The Main Idea: Our union with Christ gives us His RESURRECTION POWER to live unto righteousness.

*The Big Question: What does Christ’s RESURRECTION do for us?

*The Central Point: Christ’s RESURRECTION gives us NEW POWER… FOR three NEW CONSIDERATIONS:

1.) NEW WALKING (vv. 1-4) – (Application: Christ’s RESURRECTION is the PLATFORM for walking in newness of life.)

2.) NEW THINKING (vv. 5-11) – (Application: Christ’s RESURRECTION is the KEY unlocking the chains of slavery to sin.)

3.) NEW PLANNING (vv. 12-14) – (Application: Christ’s RESURRECTION is the DYNAMITE blowing up the shackles of sin.)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant BLESSING brings RECONCILIATION which deepens our appreciation of our true condition.

*The Big Question: How GOOD is THE GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: The GOSPEL is so GOOD that God GIVES us…

1.) LIFE FOR DEATH (vv. 12-14) – (Application: We deserve no less than capital punishment due to Adam’s sin, so appreciate the gift given in the “type” which Adam is, pointing to the real deal in Jesus.)

2.) JUSTIFICATION FOR CONDEMNATION (vv. 15-17) – (Application: We get justified by a free gift because of Jesus’ work was done for our MANY trespasses.)

3.) GRACE FOR SINNERS (vv. 18-21) – (Application: We are sinners by the “one trespass” and so we will be MADE righteous by the “one man’s obedience,” given by grace unto eternal life through Jesus.)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant BLESSING brings RECONCILIATION with him causing us to rejoice while suffering.

*The Big Question: What GOOD is THE GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: In the Gospel God GIVES us…

1.) PRESENT HOPE FOR PRESENT SUFFERINGS (vv. 1-5) – (Application: Jesus’ justifying us gives us the Holy Spirit RIGHT NOW!) (2 WEEKS AGO)

2.) FUTURE HOPE FOR GREATER SUFFERINGS (vv. 6-11) – (Application: Jesus’ dying for us gives us confidence before God both NOW and at the JUDGMENT!)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant BLESSING brings RECONCILIATION with him causing us to rejoice while suffering.

*The Big Question: What GOOD is THE GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: In the Gospel God GIVES us…

1.) PRESENT HOPE FOR PRESENT SUFFERINGS (vv. 1-5) – (Application: Jesus’ justifying us gives us the Holy Spirit RIGHT NOW!)

2.) (NEXT EPISODE) FUTURE HOPE FOR GREATER SUFFERINGS (vv. 6-11) – (Application: Jesus’ dying for us gives us confidence before God both NOW and at the JUDGMENT!)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant BLESSING has been around since near the beginning of time.

*The Big Question: What KIND of GOSPEL is THE GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: Since the beginning it’s been the HEART of the…

1.) HISTORY OF REDEMPTION (vv. 1-8) – (Application: God’s NEVER given up on his promise, so rest assured he won’t… EVER!)

2.) SIGN OF REDEMPTION (vv. 9-12) – (Application: God’s ALWAYS meant what he’s promised… and he ALWAYS will!)

3.) PROMISE OF REDEMPTION (vv. 13-25) – (Application: God’s WORTHY of ALL your TRUST… and he ALWAYS will be!)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant BLESSING will leave us with our ONLY HOPE… and it’s ETERNAL!

*The Big Question: What KIND of God is the God of the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: He’s a GIVING God who GIVES…

1.) RIGHTEOUSNESS APART FROM THE LAW (vv. 21-22a) – (Application: BLESS GOD for the GIFT of his “alien” righteousness…)

2.) REDEMPTION TOGETHER WITH JUSTICE (vv. 22b-26) – (Application: BE IN AWE OF A GOD who is both JUST and JUSTIFIER…)

3.) RELIGION BY FAITH NOT WORKS (vv. 27-31) – (Application: BOAST IN A GOD who saves you from his wrath by GRACE and NOT BY WORKS…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse will leave us UTTERLY HOPELESS.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL (part 3)?

*The Central Point: Because WE HAVE NOTHING TO HELP US…

1.) NO ADVANTAGES (vv. 1-8) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so put down your REBELLION and accept his judgment…)

2.) NO RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 9-18) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so accept his assessment of your EVIL disposition…)

3.) NO ACCOMPLISHMENTS (vv. 19-20) – (Application: GOD is GOD and you are not, so accept that you will NEVER be good enough for him…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse exposes our internal sense of his law which condemns us.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL (part 2)?

*The Central Point: Because WE LIKE TO HIDE in…

1.) CONDESCENDING CONDUCT (vv. 1-11) – (Application: We become COMFORTABLY NUMB in our own righteousness…)

2.) CONSCIENCE CONFLICTS (vv. 12-24) – (Application: We become UNCOMFORTABLY NOISY in conscience…)

3.) COMMUNITY CULTURE (vv. 25-29) – (Application: We become COMFORTABLY NESTLED our heritage…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse shows how far he’ll go to show us how far we’ve gone.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the God of the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: Because God GIVES US OVER TO OURSELVES by giving us up to…

1.) DELUSIONAL LUSTS (vv. 24-25) – (Application: We become INCAPABLE of thinking through our choices…)

2.) DISHONORABLE PASSIONS (vv. 26-27) – (Application: We become SEARED in conscience…)

3.) DEBASED MINDS (vv. 28-32) – (Application: We become INSANE but think we’re really sane…)

The Main Idea: God’s Covenant curse clarifies why we NEED the GOSPEL.

*The Big Question: Why do we NEED the GOSPEL?

*The Central Point: Because God’s WRATH is REVEALED in…

1.) HIS REVELATORY CREATION (vv. 19-20) – (Application: We have NO EXCUSES…)

2.) OUR UNRIGHTEOUS SUPPRESSION (vv. 18, 21-22) – (Application: We HATE God by NATURE…)

3.) OUR UNGODLY EXCHANGE (v. 23) – (Application: We put our HATRED of God into ACTION…)