In this short episode, Pastor Brandon explains how Christians can be encouraged and encourage others in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

We all learn better through examples. In Romans 4 Paul uses Abraham as an example to support the fact that salvation is through faith only, not works. In this first section, Paul uses both the example of Abraham and David to support the fact that we can do nothing to accept the grace of God but believe in faith. 

I'm not a puzzle person. Quite frankly, I don't have the patience. The other day my son wanted me to put a puzzle together with him. It wasn't a hard puzzle, perhaps 25 pieces or so. I laid out all of the pieces with each picture facing up and attempted to place them together. Without seeing the big picture of the finalized product that they show on the outside of the box, it wasn't happening. Up until this point, the Jews and other listeners only received a small snapshot of how the Gospel intertwined with the law. The past Sunday we focused on Romans 3:27-31 and how Paul explained the Gospel's relation to the Old Testament law. 

After several chapters on God's judgment upon sinful mankind, Paul begins to speak on Hope! This week, Paul introducing the solution to man's greatest problem. 

Most likely, sitting in your home is a beautiful trashcan (maybe it's not beautiful, but it could be). It may look pretty on the outside, but the moment you open the lid, the horrendous smell of the rotting contents takes away the outside beauty of that trashcan.

Because the heart of mankind is entirely wicked, and this goes for all mankind, his character, conversation, and his actions are the mere stench of his wicked heart.

IS THERE ANY HOPE? Find out in this weeks episode. 

What if you were told that everything you stood for and everything you believed was wrong? The same emotions you would experience is exactly what the Jews experienced in Romans 3:1-8 as they objected to Paul's presentation of the Gospel. Were they justified?? 

If you were to die today and stand before God and He were to ask you, "why should I let you into my heaven?" how would you answer that? Your answer will reveal where you place your security regarding your faith. Is the object of where you place your security actually secure enough? 

We know that God's judgment is righteous, but does He hold everyone to the same accountability? 

We know those that are "really" bad have no chance of getting into heaven. But is my church attendance, giving to the poor, and belief in God good enough? 

Talking about the consequences of sin is never fun. But yet a conversation that is absolutely necessary when it comes to the Gospel.