The fact that the Gospel is so simple is what makes it so offensive.  We’re hard working Americans.  We work hard for hard-earned rewards.  And then along comes Jesus who tells us the work of God is simply to believe.  Faith in Christ isn’t a license for laziness, but neither is it the icing on the cake we’ve worked so hard to bake.  Jesus calls anyone and everyone to have faith in Him and follow Him.  To those with a religious pedigree, He says your works aren’t what pays your way.  To those with a shameful record, He says your past won’t keep you out of His kingdom.  It’s quite simple: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Jesus used a lot of different images to describe His identity.  He said He was the gate, the bread of life, the good shepherd, the son of man, etc.  At one point, in order to demonstrate His role to His fellow Jews, He quoted Psalm 118:22, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”  The cornerstone is laid in order to give order and form to the whole building.  Jesus was saying He is the foundation stone of the Kingdom of God.  What a tragedy that many of His hearers and many of Paul’s hearers not only refused to align their lives with Christ as their cornerstone; instead, they tripped over it, ruining their souls.

It is scary to confess that God is sovereign, that He is free to do whatever He pleases.  It is also scary to imagine a world where God isn’t sovereign, where He isn’t free to do all His holy will.  God says He controls all things: “in him all things hold together” (Col 1:17).  If He’s in control, then what control do I have?  And if I sin, why does God still blame me for something He ultimately controls?  Good questions—biblical questions, in fact.  And if we’re asking these questions, then it means we are getting to know better the God who is revealed in Romans.

God is God.  That seems self-evident, but we don’t always recognize it.  Most of the time, we see ourselves as gods.  We see ourselves as sovereign.  We see ourselves as determining our destiny.  God’s Word tells us the facts: God is God, God is sovereign, God determines our destiny.  Lots of questions come fast and furious on the heels of this truth, but so do the reassurances.  We can’t trust the promises of Romans 8 without the bedrock foundation of Romans 9.  The reason why nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is because nothing in all creation can keep Him from accomplishing His purposes.

We’re heading into some historically rough seas in Romans.  Rough seas can capsize you, or they can make you a better sailor.  Calm seas may be pleasant, but you don’t learn about the power and dynamics of the ocean that way.  Romans 9-11 have a lot of hot topics in them: predestination, missions, and the nature of Israel.  We’ll chart a course straight through these chapters, and as long as we keep our eyes set on the sure star of God’s mercy, He will bless our journey and we will know Him better for it.

“I know a guy…”  These words often introduce a turning point in a difficult situation.  Maybe someone desperately needs a job and is introduced to a friend-of-a-friend who helps him get hired.  Maybe someone is being harassed and needs protection.  Or maybe someone is sick and needs a sympathetic specialist.  If you are a Christian, it is because someone introduced you to the One who saved you.  And once you are under the salvation and protection of the Good Shepherd, nothing and no one can separate you from His love!

We’re all familiar with things like headaches, toothaches, and bellyaches—the kinds of things that make us long for relief.  But have you ever had a “soulache”?  Paul talks about how the Spirit in us groans for God to bring relief to our deepest longings.  Even creation itself groans for God to make right what our sin has corrupted.  Looking for relief outside of Jesus just adds to our pain.  But when our hope is in Him, He promises to work out all things for our good and His glory.

My family and I left Orlando last Saturday to travel to the Gulf coast about seven hours before our nation's newest tragedy unfolded in that city.  One man with hatred in his heart increased the growing grim gain of evil in our world.  Wickedness takes many forms, but it is most evident in the face of unprovoked violence. How fitting it is that my new friend, DJ Carter, is with us this Father's Day to remind us of the love of the Father, who brings together those who have been hurt and who have hurt one another so we who were enemies can now become brothers and sisters.

Have you ever imagined what it would have been like to walk and talk with Jesus in person?  We know that this is not possible right now because Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father.  And that is actually a good thing.  Jesus said, “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).  Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit (the Helper) and this is to our advantage.  Have you ever considered that?  As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells in each one of us.  He reminds us of our true identity as children of God and equips us to live as such.  There is no power that can overcome His testimony and His work.  Be encouraged!  The Holy Spirit lives within you..

One of the things that excited me most about moving back to this area was being able to enjoy the beautiful mountains and valleys once again.  When I think about these wonderful sights, I am also reminded of my walk with the Lord.  It is full of mountains and valleys.  We are new creatures.  We have been set free from the dominion of sin.  And we have been promised that we will grow in holiness.  Should not our walks with the Lord be a steady, unwavering climb towards Christlikeness?  However, that is not what we find.  Our walks with the Lord are full of ups and downs.  Don’t despair!  God’s grace is sufficient for you.  Jesus has already prepared a place for you at the very top of the mountain and He has promised to bring you there.