Here Paul continues speaking of the central and essential place of the Spirit in the lives of believers. To that end he contrasts two communities of people those who do not have the Spirit and those who do. Believers are those who do and this makes all the difference. He will yet speak to the implications of this reality but here he focuses our attention on this fact and the resultant truths.

Here Paul begins to spell out for us the vital role of the Holy Spirit in Gods redemptive work. The Father sent the Son. The Son died for us as a sin offering and the Spirit applies the work of the cross to our lives, freeing us from the tyranny of sin and empowering us to live out our new lives. As those in Christ, we no longer live in the realm of the flesh but now in the realm of the Spirit.

Here we tackle a much debated text in Romans. How are we to understand what Paul writes at this point in his letter? Is he describing his current experience as a Christian or is something else going on here? Listen to explore with us why this passage is debated, what Paul is arguing, the point he is making and what this all means for us today.

Here Paul begins a two part digression in the flow of his argument. In light of a number of things he has said about the Law and especially in light of what he just said in the previous verses that we have been released from the Law Paul preemptively counters a possible conclusion some might come to, namely that the Law is sinful. But it isnt. The Law is good, it just cant save us. Our problem lies elsewhere.

Having made clear both our need for justification and the way of justification (through faith in Jesus), Paul is now addressing the implications of justification for our lives. In chapter 6 he has made it clear that justification does not mean that we should continue in sin (to increase grace) or that we should continue in sin (because we are not under law). But how then should we live if not by mere rule-keeping. Here in the beginning of chapter 7, Paul points us to the new way we are to live as those justified by the grace of God.

Laurence Hiebert was our guest speaker.

Here Paul confronts us with the assertion that we as human beings are all enslaved either to sin or to God. The freedom that is ours through faith in Jesus, does not liberate us to live however we want but rather ushers us into a new kind of slavery, a slavery to God. Radically different that our former slave-master, God loves us and desires that we become who he created us to be His image bearers reflecting his likeness in the world and walking in intimate fellowship with Him. Submission to God obedience is, in fact, true freedom.

Paul continues his argument with exhortations that naturally follow what he has previously asserted about our union with Christ and the new life that is ours through faith. In light of that new reality there is something we are not to do any longer and there is now something new we are to do. Living out these exhortations, both negative and positive, will not come easy. But as those who now live under grace, we are called to lean into this new life, fighting the fight of faith.

Having described two streams of humanity those in Adam and those now in Christ Paul asserts what is true for the latter. Those who have trusted Jesus are now win Christ which means their old life in Adam is over and they have entered into a new life. This radical change is symbolized in baptism which illustrates our union with Jesus our substitute. Grasping the truth of this spiritual reality is the foundation for us learning to live out that new reality.

In this message we will reflect on how we are to live as followers of Jesus in this world that is not ultimately our home. This how is fleshed out in our Vision statement and speaks to three different but important aspects of the Christian life. To this end we will survey and explore Peters first epistle which speaks to Christians in his day living in an inhospitable world. In the midst of difficult surroundings we are called to pursue Jesus in community on mission for Christ and this because of what is already true of us through Jesus.