Romans 4-5

July 31, 2016 • Romans 4—5

Romans 6-8

August 7, 2016 • Romans 6—8

I really hope you're enjoying the Book of Romans as much as I am! As we soar over this most profound book and get a glimpse of the breathtaking vistas, you can't help but be amazed at God's glorious plan of salvation through the Gospel. In chapter 6, Paul pauses to deal with a question that naturally arises when people hear that we're saved simply by grace through faith in Christ, not because of anything we do. If our good works add nothing to our justification before God, and our righteousness is not our own, then why in the world do we need to do good works at all? Why fight sin? Why fight temptation? Why not just give in? If we've been set free from the demands of the law, why can't we just live free, doing anything we want? Remember the exhilarating feeling you experienced when you first got your driver's license? Woo hoo!! Freedom!! Time to hit the road! One of the things you quickly realize (especially after that first speeding ticket): you're not as free as you thought. With the new freedom to drive, you get a new framework in which to drive, so you can continue to enjoy your freedom to drive, and not impinge on any one else's freedom. Same goes with our freedom in Christ. We are set free from sin in order to enjoy the freedom of holiness.

Romans 9-11

August 14, 2016 • Romans 9—11

Sick of the election yet? Cheer up, there's only than 3 months left of it (!). Today, we'll be talking about a more encouraging kind of election. This one isn't about Hillary and Donald (thankfully). We'll be diving deep into some of the most profound but also historically confusing chapters in all of the Bible. Most churches never even crack open the book of Romans, not to mention Romans 9-11. So, you, Mosaic, are in luck! We'll be wrestling with questions like: what is unconditional election? Does God really predestine people to salvation, even before they are born? How is that fair? Isn't this flagrant favoritism and injustice? What about everyone else? Doesn't God love everyone equally? Are we just robots then? Do our decisions matter? If God does elect people to salvation, then why do we need to share the Gospel? Why put so much work into evangelism? Once we grasp the meaning of election and its connection to evangelism, we too will cry out with St. Paul, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!