Beyond Belief
Radical Change
October 16, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Romans 12:2
Paul’s main goal in his letter to the Christians in Rome is reconciliation. Paul knew that he couldn’t just tell these Christians to forgive, to be united, and to reconcile, if he didn’t first help them understand why. When we think in a new way, we live in a new way. God’s intent is to conform us to the image of Jesus. We are raised with Christ and clothed in his righteousness. This may mean that we look out of place. But we are dressed for where we are headed.
Freedom
October 9, 2022 • Andrew Cullen • Romans 8:1
As much as we do not like limits, limits serve a purpose. Freedom is not the removal of limits of permission so that we are free to do anything we want. Freedom is not the removal of limits of capacity so that we are able to do anything we want. According to Scripture, freedom gives us the capacity to live according to our permissions. The law that God gave to the Israelites defined what the Israelites had permission to do. But the law did not give them the capacity to live according to those permissions. This is what Paul talks about in Romans. Jesus came to us while we were in prison and took our place to set us free so that we may live.