The heart of the Gospel is that we are saved by faith through God’s grace. Paul has gone to great lengths to establish that everyone is sinful ... 2 1/2 chapters of bad news. But now the good news ... the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith.

In this lengthy section of Romans Paul has one point to make: Everyone is sinful. Those who can trace their ancestry back to Abraham need forgiveness through Jesus as much as any Gentile.

The message about Jesus has totally transformed the life of Paul. He has been turned around from being an enemy of the church to its most outspoken advocate. Paul wants to make clear why the Gospel shapes his life.

Israel's rocky relationship with God is nothing new. They continue to ignore their history and make the same mistakes their fathers did. But God is patient and His love faithfulness will not let this pattern continue forever.

Israel have taken their future into their own hands and run to other nations for their safety. They have rejected the covenant, and forgotten who their Father is.

Israel no longer know God. They do not relate to him through obedience. It will take extreme circumstances for Israel to see their rejection and repent for what they have done.

Hosea must love unconditionally in the face of deep betrayal and unfaithfulness to get a glimpse of what it's like to be in God's shoes in His relationship with Israel.

You can get a glimpse of what God is like by just looking around. But to really know God, we need God to reveal himself to us ... to speak to us.

The book of Revelation ties the whole story of the Bible together. God's people are gathered together with God in the place he has created for them ... a garden of Eden-like place.

The death of Jesus ... far from being a tragic accident ,,, was at the centre of God's plan.