Waking Up to Grace

What does Romans say about homosexuality? In Romans 1:21–28, Paul describes mankind exchanging the truth about God for a lie and God giving them over to dishonorable passions. But what is the “error” that brings judgment? Is homosexuality itself the cause, or is Paul tracing something deeper?

In this episode, we follow Paul’s argument in context and look carefully at what he says about homosexuality, unbelief, and the “due penalty for their error.” The error Paul identifies is the rejection of God and His truth, while homosexuality is one of the sinful behaviors described within the fallen condition that follows.

We also consider an important question for Christians: what happens when a believer struggles with serious sexual sin? Grace does not require us to redefine sin, but neither does sin place a believer outside the reach, fellowship, or help of God. Christ has cleansed us, and His grace gives us freedom to walk by the Spirit rather than remain in bondage to the flesh.

Read the companion Bible study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/053-homosexuality-the-due-penalty-for-error-romans-1-21-28/

Does creation itself proclaim enough about God to leave humanity without excuse? And could the imagery of the heavens tell us more than we sometimes realize?

In this episode of Waking Up to Grace, Lenny works through Romans 1:18-20 alongside Romans 10:17-18 and Psalm 19, then follows the biblical imagery of the stars through Genesis and Galatians. The discussion explores what Scripture actually says about the heavens declaring God's glory, Abraham's promised offspring, and the gospel going out into the world.

Along the way, we also consider an important distinction: recognizing God's testimony in creation is not the same thing as astrology or looking to the stars for guidance.

Read the companion study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/052-the-gospel-in-the-stars-romans-1-18-20/

Does 1 John 1:9 instruct Christians to confess each sin in order to receive forgiveness and restore fellowship with God?

This episode follows John’s argument through light and darkness, belief and unbelief, sin denial, confession, and the finished work of Christ. John does not leave believers trapped in a cycle of losing forgiveness and trying to regain it. He points to Jesus Christ, our righteous Advocate and the complete satisfaction for our sins.

We also consider what Christian fellowship means in this passage, why believers can drift from the truth without losing their place in Christ, and how confession of sins differs from repeatedly asking God for forgiveness we have already received.

Read the companion Bible study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/051-1-john-1-9-is-not-christian-instruction/

What is the purpose of the church? Is the Christian gathering meant to revolve around one person speaking while everyone else listens, or did the New Testament picture something more participatory?

In this episode, we look at the gatherings that preceded the early church, the role of synagogues, sermons, and leaders, and then turn to Paul’s description of the church in Corinth. The contrast raises an important question about participation in the body of Christ: Are believers meant simply to attend, or to share, encourage, learn, discern, and contribute to one another?

We also consider how traditions can become so familiar that we stop asking whether they came from Scripture at all. Thinking outside the "box church" does not mean abandoning the church. It means asking again what the church is actually for.

Read the companion study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/050-thinking-outside-of-the-box-church/

What does Paul mean when he says, “the righteous shall live by faith”? And what is being revealed “from faith for faith” in Romans 1:17?

In this conversation, we work through Romans 1:16–17 and follow Paul’s words back to Habakkuk, where the contrast between pride and faith was already being drawn. We look at why the gospel is the power of God for salvation, how the righteousness of God is revealed in Christ, and why righteousness by faith cannot be mixed with righteousness through the law.

Along the way, we trace the promise through Moses, Habakkuk, Galatians, and Hebrews and consider how Jew and Gentile were brought together in Christ through faith rather than works of the law.

Read the Companion Bible Study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/049-unashamed-from-faith-for-faith-romans-1-16-17/

Can a Christian fall out of fellowship with God because of sin? And if that happens, must we confess or ask for forgiveness before God will hear us again?

In this conversation, we examine what Scripture says about fellowship with God, beginning with Paul’s assurance that God is faithful and that believers have been called into fellowship with His Son. We look at the Corinthians, the meaning of God’s calling, the difference between fellowship with God and fellowship with one another, and why our confidence before our Father rests in Christ rather than our latest performance.

We also consider how this changes the way we understand prayer, forgiveness, repentance, and walking by the Spirit. If our fellowship with God depends on His faithfulness rather than ours, we can approach Him with confidence even when we have failed.

Read the companion study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/048-are-you-out-of-fellowship-with-god-romans-1-8-15/

What should Christians pray for, and what does Paul’s prayer life teach us about where our attention belongs?

Beginning with Romans 1:8–15, we follow Paul’s prayers through several of his letters and discover a consistent pattern of thanksgiving, spiritual wisdom, deeper knowledge of Christ, understanding His love, peace, and growth in holy living. If you have ever wondered what to pray for, Paul gives us a powerful picture of prayer rooted in grace rather than fear.

Instead of approaching God as though we are still separated from Him, we can pray from the confidence of reconciliation, knowing that we belong to Christ and have been welcomed by the Father.

Read the companion Bible study and join the conversation:

https://wakinguptograce.com/047-how-spiritual-is-your-prayer-life-romans-1-8-15/

What can Paul’s prayer life teach us about the purpose of prayer?

In Romans 1:8–15, Paul gives us a window into the way prayer shaped his thoughts, desires, relationships, and dependence on God’s will. His words show us something deeper than a formula or a required posture. Prayer was woven into the way Paul lived and thought.

In this episode, we look at what Paul meant when he spoke of praying “without ceasing,” why he longed to encourage other believers and be encouraged by them, and how prayer can help turn our attention away from ourselves and toward Christ, grace, and the needs of others.

We’ll also consider whether there is a right way to pray, what the purpose of prayer really is, and how prayer can become part of our spiritual growth without turning into another religious obligation.

Read the companion Bible study and join the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/046-study-prayer-through-pauls-spiritual-lens-romans-1-8-15/

What is a saint in the Bible? Paul opens Romans by addressing ordinary believers as people who are “called to be saints.” He does not reserve that identity for a special class of Christians who have reached an extraordinary level of holiness.

In this episode, we look at what Paul meant by calling believers saints, why a Christian who still struggles with sin is not defined as a sinner, and what our new identity means for the way we live. We also consider the believer’s freedom from sin, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the permanent fellowship with God made possible through Christ.

If God says those who belong to Christ are holy to Him, should we continue defining ourselves by what we once were, or learn to see ourselves the way He does?

Read the companion study and continue the conversation:
https://wakinguptograce.com/045-apostle-paul-didnt-write-to-sinners-romans-1-1-7/

What happens when Christians are told that Christ has completely forgiven and reconciled them to God, but are also taught that their fellowship with Him can be broken by sin?

That contradiction can create religious cognitive dissonance: believing two opposing things about grace at the same time.

In this episode, we begin with Paul’s words “grace to you and peace” and follow the question into Galatians, Hebrews, and 2 Corinthians. We look at the difference between resting in what Christ has accomplished and returning to rules, self-perfection, and the fear that our standing with God depends on our performance.

We also consider what Paul means by “fallen away from grace” and why falling from grace does not mean falling from salvation. The gospel calls us to live as people who really are forgiven, reconciled, and at peace with God.

Read the companion Bible study and join the conversation:
 https://wakinguptograce.com/044-the-antidote-to-christian-cognitive-dissonance-romans-1-1-7/