Righteousness Through Faith
Romans 4:1–3 (NLT) 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed […]
Falling Short of God’s Glory: Sin, Shame, and the Loss of Openness
Romans 3:23 (NLT) 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Message See verse 23. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. God created human beings in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27). They are called Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:20). Their fall is described in Genesis […]
Made Right With God—Apart from the Law and Available to All Who Believe
Romans 3:21–22 (NLT) 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for […]
The Spirit’s Cut: A Changed Heart
Romans 2:25–29 (NLT) 25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s […]
The Death-Dealing Catalogue of Sin: The Sins of Those God Abandoned in Romans 1:28
Romans 1:29-31 (NLT) 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have […]
From God’s Redemptive Work to Tragic Exchange
Romans 1:26b (NLT) 26b Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. Jesus spoke the truth through paradoxes such as the greatest must be a servant (Matthew 20:26-27)’ and the Good Samaritan, where the despised outsider becomes the true example of love (Luke 10:25-37). Throughout […]
The Foolish Pride of Human Wisdom
Romans 1:22 (NLT) 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. Message I. Observing the Verse See v22. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. Why did they claim to be wise, when in reality they were foolish? Such empty pride is what we call arrogance. II. Knowledge and Arrogance Knowledge makes […]
Separated from God: Spiritual Blindness and Confusion
Romans 1:21b,c (NLT) And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Message I. Spiritual Blindness and Death When the first man and woman ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 3:6, https://www.comnc.org/the-beginning-of-sin-refusing-to-worship-and-give-thanks-to-god), they were separated from […]
The Beginning of Sin: Refusing to Worship and Give Thanks to God
Romans 1:21a (NLT) 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. I. The Beginning of Sin: Refusing to Worship and Give Thanks to God Paul declares that all humans know God (21a, Romans 1:19-20). The problem was that even though they knew Him, they would not worship […]
No Excuse: God Revealed Through Creation
Romans 1:19-20 NLT 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing […]
