Foolish Things Wisely Chosen 1 Corinthians 1:26–31 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. 1 Corinthians 1:27 As you think about what is needed to live a Christian life, to live in a way that is honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ, you naturally feel inadequate to such things; and indeed…

Glory to the Only Wise God Romans 16:25–27 To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:27 Think carefully about this last word of the letter. What does it mean to say, “Amen”? Amen is a wonderfully rich word. It is found in nearly half the languages of the world,…

Building Up or Tearing Down Romans 15:1–6 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:2 Is all this worth it? Is it worthwhile sharpening our skills and developing our Christian character so that others might grow to be like Jesus Christ? Of course, it is. The problem…

Where Is the Chasm? Romans 14:1–4 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1 (NIV throughout) Let’s allow God to deal with each of his servants how, when, and as kindly as he will. And while we are at it, let’s be thankful that he has dealt as kindly…

The Debt of Love Romans 13:8–10 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another. Romans 13:8 (NIV) Besides refraining from doing harm to our neighbor, real love is also positive. It “does” for the other. This is involved in the very first thing Paul says, for he writes of the…

Transformation Romans 12:1–2 Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Romans 12:2 Note what Paul says we are to be: not conformed but transformed by the renewing of our minds. There is a deliberate distinction between these two words. Conformity is something that happens to you outwardly. Transformation happens inwardly. The Greek word translated…

Soli Deo Gloria Romans 11:33–36 To him be glory forever! Amen. Romans 11:36 Romans 11:36 is the first doxology in the letter of Romans. But it is followed by another at the end, which is like it, though more complete: “To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ. Amen” (16:27). It is…

Holy Destiny Romans 11:13–22 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Romans 11:16 Our destiny as Christians is the same as that of the nation of Israel. We too are to be “holy to the Lord.” And if that…

God’s Beautiful People Romans 10:5–15 How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news! Romans 10:15 Do you know how the gospel came to Hugh Latimer (ca. 1485–1555), that great bishop who became one of the brightest lights of the Protestant Reformation in England? Hugh Latimer was a “beautiful” man, strikingly good-looking…

True Israel Romans 9:6–12 For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. Romans 9:6 How can we be sure we are Christians? There are a number of specific questions to be answered as we examine ourselves. 1. Do I believe on Christ? The first requirement is faith, because faith is our point…