In Romans 14, Paul warns believers about the danger of judgmentalism within the body of Christ. He reminds us that while accountability is essential, condemnation is destructive. Each believer stands before the same Lord, and not every conviction is identical in “gray” areas of the faith. What might be sin for one may not be for another, depending on conscience, maturity, and context. Therefore, w...  Read More

The Christian life is one of forward motion—living with eyes fixed on Jesus’s return while our hearts remain engaged in His mission. Paul reminds believers that redemption not only rescues us from sin’s penalty but also reorients us toward spiritual purpose. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence, we are empowered to resist the pull of the flesh, the patterns of the world, and the schemes of the enemy...  Read More

Romans 13:8–10 calls us to carry one ongoing debt—the debt of love. Every relational command (“Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet”) is summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Because real love seeks a neighbor’s good and “does no harm,” love is not a shortcut around God’s law but the very way we fulfill it in daily life. 1. Let Love Lead Every Interactio...  Read More

Paul’s counsel about civic life in Romans 13:1–7 was given when Christians faced suspicion but not yet Nero’s fury. His charge is steady and simple—because God is sovereign over every human authority, believers should honor leaders, obey just laws, pay what is owed, and contribute good to the common life. Lived this way, citizenship becomes a credible witness to the gospel—whatever party holds pow...  Read More

Romans 12:9–21 is a smorgasbord of Jesus-shaped living instructions—a collection of things to do and to avoid that together describe the Christian life. In it are (21) encouragements to engage and (8) encouragements to avoid, all aimed at helping us live out God’s truth and love so others see and experience Jesus through our lives. Each instruction is a call to serve and care for people as we live...  Read More

As those who belong to Christ, God has placed us into something bigger than ourselves—the body of Christ (the church)—where we are to think soberly about ourselves, receive spiritual gifts by grace, and use these gifts to build others up so the whole church matures and advances the Great Commission——both gathered and scattered. Sadly, too often, these gifts of the Spirit get misconstrued and misap...  Read More

In view of God’s mercy, true worship isn’t a song we sing but a life we yield. Romans 12:1–2 calls us to place our whole selves on God’s altar as a living sacrifice, to refuse the world’s mold, and to be transformed as the Holy Spirit renews our minds through God’s Word. As we daily surrender—minute by minute—we gain power to resist the appetites and ambitions of our weak flesh and to discover and...  Read More

This doxology in Romans 11:25–32 highlights God’s sovereign, mysterious plan of salvation that while it's always been for everyone everywhere, God chose to introduce His saving grace through the nation of Israel. Yet as foreknown, Israel’s partial hardening opened the way for all people to be included, and ultimately God will show mercy to all who will believe and receive Him by faith. This plan e...  Read More

Paul lifts the curtain Paul unveils a holy “mystery”: Israel’s present hardening is partial and temporary until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Then God will keep His covenant—“all Israel will be saved”—because His gifts and calling are irrevocable (see Romans 11:25–29). In God’s wise plan, both Jews and Gentiles have moved through disobedience so that He might show mercy to all (11:30–32)....  Read More

Paul lifts the curtain on a “mystery”: Israel’s present stumbling is neither final nor futile. In God’s wise mercy, their unbelief opened a door for the nations, so that Gentiles might be grafted into the one cultivated olive tree—the covenant people of God. The warning is clear: don’t boast in your branch. You stand only by grace through faith. And the hope is bright: the same God who grafted in ...  Read More

Paul reminds us that saving faith is birthed when we hear (akoē) the Gospel and then respond to the revelation (rhema) the Holy Spirit provides to open our understanding to God’s truth—the spoken, applied, revealed word of God. While Scripture is God’s written logos and Jesus is the Logos incarnate—the Holy Spirit takes this logos and makes it living and personal, convicting us to believe and guid...  Read More

Because the gospel is for everyone, everywhere, God has entrusted us—those who’ve believed—to carry it. We are His hands, feet, and voice. This requires that the good news must be lived and spoken by a life that looks like Jesus to earn the right to talk about Him with others. Paul goes so far to say that is nothing more beautiful than the feet of those who live and carry the good news of Jesus to...  Read More