Romans

If you have your Bible, turn to the Book of Romans.

The Book of Romans is a monster. I’ll be candid with you: it is one of the finest theological books ever written, and one of the deepest books you’re going to find in your Bible. It reads oftentimes more like a theological textbook than it does an epistle that we’ve read before. It’s far less warm—Paul is not really trying to give anybody a hug here. He doesn’t really care what you feel about it; he’s going for it.

In many ways, I would suggest to you that if you can grasp the Book of Romans, you can understand most of the major theological issues communicated throughout Scripture. By the time you finish this book, you’ve learned about total depravity, natural revelation, justification, sanctification, and salvation. You’ve learned about the return of Christ, the restoration of the nation of Israel, and eschatology. This book will literally challenge your view of God. I know the Bible says of itself that all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable, and I believe that with all my heart. But in some ways, I feel like this book is a double portion of that, because it will literally jack up the foundation of who you are and replumb your theology in a huge way.

Now, to be honest with you, it would be best enjoyed if we slowed down and spent about thirty weeks walking through it. But the reality is, we’re going to have to get this meal to go because we’ve got about thirty minutes to work through sixteen chapters.

Romans was written by the Apostle Paul during his third missionary journey. He had written 1 and 2 Corinthians, and now he writes Romans to a church set against the backdrop of imperial Rome. You’re talking about a culture that was polytheistic—meaning many gods. It was a culture that believed you earned the favor of those many gods by what you did, and it was your obligation to keep as many of those deities as possible happy. Do not offend any, do not exclude any, and work constantly so they feel appeased. That was your religious duty.

Paul comes alongside that culture and says, “All these gods are lowercase ‘g’ gods. All these gods are fake and phony. I’m talking about the one true God who set the world in motion and made dirt breathe. That’s the God I’m talking about.” You worship Him and come to Him not on the basis of works that you do, but on the basis of faith.

This book is going to show us what faith really looks like. We talk a lot about being “people of faith.” People throw that phrase around all the time: “Oh yeah, I’m a person of faith.” Well, what do you believe? “Well, I believe there’s a God, or a higher power, or the force, or whatever.” And Paul says, “No, dude. It’s way bigger than that.” You need to understand who God is. He spends sixteen chapters helping us understand the depth, breadth, and enormity of what it means to be a people of faith.

There are three primary reasons Paul wrote this letter. First, he wrote to prepare the way for his visit. He was planning to come to them. He tells them at the end of the letter that he wants to stop by, get some gas, eat some Cheetos, and then head on to Spain. Second, he wanted to clearly communicate the gospel against a pagan backdrop—to clarify what it truly means to believe by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. And third, he wanted to demonstrate sound theology. These believers were so surrounded by paganism that compromise was creeping into the church. Paul drops anchor upon anchor through each chapter, grounding them in sound doctrine so that when the winds of paganism and relativism blow, they can hold firm in the truth.

Unashamed of the Gospel

Paul starts right out of the gate in chapter one by calling himself a servant, or a bondservant, of Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:1 (NASB)

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Some of your Bibles say “servant,” but “bondservant” is a great translation. The concept isn’t just someone held against their will; Paul is saying, “I am a willing slave to my Master.” One of the running themes throughout this entire book is: Who is king in your life? Paul says, “I willfully submit as a willing slave to God as my King.” He also says he is “called to be an apostle.” Called—meaning he didn’t sign up for it, he didn’t vote on it, and he didn’t apply for the job. He got snatched by God on the Damascus Road. God basically said, “I don’t care what you’ve done; I’ve got plans for you, boy.” He grabbed him by the collar and said, “You’re going to proclaim Me as a messenger.”

Paul makes sure they know this isn’t some brand-new message he invented.

Romans 1:2-4 (NASB)

which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,

This isn’t Paul going off, writing a book, and coming back saying, “Hey guys, you’ve never heard this before, this is so deep.” The source of his message is the prophets and the Holy Scriptures. He goes right back to the Old Testament to show who Christ is. The focus of his message is Jesus Christ—God incarnate. And what gives Jesus the credibility to be the center of it all? Verse 4 tells us: He rose from the dead. No other religious figure possesses the credentials of conquering the grave, but Jesus did, and that’s where His authority lies.

The goal of Paul’s message is broad: to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

Romans 1:5 (NASB)

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about [the] obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,

Paul assumes that to be a person of faith is to live like a person of faith. He doesn’t believe those two things can be separated. You can’t claim to be a person of faith and live as if you aren’t. Paul isn’t just trying to make us smarter; we don’t need smarter sinners. He wants to teach us truth so that we live it out in genuine obedience.

In verses 10 through 15, we see that the intellectuals and religious elite in Rome had begun hazing the believers in the church. To them, a message about a crucified Jewish savior sounded utterly junior high. They rolled their eyes and chuckled: “Oh, how cute. You’ve got a religious crutch—this Jewish savior. That’s adorable.” It’s like taking a secular philosophy class where the professor smirks and says, “Oh, you’re a Christian? I bet you believe in the tooth fairy, too.” They felt this Christian message had zero intellectual credibility compared to the sophisticated philosophy of Rome. And they began taunting the church: “Your boy Paul is afraid to come here. He’s been everywhere else, but he won’t come to Rome because he’s terrified of us.”

Paul answers them point-blank. He says: I’ve prayed to come, I’ve longed to come, I need to come to impart a spiritual gift, I’ve wanted to come, I’ve intended to come, I’m obligated to come, and I am eager to come. He’s saying, “I am not scared of you, and I am not scared of your intellectual arrogance.”

Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it [the] righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS [man] SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’

Paul says, “I’ll go toe-to-toe with the philosophers in Corinth, the intellectuals in Ephesus, the thinkers in Athens, and the elites in Rome. I’m coming, and I’m bringing the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, because I am not ashamed of the gospel! You’ve got nothing on the power of God.”

Verse 17 is the pivot point for the entire book: “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” From origin to expression, from beginning to end, the Christian life is entirely about faith. But that raises the massive question: What does it actually mean to live by faith? Paul spends the next sixteen chapters answering that question.

The Suppression of Truth and the Reality of Sin

Starting in verse 18, Paul introduces us to humanity’s default condition.

Romans 1:18-20 (NASB)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

God has clearly revealed His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and His divine nature through what has been created. Yet humanity looks at the breathtaking beauty of creation—a glorious sunset, the complexity of the universe—and says, “Wow, what an incredible accident. How amazing that we just evolved from pond scum through random genetic mutations.” Paul says that is sheer foolishness. Instead of embracing the Creator revealed in creation, people suppress the truth. They push it down.

This suppression leads to a devastating double exchange in verses 23 and 25. First, they exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things. Second, they exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship the creature rather than the Creator.

Romans 1:24-27 (NASB)

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

When we make those exchanges, God responds in a chilling way: He gives us over to the desires of our hearts.

Think of it like this: Suppose my daughter wants to ride a skateboard down a massive, steep hill. I know she’s not an experienced longboarder, and I’m looking at the hill thinking, This is absolute carnage waiting to happen. She says, “Daddy, I want to do it.” I say, “You really shouldn’t do this.” She insists, “No, I want to!” I warn her, “Seriously, you’re going to jack yourself up.” But she keeps begging: “Daddy, please!” Eventually, knowing she’s going to eat pavement—it’s not a matter of if, but when—I step back and let her go. I give her over to what she wants to do.

When humanity rejects God’s glory to worship idols, God says, “You really want to do that? It’s crazy, but go ahead.” And when we exchange God’s truth for a lie, verse 26 says God gives us up to dishonorable passions. Paul specifically names sexual brokenness and homosexuality as the natural overflow of exchanging God’s design for human desires.

There are some things in the Bible that are hard to interpret, but this passage is crystal clear. Culture may tell us that morality evolves, but God’s Word has spoken and it doesn’t change. When we push God away, He lets us experience the tragic consequences of our choices.

It’s like dealing with an alcoholic. Until an alcoholic truly hits rock bottom, they aren’t ready to change. They don’t just have a drinking problem; they have a quitting problem, because once they take that first drink, it’s on. Sometimes you just have to step back until they find themselves at the bottom of the bottle, covered in their own mess, finally asking, “Is this really what my life was supposed to be about?” When you hit that place of brokenness, then you’re ready to talk about the Lord and what it means to live by faith.

In chapter two, Paul addresses those who think they can slide by on their own moral goodness.

Romans 2:5 (NASB)

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Without faith in Jesus, you aren’t earning points with God; you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of judgment. Some people try to claim that the God of the Old Testament was angry and wrathful, but the God of the New Testament is sweet and gentle—as if God hit puberty somewhere between Malachi and Matthew, figured things out, and said, “My bad, I shouldn’t have been so harsh back then!” No. God doesn’t change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is still a God of holy wrath against sin today. The only reason believers don’t experience that wrath is because it was completely poured out on Jesus Christ at the cross. He was crushed for our iniquities. If you haven’t placed your faith in Christ, that wrath is still stored up for you.

By chapter three, Paul delivers the final diagnosis of the human heart.

Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)

as it is written, ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.’

Romans 3:23-25 (NASB)

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. [This was] to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

There is no one righteous—not even one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If you are here today asking questions about God, talking to your roommate about spiritual things, it’s not because you’re naturally super-spiritual or brilliant. It is because a sovereign God is actively warming your heart and drawing you to Himself.

If Romans stopped at chapter three, it would be the most depressing book on earth. It basically tells us: God revealed Himself, and you missed it. You worshipped creation instead of the Creator. You exchanged His truth for lies. God gave you over to nonsense. You have no righteousness, you can’t fix yourself, and you’re under His wrath. Have a great day!

Justified by Faith Alone

Thank God the letter doesn’t end there. In chapter four, Paul brings out Abraham and David as prime examples of faith.

Romans 4:3 (NASB)

For what does the Scripture say? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’

Abraham wasn’t accepted by God because he lived a flawless life; he believed God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness. David was an adulterer and a murderer, yet his sin was not counted against him because of his faith. Good deeds didn’t earn Abraham God’s favor, and David’s failures didn’t exhaust God’s mercy when he turned in repentance. Both were saved through faith.

So what is the greatest benefit of being justified by faith? Most people immediately answer, “Going to heaven!” Don’t get me wrong—streets of gold, the crystal sea, and no more sin sound incredible. But that’s a bonus. The supreme benefit of salvation is found in chapter five.

Romans 5:1 (NASB)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be “justified” is a legal declaration: God declares you righteous. It doesn’t mean you are inherently perfect; it means that when you place your faith in Jesus, God no longer looks at your sin. He sees the righteousness of Christ credited to your account. And as a result, the war is over. You have peace with God.

You do not have peace with God because you serve the poor, feed the homeless, love your neighbor, memorize Scripture, or attend a small group. None of those things can purchase peace with God. Peace comes exclusively through our Lord Jesus Christ. Get off the religious treadmill! Stop trying to earn what can only be received as a gift. True gospel life begins when you finally raise your hands, admit you are a mess, and receive the righteousness of Jesus.

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

At the end of chapter five and moving into chapter six, Paul deals with the lordship of our lives: Who is your king?

Apart from Christ, we were absolute slaves to sin. When sin said drink, we drank. When sin said sleep around, we slept around. When sin said lie, we lied. We were really good at sinning because sin was our master. There was no power in us to break that cycle. That’s why so many of us lived in that downward spiral—act like a fool, suffer the consequences, swear you’ll never do it again, and then do the exact same thing next weekend.

When you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you get a new King, and the dominion of sin is broken. But that raises an immediate question.

Romans 6:1-2 (NASB)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

Paul asks, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” In the original Greek, his response is me genoito—“By no means!” It’s the strongest negative possible. It’s essentially: “No freaking way! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

Now, honestly, when I read that, I have to stop and think. Have you ever been to a funeral with an open casket? As a pastor, funerals are some of the hardest things I do. Family members can stand over that casket, weep, and beg that person to respond, but the person never moves. Why? Because they are dead. You can plead with them to say “I love you” one more time, but they won’t. They are dead.

So when Paul says we are “dead to sin,” it can feel confusing, because I don’t always feel dead to sin in my daily life! I would love to tell you that whenever temptation walks by, I don’t even notice it. I’d love to tell you that if something inappropriate pops up online, my mind is completely numb to it. But that’s not true for me, and it’s not true for you. We still feel the pull of temptation.

So what does “dead to sin” mean? It doesn’t mean dead to the influence of sin; it means dead to the mastery and obligation of sin. Sin is no longer your king.

If you want to walk in that freedom, Paul gives three steps in Romans 6: Know, Consider, and Present—head, heart, and hands.

Romans 6:6 (NASB)

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him], in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;

Romans 6:11 (NASB)

Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:13 (NASB)

and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God.

First, you must know (verse 6) that your old self was crucified with Christ. You have to know the theology. Years ago when I played football, if my coach called at 5:30 in the morning and said, “Be on the field at 6:00 AM to run,” I didn’t negotiate. I dragged myself out of bed and ran. But he is not my coach anymore. If he called me tomorrow morning and said, “Show up and run sprints,” I’d say, “Man, forget you! You aren’t in control of my life anymore.” That is how we must treat sin. When sin barks an order, you have to know: You aren’t my king anymore.

Second, you must consider (verse 11) yourselves dead to sin. “Consider” is an accounting term meaning to calculate it as true. It’s moving truth from your head into your heart. You have to reach a point where you are deeply sick and tired of the old life. Sometimes people say, “I wish I could completely forget the shame of my past.” I tell them, “Don’t forget what that lifestyle produced. Remember the heartache and the tear-stained journal pages, because that pain reminds you: I never want to go back there again.”

Third, you must present (verse 13) your members to God. This is the hands—the action. Don’t throw your spiritual life into neutral. Actively offer your eyes, your hands, your time, and your body to God as instruments of righteousness.

The Honest Struggle and the Sovereign God

If Romans 6 were the end of the story, we’d all feel like failures. Because even when we know, consider, and present, we still stumble. That’s why I am so grateful for Romans 7.

Romans 7:18-19 (NASB)

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good [is] not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.

Romans 7:24 (NASB)

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Paul admits the raw reality of the Christian life: “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing!”

Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever had to pray a prayer of confession for the exact same sin over and over again? Paul cries out, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Have you ever just caught a whiff of yourself spiritually and realized, Man, I can be so arrogant, selfish, and petty? That brokenness is right where God meets us.

Look at how chapter eight answers that desperate cry:

Romans 8:1 (NASB)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The struggle is real, but your standing is secure.

In fact, Paul tells us in Romans 8:17 that suffering and struggle actually authenticate our faith.

Romans 8:17 (NASB)

and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] so that we may also be glorified with [Him].

It is not the person who struggles with sin that scares me. I meet with guys all the time who come into my office in tears: “Pastor, I blew it again. I was at the party, had a drink, let my guard down, and I crossed a line. I hate it. I know better.” When a guy says that, I have tremendous hope for him! I say, “Bro, there is grace for you. Let’s walk together, repent, and let the Holy Spirit restore you.” The struggle proves the Spirit is alive in them.

The person who terrifies me is the one who doesn’t care at all. It’s the guy whose girlfriend catches him looking at porn, and when I confront him, he just shrugs: “Yeah, I look at porn. I’m a guy, that’s what guys do. What’s the big deal?” That flippant attitude terrifies me, because where there is zero conviction and zero struggle, it forces the question: Is your faith even real?

When we reach chapter nine, the theology gets breathtakingly deep. Paul reminds us that we are not in ultimate control of our universe—God is sovereign.

Paul walks through history: God chose Abraham. Out of Abraham’s sons, God chose Isaac over Ishmael. Out of Isaac’s twin sons, before they were even born or had done anything good or bad, God chose Jacob over Esau.

Romans 9:14-16 (NASB)

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, ‘I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.’ So then it [does] not [depend] on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

Romans 9:20-21 (NASB)

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, ‘Why did you make me like this,’ will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?

This doctrine of God’s sovereign choice blows people’s minds. People immediately ask, “Why did God choose me?” When you ask that, you finally understand grace! I have no idea why He chose you, and I certainly don’t know why He chose me. Truthfully, I wouldn’t have picked you, and you wouldn’t have picked me. There are smarter, kinder, and more capable people out there. But God, in His sovereign mercy, set His love on us before the foundation of the world.

People then object: “Well, that’s not fair!”

Listen to me: you do not want fair. Fair means every single person in this room spends eternity separated from God in hell. That is justice. I don’t want fair—I want mercy! I want the unmerited grace of God through Jesus Christ.

We often picture salvation like a person drowning in a lake, treading water, waving their arms, while God stands on the shore waiting for them to reach up so He can pull them out. But Ephesians and Romans tell us we weren’t drowning—we were dead at the bottom of the lake. Dead in transgressions and sins. God had to dive to the bottom, breathe new life into our dead hearts, and resurrect us by His grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Faith itself is a gift from God so that no one can boast.

Does that mean we don’t preach the gospel? Absolutely not! Chapter ten gives the balance:

Romans 10:13-14 (NASB)

for ‘WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how will they call on Him if they haven’t heard? And how will they hear unless you go and tell them?

Here is how theology meets practice: Share the gospel like it all depends on you, but sleep peacefully at night knowing salvation belongs completely to God.

If salvation depended purely on my persuasive ability, I would have to lock the church doors, dim the lights, manipulate your emotions, play twenty verses of an invitation song, and beg until you made a decision. And if you left without praying, your eternity would be on my conscience. We couldn’t survive that kind of pressure! God says, “You just be faithful to share the good news. I’ll take care of the saving.”

In chapter eleven, Paul explains that Israel’s temporary hardening opened the door for the Gentiles to be grafted in, and one day God will fulfill His promises to Israel. He concludes this massive doctrinal section with pure worship:

Romans 11:33-36 (NASB)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him [be] the glory forever. Amen.

Paul basically says, “My mind is blown, your mind is blown, to God be the glory forever, amen!”

Living Sacrifices

After eleven chapters of theological foundation, Paul makes the great pivot to daily life in chapter twelve.

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

In light of all these mercies—justification, peace with God, victory over sin, freedom from condemnation, eternal security—what is our logical response? Offer your body as a living sacrifice. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Orthodoxy (right belief) must always produce orthopraxy (right practice). It is never enough to simply possess correct answers in your head; those truths must be incarnated in your life.

In chapter thirteen, that means submitting to human governing authorities and trusting God’s sovereign oversight. In chapter fourteen, it means building up weaker brothers and sisters rather than judging them or causing them to stumble over disputable matters. In chapter fifteen, it means living like Christ—bearing one another’s burdens and loving your neighbor.

And then, in chapter sixteen, Paul finishes the letter with a list of nearly thirty personal names.

Most people skim right past chapter sixteen because the names are hard to pronounce. But don’t miss the heart behind it. Paul ends with people because theology without relationships makes you a religious porcupine—sharp, prickly, and impossible to be around. In that list of names, you find men and women, Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free citizens, wealthy patrons and humble servants. Paul loved doctrine, but he deeply loved people. Sound theology should always lead to genuine Christian community.

Two Questions for Your Heart

As we close this incredible book, two questions demand our response:

First, are you truly a person of faith?

I don’t mean a vague belief in a higher power or a generic cosmic force. Have you placed your personal trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ? Have you recognized your utter lack of righteousness and cried out, “Lord, I am a mess, but I receive Your grace. Be my Savior and be my King”? If not, what is holding you back today?

Second, if you are a person of faith, does your life look like it?

We gain nothing if we master high theology but live like the world Monday through Saturday. The gospel is revealed from faith for faith. It begins with faith in Christ, and it shows itself in daily obedience to Christ.

Let’s not be passive consumers of truth. Let’s be men and women whose minds are renewed, whose hearts are surrendered, and whose lives are living sacrifices to the glory of God.

Let’s pray together.

Father, we are so grateful for this magnificent book of Romans. The truths here are vast, yet the invitation is simple: to trust in Jesus Christ alone. Father, for anyone here whose heart is being stirred right now by Your Holy Spirit, give them the courage to stop running, to confess Jesus as Lord, and to believe in their heart that You raised Him from the dead. And for all of us who belong to You, transform us. Break our conformity to this world and teach us to live as willing bondservants to our King. We pray all this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.