Rm14

There is a big difference between being "judgmental" towards other's preferences and being tolerant toward sin! This chapter is about "doubtful issues" (preferences) not right and wrong!

Some people live their lives to condemn anything people choose to do that is NOT what they would choose to do. They love to "judge" others for their life choices which are neither right or wrong. We all know these people. We have all been them at times.

Jesus was gracious to all people. He was not condemning of sinners, but He definitely wasn't "tolerant" toward sin! To be "like" Jesus would be to express love to all sinners and to take a bold stand against sin.

Rm13

"Submit to governing authorities, for there is NO authority except from God" v. 1

This is probably the most difficult principle to embrace in the whole bible! It's easy to submit when authority is godly. It's hard when authority is godless! But Paul jumps all human authority and goes directly to God. To disobey authority is to disobey God. We live to please God. God is pleased when we joyfully submit to authority.

This is not just a difficult chapter, it is a difficult reality. We resist and rebel against authority. God desires to grow our character and do His work as we submit to authority! It begins with our parents and extends to teachers, coaches, bosses and government. If a child doesn't learn to obey his parents (mostly a parent's job), he or she will struggle in every area of life.

We are always under authority. How we respond to it is a great window into our relationship with God.

Rm12

The clear command from this chapter is, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds." Change our thinking, change our living! Don't live as though we are the most important person alive. Use our lives to serve God not ourselves.

My kids often will say, "Everyone is doing it". To them the fact that the majority are doing something is a good reason why they should be allowed to do it as well! The fact is, if everyone is doing something the opposite is most likely true. God does not call us to be the same as everyone in the world, He calls us to be radically different.

But what does He mean by different? Examine this chapter closely. What does it say? In a nutshell Paul uses a powerful word picture to summarize his idea; Living Sacrifice. His desire is for us to live to "please God". His heart is that we die to our selfish desires and choose to live for Christ. God wants our entire lives to be offerings of worship to Him.

This is a challenge. Be different today. Almost no one is doing it. 

Rm11

"You stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid." These are troubling words in this chapter. Let's stop and think about them a bit. What is Paul saying? Is he saying that we could actually lose our salvation? Is He saying that God is capricious with HIs authority and election? I don't think so.

One of the greatest struggles in the first century church was race. God's chosen people, the Jews, were especially prejudice towards every non-Jew (Gentiles). Jews could not envision salvation for any Gentile who did not become a Jew. Their self-righteous arrogance kept them from seeing that salvation was for "all peoples".

In the same way, these new "Gentile" believers could become blinded by their arrogance and neglect the gracious gift of salvation. Faith, not race will determine salvation. God's choice, not man's choice seals salvation. Understanding salvation should produce humility and gratitude, not arrogance and elitism.

Rm10

In the midst of Paul's most difficult teaching on God's sovereignty, we find this beautiful verse! "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Evangelism is not the desperate attempts of man to save people, but rather the obedient work of believers who know that God is saving people! We engage with the great commission precisely because we know that Jesus died for the sins of the world and He wants people to be saved.

Paul said, "This is the message of faith that we proclaim." Are we "proclaiming" it? Are we telling others about Jesus? Are we investing in the things that truly matter?

Rm9

God's foreknowledge of all things does not negate His justice! It highlights both His mercy and compassion!

For centuries scholars have struggled with this chapter. Their struggle is not with God's sovereignty, but rather with man's inability to choose a future different than the one God has already "chosen". We cry "foul" on God! We want to explain God in human terms. We want to reduce God to human characteristics.

If God were not sovereign, He would cease to be God. If He were not God, He could not save. If He cannot save, we are not able to be saved. To argue away God's sovereignty is to argue against our salvation. We cannot save ourselves.

God's election is the most beautiful picture of both His mercy and compassion! Rejoice in salvation today. Our salvation is rooted in God's choice not ours. This is what makes salvation sure.

Rm8

When the bible says that "nothing can separate us from the love of God" it means NOTHING can separate us from the love of God! Our salvation is rooted and sealed by God! All His works are permanent and rooted in His activity NOT ours. 

When we begin to believe that our relationship with God is somehow rooted in our activity, we begin to treat God as though He is human. He is not. His relationship with us is HIS choosing. His choices are eternally permanent. What He does, He does for good. God is not fickle or capricious. His love for us has been poured out through Jesus.

There is nothing more "guaranteed" in this life than the permanence of God's love for those He has saved. Eternity is secure. Don't let doubt and condemnation (struggles we all have) become the things that rob our joy and keep us from living for Christ.