New Testament

  • Series on Romans XV Spiritual Gain A Gratitude Text: 12:1-2 Introduction Some have said that these verses begin the practical section of the book of Romans as opposed to the doctrinal section. I do not like that distinction although this is obviously a new section. I prefer to call it the responsive section. True worship

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  • Series on Romans XIV Election and the Plan D All Israel Included Text: 11:11-36 Introduction This is a difficult passage although I do not suppose that Paul intended it to be. The primary agent creating this difficulty is the extremely widespread conviction that God’s primary interest in the Bible is in Israel and that the

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  • Series on Romans XIV Election and the Plan C All Who Believe Text: 11:1-10 Introduction Romans 11 has produced a variety of interpretations over the centuries, and they all have to do with the fate of physical Israel. It seems to me that the fate of the biological descendants of Abraham was clearly established during

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  • Series on Romans XIV Election and the Plan B All through Failure Text: 10:16-21 Introduction Paul has made clear that salvation does not come through our efforts, nor through our works, nor through keeping the commandments but as the gift of God through the message. This after all is what most of us understand by

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  • Series on Romans XIV Election and the Plan A All through Faith Text: 10:1-15 Introduction Today there is endless speculation about Israel ancient and modern. Many people are erroneously convinced that the Church only has a supporting role in the plan of redemption. They believe the star of the drama is Israel. Romans 9-11 should

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  • Series on Romans XIII Election and Grace C The Application Text: 9:25-33 Introduction For centuries the Jewish people, the children of Abraham regarded the Christian faith as a heresy. For centuries the house of God had a sign on the door saying Jews only. Then Jesus came and the welcome sign appeared on the door

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  • Series on Romans XIII Election and Grace B The Argument Text: 9:14-24 Introduction Now that the Apostle has shaken up his readers with the bold quotation from Malachi, “Jacob I have loved, Esau I have hated,” a further elucidation of his teaching is necessary. The questions raise are serious ones and they are questions that

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  • Series on Romans XIII Election and Grace A The Aspect Text: 9:1-13 Introduction Here in Romans 9 we have the most penetrating and illuminating explanation of the doctrines of predestination and election in the Bible. That may sound scary to you, but let me ask you an important question. Do you believe in salvation by

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  • Series on Romans XII The Gospel and Confidence Text: 8:28-39 Introduction In verse 37 Paul says that we as Christians are “more than conquerors.” The foundation for that statement of truth begins in verse 28 because there we have a general principle that, in essence, God has nothing but good planned for us. This passage,

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  • XI The Gospel and Indebtedness B Spiritual Deliverance Text: 8:18-27 Introduction The theme of adoption is not abandoned in these verses, but continued from the previous section and enlarged. Now we are specifically told that our adoption will be completed in the resurrection of our bodies, but also that the whole creation will share in

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  • XI The Gospel and Indebtedness A Spiritual Sonship Text: 8:12-17 Introduction Reformed theologian D.F. Kelly has written “Adoption: an Underdeveloped Heritage of the Westminster Standards.” He is right that the implications of our adoption have not often been adequately spelled out in Reformed thought. It is that precious truth that Paul sets before us here.

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  • Series on Romans X The Gospel and Insight Text: 8:1-11 Introduction Thus far in Romans we have seen the desperate need of a world broken by sin and the dreadful condition of mankind. We have seen the glorious provision of salvation through the free gift of the righteousness of God displayed in Jesus Christ, and

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  • Series on Romans IX The Gospel and Indwelling Sin C Rescued without the Law Text: 7:14-25 Introduction In this portion of Romans 7 we have an introduction to what follows in Romans 8. Specifically we have a sin problem which does not go away because we become Christians, but Romans 8 does help us to

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  • Series on Romans IX The Gospel and Indwelling Sin B Revealed by the Law Text: 7:7-13 Introduction Paul has gone out of his way to point out that the law is not only useless for saving us, but also that it is an hard taskmaster and slave-driver for those who do not know the gospel.

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  • Series on Romans IX The Gospel and Indwelling Sin A Released from the Law Text: 7:1-6 Introduction The Apostle begins with an illustration that teaches us that the law is against sinners just as sinners are against the law, but the law is for, not against,  people of faith. As we read on in this

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