Line Upon Line

Paul's anguished declaration in Romans 7:13-25 describes the war between the believer's new nature in Christ and the old sinful flesh. Pastor Miles unlocks the passage with the "I/me key" and the "good key," showing that the law is good but cannot save, and that deliverance comes only through Jesus Christ.

Paul answers whether the law itself is sin by showing that the law is holy, just, and good—it exposes indwelling sin like an x-ray and points us to Christ. Drawing on Paul's own experience as a converted Pharisee, the teaching shows that the law cannot make us righteous but reveals our deep need for the Deliverer.

Paul teaches that just as death releases a spouse from the binding covenant of marriage, believers have died to the law through the body of Christ so they may be joined to the risen Jesus and bear fruit to God. Released from the law's judgment and the dominion of sin, Christians now serve in the newness of the Spirit rather than the oldness of the letter.

Paul anticipates the question: if we are under grace and no longer under the law, why not keep sinning? His answer is that grace does not free us into autonomy but transfers our slavery — from bondage to sin (which yields shame, lost joy, captivity of will, and death) to the service of righteousness and God, which yields holiness and everlasting life.

Building on Romans 1-5's teaching about justification, this study turns to sanctification, showing that believers have died to sin and been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life. Because we are no longer slaves to sin but freed by grace, we are called to reckon ourselves dead to sin and present our bodies as instruments of righteousness to God.

Examining Romans 5:12-21, this teaching contrasts the two most impactful men in human history—Adam, whose one act of disobedience brought sin and death to all humanity, and Jesus, whose one righteous act on the cross makes justification and eternal life available to all who believe. The "Adam Bomb" of original sin is answered by the super-abounding grace found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Drawing on the "therefore" of Romans 5:1-11, this teaching shows that those justified by grace through faith have peace with God, access to abundant grace, and a certain hope of glory—giving believers reason to rejoice not only in their salvation but even in tribulation, which God uses to conform them to the image of Christ.

Working through Romans 4:13-25, Pastor Miles shows that Abraham received God's promise not through keeping the law but through the righteousness of faith, making him the father of all who believe. Because salvation rests on God's promise and Christ's resurrection rather than human works, the same justifying faith Abraham exercised is now available to everyone who believes.

Tracing the Bible's grand storyline of creation, fall, and redemption through Abraham's life, this teaching shows that Abraham was declared righteous by faith—not works, bloodline, or circumcision—and that the same grace through faith is available to all who trust in the God who justifies the ungodly through Jesus Christ.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 3:18, Pastor Miles celebrates the goodness of God demonstrated through Cross Connection Escondido's ministry in 2012 and casts vision for 2013, with the year's theme word, "Reflect," calling believers to behold and mirror the glory of the Lord to the world.