Sermon Series: Paul's Epistle to the Romans

Modern American Christianity does its best to avoid the doctrine of the wrath of God, but the Scripture speaks of it everywhere. In this message Pastor Brian seeks to open up this truth, and shows the Source, Timing, and Objects of the wrath of God.

Why is God’s wrath against the Gentiles? Paul tells us in this passage it is because people knew the truth about God, suppressed the truth about God, refused to honor God, and chose idols over God.

God is exercising His wrath in the world today. But how? What are the results of God’s present wrath? Pastor Brian teaches that God exercises His wrath by giving people over to their own desires. People have exchanged God for someone or something else. God, in wrath, lets them have it!

The Judgment of God will be just, inescapable, severe to the unrepentant, and usher us into an everlasting joy or misery!

The Judgment of God will be according to our deeds, impartial, and will expose the things hidden in darkness. It is an fearful and awesome thing to consider standing before the living God to give an account of our lives!

The Jews had 2 false hopes of heaven – their knowledge of the Law, and the rite of circumcision. We must be very careful to base our hope of eternal life on the only thing that will never fail us – Jesus Christ!

Paul, as a master prosecuting attorney, brings the whole world into God’s courtroom, and brings a fatal charge against them, provides evidence to convict them, exposes the motive to their crimes, and then brings the verdict of God’s Law. All men are guilty before God!

Romans 3:21-26 is the heart of the book of Romans and the heart of the gospel. In this passage Paul answers the question, “How can a sinner be made right with God?” There is no question more important than this one, and the answer is absolutely thrilling!

We’re sorry, but due to a technical difficulty, the video of this sermon was not recorded.

Why did Jesus die? Our immediate response is that He died for our sins. That is true, but it is not the whole truth. Jesus did not only die for us, He died for God. Christ died to appease God’s wrath, demonstrate God’s righteousness, and satisfy God’s justice.

What are the consequences of the glorious truth of Justification by Faith Alone? Paul tells us that it Eliminates Boasting, Abolishes Distinctions, and Establishes the Law. The truth humbles us and gives all the glory to God!

Having discussed the doctrine of justification by faith in abstract theological terms in Romans 3, Paul illustrates this truth now in the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. We learn that Abraham was justified apart from works, circumcision, or the Law.

Why did God decide to justify us through faith? He could have chosen any number of ways to save us. This passage tells us that God decided to justify us through faith for four different reasons: 1) So that it would be by grace; 2) so that it would be guaranteed; 3) so that it would be global; and 4) so that it would give God all the glory.

Paul says that our faith is credited as righteousness. What exactly does he mean? What kind of faith is credited as righteousness? What must be believe to have our faith credited as righteousness? Find out in this message as Pastor Brian draws Romans 4 to a close.

What are the implications of being justified by faith? We have peace with God, we stand in grace, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God! Nothing should make us rejoice more than these glorious truths!

God’s will is that believers rejoice in their tribulations! But, why in the world, would a believer do that? It’s because he knows that God is using these tribulations to produce perseverance, proven character, and ultimately grant him hope of everlasting glory by granting assurance of saving faith.

The apostle Paul brings out the amazing love of God, by showing us how deep the Lord had to dive to reach us, and how high he is going to take us. If you lack assurance and a sense of security, read and meditate long and hard on Romans 5:6-11.

Romans 5:12-21 is the clearest and most comprehensive passage in the Bible on how Adam’s original sin has affected the human race, and how Christ’s perfect life affects those who trust in Him. Both stand as Representatives of those that are united to them. Oh, how vital it is that we gain a vital union with Christ!

The foundation for a believer’s sanctification is his union with Christ in His death and resurrection. In Romans 6 we learn about this glorious union God has established, and the wonderful implications for holiness in our lives!

How can a believer make progress in holiness? In Romans 6 the apostle Paul gives us clear teaching on the matter. We must know of our union to Christ, consider that union, and then go on to present the members of our body to God as instruments of righteousness.

All of us were born as slaves to sin. But when we were born again, God freed us from sin and transferred us into His kingdom. We are now His slaves, but experience joy, peace, and happiness as His willing servants.

Believers have gone from being married to Mr. Law, to Mr. Love – Jesus Christ. We have been released from the law, having died to it by being united to Christ. Now we serve with a new desire, a new power, and a new love. “Not in oldness of the letter, but in newness of the Spirit!”

How does God use His Law in the life of an unsaved man? Paul tells us how God used the Law in his own life to show him his sin and kill his self-righteousness.

Who is the wretched man in Romans 7? For centuries bible scholars have debated the issue. In this message, Pastor Brian, tackles this tough issue by showing the arguments for believing this man is a Christian, and the arguments for why he is not a Christian. There are good arguments for all sides. See if you agree or disagree with Pastor Brian’s conclusions!

Paul’s heart was broken and in deep pain as he contemplated the terrible situation Israel was in, having rejected God’s Son and Messiah.

Why does one person come to Christ, while another does not? The apostle Paul answers that question in Romans 9:6-13, as he shows how God sovereignly included Isaac and Jacob in the true Israel, while He passed over Ishmael and Esau, by including them in His purpose, His choice, and His call.

Is God unjust to choose some and not others? That’s the burning question that Paul’s teaching on unconditional election in Romans 9:6-13 has elicited. If not, why not? And why was Pharaoh’s heart hardened? Find out in this message.

Is God unjust to Condemn those He hardens? That’s the question posed in Romans 9:19. In the next five verses the apostle Paul answers that question, but in a way you might not expect. Man has no right to question God’s actions, and God has every right to do whatever He wants with His creation.

How does God go about forming the True Israel? By calling Gentiles, and preserving a Jewish remnant. The implications for God’s people are staggering: We are the People of God! We are Beloved! We are sons of the Living God! God is saving a remnant and preserving a posterity! All glory to His Name!

What isn’t Israel saved? That was the question people were asking in Paul’s day. Paul’s first answer is in Romans 9:6-29 – God has not included all physical descendants of Abraham in the True Israel. Rather, He has sovereignly chose some, but not all. His next answer, is because of Israel’s failure. Israel sought righteousness by works, stumbled over Jesus Christ, had a zeal for God that was not according to knowledge, and refused to submit to God’s righteousness. Oh, may we not repeat Israel’s mistakes!

What must a person do to be saved? Paul, with Israel in mind, answers that question. Israel was pursuing righteousness by works, and would not subject themselves to God’s righteousness. Paul teaches that people must abandon that approach, and instead pursue it by faith: faith in what Christ has accomplished, faith in the risen Lord, faith from the heart, and faith that expresses itself in confession.

Why is Israel lost? Is she to blame? The apostle Paul declares that she heard the gospel, understood the gospel, but refused the gospel, so she is culpable in the matter.

Because the Jewish people by and large rejected Christ and the gospel in the first century, has God rejected them? No, God has a remnant according to the election of grace.

What does Paul mean when he says, “so all Israel will be saved?” There is a great deal of disagreement and controversy over the correct interpretation of that statement in Romans 11:26. In order to understand Paul’s teaching in Romans 11, we need to answer 2 questions: 1) who is “all Israel”?; and 2) when will “all Israel” be saved?

The apostle Paul winds up his doctrinal section of Romans by extolling God’s riches, and wisdom and knowledge. Here we see logic on fire, truth and passion united in a God-centered vision of all things.

In light of God’s incredible mercies, how should the believer respond? Paul tells us in Romans 12:1, it is by presenting our bodies to Him to be used to do His will and bring Him glory!

We all want to experience spiritual transformation, but how does it take place? Join us as we meditate on Romans 12:2 and see the crucial role that renewing our minds plays in this transformation.

How does the Christian with a renewed mind put pride to death? Pastor Brian seeks to answer that question as he expounds Romans 12:3 at The Bridge.

What is the gift of prophecy? Is it still available today? If so, how should it be exercised? These are the questions Pastor Brian seeks to answer in this message.

All believers have been given spiritual gifts. Paul describes them and urges us to put them to use to serve His church.

How are we to love one another in the Church? Paul answers that question with 5 short exhortations in Romans 12:9, 10, 13. We are to love sincerely, affectionately, selflessly, generously and hospitably.

God has called us to be like Him – abhor evil and cling to what is good.

All Christians have been called into full time ministry – that is we are to serve the Lord all the time, every day, even in the “secular” and mundane issues of life.

Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. But just how can we persevere in tribulations? We do it by rejoicing in hope, and being devoted to prayer.

We are called to love the church and the world. We are to love the saints by displaying sympathy and humility. We are to love all of God’s children without partiality. We are to love our enemies by refusing to retaliate against them and purposing to do good to them.

There has been so much opposition to governmental authority in our country in recent weeks. But, what does the Scripture have to say about how the Christian should relate to government? Paul deals with that exact subject in our text – Romans 13:1-7.

Love is of the utmost importance in the Christian life. It is a debt that we will never pay off, and it fulfills God’s Law. We must appropriate the power of the Spirit in order to love our neighbor as ourselves.

We are living on the edge of eternity, so how ought we to live? We need to lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ!

In every church there will be Christians who hold different convictions from each other on non-essential gray areas. It is very easy for one believer to despise or judge another under these circumstances. In this passage, the apostle Paul shows us why we should not judge or despise one another in these situations.

How should we live with other Christians when we disagree over secondary issues? Paul exhorts those strong in faith to give up their Christian liberty to eat and drink certain things when it may hinder another believer in his walk with the Lord. Our aim is to accept one another, build up one another, and please one another.

We are called to accept one another, because Christ has accepted us. He accepted the Jews by confirming the promises given to the fathers. He accepted the Gentiles by bestowing saving mercy upon them. And He did it all that they (and we) may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Paul was a minister of Christ Jesus. In Romans 15:14-33 we see 7 character traits of a minister of Christ. Every Christian is a servant of Christ, so there is much in this passage that we can apply to our lives, whether or not we are a pastor, missionary or elder of a church, or just an ordinary Christian.

As a minister of Christ Jesus, Paul sought the unreached, labored for the peace of the church, expected God to use him, and coveted the prayers of God’s people. There are many gold nuggets in Romans 15:20-33 that each Christian can apply to their own life and ministry.

What are we to make of Romans 16 and all these greetings? Surprisingly, there is a lot of wonderful spiritual truth tucked away here. We will be introduced to a whole bunch of heaven’s unsung heroes. And they are not much different from you or me!

How should the church respond to false teachers? The apostle Paul tells us in this chapter what the false teachers do, why they do it, and how we must respond to them.

The Book of Romans is all about the gospel. Paul concludes the book with a mighty crescendo as he summarizes again the main elements of the gospel and shows how it all brings glory to God.