Romans 1:16-17: I am not ashamed of the Gospel

In our fellowship this last Sunday, we took a break from our study through John’s Gospel to look at Romans 1:16-17, and simply consider the “good news;” the Gospel. It’s always refreshing to take time to ponder the pervasive power of God’s forgiveness and grace!

Romans 8:1: No condemnation for those in Christ

If you read the Bible from the beginning, you know that by page 3, we’ve blown it.

At the first temptation to exert our own will over God’s will, we caved. I say “we,” because if you’ve seen two, you’ve seen them/us all. But God (and it’s worth noting how frequently this idea of “but God” shows up in Paul’s writings), Who is rich in mercy and grace, immediately made known His plan to redeem that which had just been lost (*read Genesis 3). When we arrive at the cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we finally see fulfilled the means of procuring and securing the redemption promised and set in motion so long ago in the garden.

In Romans 7:15-8:1 the Apostle Paul similarly connects these same truths by acknowledging the devastating bad news of his (and by extension, our) lost condition because of sin, then immediately following it with the explosive joy found in recognizing his (and our) new position/condition because of Christ’s finished work. “There is therefore (because of the finished work of Christ) now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” And, as he continues: “The Law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the Law of sin and death.” Truly, whom the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36)

Freedom in Christ begins with being made free from the penalty of our sin in regard to our salvation – those in Christ no longer have to live in fear of judgement when we stand before the Lord (then). But what’s more, we are free to live out our lives (now) in the knowledge that though we will stumble along the way – and we will (see Romans 7:15-24), we can rest in the knowledge that His grace, afforded us by Christ’s finished work, covers us abundantly (Romans 5:20).

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14)

You can learn a lot about someone when you spend time with them.

That’s true of your spouse, your friends, coworkers – anyone with whom a relationship would be built. It’s also true when it comes to cultivating our relationship with God. Unlike any other relationship though, what we know (and can know) about God is ultimately rooted in what He has made known to us about Himself. Plain in the creation we see all around us, whether it be the grassy plains or the snow-capped mountains; the incredible creatures that dwell in the deepest parts of the sea to the countless stars and galaxies in the heavens – all are clearly marked with the fingerprint of a masterfully creative Mind (Romans 1:20); all declare His glory. (Psalm 19:1-6) Thankfully, He has chosen to let us know a lot about Him!

And, while the creation reveals a great many of the attributes of its Creator, there’s yet more – for God hasn’t only revealed that He’s there, but that He has invited us to know Him personally. Passages like Psalm 24:3-6, Isaiah 55 and John 1 make it known that God desires for us to enter into a real, genuine and personal relationship with Him – and that Jesus uniquely, through His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, forever opened the way for this relationship both to be, and to flourish:

“For God, Who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus.” – 2 Cor. 4:6

In his commentary on the book of Hebrews, William Newell quotes an old Puritan preacher, who “used to say there were just two things he desired to know: ‘First, Does God speak (concerning any matter)? Second, What does God say?'” As for the first question, the Scriptures tell us that God has, in fact been speaking to man throughout the ages, and has now made Himself known in His Son, Christ Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3). The answer to the second is the pursuit of a lifetime spent humbly walking with the Word Who became flesh and dwelt among us.