Two Ways News

Dear friends,

Our long journey through the book of Romans is coming to an end. And after the theological glories of chapter 3 and chapter 5 and chapter 8—well, of all the chapters between 1 and 15 really—chapter 16 often feels like an anti-climax. We are tempted to read it as a hurried postscript with some personal greetings, and other bibs and bobs.

But if we take a closer look, the final chapter of Romans is extremely important. It helps explain why the whole letter was in fact written, and rounds off Paul’s whole argument in a manner that is both personal and deeply theological.

We hope you enjoy this final Romans instalment!

Your brother

Tony

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Dear friends,

As we near the end of the extraordinary letter to the Romans, we find the apostle returning to the purpose for which he was writing to them—which he had broached in chapter 1 but now comes back to, after explaining in such majestic terms the gospel that is the foundation of his missionary enterprise.

As Paul does so, he reiterates why the gospel he preaches is for all of humanity and brings hope to every culture, regardless of the differences and distinctive features that different human cultures have. There is hope for every different human culture, but (paradoxically) only by realising that there is in fact only one way to live in God’s world.

So in typically roundabout fashion—starting with hope, and then moving onto colonialism, anthroplogy and counselling—we dig into the hope-filled message of Romans 15.

Hope you enjoy it.

Your brother

Tony

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Dear friends,

While Tony is away at Evangelize 2024 in Denver, Colorado, USA, Phillip is joined by his brother Peter Jensen as they take a deep dive into Romans 14.

It seems that regardless of the century we live in, people always find something to fight about, unable to extract ourselves from the sinful temptations of pride and passing judgment on others. It is no different in this passage as food becomes the object of quarrel.

But it raises the question, how are certain foods clean to some believers and unclean to others? Are conscience and faith the same thing? What does it truly look like to honour the Lord and act in love?

We hope you find this episode encouraging.

Blessings,

Jessica (Two Ways News editor)

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Dear friends,

We are a nation in deep debt, both corporately and personally. But despite how much we owe, the debt of ‘love’ doesn’t figure on our balance sheets.

Romans 13 says that it should, and that ‘love’ is in fact the fulfilment of the Old Testament law.

How can this be? And what is ‘love’ anyway?

That’s our topic on this week’s episode of Two Ways News.

Your brother

Tony

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Dear friends,

I’m writing this introduction in an Airbnb in Denver, Colorado, with a ‘HARRIS-WALZ’ sign in the front yard. I’m not sure (nor am I going to say) whether I’d be happier with a TRUMP-VANCE sign. I think no sign at all would probably suit me best, and I imagine that there are many Americans who feel the same.

But it makes me think: is a studied non-involvement in politics, government and the affairs of state what the Bible calls us to? It’s certainly how many secularists would like Christians to respond—that is, to keep their religion well out of the public square.

In this week’s episode, we talk about church and state and government and secularism, through the clear and revealing lens of Romans 13.

Your brother

Tony

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe

Dear friends,

As we turn to the next part of Romans 12 this week (verses 3-13), we confront two ideas that our society finds it hard to hold together: individualism and communalism.

What’s the basic truth about us? Is it that we are unique, sovereign individuals who should have the right to pursue life, liberty and happiness in our own particular way? Or are necessarily and primarily herd animals, who can only exist and flourish when the needs of the community as a whole are prioritised?

And do we have to choose?

Romans 12 teaches us to think rightly about ourselves—as individuals and as members of a new community. Read (or listen) on to find out how.

Your brother

Tony

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe

Dear friends,

Well after several weeks bouncing from subject to subject, and answering your questions, it’s back to Romans!

This week, we come to a turning point in Paul’s monumental letter. At the beginning Romans 12, he turns from the deeply theological discussion of the nature of the gospel that has dominated the first eleven chapters to its practical outworking in Christian life and community.

Romans 12:1-2 are very well-known verses—about ‘living sacrifices’ and the ‘renewal of the mind’—but we hope you find something fresh and stimulating and encouraging in our discussion of them.

Your brother

Tony

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe

Dear friends,

Debates about real nature of ‘church’ have been around even longer than Phillip’s and my combined age. It’s a complicated and perennial topic, but we thought it was worth another outing in this week’s edition because it’s also very practical.

It’s practical not just because what you think a ‘church’ is will shape what you do in church. What you think about ‘church’ will also have big implications for all those other Christian activities or gatherings that aren’t ‘church’ (according to your definition).

If that sounds intriguing, read (or listen) on.

Your brother

Tony

PS

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe

Dear friends

We continue to be enormously grateful for your fellowship, which (I suppose if we’re honest) largely consists in us talking and you listening!

But it’s especially nice when you speak back, which a very encouraging number of you do—either in person when we bump into you round the place, or by email as you comment and raise questions. Quite a few of you have said how much you’ve been enjoying our meanderings through Romans, and we’ll be back to Romans again in the near future.

But this week we’re catching up with three of the questions you’ve written in to ask:

* From Matt about whether it’s right to say that Jesus ‘raised himself from the dead’;

* From Barry about Sabbath-keeping in the New Testament, and whether Jesus really approved of it or not;

* From Ethan about the steps and motivations and factors that play into the decision to go into ‘full-time ministry’.

Hope you find the discussion stimulating!

Your brother

Tony

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe

Dear friends

Today we belatedly answer a question that regular reader/listener Richard sent in some time ago, but which got lost in the bilge of my inbox—which is a shame, because it is an excellent question!

Richard asks about those voices today that are calling for a recovery of the ‘spiritual disciplines’—things such as contemplative prayer, solitude, fasting, sabbath-keeping, and so on. He writes:

What is the history of ‘spiritual discipline’ and, we could add, ascetic practices, within Christianity and evangelicalism? How do we integrate the different strands of biblical teaching and biblical examples on this topic (e.g. Mat  5:16-18; Luke 6:12; Col 2:15-23; Acts 14:23)?

Phillip and I had (as usual) a wide-ranging talk about this question, an edited summary of which appears below.

Your brother

Tony

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.twoways.news/subscribe