INTRODUCTION: So what is the difference between those who are simply called by God’s name, and those who really belong to Him? This is a question that arises in both covenants, and it is answered (in principle) the same way for both. The Jews had drifted into the error of externalism, and Paul is here …
No Condemnation/Romans 26
INTRODUCTION: So what is the state of the wretched man now that he has been brought into Christ? What is the birthright of the new Israel? We now see Paul begin to develop his teaching of the Holy Spirit’s work throughout this chapter, and the glorious result of that work, which is the phrase no …
Wretched Man/Romans 25
INTRODUCTION: We have seen that the apostle Paul continues to answer the question created by the gospel of grace. Gentiles are under sin. Jews are under sin. They are both under sin. God promised to remake the world through Abraham, and God did this by sending a final Adam. This glorious message can be twisted …
The Missing Spirit?
“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11) Second Timothy, Part 2 “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Tim. 1:2). The apostle Paul thought of Timothy as a true and dear son, and addressed him that way. He …
Two Lines/Romans 24
INTRODUCTION: We are now on the threshold of a vexed portion of the book of Romans. Christians have long divided over whether Paul is describing his pre-Christian life or his post-conversion life. Is the description of anguish in Romans 7 characteristic of the Christian life? Or is it a description of his experience prior to …
Our Second Husband/Romans 23
INTRODUCTION: Remember that the apostle has laid out the gospel for us, and he is now answering objections. The universal problem is set forth in the first three chapters, and then the glorious gospel in chapters four and five. Beginning in chapter six, he starts anticipating and answering objections. The first is that if we …
Ugly Babies/Romans XXII
INTRODUCTION: We come now to Paul’s treatment of the great theme of true liberty and freedom. What is the nature of freedom? We need to be especially careful with this because as Americans we are trained to believe that we understand liberty in some special way, while it appears that we have really lost an …
Listening Beforehand
“You must not only prepare the sermon, you must let the sermon prepare you” (Wagner, Tongues Aflame, p. 76).
Three Kinds of Death/Romans XXI
INTRODUCTION: As we continue to work through this great letter of the apostle, we can see in various ways how his mind works. We see it in how he answers objections—”one of you will say to me then . . .” We also see in this passage a typical Pauline move, where he says, “These …
This is Something We All Do, Do We Not?
“Many preachers are tempted to identify themselves with the congregation in preaching, rather than with God. This may be the most significant reason for their feeling ill at ease in speaking to their congregation in the second person. Such preachers do not want their people to get the impression that the preacher is holier than …