First Baptist Family of Asheboro, NC

You’ll notice this passage is like a poem, a song, a time of praise.  God will use our disobedience as an opportunity to show us mercy and grace.  Sometimes we have to define words.  Sometimes words had a different meaning long ago than they do today.  For example, if I say today, “I put something in the cloud.”  It means I placed it in a data storage base.  Or, if I ask someone, “Are you following so and so?”  This doesn’t mean are you driving around following that person.  It asks if you’re following them on social media.  I can also ask if you liked what someone said, meaning did you click “like” on social media.  It’s good to define! Paul breaks into praise and defines God.  Good teaching and theology will lead us to worship. God has deep knowledge and wisdom. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! (ESV) Knowledge and wisdom are similar.  Paul breaks into praise about who God ...

Romans 10 is a summary of all the Bible holds true, a simple statement of faith.  Sometimes we want to know what God wants us to do.  It’s like when we see a book and wonder what it’s about.  We examine the book jacket cover and get an idea of what this book is about.  This passage is like the book jacket cover for the Bible. God is near. Paul is writing to the Romans and he wants people to know God is near.  In Deuteronomy 30:12 Moses is also reminding people God is near.  12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it? Moses is speaking to a large group of people.  You don’t have to cross the sea, climb a mountain or take a pilgrimage to find God.  Moses had climbed a mountain and brought a message to the people.             8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth...

We are a curious people.  We have questions in our minds and we want to know why things are the way they are.  In Romans 9 we have some answers.  Romans 9 taps into our curiosity and provides us with a greater framework for understanding.  We don’t quite have all the answers.  The people of the Bible we encounter as we study didn’t have the whole story yet.  They lived these things.  They didn’t have the ability to turn the next page to see what happens.  We know the whole story.  They weren’t sure how God would work things out.  God has everlasting purposes for what He does.             For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”                    ...

The second part of Romans 8 is a song, a victory song from Paul.   This isn’t intended to be looked at for logical reasons.   This is a praise, a victory that Paul has found in Christ.   This is a product of a life of walking with God.   What’s it mean when God is for us?   Does God really care about us?   Paul has learned God cares for us and is with us.   If God is for us, what does this mean for us?   This transforms our lives. It’s like in the recent movie The Lion King.   Simba learns Mufasa cares about him.   His dad is with him.   That changes everything for him.   What difference does it make to know God is for us?   All things happening are in God’s control.   Paul knows there will be challenges in life.   It doesn’t matter what’s against us if God is for us. It doesn’t matter who is against us.                 ...