“Have you ever looked at your life, confused, wondering why thing aren’t working out the way you believe God said they would? Romans 9 echos that question. Paul, with Israel’s unbelief in mind, wrestles with God’s faithfulness while bringing insight to the question, “Has the word of God failed?”

How secure are we in the love of God in Christ? Will God ever give up on us? We’re prone to wander, struggle, doubt, and fail, yet even still, the end of Romans 8 paints a picture of unbreakable assurance. How can this be?

In Romans 7, Paul highlights a major problem for the Jewish people. On the one hand, they have this very good thing known as the Law (they called it “Torah”). However, something crept in and sabotaged what was meant to bring life. Sin – with a capital “S” – entered the picture and now death would be the result for God’s people. What to do? Who will deliver them from such a plight? The good news is that God has provided a glorious remedy!

In chapter 6, Paul urged the church to live in light of their new life in Christ - to count themselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. As he moves forward in his letter, Paul is going to ask God’s people to consider another very important reality. In belonging to Christ, we are now released from the law to serve in the new way of the Spirit.

Last week, we talked about how Christians are dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. God has declared this to be so, so it is true whether we feel this way or not. This week, we will see how this should impact our daily lives.