Send us a text

📖 Episode Summary

In this episode, we examine Paul’s response to one of the most pressing theological questions of his time—and ours: Has God rejected His people, Israel? Drawing on Romans 11:1–10, Paul answers with an emphatic “By no means!” and presents both himself and a preserved remnant as evidence of God's continued faithfulness.

We explore how the apparent shift in salvation history—from Israel to the Gentiles—does not represent a change in God's character or His covenant promises. Rather, Paul shows how even in Israel’s rejection, God is working out His sovereign purpose through grace and election.

🧭 Key Themes

• God’s Faithfulness to Israel: Paul declares that God has not rejected His people, citing his own Jewish identity and calling as proof.
• The Remnant: Just as in the days of Elijah, God has preserved a faithful remnant—chosen not by works but by grace.
• Grace vs. Works: Paul clarifies that salvation is entirely by grace. If it’s by grace, it can’t be by works—otherwise, grace ceases to be grace.
• Spiritual Hardening: Those who rejected Christ have been spiritually hardened. Paul quotes Isaiah and David to show that this outcome was foretold.
• The Tragedy of Missed Messiah: Despite possessing the Scriptures and promises, Israel as a whole missed their Messiah due to pride and mishandling of God’s Word.

🔍 Scripture Focus

• Romans 11:1–2a – “Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite…”
• Romans 11:4 – “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
• Romans 11:5–6 – A remnant chosen by grace, not works.
• Romans 11:7–10 – Israel’s hardening foretold through Isaiah and David.

🧠 Reflective Questions

1. What does Paul’s identity as a Jewish believer reveal about God's ongoing covenant faithfulness?
2. How do the stories of Elijah and the remnant challenge our assumptions about God's activity in times of spiritual decline?
3. In what ways can we be tempted to rely on works rather than grace in our own spiritual journey?
4. How might spiritual hardening occur in a life, a church, or a nation?
5. What warning—and what comfort—can we draw from God’s dealings with Israel?

🕊️ Closing Encouragement

God’s promises do not fail, even when people do. The remnant reminds us that God always preserves a faithful people, not because of merit but because of grace. And if He has not abandoned Israel, we can be confident He will not abandon those who are in Christ.

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

📖 Episode Summary

At first glance, the answer to the question “What does it take to be saved?” seems simple: “Believe in Jesus Christ.” But as we explore Romans 10:14–21, we uncover a profound chain of events that leads to salvation—one that begins not with human decision, but with God’s sovereign grace and a faithful proclamation of the gospel.

In today’s episode, we unpack Paul’s reasoning as he walks us step-by-step, in reverse, through the process: from calling on the Lord → to believing → to hearing → to preaching → to being sent. This backwards logic highlights the cooperative interplay between divine initiative and human responsibility. And yet, Paul does not let Israel off the hook—despite having heard, they did not respond in faith. Their failure, Paul insists, was not for lack of revelation, but for lack of obedience to the gospel.

Join me as we reflect on this text and consider the essential elements of salvation, the vital role of gospel messengers, and the challenge of truly responding to God’s Word in faith.

📌 Key Themes & Takeaways

• Faith Requires Knowledge: Belief in Christ cannot happen unless a person first hears about Him.
• God Sends, We Speak: Proclamation is a divine and human initiative—God sends messengers, and people must speak the gospel.
• Calling = Salvation: Salvation here refers not just to justification, but to the ongoing rescue from sin’s power through calling on the Lord.
• Israel’s Rejection: Despite having heard and understood the gospel, Israel largely rejected it—not due to a lack of access but a lack of faith.
• Faith Comes by Hearing: Faith isn’t a mystical experience—it’s a response to the heard Word of God. That’s where salvation begins.

🧠 Questions for Reflection

1. Why is it necessary for people to hear before they can believe?
2. In what ways are we called to be part of the “sending” process today?
3. How does this passage balance the themes of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility?
4. Are there areas where, like Israel, we may be hearing but not truly responding in faith?

📚 Scripture Readings

• Romans 10:13–21
• Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful are the feet…”
• Romans 9:32 – “They did not pursue it by faith...”
• Romans 5:9–10 – Distinction between justification and salvation

Meditate on to this episode and deepen your understanding of salvation—not just as a moment of belief, but as a movement of God’s grace that invites a life of ongoing faith and transformation.

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Episode Notes: (See Yesterday)

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast, where we journey together through Scripture, verse by verse, seeking wisdom, grace, and truth. 

Today we reach a turning point in Paul’s letter to the Romans—a passage that reveals one of the most important yet commonly made spiritual errors: mistaking religious effort for saving faith. If Romans 9 showed us God’s sovereign mercy, Romans 10 brings it home with a powerful reminder of human responsibility. Join us as we unpack why people stumble over the simplicity of grace and how salvation is as near as your own heart and mouth.

📘 Episode Summary:

In this episode, we explore Paul’s urgent appeal in Romans 9:30–10:13, where he shifts from the mystery of divine election to the reality of human unbelief. Why did Israel, with all its religious privilege, miss the Messiah? And why do some people even today still fall into the trap of trying to earn God’s favour instead of receiving it by faith?

Paul shows us that zeal without knowledge can be a deadly combination—and that the stumbling stone is not God’s judgment, but Christ Himself. We reflect on the distinction between justification and salvation, the three dimensions of being saved, and how the gospel confronts both legalism and unbelief with a message of grace: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

🔑 Key Themes:

• The error of works-based righteousness
• The stumbling stone of Christ
• The difference between justification and salvation
• God's sovereignty and human responsibility
• Salvation as near and available to all who believe

📖 Key Verse:

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Main Theme:

• God’s sovereign choice is taught clearly in Scripture.
• Common objections arise — both about God's fairness and human free will.

Key Objections Addressed:

1. Is God unjust?
   • Paul’s emphatic answer: Certainly not! (v.14)
   • God’s mercy is a sovereign gift, not a human right.
2. What about human free will?
   • Paul reminds us: We are creatures, not the Creator. (v.20)
   • Like clay in a potter’s hands — God has authority over His creation.

Biblical Examples:

• Moses (Exodus 33:19):
  • God's mercy is given according to His will, not human effort.
• Pharaoh (Exodus 9:16):
  • Pharaoh hardened his own heart, then God judicially confirmed it.
  • Through Pharaoh’s resistance, God's power and name were proclaimed.

Key Doctrinal Points:

• Salvation depends on God’s mercy (v.16), not human will or striving.
• God has the right to both show mercy and harden hearts (v.18).
• God's sovereignty and human responsibility coexist, even if mysterious.

Supporting Scriptures:

• Ephesians 1:
  • “Good pleasure of His will” (v.5)
  • “Mystery of His will” (v.9)
  • “Counsel of His will” (v.11)

Reflection:

• Wrestling with the doctrine of election is normal.
• A pivotal moment: acceptance of God's sovereign choice while reading Acts 13:48 — "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
• Deciding to let Scripture speak for itself and trust God's wisdom.

Conclusion:

• God’s sovereignty is not injustice—it is righteousness.
• Even when His ways are mysterious, God's will is rooted in wisdom, justice, and love.

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast

In today’s episode, we dive deep into a sobering and important question: Is God losing the war for the world? With Christians making up only a minority of the global population, it’s easy to wonder if God’s promises are faltering. But Paul’s words in Romans 9:6–13 offer a bold and beautiful answer: “It is not as though the Word of God has failed.”

Join us as we explore what it means to trust in God’s faithfulness, even when appearances suggest otherwise. We’ll unpack Paul’s use of Old Testament examples—from Isaac to Jacob—to show that God's promises are never dependent on human effort, ancestry, or advantage, but rest entirely on His sovereign grace.

✍️ Episode Notes: Are We on the Losing Side? (Romans 9:6–13)

Intro:
 In a world where Christians seem increasingly marginalized, Paul tackles the question of whether God’s promises have fallen short—especially in light of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. Through three powerful illustrations from Israel’s own history, Paul affirms that God's promises have not failed. Instead, they were always meant to be fulfilled not by physical descent, but by faith and sovereign election.

Key Points:

• Not all Israel is true Israel: God's promises were never intended for every biological descendant, but for the faithful remnant.
• From Ishmael to Isaac: Salvation is not about ancestry or human effort, but divine promise.
• Jacob and Esau: Even before birth, God’s election was at work—not by works, but by Him who calls.

Why it matters:
This passage reassures us that God's purposes never fail. Though we may feel like a minority in the world today, God’s Word stands firm. His promises to those in Christ are secure—and rooted not in our strength or background, but in His unchanging grace.

Reflection Questions:

• What does it mean to be a “child of the promise” today?
• In what ways can we trust God's faithfulness when the world seems to oppose Him?
• How does this passage shape your understanding of grace and election?

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Welcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast, where we journey together through Scripture, one chapter at a time. In today’s episode, we begin a powerful and emotionally raw new section of Paul’s letter to the Romans—chapters 9 through 11—by exploring Paul’s Anguish Over Israel.

Paul isn’t simply teaching doctrine here. He opens his heart, revealing deep grief and a holy burden for his fellow Israelites—those who, despite receiving incredible spiritual privileges, have largely rejected the Messiah.

As we explore Romans 9:1–5, we’ll reflect on Paul’s sorrow, his longing for his people’s salvation, and what this reveals about the heart of God. We’ll also ask some difficult but essential questions: Has God abandoned His promises to Israel? And if not, what does that mean for us today?

Join us as we sit with Paul’s tears and consider the faithfulness of God—a faithfulness that never fails.

📖 Episode Notes

 Theme: God’s Covenant Faithfulness and Paul’s Heart for Israel

Key Topics:

• Theological and emotional transition from Romans 8 to Romans 9
• Paul’s personal grief and sacrificial love for the Jewish people
• Historical and modern tensions around Israel and God's ongoing purpose
• The implications of God’s faithfulness to Israel for Christian assurance
• A call to holy grief and heartfelt intercession for the lost

Reflection Questions:

• Do you carry a burden for those in your life who don’t yet know Christ?
• How does Paul’s lament help you understand the heart of Christian mission?
• What does God's unwavering love for Israel say about His promises to you?

Thanks for listening. If today’s episode resonated with you, consider subscribing and sharing with a friend. Let’s keep walking through the Word—together.

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

Fear Nothing – Part Two:

📖 Scripture Romans 8:36–39

🗣️ Summary:
In this second half of our journey through Romans 8, we go deeper into the heart of one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture. Paul reminds us that suffering is not new to God’s people—it has always been part of the story. But even in suffering, we are not defeated. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us.

In it comes his defiant, soul-assuring proclamation: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We look closely at every category Paul names—death and life, angels and rulers, time itself, powers and principalities, heights and depths—and find that not one of them has the power to cut us off from the unshakable, never-failing, always-pursuing love of Christ.

This isn’t a sentimental love. It’s a victorious, suffering-tested, cross-proven love. A love that holds us when everything else gives way.

🕊️ Key Themes:

• The enduring love of God in suffering
• Jewish and early Christian views on angels and spiritual powers
• Assurance in the face of trials, fear, and doubt
• Interpreting Paul’s poetic climax in Romans 8
• Why our confidence in Christ can hold, even when we feel like crawling across a frozen river

🧠 Big Idea:
God’s love is not changed by our circumstances. It is proven in suffering, present in every trial, and victorious over every power. If you are in Christ, nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate you from that love.

💬 Final Word:
No matter which way the wind blows in your life, God is love. And in Christ Jesus, that love will never let you go.

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

n this episode, we begin exploring one of the most powerful and reassuring passages in all of Scripture. Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions that build a case for the absolute security of the believer. If God is for us, who can be against us? If He did not spare His own Son, how could He possibly withhold anything we truly need?

Drawing from the story of Abraham and Isaac, and continuing the courtroom imagery of justice and justification, Paul offers us a divine guarantee: nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We reflect on the depth of this assurance, the finality of Christ’s sacrifice, and the unshakable truth that no accusation, condemnation, or opposition can prevail against those God has chosen and justified.

Key Themes:

• God’s unbreakable promise of love and salvation
• The logic of grace: from the greater (Christ) to the lesser (our needs)
• The courtroom metaphor of justification and advocacy
• Christ as our defender, not our accuser

Key Verses:
“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” – Romans 8:32

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

🎙️ Welcome back to The Bible Project Daily Podcast.

In today’s episode, we’re working through one of the most hopeful passages in all of Scripture—Romans 8:18 to 30—in a reflection I’ve titled The Agony and the Ecstasy.

Here, the apostle Paul speaks to a reality we all know too well: suffering. But he doesn’t leave us in the valley—he lifts our gaze to the horizon of glory, revealing how our present struggles are not wasted but are, in fact, the very path to our future joy.

We’ll explore the deep groanings of creation, the longing of the human heart, and even the silent intercession of the Holy Spirit—all pointing toward the hope and certainty we have in Christ.

So whether you’re walking through hardship today or simply wondering where God is in the pain of life, I invite you to journey with me and discover the glory that awaits on the other side.

📄 Episode Notes:

Title: The Agony & The Ecstasy
Scripture: Romans 8:18–30
Podcast Series: The Bible Book of Romans.

Summary:
In this moving reflection on Romans 8, we explore the paradox of the Christian life: how deep suffering and deep hope can coexist. The apostle Paul helps us see that present agony is not the end of the story—it’s part of the road to glory. Drawing on vivid imagery and profound spiritual insight, Paul shows us:

• The Groaning of Creation – The whole world aches under the weight of sin, longing for renewal.
• The Groaning of Believers – We, too, wait eagerly for the final redemption of our bodies, groaning not in despair but in hope.
• The Groaning of the Spirit – Even when we don't know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans, perfectly aligned with God’s will.

At the heart of this passage lies one of the most cherished promises in Scripture:

This episode reminds us that suffering, for the Christian, is not a detour—it’s the very road that leads to transformation, glory, and ultimate joy in Christ.

Key Themes:

• Suffering and perseverance
• Hope grounded in God’s promises
• The intercession of the Holy Spirit
• God’s sovereign plan and our future glorification

Reflection Questions:

• In what ways have you experienced “groaning” in your spiritual life?
• How does knowing that the Spirit intercedes for you change how you approach prayer?
• What might it look like to wait “with patience” for the redemption that is to come?

Support the show

For an ad-free version of my podcasts plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month whilst also helping keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free for listeners everywhere support me at;|Patreon

Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com