Chapel in the Hills

(07.18-21) Romans 5:3-5 - After explaining the doctrine of justification, Paul moves on to explore the benefits of justification beginning in Chapter five. After a brief overview of justification, Paul moves to explain the first thing one can expect is trials. Thus, the Christian life is not full of prosperity as the health and wealth preachers say, but rather is a hard road that produces patience, character, and hope.

(07.12.21) Romans 5:1-2 - Concluding his argument from chapters 1-4, Paul moves to explain the benefits that flow from justification. For those how have been justified by faith in Christ Jesus, there is now peace with God, access to grace, and the hope of glory.

(06.20.21) Romans 4:18-25 - In this passage, Paul focuses on the importance of faith in the believer's life. From this section, we see the characteristics, the result, and the object of faith. Like with Abraham, faith is something that places trust in the impossible; relying on God to fulfill His promises to His people.

(06.13.21) Romans 4:9-17 - Everyone is focused on presenting a good outside picture of themselves to others, but the only thing that truly matters is the substance of someone's life. With religion, as with many others areas of life, people seem to only be concerned about presentation. However, God makes it clear that He is always after substance. Paul argues, therefore, that one should be concerned with their walk and not only with their appearance. He argues, then, that we should be marked by a faith like Abraham's.

(06-06-21) Romans 4:1-8 - Your good works or deeds cannot save you from God's judgment, but only faith in the perfect works of Jesus Christ. It has been said that we are not saved by our own work but by His. Salvation by faith alone is the main argument from Paul throughout the book of Romans and Abraham is a chief example of this fact. Thus, Paul quotes Gen. 15:6 to defend his argument on faith.

(05-30-21) Romans 3:27-31 - In this section of Romans, Paul sums up his argument on salvation not being earned but given by faith alone. Furthermore, Paul's arugment builds upon the truth that there is only one God and that He is God of both Jews and Gentiles. Given salvation is based up on the merits of Christ, and not upon the merits of the believer, there is no room for pride or boasting.

(05.23.21) Romans 3:24-26 - After explaining that righteousness is only available by grace through faith, Paul moves to explain why God's grace is available to the believer. The foundation of salvation is the price that was pain - Jesus' precious blood. God displayed His righteousness by crushing His Son on the cross for the penalty of sin. It was this public act that justified the justified for His grace.

(05-16-21) Romans 3:21-23 - After building an argument for two and a half chapters that none are righteous and none are good; Paul turns his attention to the only hope for those who otherwise have no hope - Christ. In Romans 3:21-26, Paul presents six important aspects of salvation that give the believer security in their salvation - faith in Christ.

(05.02.21) Romans 3:9-20 - After building the argument that both Jews and Gentiles are in the same boat when it comes to salvation, Paul drives home the point that one human being is righteous (whether Jew or Gentile). Here is the key starting point for the Gospel - all have sinned and deserve God's wrath. Until one accepts this fact, he or she will not be able to accept the salvation that is available in Christ alone.

(04.25.21) Romans 3:1-8 - In this passage, Paul reminds his readers that Jews had a distinct advantage over the Gentiles because they were entrusted with the oracles (or Word) of God. The problem, though, is that they did not keep the Word of God but rather sought to appear religious. Thus, God is righteous in judging His people according to His Word.

(04.18.21) Romans 2:17-29 - The world is often focused upon outward appearances, accomplishments, and credentials, but God is focused upon the heart. What is needed today is not better-looking people but hearts that belong to God. If our nation is to experience revival, then its people need to be better conformed to God's image. A circumcisede heart is what is most necessary today!

(04.11.21) Romans 2:12-16 - Whether Jew or Gentile, all fall short of God's standards for righteousness. The Jews not being able to measure up to the Law of Moses and the Gentiles not being able to measure up to the Law of Conscience, all fall short. Nevertheless, there is one who kept the whole Law perfectly, Jesus Christ!

(04.04.21) Psalm 2 - Easter Sermon - While the world plots in vain to remove God from the public discussion, God sits in heaven and laughs at their attempts. For He has already established His eternal King, Jesus Christ!

(03.28.21) Psalm 1 - In this Psalm, the Psalmist describes what it takes to live a truly happy life. Happiness (or blessedness) begins by avoiding the way of the wicked. Next, happiness is found in delighting in God's Word. Those who delight in God's Word are like a tree planted by the stream that produces fruit in its season.

(03.21.21) Romans 2:1-11 - Paul turns the tables on the moralistic Jews who believed they were exempt from God's wrath. However, they too are guilty of the same things they judged the gentiles. Thus, Paul demonstrates that moralism cannot save but only faith in the merit of Jesus Christ. We are not saved by our works but by His righteous works!

(03.07.21) Romans 1:28-32 - Woe to those who call good evil and evil good (cf. Is. 5:20). The final step of God's judgment against culture is when people begin to approve of evil. When people began to promote practices that are forbidden in Scripture, it leads to the downfall of society. What can we do to reverse the trend? Hear what Paul has to say.

(03.01.21) Romans 1:26-27 - Every generation of Christians has a question that needs to be answered with the Word of God. Today's generation of Christians is being confronted with one predominant question: Is homosexuality a sin? The Bible is absolutely clear in its affirmation that homosexuality is a sin, and calls for believers to submit to its teachings in all that it affirms. As the London Baptist Confession states, "it is our only rule of faith and obedience." Thus, the Word must dictate our belief and not our surrounding culture.

(02-21-22) Romans 1:24-25 - What is happening to our world? The answer to that question is found in Romans 1:24-25. God is handing the world over to its own depravity by giving humanity over to their sin. Such a judgment is most clearly seen in the promotion of the LGBTQ movement, whereby people not only practice sexual immorality but also give approval to such practices.

(02-14-21) Romans 1:18-23 - Paul turns his focus from the righteousness of God that is revealed in the Gospel to the wrath of God that is revealed from heaven against humanity. Humans have openly rejected God and now worship creation rather than the Creator. Such brazen sin requires God's wrath, yet God provides His Son to drink His wrath and to provide salvation for those who deserve wrath.

(02-07-21) Romans 1:16-17 - Paul's thesis statement for the book of Romans centers on a phrase from Habakkuk 2:4, "...the righteous shall live by faith." In this section we see Paul speak of the Gospel's power, scope, and trustworthiness. Thus, we are called to proclaim such a Gospel in boldness.

(01.31.21) Romans 1:8-15 - Paul's entire life was oriented towards reaping a spiritual harvest. Not only did he give thanks for the harvest in Rome, but he also prayed for, and shared in the harvest alongside the Roman Christians. The primary harvest that Paul sought to reap among the Romans was peace between ethnic groups (Jews, Greeks, and Barbarians). The primary point of Romans was to proclaim the truth that the Gospel is for all people!

(01.24.21) Romans 1:5-7 - What is your calling? Paul addresses three aspects of the Christian calling in his concluding thoughts in the introduction. As Christians we are called to obedience, to belong, and to be saints in Jesus Christ. May we all fulfill our callings as God's adopted children!

(01.17.21) Romans 1:2-4 - Paul teaches that the Gospel he preaches was foretold by the prophets long ago and that the Gospel centers on Jesus. Jesus, who is the sound of David (humanity) and the Son of God (divinity), proves his identity by the resurrection. Thus, Jesus proves to be the good news in a world full of bad news.

(01.10.21) Romans 1:1 Pt. 2 - Paul introduces himself to a Roman church that has struggled to establish itself. Not only was there a conflict between the Jews and the Gentiles within the church, but there was also pending persecution under Nero that would effectively shake the church to its very foundation. Therefore, Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wrote the church to help lay an apostolic foundation that would act as a bedrock for the church for millennia to come - the Book of Romans!

(01.03.21) Romans 1:1 Pt. 1 - The introduction to Romans begins with the first word of the book, "Paul." Paul, otherwise known as Saul of Tarsus, was the most unlikely convert as he began as one of the chief opponents of the early church. However, after encountering Christ, Paul was saved and was called to preach the Gospel to the gentile world.