MBM Parramatta / Bible Talks

Romans 3 contains what Leon Morris calls, ‘possibly the most important single paragraph ever written’. In this talk, we see why that’s the case. 

To mark the occasion of the reveal of our new church name, we see how Jesus alone brings the renewal we all need to make us his renewed people.

To the Jew who thinks that simply being a Jew, or simply having the law or circumcision means they will be spared from God’s wrath on the day of judgment, Paul points out that God’s standard is not having the law but keeping the law. God is not impressed by the merely outward appearance of external religion. Jews and Gentiles alike will be found without excuse and guilty on the day of God’s wrath.

So often we try to excuse ourselves from God’s judgment by playing the comparison game saying to ourselves: “At least I’m not as bad as …..”. Romans 2 exposes that heart and says all humanity falls under God’s judgment. 

The world we inhabit will remain mysterious to us if we don’t reckon with the reality of God’s wrath. But we also need to know why God’s wrath is a reality, and the result of God’s wrath in our experience of life. This is what Romans 1:18-32 is all about.

The Gospel is God’s power for salvation because it reveals God’s righteousness. Therefore Christians should not be ashamed of it, by build up each other’s faith in it

Romans opens with a bang. It begins with gospel content before inviting gospel response. In these opening 7 verses, Paul issues both a declaration and an invitation to make Jesus Christ your Lord. 

Mission can have its ups and downs, but we should still speak because God will be with us

An exploration of doubt, evidence, and the resurrection of Jesus, showing why believing in him is the difference between uncertainty about death and the promise of eternal life.

Jesus - in the way only he can - teaches about pride. In doing so he outlines polar opposites when it comes to mission and motives.