FPFO

Moses sets up the tabernacle and God's glory comes to dwell in the midst of His people in this final chapter in Exodus. God shows He is faithful to His promises and does exactly as He said. Despite the unfaithfulness and rebelliousness of His people, God shows Himself both faithful and gracious.

Romans 1:16-17 are perhaps the epistle's most important verses as Paul explains his reason for confidence in the gospel, namely it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe.

Israel begins to build the tabernacle itself, which is a remarkable testimony of God's graciousness to His sinful people. He has not only forgiven the rebels who rejected Him, but also permits them to build Him a dwelling place, provides all the materials they need to do so, and blesses them in the midst their renewed obedience. All this magnifies the beauty of God's grace.

Paul expresses his gratitude to God for the faith of the church at the heart of the empire even as he explains his desire to come and minister in their midst (Romans 1:8-15).

Moses returns from the 40 days on the mountain after beholding God's glorious goodness and his face is radiant. While Moses' face initially frightens the Israelites, it serves as an assurance to rebellious, but forgiving Israel that God's presence will persist with them.

We begin a new sermon series in Paul's Letter to the Church at Rome. In Romans 1:1-7 the Apostle begins to introduce himself and his commission from Christ as well as marvel at the glories of the gospel that brought them together.

In Exodus 34 God graciously renews the covenant with Israel and reveals Himself to them as the very God they need. Not that there are any other gods, but that he alone - in Himself and His fullness - is everything they require.

Israel has expressed some fruit of repentance of their idolatry, and Moses returns to plead with God to show grace toward His people. God announces to Moses His intention to be gracious and fulfill all His previous covenant promises to Israel because Moses has found favor with God and God will treat Israel as Moses deserves rather than as Israel deserves. Here we are clearly prepared for the work of Christ and come to understand it is not our repentance that saves us or makes us right with God, but God's pleasure in His Son.

In Psalm 25 David provides a pattern for our prayers. Realizing his own sinfulness, he yet calls out to God to show mercy and save him from the consequences of his actions.

Following the disastrous attempt of Aaron at Sinai to preserve God's relevance before Israel, God announces he will keep His promise to give Israel the land He gave to their forefathers, but He will not accompany them or dwell in their midst. Israel finally grasps something of the dreadfulness of their idolatry and responds with expressions of repentance.