We are a forgetful people in a land of distractions. Our minds are easily captivated by trivial and temporary inducements. New things quickly become old. In our mind’s eye even glory tends to fade and warnings tend to wane. It is no wonder that we who are invisibly united to Christ and visibly in and not of this world live in constant need of renewal. And what is true for the Christian is true for the church. This is a series that seeks to renew the mind of the church. Not so much by reviewing what she is called to do as much as what she is called. As with the Christian so with church, her God-given identity defines her. We who are the church are a people for God and none other.
Before we return to the book of Romans, we will be looking at the what scripture says about the Church, in its nature, how she expresses herself in song, and how the church cares and equips for its members.
The messages from this series can be found here:
Manny Pereira - December 3, 2023
God's Justice Justified
Paul has already argued that because God is sovereign, His promises will stand. But God’s sovereignty is an affront to human autonomy. So now, with this in mind, he addresses the most common objection to divine election. God sovereignly elects some and not others for redemption in Christ, whether from the Jews or the Gentiles. And the typical response is, “That’s not fair!” But such a response is upside down. The sinner finds difficulty in precisely the wrong place. Here, Paul shows that God is justified in the statement, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Addressing typical human thought, the accent of this message testifies that God’s justice is justified.
Scripture References: Romans 9:13-14
