Vintage Grace's Podcast

 Paul wants it to be clear: Just because we are justified by grace doesn’t mean our behavior doesn’t matter. 
He writes in order to continue to clarify our understanding of who we are through faith in Jesus & to empower us in our battle with sin. 

Our attitudes & actions matter in terms of our eternal destiny. If we exhibit a lifestyle that doesn’t reflect God as master of our daily lives, we should NOT be confident that we belong to him. BUT if we have genuine faith in Christ, we will joyfully obey Him.

For the first time in Romans, Paul gives us commands & marching orders for our “new life” as followers of Christ. Flowing out of 6:1-11, Paul moves from right thinking to right action. He states that “in Christ” the war with sin has been won (Justification) and yet our battle has just begun (Sanctification).

Paul tells his audience that newness of life starts with death. Newness of life is only experienced when you change how you see who you really are.

Paul starts out this section by asking a rhetorical question. He hears the people saying, “Well, should I sin more that grace may abound?” To which Paul as loud as possible says BY NO MEANS. Why? Because we have died to the old life and now live in JOY. Jesus influences us into a change that transforms us. God promises us NEWNESS of life; which is a life of more JOY than we could ever imagine.

Paul sets Jesus alongside Adam; & by comparing & contrasting the two, he tunnels us into the utter depths of our sin; which enhances our experience of the infinite beauty, power, glory & gift of Christ.  
The GIFT is greater than the sin.  
As much destruction as sin has done in this world, the grace of God is greater still–more powerful than the prince of darkness, breaking the chains of the generational sin I inherited, & greater than the self destruction of my heart–God WINS. 

Small things in the hands of a BIG God bring about eternal glory for all who trust Him. Just like we see in Ezra, God is GOD and He is working in every detail of your personal life AND our corporate life here at Vintage for His glory, our good and our friends' eternal joy!

Sin didn’t start with us but it certainly hasn’t ended with us. From Adam to Moses, everyone in between, and everyone since, sin has led to death. The first sin set humanity on a course for destruction but the first perfect man has set us on an even more powerful course of redemption.

In Paul’s ongoing effort to deepen our faith and increase our joy, he continues to unpack the depth & significance of what it means that we are “justified through faith in Jesus”. May we today, pause and process the depth of God’s love for us!

Throughout Romans Paul has been clear that no one is righteous and all are without excuse before God's judgment (1:18-3:20).  The only way to stand righteous before God is by Faith and the Grace of God (3:21-4:25).  
Today Paul reveals the “benefits of belief” which start with having peace with God—As believers we’re now marked by confidence (5:1-8:39).  We have the Prosperity of Peace with God.

Paul takes the origin story of the people of God and proves that the way to experience a thriving relationship with God has always been through faith. THEY had faith in God’s promise then, WE have faith in God’s promise now.