“Circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.” - Romans 2:29 Every great once in a while, I get a phone call from someone I don’t know who will ask, “Would you do my baby?” And by “do,” I am quickly able to discern that they are asking if I would baptize their baby. Contrary to what you might think...  Read More

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” - Romans 2:4Having just put before us some very hard truths in Romans 1, we might think that Paul would take his foot off the gas. Instead, he drives headlong into reminding us that we all fall short of the glory of God by way of passing judgment...  Read More

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” - Romans 1:22-23Last week, we ended by hearing the wonderful news that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus is justified by faith. But instead of continuing in that theme, Paul takes a moment to remind us...  Read More

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”Paul’s words in Romans 1:16-17 are not merely a burst of “rah-rah” enthusiasm; t...  Read More

Romans 1:1-7 (ESV)GreetingPaul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lo...  Read More

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs _________ in his ways.” If you had to choose a word, what might fill in the blank? How about “the humble”? How about “the upright”? “The righteous” would also fill in the blank nicely. All of these would qualify as students who listen and are teachable.But what does David say? “He instructs sinners in his ways.” That is an amazing statement con...  Read More