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The Book of Romans: Under New Management (pt 2 of 3)

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1) If you are saved, you are free.

To hammer this point in, Paul uses an analogy of marriage in Romans 7. This is a transition chapter in the book of Romans to mark those who have crossed over from the life of the flesh to the life of the Spirit. In other words, those who have been saved from spiritual death and given a new spiritual life. We were dead in our sins and now Jesus comes, the gospel comes and we are freed from sin and given a new nature.

Using the marriage illustration, in Rom 7:1-6, Paul says if you are married and your husband is still alive, then you are still bound. To be married is to be in bondage. I know that sounds bad. Let me take a brief detour in the message.

Marriage is bondage. That means, for those who are not married, please enjoy your freedom! [Read more…] about The Book of Romans: Under New Management (pt 2 of 3)

The Book of Romans: Under New Management (pt 1 of 3)

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Rom 8
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Today, we are going to wrap up the book of Romans. I am not sure how this past year of study through Romans has been for you, but I can say that for me, I am clearer now than ever before that God has called me to preach one message — the message of this glorious gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul was crazy about the gospel and he preached the gospel wherever he went and I hope you noticed over this past year how the gospel was on full display throughout the book of Romans. And if I were going to allow one truth to master me and if I were going to devote my life to preaching one message, it would have to be the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can be side tracked and emphasize many peripheral teachings from the Bible. There are many good programs and methodologies out there. We could organize seeker sensitive services, or stress evangelism, or small groups, or discipleship, or community service, or church membership, or social action, but I believe these are all secondary.

We have to be a gospel-centered church. [Read more…] about The Book of Romans: Under New Management (pt 1 of 3)

Harvard Law Professor, William Stuntz, Dying of Cancer

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Here is a compelling interview of a Harvard Law Professor, whose faith in God, has helped him cope with the effects of cancer. You can see the full interview here. I’ve included some excerpts below.

Have your experiences led you to think differently about the relationship between the body and the spirit? Christians sometimes behave as though all that matters is the spiritual life. Is that too simple? What does it mean to live our faith as embodied individuals?

That’s a great question, and the best way I know to answer it is this. Chronic pain and cancer both make life more concrete. [Read more…] about Harvard Law Professor, William Stuntz, Dying of Cancer