There is no end to people seek to harm the church until our Lord comes again. We can warn them, but we have no fellowship with them (Titus 3:10–11). We see them for who they are, kindly give truth if they will listen (2 Timothy 2:24–26), but otherwise avoid them (2 Timothy 3:1–9; esp. 3:5b).… Read More »
God’s various ways of speaking in Scripture are fascinating. It is not only what God says but how He says it that captures our attention. Letters teach. Psalms have meter and form. Prophets preach. Narratives tell a story. Some books are a mix. Acts narrates but teaches with sermons. Romans teaches but has a narrative… Read More »
Have you recently used the phrase “the fullness of the blessing of Christ”? Probably not. What does it mean? And, to use it in the sense that it has in Romans 15:29, how does one come “in” it to someone else? In context, Paul has just ended the body of his letter (Romans 1:16–15:13) and… Read More »
What kinds of things should I not do because it would cause my fellow Christian to violate his conscience and sin if he did them, too? Paul gives many commands to the “strong” in Romans 14:1–15:13 (cf. Rom 15:1), telling the strong in various ways not to cause the “weak” to stumble (Rom 14:13, 15,… Read More »
Our country is presently abuzz with patriotism or despair, depending on how one views the recent inauguration of our forty-seventh president. Whatever opinions we may have about his political stance or personal life, he is our commander-in-chief and the head of our federal government. How do the Scriptures instruct us to interact with a president,… Read More »
Romans 12:9–21 is characteristically Pauline—a large passage of Scripture that denies the interpreter a neat and tidy outline. Multiple reasons exist for why this passage is hard to organize, but, however organized, it is an excellent passage to give us general guidance in order to live the Christian life. Let’s explore how Paul puts it… Read More »
A spiritual gift is a God-granted ministry to each member of the body of Christ in order to edify its members. There are a variety of gifts (each member with his own gift or combination of gifts), but this variety is united in purpose—to edify the church. They are granted by the Triune God—the Spirit,… Read More »
Romans 12:1–2 is a fun text to study. It’s easy to notice three imperatives that guide the passage (present, do not be conformed, be transformed) and also two sets of three descriptors—one for “sacrifice” (living, holy, acceptable) and the other for “the will of God” (good, acceptable, perfect). In short, this passage teaches us to… Read More »
For anyone who wants to go back and read my summaries on all of Romans 9-11, click the links below. Enjoy! God’s Faithfulness, Election, and Israel (Romans 9:1–13) The God of Sovereign Justice (Romans 9:14–24) Prepared for Glory or Destruction: By Whom, When, and How? (Romans 9:22–23) Righteousness: Accomplished in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:1–4) The… Read More »
Romans 11:28–32 closes Romans 11:11–32 and all of Romans 9–11 with a summary of God’s present and future dealings with Israel. Romans 11:28 describes God’s present posture towards Israel. On the one hand, He is at enmity with Israel. God has hardened Israel, and she has rejected Christ and the gospel. This enmity is “for… Read More »