We have been brought to an amazingly beautiful place on the Pathway of Hope. We have been shown just how guilty and defenseless we are and then shown that there is hope to be found. This hope is God’s righteousness, freely declaring those who by rights are guilty as “not worthy of condemnation or punishment.” What an […]
Today we see the greatest reversal in history! The first word of today’s text tells us a great change is taking place. Once we have seen the darkness and despair of sin and our condition, we are ready for our situation to change – and change it does! The Pathway of Hope begins an upward […]
Paul addresses a third group in the Roman church – one that did not identify primarily with either Jew or Gentile. Paul is quick to point out that even THEY are guilty before God. There is no group that can claim a superior standing with God. Paul builds to a crucial point in his presentation […]
The apostle Paul addresses the arguments of those who felt that they truly DID have an advantage with God. There ARE advantages to being part of God’s chosen people, but those advantages are not what some might imagine them to be. We need to hear what Paul says, as we have also been given unique […]
The familiar “matching cards game” proves to be a good illustration for what some in the church of Rome were doing. They were hoping to find a match among their deeds, their ancestry, and their possessions that would earn God’s favor. Paul points out that there is a big difference between having a symbol of […]
Paul addresses those who are self-righteous. Instead of comparing themselves to something inferior, so they could feel superior, he brings them face to face with the ideal standard of righteousness so they, too, will conclude they are guilty and in need of God’s mercy. Paul looks at what was thought to help their cause,a nd […]
Paul opens a dialogue with folks who think they “aren’t that bad.” Even THEY need a Savior! How will God judge those who are not only unrighteous, but self-righteous as well? We find that God judges with a universal judgment, a judgment based on production and a very just judgment.
The Pathway of Hope does not seem like a hopeful path! The news we have been brought indicates that man is hopelessly guilty and deserving God’s punishment. Man has seen God’s truth revealed but rejected it; how will God respond? We are told no less than 3 times in today’s passage that God responds by […]
Paul carefully begins to share the wonderful good news about what God has done to create the Pathway of Hope. He does this by sharing what sounds like bad news; but he is acting much like a doctor would – explaining the severity of the problem so that the cure is seen to be so […]
Paul writes to the Romans about the Pathway of Hope that leads from this earth to the beauty of God’s presence. The pathway is marked on all sides by the Good News of what God has done. Paul shows those in Rome just how drastically the Good News has affected him. It has made Paul […]