of Jesus.That’s a mouthful, but it lays down the foundation for Romans by showing us howContinue reading “Life in the Spirit”
Category Archives: Opening the Bible
Roots and Fruits
In Romans 6, Paul is dealing with a couple of objections he must have encountered more than a time or two in sharing the good news of Jesus with people. The first objection is in v. 1: What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? This goes back toContinue reading “Roots and Fruits”
Gloriously Ever After
Seriously Paul? The fifth chapter of Romans begins with a celebration of the peace we have with God through Jesus and “the grace in which we now stand” (v. 1-2). And just when you think it can’t get any better, Paul goes on to speak of how “we boast in hope of the glory ofContinue reading “Gloriously Ever After”
Stepping into Romans 4
One of the challenges of Romans is that it was written by a man who was essentially a Jewish rabbi before he came to Christ. Then after he surrendered to Him (Acts 22:12-16), he had countless discussions with Jewish people about how Jesus was the fulfillment of everything God had promised through the prophets (26:22-23).Continue reading “Stepping into Romans 4”
Romans and the Atonement
How does God make the world right while maintaining His righteousness? How does He treat a person as if they’ve never sinned when in fact, they have sinned (over and over)? How can He treat the violator of His law the same as the one who keeps it and still maintain both the law andContinue reading “Romans and the Atonement”
Romans and the Wrath of God
Romans has a lot to say about the wrath of God. In fact, the word is found there more than in any NT book other than Revelation. No one is surprised wrath is discussed in Revelation—but Romans? Isn’t Romans the book about God’s love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness? What’s a book like that doing talkingContinue reading “Romans and the Wrath of God”
A look at Romans 1:14-17 (1)
Why aren’t more people more enthusiastic about the gospel (i.e., the gloriously good news about what God has done for us through Jesus)? How does this revolutionary message become secondary, peripheral and ho-hum? I suppose there are many reasons. Here are a few. All of these things (and you can think of more), can getContinue reading “A look at Romans 1:14-17 (1)”
A Look At Romans 1:14-17 (2)
Paul wrote to disciples living in the heart of the Romans Empire and told them: I am obligated (1:14). Who was he obligated to? Those who were Greeks and non-Greeks (barbarians). In other words, he was obligated to those regarded as cultured and sophisticated and to those who were not. He was obligated to the wiseContinue reading “A Look At Romans 1:14-17 (2)”
What Jesus Didn’t Say
Considering the circumstances they were facing, Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Asia in Revelation 2-3 are surprisingly brief. They obviously deal with the most vital issues facing those communities. But sometimes it can also be instructive to think about what isn’t said. Is there something omitted that we thought would be there? I can think of three thingsContinue reading “What Jesus Didn’t Say”
Laying Down
In 1 John 3, John has a lot to say about disciples loving one another. He tells us that the call to love each other . . . 1. Is embedded in God’s love for us. In 3:1 John writes: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called childrenContinue reading “Laying Down”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 