Condemened as unjust; Credited as Just.

Paul was all excited to share good news with the Roman Christians. Then he goes on about how angry God is with Pagan perverts. The church is ok with that, maybe, until he keeps on with the same theme and says God is angry at the religiously rite-ous folks as well. Matter of fact, Paul says the whole lot of us are in as much danger as all of Lot's neighbors were. God did not created us for unrighteousness, but that is where we have all fallen; far below the glory of God.

So, Paul, what about the good news? But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Romans 3:21-25)

So God's wrath is diverted to Christ Jesus for those who believe? That is good news, but how can that be true?? What about the long history of Abraham and the Law? Paul makes it clear, Abraham believed God against all hope, had more challenges, believed more, more challenges, believed more... He was credited with righteousness for believing and nothing could stop him. His faith grew from credited righteousness justifying him by grace before God, and over a lifetime Abe's righteous works showed the fruit of righteousness extended from the solid roots of that initial faith. In doing so, Abraham's works justified him before men (James helps us see that faith without works, is, uh, well no adequate faith).

So, where are we headed? Hope. How can we have the kind of confidence like Abe? How can we really trust God and then stand in that trust, even when life is puzzling and really hard? The 5th chapter tells us how that happens and why Paul told us so much bad news. IF we didn't realize how bad off we were, we might miss the point of what a great salvation we do have in Christ. Romans 5 helps us see how God turned bad to good. That is good news.

Sept 25th Romans 5 at SBC Dorm in World Club

SBC Dorm in World Club Land

Second left beyond the Minick’s house are two large dorms. The angled grey one is where we will meet Sunday September 25 at 10 am for visiting, 10:30 for church.

Romans 2 Who else is without excuse?

Idolaters without excuse because they act perverted? No, because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness. They act perverted because they suppress the truth.

So, if we boast in TRUTH and teach other, will we be safe? No. Your life is what will be judged, not your ability to observe what ought to be right. You actually need to be right. No excuses.

You don’t win a game by saying that scoring more points than the other team would be best. You actually need to win. Living life of faith (Romans 1:17) is something you actually have to do. How will this work out?

Will do-gooders who don't believe in (or have even heard of Christ) receive eternal life?
Will people who do believe in the Messiah be subject to wrath for not living without fault?

The tension builds all the way from Romans 1:18, through chapter 2 and keeps building all the way to the end of chapter 3. Can we bear it? If we stick to the text it will be a great learning experience; if we skip to our personal theologies we will miss the impact that was intended for the Romans and preserved for us. Lets brace ourselves and face the Text bravely!

SOJOURNERS’ CHURCH EXISTS TO GLORIFY GOD

SOJOURNERS’ CHURCH EXISTS
TO GLORIFY GOD

BY TRAINING SOJOURNERS TO LIVE
IN THE GREATNESS AND GOODNESS OF THE TRIUNE GOD

(We want to help each and all of us get really good at
living well with the real God who is really Glorious.)

Our church is a sojourners’ church. We are about pilgrims making progress. We study what is true so that we know what to do. Our commission is not to go. As sojourners, we are going. None of us stay the same. Our environment changes, our bodies change, our responsibilities change, our community changes. We are all, whether we are aware of it or not, celebrate it or not, sojourners.

Our great commission, then is not to go. It is to MAKE APPRENTICES, disciples, students by means of immersing them in Yahweh, the Name of the self-existent, covenant making God who is revealed as being Father, and Son and Holy Spirit. We are to train people how to live with saturated awareness of the reality of the Triune God by teaching them. What do we teach them? We teach them to obey the things that Jesus said to obey. We teach for a result: transformed lives.

We teach with great confidence, because we are not alone. Christ is with us through the entire process. We teach with faith (God will bring it about by His Word), Hope (we trust that He who began a good work in us, and our students, will bring it to completion), we teach with love. We most importantly teach with love. Because the very thing we are to be trained in is to love one another as Christ has loved us.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12

So, as we study the book of Romans, let us get good at being aware of the majesty and glory of the Triune God who has loved us with an everlasting, merciful and effectual love. In growing aware of our great and glorious savior, let us actively equip and encourage one another to be increasingly transformed into the character of Christ, for our good, but most importantly, for His glory.