Author: Wade

As we mentioned yesterday, it is easy to judge, berate, and damn the sin outside our doors, but in so doing we are not judging as the Bible tells us to judge. We are to use the same measure for others that we do for ourselves. We are to search ourselves as vigorously and more vigorously than we search others. There were many noble heathen and moral Jews who would have gladly jumped on St. Paul’s bandwagon in the previous verses. He could have been elected in the ancient red states will little trouble. Yet, that is not what St. Paul wanted. Moral reform was not his chief goal, or really a goal at all, because moral reform can be carried out as well with the Koran or the congress as it can with the Bible. Paul didn’t want reform. He wanted renewal, worked through the gospel. In order for the gospel to work renewal, however, one has to see his or her need for rebirth. The self-righteous pagan or Jew saw no need, because they were the moral dream team of the day. Why have a Savior if you have the sin thing under control yourself? May God keep us from falling this same moralistic and Pharisaical trap, and may God forgive us for when we have! Continue reading “Romans 2:1-5”

How often haven’t you seen it? Even worse, how often haven’t you been it? Someone gives into temptation once and then is sucked into a sin they cannot escape until they reach the point that they no longer want to escape it, and not only do no not want to escape it, but advocate it for others as good and meet and right. There are plenty of societal examples, but the gospel does not make Christian societies, it makes Christian individuals, and so unduly dwelling on the sins of society can sometimes blur our vision, because, in doing so, we overlook our own sins, the sins that actually take us to hell, and in time consider them somehow less fatal than the sins outside our doors. Continue reading “Romans 1:18-32”

“The righteous shall live by faith,” words that transformed the ancient world. “The righteous shall live by faith,” words that sparked the Reformation. “The righteous shall live by faith,” words by which, still today, the Church stands or falls. Who are these righteous? Look back a verse. These righteous are those declared righteous by God, those whose only righteousness is not their own, but Christ Jesus’. This is the righteousness that comes through faith, “from faith for faith.” Thus, “the righteous shall live by faith.” Continue reading “Romans 1:8-17”

Paul is clearly the author, placing his name first, as was the ancient custom. Paul is a servant of Christ Jesus, having been called by God to proclaim Christ Jesus by proclaiming his gospel. Christ Jesus and his gospel are not mere occasional themes in Scripture, but, rather, all of Scripture is centered in Christ and God’s promises concerning him. Continue reading “Romans 1:1-7”