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

Paul contrasts two perceived paths to God—law-righteousness that says “do and live” (v.5) and faith- righteousness that says “believe and be saved” (v.6–8). His conclusion is that the way of the Law is a cul-de- sac, while the way of grace through faith is the only way to God.God brought salvation near in Christ alone—there is no climbing into heaven, no descent to the grave, no heroic effort requ...  Read More

Romans 11:1–10 assures us that in spite of the individual rejection of Jesus by Israel, God hasn’t rejected His promise to them as a whole. Just as in the days of Elijah’s, God preserves a remnant chosen by grace that’s received by faith. Truth is, unbelief is a tragic, self-hardening path, but God’s redemptive plan still marches on—centered in Christ and offered by grace through faith, void of an...  Read More

Paul aches for Israel to be saved. He honors their zeal, but grieves that it’s misdirected—aimed at earning righteousness instead of receiving it. God’s righteousness is not a ladder we climb; it’s a gift we receive. In Jesus, the Law reaches its finish line—its goal and fulfillment—so that everyone who believes is made right with God. 1. Retire the “Good Person” MythGood compared to whom? While t...  Read More

Paul’s point is not that Israel couldn’t be saved, but that many missed the Law’s purpose—to expose sin and point them to the Savior. From Eden to Abraham, David, Daniel, and now us, God has always rescued people by faith, not performance. Christ is the “stone”—the only God-given way of righteousness. When we try to add our goodness to grace—either to get saved or to stay saved—we trip over the ve...  Read More

Paul answers the protest, “Who can resist His will?” by reminding us that God is the Potter with the right to shape His redemptive story in any way he chooses. In patient mercy, He endured our sinful state as a result of the fall to offer humanity the riches of His grace. In God’s grand plan, Israel was chosen corporately to carry the promise, yet salvation is always received individually by faith...  Read More

Romans 9:13–18 showcases God’s sovereign initiative in directing the history of redemption—choosing Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom) as the channel through which the Messiah would come. Known as vocational or corporate election, what God planned was the way of salvation and not the who would be saved. Meaning, this is not a decree of individual destinies, but a reminder that God sewed a scarlet thr...  Read More

God’s Word hasn’t failed—and neither has His plan for rescuing the lost. Paul reminds us that “not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel” — this is because the true children of Abraham are those who come by faith meaning that salvation has always been and always will be for anyone who would believe and receive Jesus as God’s solution to the problem of sin. At the same time, God chose ...  Read More

As Paul opens Romans 9–11, he lays bare his “great sorrow and unceasing anguish” over Israel’s unbelief—even though they were entrusted with adoption, glory, covenants, the Law, temple service, the promises, the patriarchs, and (wonder of wonders) the Messiah’s human lineage. He even says he could wish himself “accursed” if it meant their salvation. His grief reminds us that while God loves the wo...  Read More

In Christ, our rescue is complete because at the cross, Jesus broke the penalty of sin, He is breaking the power of sin, and at His return He will remove the presence of sin. As a result, we have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. In the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the Father’s agapē love has set its grip on us, meaning that nothing in the physical world or in the ...  Read More

What does it mean to you that God is for you? Even more, how does such a statement impact your life? The truth is, there is nothing like being on the winning team—God's team. Yet even while on the winning team, there is still work to be done and hardships to face in this fallen world dealing with our-still-to-be-fully-redeemed flesh. There are challenges to overcome and hard work to be accomplishe...  Read More