In demonstrating the truth of what he says, Paul appeals to Abraham as the father of the Jewish nation -- but Abraham also started out as a Gentile! There was no nation of Israel and God would not give them the Law for over 400 years. Since Abraham's relationship with God was based on faith (Gen 15:6), he serves as a demonstration that we all come to God through faith rather than obedience to the Law.

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Apart from faith, Paul spoke of the Law as having such limited power that it can only make us aware of our own guilt. But through faith in Christ, the Law can be fulfilled and we can be cleansed of all guilt. But how? There are many ways to unpack the answer to thist question, but they all start with Christ's goodness. Through faith, the Law can finally produce goodness in us by driving us to Christ, the source of all goodness.

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Having established the bad news, Paul finally begins to lay out the good news. No one comes to God through perfect obedience to the divine law, rather, we all come to God through God's mercy and grace! Not only is this truth fully revealed in Jesus but the clues were always there, even in the earliest writings of Moses. We all come to God as equals -- equally in need of God's grace!

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Sermon #2 of Highrock's fall series, "Behind the Curtain: Secrets of the Seven Churches of Revelation" by Pastor Meghan DeJong from Revelation 2:12-17

Paul concludes that God's Law is good. However, the Law's goodness does not have the power to transform us and give us life. Rather, its goodness shows us how far we have to go and how powerless we are to make that journey on our own power. We are helpless -- that is the bad news -- but the good news is coming!

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

As Paul begins to wrap-up his discussion of the bad news, he begins to address some final objections and potential loopholes. For instance, if knowing all about God and being part of a community of such people does not make us good enough, then why bother? Paul is clear -- such things have great value! But they are a trust given to us to share with others, not something that makes us better than anyone else.

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Have you ever received a package in which the contents do not match the outer packaging or labeling? That outer label is unhelpful and might even be dangerous. Similarly, Paul tells his fellow Jews that their outward religious acts are valuable only if they come from the heart. Such integrity might be impossible without a God who grants us new hearts through the Spirit!

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

As Paul continues to explain the universal brokenness of all humanity, he anticipates and defuses potential excuses. In the previous passage, we saw how a lack of knowledge is not an excuse. In today's passage, we see the flip side -- that knowledge of God's instructions and even knowledge of God does not make us right if we are not faithful to what we know. Hypocritical religion hurts everyone and turns people away from God.

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

For this holiday, here's a replay in which Pastor Kim shares that people often say that they feel distant from God because of a self-critical spirit or an image of God that is harsh and condemning. In this Psalm, we see God as slow to anger and abounding in love, a parent who is compassionate and gentle. What experiences and assumptions do we carry with us that warp our sense of who God is?

Looking for a previous devo? Want to share one with a friend? Start here:

https://www.highrock.org/daily-devotionals/

Sermon #1 of Highrock's fall series, "Behind the Curtain: Secrets of the Seven Churches of Revelation" by Pastor Dave Swaim from Revelation 2:1-7