Our Need For A New Spirit The importance of man being a spiritual being reaches back to the Creation account. In Genesis 1’s abbreviated account of man’s creation we see that man was created in God’s own image (vs. 27), but in the fuller account of chapter 2 we see just how man was made... Continue Reading →

No Problem With The Law, But It's Not The Spirit Paul had firmly placed the Law on the side of sin and death (5.20-21; 6.14; etc.). Undoubtedly, some Jewish Christians began to accuse Paul of licensing sinful activity. After all, if we are not under Law, why would sin be wrong? Paul had emphatically stated... Continue Reading →

Paul had concluded his Adam - Christ contrast by placing the Law in the sphere of Adam, belonging to the epoch of sin and death, "Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," (5.20). This was perhaps Paul's most shocking declaration regarding the Law up... Continue Reading →

Intro: what happened when you were baptized? Why were you baptized? Chances are passages such as Acts 2.38; 22.16 and Mark 16.16 will immediately spring to mind. You were baptized so that your sins would be forgiven, so that all the wrongs you once committed would no longer be held against you. While it is... Continue Reading →

Did we inherit sin from Adam? Often, that is the reason why believers turn to Romans 5.12-21, to examine if the doctrine of "original sin” is taught by Paul. Throughout the centuries, various theologians have argued that is exactly what Paul taught. So Augustine (AD 354-430) stated that man is “not able not to sin”... Continue Reading →

Chapters and verses are handy in remembering and finding where a certain thought is found, but when we take up a chapter to read and study it, we must remember that it is found in a particular context. In other words, Paul didn't set out to write Romans 5, rather he has been developing his... Continue Reading →

Background: Abraham was revered by the Jews, as both the physical and spiritual father of their nation. While Abraham was a great servant of God and a godly example to be imitated (Paul's exact point in Romans 4), the Jews had turned their physical descent from Abraham into another cause for boasting. So, John the... Continue Reading →

Man Cannot Be Justified By Works Of Law (Vss. 9-20) Let's begin by recalling what we've covered so far. Paul's aim was to proclaim the gospel. The basic elements of the gospel were laid out in Romans 1.1-7. The gospel is the message of Christ (a message revealed in the prophets) that should bring about... Continue Reading →

Misplaced boasting (2.17-24) The focus of Paul's words in vss. 1-16 were on the impartiality of God, that both God's blessings and wrath would come equally on Jew and Gentile based on their works, not their nationality. But what about Israel's status as God's special people (Exodus 19:4-6, etc.). Did that mean nothing? Paul addresses... Continue Reading →

“Yes, Paul says we are justified by faith and not works, but don’t forget that James says ‘faith without works is dead’.” Ever said something similar? If not, you probably will. How have believers in Christ come to such radically different viewpoints about the necessity of following God’s commands? Part of the reason may be that... Continue Reading →