The struggle every converted person has- the war within. We see that even for our obedience to God's good ways, we cannot rely upon ourselves. We can only rely upon Christ. St. Paul speaks with much personal candor on his own struggle, and the rescue Jesus affords.
Chapter six of Romans reminds us of how freedom really works. No longer are we slaves to sin, our old master. Listen in as Pastor Andy brings God's word to us...
We're picking back up in Romans. We're at Romans 5 today, where the consequences of our justification by faith are laid out for us by St. Paul.
A reflection on the incarnation...
Joseph rarely gets much notice in the Christmas season. That should change. He is a man we should look at, and emulate.
This is the third Sunday in Advent, the theme is joy.
This is the second Sunday of Advent. It is God's call for us to repent, an uncomfortable- but uncompromising call to us. The Kingdom of God is coming, and is even now at hand and God's judgment is his love crashing into the reality of our rebellion and sin. His call to repent is his love in action.
Our blessed Hope is the return of Christ.
From first to last, trust in the promises of God is what He accepts... and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness..
Up until now, in our Romans study, Paul has laid out a pretty bleak picture- none are righteous, no not one, all have fallen short of the glory of God. But that is only to show us how glorious and good the good news- Jesus - really is. We're not sick people being given medicine, we're dead people being given life!
Paul shifts his aim in Romans 2, showing that not just the pagans- but religious moralists need the Gospel too. And that it is God's kindness, which is meant to lead us to repentance...
The second in our series on Romans- the bad news, before the Good News.
This is our first in a series on Romans.
Perseverance is a discipline we all need!