MBM Rooty Hill / Bible Talks

As God’s people we have been saved by him not to remain as we are, but to live lives that reflect a new reality. Being born again into God’s family results in a different, a new identity. But what does it look like to live now, in light of a new identity? How do we live with a new identity as we wrestle with our sin? To help us think about this, Romans 6:1–14 highlights our union, our connection, our unbreakable tie to Jesus which is the basis for how we think about ourselves now, and how that impacts the decisions we make.

Jonah is in the belly of a fish with nowhere left to run. His prayer shows us what we deserve from God and what we actually get; but also something more uncomfortable: it's possible to cry out to God for rescue while still holding back the very thing He's asking for.

When we don't like what God has to say, the temptation is to run. Jonah 1 shows us that running from God impacts more than just ourselves, but the God we run from is the same God who pursues us.

We all understand the effects of Adam’s failure. We see them every day in a world marked by sin and death. But Romans 5:12-21 shows us something even greater: Jesus Christ is the Better Adam whose perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection secure eternal life for His people. Discover how and why Christ’s work does not merely undo Adam's damage, but overwhelms it with grace.

When someone comes to trust in Jesus there is the great promise of forgiveness and eternal life. The benefits of being made right with God, however, are not things simply limited to the future, they begin right now. In Romans 5 we have a listing of multiple benefits to those who trust in Jesus. These benefits help us to live life now finding our confidence in God’s love for us.

Having a right standing with God is something to be deeply grateful for. Trusting in Jesus alone and receiving the gracious gift of forgiveness is indeed worth celebrating. As we celebrate, however, it is easy to think in the process that we have actually done something of merit that contributes to our position. In Romans 4, Paul writes to correct this line of thinking by reminding us that our position as God’s children is not a result of our good endeavours but like Abraham, comes through trusting God’s promises and plan.

It is always a relief to hear good news after hearing bad news. In Romans 1:18–3:20, Paul has outlined the bad news of our deserved judgment before a Holy God. There is no amount of good work that we can do to appease God’s judgment and we are in dire straits. In Romans 3:21–31 we finally arrive at the good news. God has done something about our problem. In this passage that we discovered the good news that we can be delivered from God’s wrath. This is through faith alone, grace alone, in Jesus alone. Great news for all who will accept this wonderful God’s gift.

Everyone stands before God with no excuse, the verdict is guilty. Only when we understand there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves, will we run to the One who can.

One of the most common descriptors people use of themselves or others is the nature of their religion. Of the major religions in the world, there are some similarities but also many differences when it comes to faith. While religion is normally assessed as being personal and a way one encounters the divine, in Romans 2:17–3:8, the Apostle Paul points out three significant short-comings regarding religion. Paul’s discussion comes in the context of humanity’s common shortcomings when it comes to a relationship with God.