PASTOR'S PEN

For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. Romans 12:3 Paul starts the practical part of Romans by emphasizing humility. After describing God's mercies, he focuses on perspective rather than immediate action. Maintaining the right view of ourselves is vital for faithful service. When Paul refers to God giving

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1 A core principle in the Reformed tradition is the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 5:1: “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God…” This peace is not just an emotion or fleeting feeling. It is an objective, lasting reality rooted in Christ’s finished work. Before salvation, Scripture depicts us as “enemies” of

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18 You would be hard-pressed to walk into any church and not hear about the love of God. In our world, people often speak freely of God’s love but rarely of His wrath. Yet the Bible teaches that God’s wrath is a holy and just response to sin. It is not an uncontrolled rage, but the righteous judgment of a perfect God a

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 What do you think of when you hear the word justified? Webster defines justified as “having or shown to have a just, right, or reasonable basis.” We use the term in case of justifiable homicide. The taking of another life in self-defense or trying to save the life of another would be ruled a justifiable homicide. You might be justified in a civil proceeding where

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. Romans 14:8 When you think of the term “sold out” what comes to mind? Paul did not use that term when it came to being a follower of Christ. He was more direct as we see in Romans 14:8. Once we become a believer in Jesus Christ we make Him Lord of our lives. There is no salvation without Christ being the Lord of our lives. It seems unbelievabl

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6:1 When a person becomes a Christian, they are “born again” (John 3:3). They were dead in their sins and now are alive in Christ. However, until we meet Jesus face to face we will struggle with sin. Christians will have a battle with sin as long as we live in these earthly vessels. So, Paul, knowing this, reminds all believers that even as God’s grace has justified us before a holy God, it does n