In Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, the local bishop visits a man dying in his hovel. He was an official participant in the French Revolution. While he didn’t vote for the death of the king and his family, he was a known conspirator and had exiled himself to this remote area of the woods to avoid judgment. Now, on his death bed, the bishop visits him to see if he has any faith or repentance. They talk for a few minutes and the bishop presses the issue to no avail. The man is unrepentant and believes that he has done right by France according to his rubrics of life. He even chastises the bishop at one point. The bishop asks if the dauphin should have been killed along with the king? He says, “Certainly the child was innocent of the sins of his father and grandfather.” But the old man refuses to recant and justifies the slaying of the prince. He had fully justified his behavior because it fit his rules for life.

Thus is the state of those in Adam’s family. They have strong beliefs and convictions based on their own rules for life. They live in the passions of their heart and often twist the Law of God to suit their self-righteousness. We see this in our day with those protesting Jews and America on our college campuses. They believe they have a righteous cause and are pursuing justice by calling for death to America and the annihilation of the Jews.

Have you ever considered how the Law of God rules over Adam’s family? Have you ever considered how the Law of God stimulates sin in Adam’s race? Romans 7 addresses the strengths and failures of the Law of God. Join us Sunday as we begin this exciting chapter and worship the God of grace.

If you have children, have you ever had that moment when a child did something without being asked? They saw the kitchen trash was full and took it out, even putting new bags in the cans? You thank them for doing it, and they respond with words of ownership and gratitude for all that you do. If you haven’t had that moment, I’m here to tell you, it can happen. As they mature they will appreciate more and more all that you do for them and this gratitude should create “obedience from the heart.” 

That’s what our next text of Romans 6 talks about, “obedience from the heart.” This is something that the Law cannot produce. Adam’s dynasty of death doesn’t produce this. Only grace can produce obedience from the heart. Join us Sunday as we consider this powerful working of God and worship him for all he does for us!

According to the Apostle Paul, when the Holy Spirit united us to Christ, the relationship with our former family ended, and we were brought into God’s family. This is bigger than switching from Ford to Toyota. Our affiliation with the Empire of Evil has concluded, and we have been brought into the Kingdom of Light. All that Christ has done (crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and new life) has been applied to us by the Holy Spirit.

 So what does that mean for us today? First, it means that when our old family, the culture created by depraved hearts, makes demands of us or encourages us to live in our passions, we have every right and obligation to say, "no." Second, when our sinful passions urge us to satisfaction, we have every right and obligation to say, "no." Third, we have every reason, based on what Christ has done, to pursue obedience to Him out of gratitude for his overwhelming grace. Finally, having been brought into this new family, we have a new relationship to pursue in our fight against our desires. This is the focus of what Paul says next.

 Join us Sunday as we consider the pattern of pursuing God's grace and worship the Giver!

Have you ever had an oppressive boss? Most of us have. I had one who constantly criticized our work as a painting crew. We were never fast enough, our lines never sharp enough, and our clean up always subpar. We would spend all day in a newly constructed home, without air conditioning, sweating and painting. Our boss would come in, spend fifteen minutes, paint a door and tell us, “see that, a ten minute door.” Then he’d demean our performance and get back in his air conditioned truck and move on. Not the inspiring moment he intended for sure. 

When I changed companies, working for a new crew, my boss was encouraging, championing my work, even giving me more responsibility. It was such a unique experience, especially when contrasted with my former boss. Whenever my new boss would walk in though, initially I’d find myself emotionally prepping for criticism, only to be surprised with kindness and encouragement. There were moments of correction, but they were motivating.

In our text Sunday, Paul lays a foundation of what it means to be united to Christ and his life giving salvation. He wants us to see that we’ve been taken out of Adam’s family, dominated by sin and death, and placed in Christ’s family with freedom from our old oppressive master. His conclusion, do not let sin have dominion over you. You don’t have to obey your passions any more. 

Join us as we consider the life of freedom given us in our participation of Christ! 

This week the world was shocked to learn from the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, that she was diagnosed with cancer. A young mother of three young children with a pivotal role in the British Empire is facing her connection with Adam’s dynasty of death. While her prognosis seems to be good, death still reigns, looming over her, close enough to feel its breath on her neck. I grieve what she is experiencing and pray for the restoration of her health. 

This past week, in considering Romans 5:12-21, we learned that Adam broke faith with God and his guilt was placed on his family. As a result, along with the corrupt nature of our ancestor, death spread to all mankind. Now, we sin because we’re sinners, corrupted sons and daughters of Adam. But God, rich in mercy, sent his Son to rescue Adam’s race. As the apostle says Jesus was, “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification,” Romans 4:25.

Jesus, like Adam, is the head of a family; but unlike Adam, he does not break faith with God -- he obeys. Like Adam, he has something to ascribe to his family; but unlike Adam, it is righteousness -- not sin. Paul makes the point that the gift of grace overcomes the sin in the most sinful person who turns in faith to Christ. The resurrection settles the question of his righteousness and assures us that our hope in Christ is proper. Join us Sunday as we worship and rejoice in Jesus’ dynasty of life!

Sunday is Palm Sunday when we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Palms and garments were laid in his path as he rode into the city. It begins his final week before his death on the cross. While the people were “stirred” up, some of them shouting Hosanna and celebrating what they perceived as a political movement, and others asking who he was, Jesus knew what he was moving toward: death. 

Sunday we’ll put Passion Week in context by considering Romans 5:12-21. In our text, the Apostle Paul describes the effects of Adam’s sin on our race: condemnation and death. Like a cruel master, death reigns over humanity, even for people who don’t knowingly break God’s law. When God gave the law, the conscience of man awakened, and the numbers changed. He could no longer ignore what the law exposed. What might have seemed like a minimal intrusion became an avalanche of evil. 

Our cursed race needs more than a cleanup on aisle nine; we need the waters of Niagara Falls to cleanse us. Join us Sunday as we consider the reason for Passion Week and ultimately Good Friday. 

Great acts of sacrifice are easy to spot. On 9.11, police and firefighters raced up the burning towers of the World Trade Center to rescue victims of the terrorist attack. During WW2, Nicholas Palermo ran toward three machine gun nests, taking them out to rescue his unit, sacrificing himself in battle. Rosa Parks, working with Martin Luther King, prepared and executed a plan to challenge the Montgomery segregation law, knowing it would lead to her arrest but that it would also create a legal battle pushing the issue to the Supreme Court. These individuals put their lives on the line out of affection for others. Their affection was put on display for all to see!
 
The Apostle Paul assures us that hope in our glorification and eternal life will not disappoint us. We won’t die and be shut out of heaven on a technicality. How do we know this to be true? All we need do is look at the masterpiece of justification and our fears are relieved. Jesus sacrificed himself for us while we were still God’s enemies, sinners facing his judgment. If he would do that in our “weak” condition, then he will certainly carry us to the finish line now that we are justified by faith. Join us as we consider this well-known text, Romans 5:6-11.

I’m meditating on Isaiah 8:11-14 often these days. The prophet Isaiah has seen the glory of God, Isaiah 6, and surrenders to God’s call to be a prophetic voice to the wicked king Ahaz. The king turned everything into a religious shrine to the pagan gods, even sacrificing his own children. Isaiah confronts Ahaz, promising a sign of God’s rescue from those seeking to overthrow him. Then in chapter eight, he says,

For the LORD spoke thus to me…do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary.

Do you see the progression? He sees the glory of God, his holiness on display, and the hardships of his world don’t overwhelm him. For Isaiah, God was bigger than life’s problems and became his sanctuary.
 
In our text in Romans, Paul says that one of the benefits of our justification is our hope in the glory of God. Having our sins atoned for and receiving the robes of Jesus’ righteousness is such overwhelming grace from God that it guarantees our participation in God’s glory. Paul’s crescendo of the benefits of justification is that we will share in the glory of God because that is the privilege of the righteous Son. Then he tells us that this truth even reorients our experience of suffering or hardships. We begin to see that God uses hardships to conform us to Christ so that we can share in his holiness.
 
What a great truth, one that when understood, becomes our “boast.” Join us Sunday as we consider this great truth and worship our Savior.

Where do you stand with God? Let me ask it this way, as a believer, when you pray or worship, are you outside the throne room or inside? The first effect of justification by faith is peace with God through Jesus. The second is access to God. 

When we lived in New Jersey, we often visited Manhattan. On one visit we walked into the Pu Chao Buddhist Temple. As we entered, we could see the statue of Buddha surrounded by offerings of oranges, half cups of coffee, and other gifts. It was a unique experience to be sure, but also a sad one. The worshipper’s access to Buddha required a sacrifice. 

Believers often relate to God this way. To enter his presence, or get him to listen to our prayers, we think a sacrifice is required. If we come confessing sin, more is certainly required followed by promises of obedience we will inevitably struggle to keep. 

But justification means we’re at peace with God and that we have free, unlimited, unconditional access to God because of the ministry of Jesus. Where do you stand with God? I hope your answer is, “in his presence.” Join us Sunday as we consider this beautiful truth.

“Give peace a chance,” John Lennon. It’s a great sentiment, everyone lay down your weapons, overlook whatever offenses exist, forgive any unethical behavior, and live in peace. Hopefully, you can see the injustice in this idea. Apply this slogan to October 7, 2023, when Hamas did unspeakable things to the Jewish people, or the invasion of Ukraine. No! Justice demands judgment.

Yet, many expect God to put aside his offense at our rebellion and sin, embracing us in love, and declaring peace. This is part of the message of the “He Gets Us” group that put out the Super Bowl ads again this year. Their message, “God gets us, loves us, and embraces us.” Well, the Apostle Paul has no such sentiment as he unpacks the wrath of God against sinners beginning in Romans 1:18, saying, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” The only way for mankind to have peace with God is for God’s justice to be satisfied, either by the sinner or by the substitute, Jesus Christ. He explains this in chapters 3-4, where he explains how faith in the substitute results in our acquittal with God. Now, in chapter five, he unpacks the effects of justification for the believer.

The first effect, peace with God. Peace made possible through judgment. God’s just wrath, satisfied by Jesus. As believers, we are at peace with God and the Apostle urges us to live in that peace. Join us Sunday as we consider the accomplishment of Christ: peace with God.