Romans 8:1 declares glorious news for all believers. If we are Christ’s, there is absolutely no condemnation for us!

That message is amazing because condemnation is exactly what we each deserve. Punishment would be completely just. Our condemnation goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve failed to obey God in Genesis 3:1–15.

It all started when a serpent approached Eve and questioned what God had really commanded His people to do. Satan always tries to get us to question God’s clarity. Adam and Eve listened to the serpent, doing exactly what they knew God had told them not to do and committing the first sin. Immediately, they desperately scrambled to cover themselves and hide in shame.

In a single moment, through just a bite of fruit, everything changed. Now Adam and Eve bore the weight of guilt. They stood before God, justly condemned.

When God confronted them about this, their response was blame. While they were truly responsible for their actions, they hurried to point fingers at others, trying to make it anyone else’s responsibility. Adam blamed God and Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.

In His mercy and grace, however, God did not give them what they deserved in that moment. Instead, He promised that their condemnation — and ours — would be met with grace through the cross of Christ. God sacrificed animals to make clothing to cover Adam and Eve’s shame, and He promised a far better sacrifice to come. Jesus would come to crush the serpent’s head!

This is why Romans 8:1 can proclaim that, as God’s children, we have no condemnation. Christ’s blood has covered our sin, shame, guilt, and blame. The serpent is no match for our Messiah!

Each of us is searching for a home for our heart. That home is found only in Jesus. Free from condemnation, we can safely rest in the loving arms of a God who cared enough to send us a Savior.

Jesus Wins: A Recap of Dr. Scroggins’ Message on Romans 6

Today in chapel, Dr. Jimmy Scroggins from Family Church in South Florida preached from the second half of Romans 6, continuing to emphasize the truth that Jesus wins in the process of justification and sanctification. In this passage, Paul gives believers a framework for understanding sanctification — the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ after justification.

Dr. Scroggins reminded us that justification is a status. We are made righteous not by our own works but by Christ’s finished work on the cross: through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. Sanctification, however, is the daily process of living out that reality, even as we struggle against temptation and failure.

Point 1: Sin is your old master.

Paul is clear that sin once held full authority over us. Even now, sin still tries to act like our master. Dr. Scroggins illustrated this by describing how we sometimes “have conversations” with sin by offering parts of our body to sin, such as our mouth in what we say. Romans 6:12 warns us not to let sin reign in our bodies because it is no longer our rightful ruler.

Point 2: Jesus is your new Master.

In direct contrast to Romans 6:12, Paul declares that believers have been set free from sin and have instead become slaves to righteousness in verse 22. Because of this idea, Dr. Scroggins emphasized that we now serve a better master, Jesus. Therefore, instead of offering our parts of ourselves to sin, we must present our bodies, words, works, and time as instruments of righteousness to God.

Point 3: We still have to fight the old master.

Though Christ has freed us, sin does not simply disappear. Dr. Scroggins warned us that all sin is addictive, progressive, and destructive, and our temptations gain power when desire, opportunity, and repetition align. In the fight against sin, giving yourself zero access is the key to success. Cutting off all opportunities for parts of ourselves to be offered to our old master, sin, helps guard our minds and hearts in the process of sanctification.

Point 4: Our new master is better than our old master.

Finally, Paul makes a clear contrast: Sin leads to death. But life under Christ is different. Jesus offers freedom, restoration, and eternal life. Our new master is infinitely better than the old one.

Dr. Scroggins concluded by reminding us that though we will stumble, sanctification is God’s work in us. The old master will not win in the end — because Jesus already has.

This morning in chapel, Cedarville University’s senior class had the privilege of hearing from Dr. Ronni Kurtz, Assistant Professor of Theology. Preaching from Colossians 1, Dr. Kurtz shared a timely and encouraging word on cultivating a soul that is stable and steadfast in an often unstable world. 

Colossians 1:23 urges believers to “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard.” With this verse as a foundation, Dr. Kurtz walked through three essential practices for building a firm and enduring spiritual life. 

1. Keep the Gospel Centered 

At the heart of the Christian life is the good news of Jesus Christ. As fickle and unsteady as we may feel, Christ is always faithful. Dr. Kurtz reminded us that Christian maturity is not moving beyond the Gospel, but deeper into it. The Gospel is not just the starting point; it is the substance of the entire Christian journey. 

2. Stay in the Church 

“Lone wolf Christianity is dangerous and deadly,” Dr. Kurtz warned. We were made for community. The local church is where believers grow, worship, and hold each other accountable. We need brothers and sisters who, in love, view us as their problem in the best sense. They walk beside us, encourage us, and won’t let us stumble without reaching out a hand. 

Through ordinary means of grace — baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and corporate worship — we are drawn deeper into fellowship with Christ and one another. These aren’t empty rituals; they are sacred rhythms that shape our souls. 

3. Keep Your Eyes on Christ 

Echoing Colossians 1:15–20, which lifts our eyes to the supremacy of Christ, Dr. Kurtz encouraged us to “look at Christ until we look like Christ.” The greatest reward of the Christian life is not just heaven, but Him. “One day you will gaze your eyes on His beauty,” he said, “so do it now.” 

As Christians, we hold firmly to the authority of Scripture and the importance of the local church. Dr. Kurtz's message called us back to these essentials: rooting our hearts in the Gospel, pressing into community, and fixing our gaze on Christ. 

In a world full of shifting sand, we are invited to stand stable and steadfast — not by our own strength, but through the faithful love of our Savior.  

Today in chapel, Cedarville’s president, Dr. Thomas White, led us through a powerful message from Joshua 24, calling us to a firm and personal decision: “Choose today whom you will serve.” Grounded in Scripture and overflowing with pastoral wisdom, Dr. White reminded us of the grace of God and the call it places on our lives not just to believe in but to actively serve the Lord. 

Dr. White opened by challenging us to consider how often we chase after counterfeit comforts — things that offer temporary peace but are ultimately empty. Just like Israel struggled with idols, we too are tempted to turn away from the real thing, from the Lord who is living, faithful, and true. 

Two key words framed the message: “The Lord” and “Serve.” It’s not enough to simply know about God; we are called to serve Him with wholehearted devotion. Drawing from Joshua’s third and final speech to Israel, Dr. White broke the chapter down into three key parts: 

1. The Third Speech (Joshua 24:1): Joshua gathers all the tribes and presents a final challenge. 
2. God’s Grace Remembered (Joshua 24:2–13): A sweeping reminder of all God had done — from Abraham to the conquest of Canaan. 
3. God’s Grace Required (Joshua 24:14–28): The call to respond in faithfulness, reverence, and service. 

The message was clear: By God’s grace, decide today to serve the Lord. As Dr. White emphasized, “You can’t serve the Lord alone.” We were reminded that faith is not meant to be lived in isolation. We need a local church, the daily intake of God's Word, and a posture of dependence on His mercy. 

Ephesians 2:4-5 echoed through the message: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us ... made us alive together with Christ.” This is the foundation of our service — it flows not from duty but from gratitude for the Gospel. 

Dr. White closed with this charge: Remember what God has done. Decide today to live for Jesus. Recognize your dependence on Him. How will you respond? 

We believe in a personal and voluntary commitment to follow Jesus. Today, we were reminded that the time to choose is now. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Today. 

So, what will you choose? 

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). 

In the Whisper: The Power and Gentleness of God: 1 Kings 19:1–18

Have you ever felt like you gave your all, only to feel like it didn’t matter? That’s exactly where we find Elijah in 1 Kings 19, the focus of Dr. Will Smallwood in chapel today. After a mountaintop victory on Mount Carmel, where fire fell from heaven and the prophets of Baal were defeated, Elijah expected revival. Instead, he received a death threat from Jezebel — and he ran. “It is enough,” Elijah says in verse 4. This prophet who had seen God raise the dead, stop the rain, and send fire from heaven was suddenly drowning in discouragement. Why? Because when our joy is rooted in anything other than the glory of God and the salvation of souls, it will be fleeting. We all face moments like this. Discontentment slowly eats away at our perspective until we find ourselves isolated, disillusioned, and despairing. But the beauty of this story is not just Elijah’s honesty — it’s God’s response. God doesn’t rebuke Elijah. Instead, He sustains him with food and rest. Then, He leads Elijah to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There, Elijah encounters God not in fire or an earthquake, but a whisper. A gentle voice. “And after the fire came a gentle whisper ... Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’”

— 1 Kings 19:12–13. God reminds Elijah: You are part of the story, but you are not the story. Elijah wanted control, vindication, and clarity. God gave him something better — His presence, His voice, and His reassurance that He was still at work.

Key Truths from 1 Kings 19:

1. God meets us in our weakness with grace.
2. Discontentment distorts our view, but God’s whisper realigns it.
3. True joy is found in surrender, not in success.
4. God’s will is always holy, good, and purposeful — even when it’s hard to understand.

Action Steps:

• Pause and Reflect – Where might you be striving instead of abiding? Are you listening for the whisper?
• Name the Discontent – What expectations have led you to discouragement? Surrender them.
• Trust His Voice – Like Elijah, go to the mountain of God. Open His Word. Let His whisper speak louder than your fear.

When your dreams are no longer your reality, do you trust God enough to keep going? Even in the whisper, He is speaking. He is not done with you yet.