GRINDIT podcast

Let's just admit it...sin is fun...at least for the most part. Gratifying our flesh feels great and we are quick to do so...unfortunately. But we don't have to and we strive not to! Paul says we are to not yield our bodies as instruments of sin but righteousness. We actually have a choice! Sin is born out of temptations that come from a desire within ourselves. We can stop it dead in its tracks but far too often we choose to carry the temptation out and sin. We use our body as an instrument to sin instead of righteousness. In fact, Paul says we are a slave to whichever we choose! So choose to do what is right! Choose Jesus!

Paul has been telling the Jews at the church at Rome they are not to judge anyone because they too, are sinners. They have no place to condemn anyone because of their own sinfulness and just being a Jew will not make them right with God. They had this thought that their sin brought glory to God and Paul is trying to show them otherwise. He then uses the father of the Jews, Abraham, as an example for them to follow. In chapter 6, Paul tells them straight, “You have died to sin and you are no longer a slave to sin…so quit doing it!” To show them that they have died to sin, he discusses baptism and how they are new creation in Christ and they should live like it. We should take heed to what Paul tells them!

Because the sin of one man, Adam, we are still reaping the consequences to this day. People are dying every day, a separation occurs. Our loved ones leave us and pass on into eternity and it brings sorrow because we miss them. But even greater than this, Jesus, the second Adam, has brought hope, he has brought salvation by dying himself and conquering the power and grip of death. Because of Adam’s sin, we were born into sin and are all sinners but Paul makes it clear that through the second Adam, Jesus, and his sacrifice, our sins are forgiven and our relationship with the Father is restored. Every person, no matter what they have done, no matter what sin they commit, can have partake of this gift by putting their faith in Jesus!

What a powerful chapter! What a powerful letter Paul has written to the church at Rome and God has blessed us with preserving the words he penned! In this podcast we learn that Jesus has made us friends again with God, that he has reconciled our relationship with the Father by shedding his blood for us, not because we are so good, not because we deserve it, not because we have our lives in order, no, but while we were enemies, while we were sinners! God has given us everything we need for salvation in his Son, Jesus! All we have to do is put our faith and trust in Jesus and we get to enjoy the blessings of heaven! We blew it in the Garden of Eden but God restored our relationship through Jesus and because of his sacrifice, we are made friends again with God! Hallelujah!!!

The first two verses of chapter 5 are so powerful and are life changing. If you are facing trials and storms in life, these two verses are for you! Paul tells us that through faith in Jesus, we have confidence and joy because we will share in God’s glory. We will be in the presence of God someday and will enjoy everything that heaven has to offer! This hope should bring peace, confidence, and joy and should help us endure the trials we face in this life. It’s an undeserved privilege that we get to enjoy because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, the sacrifice he made on our behalf, if, and only if, we put our faith in him.

God means business when it comes to sin but salvation is even greater! He allowed Jesus to die in our place, to pay our penalty for the price of sin and Paul says we have to put our faith in Jesus...nothing else! And he uses Abraham, the father of the Jews, as an example of faith. Abraham was given several promises from God and he waited 25 years for Isaac to be born and Paul says Abraham's faith never wavered! It was his faith that God counted Abraham as righteous.

Paul is having a great discussion with the Jews at the church at Rome and he is trying to convince them that, just because they are Jews, that doesn't mean they are right with God. The covenant Goid made with Abraham will not save them nor will the law. The only way they can have a right relationship with God is through faith in Christ. Paul gives an example using Abraham, the father of the Jews, to show them the Abraham was not justified by works but by his faith in God! With works, salvation would be earned like a wage, but salvation is a gift of God that only comes through Jesus Christ.

One thing we do not like very much is people doing things for us, especially us men. We have a hard time admitting we even have a need and to watch someone just do something for us for no reason at all, it just gets all over us! And then we think we have to return the favor. Paul tells the Jews in his letter to the church at Rome that they can work until they drop but those works will never save them because the law cannot save. Salvation comes through Jesus and he has done everything we need for salvation. All we have to do is put our faith and trust in him! It doesn't matter what we do, we can never repay, or return the favor, for what Jesus has done for us. We just need to have faith in him and trust him!

Paul is having a long discussion with some Jews in his letter to the church at Rome who think, just because they are Jews, they are in good standing with God. They have the covenant with Abraham, they have the law given through Moses, and they are God's chosen people! Paul even tells them there some advantages to being a Jew but being a Jew will not save them. Paul tells them plainly that the law was given to reveal sin, it shows the entire world is guilty, and that we have no excuse for not turning to God.

Paul tells the Jews in Rome they are not in good standing with God just because they were born into a Jewish family and have cut their skin on their private part because of some covenant God made with Abraham. He tells them they may know the law well but if they don’t practice it, then it’s not doing them any good. In fact, Paul says the way to know if we are in good standing with God and have a relationship with Him is a changed heart! A changed heart can only come from God’s Holy Spirit! How do I know if I have a changed heart? Paul tells us: If we seek praise from people, then we don’t have a changed heart but if we seek praise from God, our hearts are changed…