Defining Success Through a Gift Exchange
The best gifts we can give or receive are not those we can touch or hold. They are spiritual gifts that have eternal value. Paul gives us a glimpse of some of these invaluable gifts in this first chapter of Romans.
Leaving a Spiritual Legacy
Consistent prayer is indispensable to the Christian life. Thankfully, the Bible not only gives us instruction regarding prayer but also gives us examples to follow. The apostle Paul is one such example.
How to Become a Saint
Do you know who you are? That question is so important that Paul begins his letter to the Romans by reminding his readers that all who have faith in Jesus Christ are loved by God, belong to Christ, and are, by God's grace, saints.
When Faith and Works Combine
Faith in Christ and obedience to Christ cannot be separated. If He is truly our Lord, we will gladly and consistently obey Him. Indeed, obedience to Him is a measure of our faith in Him.
Who Is Jesus?
We miss God's plan entirely if we fail to understand who Jesus is. The truth about Jesus is essential to the Christian faith and to our eternal destiny. Thankfully, the Bible gives a clear answer regarding His identity.
Introducing the Gospel
At the center of Paul's message--indeed at the center of God's message to humanity--is the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. It is in Christ, who is both God and man, that we find forgiveness and eternal salvation.
Whose Slave Are You?
We are not apostles like Paul, but as Christians we are all servants of Christ Jesus. Paul opens the book of Romans by reminding us that we are not our own. We belong to Christ; we are His slaves.
Flexibility in Serving God
Paul illustrates the biblical perspective that, for the Christian, life is ministry. While he was looking ahead and planning ahead, Paul was quick to use every opportunity, planned or otherwise, to serve God by ministering to others.
Shipwrecked According to God's Perfect Plan
We do not ask for storms, or difficult times, to come into our lives--they just come. They are part of life, but more importantly, they are part of God's plan for our lives. Paul's experience on the sea gives us some much-needed perspective on life’s storms.
Setting the Stage for Rome
It must have seemed like an endless cycle to the apostle Paul--charges brought, hearings held, decisions delayed. Yet at every step he had opportunities to speak, and he took advantage of each one to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ. There is much we can learn from his example.