Notes From Jon

I’ve already posted the audio version of this sermon, and I still think the audio version is the better version.  But in case you had trouble loading it, I’ll post the text here as well.

Intro: Looking Back

Up to this point, things have been pretty grim.  It’s almost a if Paul has been holding back – every now and then, he breaks into a quick doxology or hymn of praise.  But for the most part, Paul has spoken of forces that are beyond our control, and the news is not very hopeful.

• All human beings are without excuse.
• Ignorance is not our problem – we know the truth and we still turn away from it.
• Quantity and Quality of sin are no matter – any sin at all is detestable to God.
• Our only hope is to trust in God.
• In some way, God has made us responsible for our fellow human beings – to share the good news with them.
• We have been set free from the Law – but we are still drawn to it and still sin from time to time.

All these forces are acting on us – Satan, evil, sin, our sinful nature. Read the rest of this entry »

Romans 5:1-8
“Rejoicing in Suffering?”

Last week we talked about the plotline of the story Paul is telling.  The exposition, the narrative hook, the rising action, the climax, and the falling action.  We also talked about how this is not just a novel or some story we’re reading – but that at the climax, each of our stories begin.  We hear the good news, we are confronted with the power and truth of the Gospel.  The rising action asks the question: How will we respond?  Paul assumes we will respond in true faith that changes our lives.

So Paul continues in chapter 5:

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (2)  through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.

This sounds good so far, right?  But Paul never leaves well-enough alone.

Rom 5:3-8 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  (4)  and endurance, character, and character, hope.  (5)  And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

And why do we have hope?

(6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.)  (8)  But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Woah, Paul.  Why’d you have to go there?  Rejoicing in “the hope of God’s glory” from verse 2, that’s good.  Why don’t we skip a few verses?  There’s no need to talk about suffering, is there? Read the rest of this entry »