Why Should We Study Romans?
The Intellectual Reason Romans deals with many of the deepest problems of Christian thought. Some here want to know how to defend their faith( apologetics) –Romans is the place to start. One person said Romans deals with two subjects- sin and self. The greatest pastor and expository preachers have spent much time in sharing the truth with their congregation. Donald Grey Barnhouse spent five years teaching the book of Romans. I willing to guess John MacArthur spent years in it. Many others have spent long periods of time in going through Romans for the Intellectual Reason. It is not easy, casual reading.
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As a pastor, it is my privilege to break the bread of the Word for my people on a weekly basis, to help them to see the truth and grasp the hope that God offers afresh to each generation. The book of Romans contain 16 chapters. We will take it a bite at a time. There is a lot to digest and it must be done deliberately and intentionally.
Paul has a single goal: to demonstrate to the reader that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” You know I don't think too many actually think they are sinners these days. How we need the “bad news” in our day! It could be well stated that no one appreciates good news until they have heard the bad news. God is driving me to Romans again. I tried some years ago to go through it with the church but God prevented me when I got to the 3rd chapter. In 1976 when we were in Costa Rica I was going through a crisis of faith. A lot of doubting my call , even my faith. God then led me into the book of Romans and I outlined the entire book. I wish I knew where that outline was today. But God is doing another work in my heart and bringing to this wonderful book. Here is some illustrations:
John Chrysostom, a 4th century patriarch of Constantinople had the epistle read to him once a week. Martin Luther, spoke of Romans as the chief book of the NT. It was Romans 1:17 that Luther discovered what became the heart cry of the Reformation, “The just(righteous) shall live by faith.” Princeton scholar Prof. Bruce Metzer has called Romans the “ Constitution of Universal Christianity.” Let's get started. "Therefore God has highly exalted him(Jesus Christ) and bestowed on him( Jesus Christ) the name that is above every name,so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Philippians 2:9-11
Vance Hanver used to say, I never ask a man will you confess Jesus as Lord. I always ask him when will you do it. The question is not will you do it because everybody will do it. Yo can do it now or in hell. For every knee will bow, every tongue will confess in heaven, on earth and in hell, We will all do it one day. I choose to do it now. -Jesus Christ is Lord! Listen I cannot define for you immediate purpose of what is happening in your life right now. If you come to me and say why has God allowed this to happen, why doesn't God stop this, why does God not mover in here and change things? I will be honest with you, I cannot give you immediate reason but I can give you the ultimate purposes behind it all: so that in all things in my life, as in your life, Jesus Christ might stand first, preeminent, supreme.
"... so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. "Philippians 2:10-11 (ESV) |
What we Learned on Sunday? Insights, ideas and InspirationWritten by Pastor Chris Hudson Archives
May 2024
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