Romans 1

For many, many decades photography was based on chemical film – exposure of the film to light brought about chemical changes in the film that produced an image. There were many innovations in photography such as film on rolls rather than awkward plates, the introduction colour film, cassette film and even instant film. But there […]

Romans 2

The world is a pretty nasty place. People do bad things all the time. In chapter 1 we read a list of disreputable activities: every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, depravity ,  envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, boastful, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. That’s just Paul’s summing up list, read chapter […]

Romans 3

Bad news, good news Paul’s gospel started a heated discussion that in some ways persists to this day: what is the point of being a Jew? This may seem to be a pointless and unhelpful discussion, perhaps we should just accept that God has finished with the Jews and there is now only one category […]

Romans 4

Credit where it’s not due We’ve discovered some important truths in Paul’s 3rd chapter of Romans that relate to our sinful state, faith, justification, atonement and redemption; 1. None of us are righteous, no not one (Jew and Gentile alike). 2. There is a righteousness that is available through faith. 3. This righteousness is obtained […]

Romans 5

Life from death Paul said in chapter three that there is ‘none righteous, no not one!’ The human race is headed for God’s wrath. The picture is bleak. But God has delayed his wrath and in the meantime offers a solution. Faith in God is the solution, faith in his ability to credit our account […]

Romans 6

Know, Count, Offer We’re all part of a broken human race because we are in Adam – there’s none righteous no, not one. But God has provided a solution to our broken state. Through one man death came to all, but through a second man, Jesus Christ, life comes. This benefit comes courtesy of God’s […]

Romans 7

New circumstances We’ve been learning about what God does within us when we put our trust in Him. Changes take place that are far reaching: the sin nature is disconnected and we are connected to a new life force. In chapter 6, Paul was keen that we fully understood these new conditions, he was keen […]

Romans 8 part 1

How to live We’ve seen how not to live in chapter 7 – attempts to live according to the law will result in failure. When we become believers we are not wired to live by the law, the old nature within us is energised and invigorated by the law. Chapter 8 tells us how to […]

Romans 8 part 2

The future’s bright We left this last time with the thought that we share in Christ’s sufferings and will also share in his glory. How does that look? It starts with three groans! Three groans We sometimes talk about ‘people less fortunate than ourselves.’ There’s no doubt that there’s always someone worse off that you […]

Romans 9

What about us? Last time we heard about three groans as this world awaits release, but we ended chapter 8 on a high: nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus! Chapter 9 brings a notable change of tone: Paul has great sorrow and unceasing anguish! Why? […]