Romans
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Introduction In this section Paul is still talking about the promise but he emphasizes the nature of saving faith as opposed to the works of the law. He shows that the promise is to everyone who believes and not just to Israel which possessed the law of God. The Bible is all about promises. A
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Series on Romans XX Spiritual Parting Advice Text: Romans 16:1-27 Introduction In his concluding remarks the Apostle continues his fervent devotion to the truth that God’s purpose in the plan of salvation and in Christ can only be fulfilled through the union of Jews and Gentiles in one dedicated fellowship. You will recall again how
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Series on Romans XIX Spiritual Vision Text: 15: 14-33 Introduction I believe it was John Wesley, founder of Methodism, who, when he was ejected from the pulpits of the established church in England, declared, the world is my parish. However, every pastor, evangelist, and missionary would echo that sentiment. Paul was what we now affectionately
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Series on Romans XVIII Spiritual Unity Text: 15:1-13 Introduction The disagreements of Chapter 14 and the mistrust born of the dissension are still in view in the admonitions of chapter 15. In the contemporary church there are still those who are strong and those who are weak, but the practices that separate are more likely
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Series on Romans XVII Spiritual Freedom Text: 14:1-23 Introduction Many controversial issues are raised in Romans 14, but the guiding principle is disclosed in verse 1.Paul clearly says he is writing about “disputable” matters. Paul’s motivation in writing this advice is clearly his zeal, as expressed in chapter 12, for the unity, growth and blessing
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Series on Romans XVI Spiritual Service Text 13:1-14 Introduction The Bible says in Ephesians 5 that husbands are to submit to Christ and wives are to submit to their own husbands. Our hatred of the subject of submission, as a culture, is well documented in the number of women who refuse to include the word
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Series on Romans XV Spiritual Gain C Graces Text:12:9-21 Introduction As we go through this 12th chapter of Romans we should bear in mind the development of Paul’s thought here. Charles Hodge summarizes it as follows, “The Apostle argues that Since we have been justified through grace, by faith in Christ, it is our first
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Series on Romans XV Spiritual Gain B Gifts Text: 12:3-8 Introduction We hear a lot of talk about charismatic Christians.This text makes clear that we are all charismatic Christians. A charisma is simply a gift, and as Paul addresses the Christians in Rome he makes it clear that “every one” of them has received a
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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
Dr. John P. Clark's Sermons & Writings 