1 Corinthians 1

Paul diminished the need to use eloquent words or gimmicks to amplify the message of the Cross of Christ. Rather, he clarified the intrinsic power of a simple message about the Cross. Obviously he is referring to what Christ did on the tree to redeem us from sin.

We are tempted to embellish the message. Is it not powerful enough on its own? YES. Paul preached this message of the Gospel and made it simple so the power and sufficient truth was not clouded or concealed by any means.

It’s a simple message and we need to keep it so. It’s the POWER OF GOD TO SALVATION.

Romans 16

A study of the early Church would reveal that they primarily met in homes. Until 300 a.d. it was against the law to meet in public buildings. This probably contributed to the health and authentic, energized growth of Christ’s followers. In homes, the believers would fellowship, eat, study, and pray together. When persecution of Christians occurred, the home meetings became essential.

Although we are still free to meet in public buildings (such as Trinity Church), meeting in homes still stimulates the healthy factors that cause Christians to grow and flourish in their faith. Home fellowships cause you to “get into” the lives of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Find one soon to join.

Romans 15

While we were yet all corrupted and stained by our sin, Christ died FOR us to redeem us from our condition. He set the example of laying down your life for someone else who may not even deserve to be redeemed. That’s the love of Christ.

Paul restates our responsibility to love our neighbor in this chapter of practical admonition.

It’s a matter of displacing our natural inclination to think about yourself all the time with looking out for the interests of others. Self absorption enhances THIS LIFE. Loving your neighbor before yourself enhances our ETERNAL LIFE.

Romans 14

Faith is the sanctioning agent by which the Christian exists. Faith is like the fuel in your car … no fuel, no go … no faith, no flow.

Faith comes by hearing and that by the Word of God. It is dispensed to us, also by the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. So, it comes from God. If He hasn’t given to to you, you don’t have it and your spiritual life stops.

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. The just go on living by their faith.

Lord, increase our faith.

Romans 13

In the late 80s there was a pro-life movement called “Operation Rescue.” [Prov. 24:11]

On a Saturday in 1988 in Ohio, I willingly restricted the way of pregnant women at an abortion clinic. I was not alone. Several hundred were gathered at the site, many of whom were church leaders, myself included. I was arrested and was given a jury trial in which I was found guilty. I violated a civil law to help enforce a higher law … the preservation of life. I was placed on three years probation and served 120 hours of community service. Our efforts prevented eleven abortion appointments that day. I would do it again.

Romans 12

This chapter offers a handbook for Christians on everyday living and getting along with others. If you know of someone who has relationship issues, have the read this passage.

God’s oversight and involvement in the minutest details of our lives is amazing. If we get into it with someone, He tells us, “I am watching and will arbitrate justly.” We are NOT to take matters into our own hands. We don’t judge as He does … we don’t see all that He sees.

God is in no hurry. He has eternity to solve problems.

So, relax and trust Him.

Romans 11

The Apostle Paul was a brilliant man. The letter to the Romans displays his amazing powers of reason and deep insights. And yet, he himself pays tribute to the omnipotent mind of God when he says, “We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works!” [v. 33, the VOICE]

The more time we spend with the Lord through prayer and the study of His Word, we accumulate the wisdom of God for our lives and the lives of those we influence.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. [Acts 4:13]

Romans 10

This chapter most clearly and succinctly clarifies the essentials of accepting God’s salvation made available through Christ Jesus. I am preparing to present the Gospel to a neighbor and this is the passage I will go through with him.

The key component is FAITH. We would do well to periodically review this chapter to keep salvation clear in our minds so we are more ready to share it.

A young life insurance salesman was told, “You will make a sale on average to one in ten you present your sales pitch to.” To play the odds, he set up on a busy street corner in Manhattan. He soon became the company’s top salesman by asking everyone, “Would you like to buy some insurance?”

“Would you like to get saved?”

Romans 9

Do we realize how much autonomy we give God when we pray those words? What if God’s will becomes hard to accept? What if His plan doesn’t use us as we had hoped? These and many other questions could be posed because God is sovereign and He will do what He jolly well wants to do.

God’s will ALWAYS has our best interest at heart. Once you’ve learned that, you can pray the “Our Father” with much more abandonment.God takes down one and lifts up another. In the end, all will be reconciled and His Kingdom will have come.

Romans 7, 8

The Spirit and the Law – the two contending influences in the life of the believer. Paul identified this struggle in these chapters and vividly exposed the tension between them. He even called himself a wretched man revealing the consequence of this struggle in his mind. (Legalistic Christians are not happy)

He jubilantly declared that Christ Jesus had delivered him from the internal war by showing him the joyful life available by being led of the Spirit.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Thee because he trusteth in Thee. [Is. 26:3]