Predestination – Part 1 Text: Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4,5 Introduction: Do things simply happen by chance? If we don’t accept the biblical teaching concerning God’s sovereign predestination, what are we left with? Chance–random events occurring haphazardly, like billiard balls ricocheting … Continue reading
Our Purpose-Driven God Text: Romans 8:28-30 Introduction: Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life has become one of the all-time best-sellers (over 12 million copies sold). Many celebrate that a distinctly Christian book like this could attract such a following and gain … Continue reading
Rising To Our Defense Text: Romans 8:34 Introduction: Because it is “Resurrection Sunday” (or to use a pagan term “Easter”), I am going to jump forward in our analysis of this chapter to verse 34 which speaks of Christ’s resurrection … Continue reading
Three Groanings For Glory Text: Romans 8:19-27 Introduction: The title and major features of this message were gleaned from the lectures on Romans by my late professor of theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1983-84), the late S. Lewis Johnson … Continue reading
“What Does ‘In Christ’ Mean?” – Part III Text: Romans 8:9-17 Introduction: The Federal Vision position, as expressed by Rich Lusk and Steve Wilkens, presents a view of Union with Christ that stands in sharp contrast with that which the … Continue reading
“What Does ‘In Christ’ Mean?” – Part 2 Text: Romans 8:5-8 Introduction: Union with Christ, in the words of John Murray, “embraces the wide span of salvation from its ultimate source in the eternal election of God to its final … Continue reading
The Resurrection: Christ’s and Ours Text: Romans 8:11 Introduction: Before moving on to Part II on the significance of Union with Christ, I want to focus on verse 11 of this chapter and the Apostle’s words, “But if the Spirit … Continue reading
What Does “In Christ” Mean? – Part 1 Text: Romans 8:1-4 Introduction: The tenth of Romans 5:9, “Being justified by his blood, we will be saved from the wrath to come through him,” constitutes the ground for the Apostle’s magnificent … Continue reading
No Condemnation Now and Forever: Why the Federal Vision is Really the Federal Fog Text: Romans 8:1 Introduction: This marvelous chapter, as we noted earlier, begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation.” This is so because of the … Continue reading
Atonement and Justification – Part 4 Text: Romans 3:21-28; 4:24,25; 5:9,10; 8:1-3, 32 Introduction: San Storms, a longtime friend from college days in Oklahoma, and a very perceptive theological thinker, recently made this insightful observation, “I’ve often lamented what I … Continue reading
Atonement and Justification – Part 3 Text: Romans 3:21-28; 4:24, 25; 5:9, 10; 8:1-3, 32 Introduction: The 50th anniversary issue of Christianity Today came out last week. In one particularly interesting article it posed the question: “What will the next … Continue reading
Atonement and Justification – Part 2 Text: Leviticus 16:1-34 Introduction: This past Monday, Oct. 2, was Yom Kippur. This is the Hebrew name for “The Day of Atonement” (cf. Lev. 23:27, lit., day of expiations), and was the most important … Continue reading
Atonement and Justification – Part 1 Text: Romans 3:23,24; 4:24,25; 5:9,10; 8:1-3, 32 Introduction: Christian Theology is, by its very nature, organic. Its individual doctrines are interlocked and as such are not developed in isolation. Granted, we often hold beliefs … Continue reading
The Theological Confusion of the Federal Vision Text: Romans 8:1-8 Introduction: This chapter, as we earlier noted, is the crown jewel of this majestic epistle. The Apostle’s declaration of “NO CONDEMNATION!” provides the answer to the heartfelt cry of 7:24, … Continue reading
Two Kinds of People Text: Romans 8:5-8 Introduction: It is the contention of the people associated with “The Emergent Church Movement” (ECM) that western culture has radically changed since the 1960’s—These well-meaning folk frantically tell us that with the onslaught … Continue reading
The Mind of the Flesh Text: Romans 8:5-8 Introduction: Bête noire (pronounced BET NWAR) is a French phrase that literally means “black beast,” but is used figuratively to refer to that which is seemingly unconquerable and therefore should be avoided … Continue reading
The Christian Walk Text: Romans 8:4,5 Introduction: The concept of the carnal Christian has become disseminated primarily through a series of tracts and booklets published by Campus Crusade for Christ. The Campus Crusade literature features a diagram with three circles … Continue reading
A Right Interpretation of the Cross Text: Romans 8:1-4 Introduction: The acclaimed Swiss theologian of the first half of the 20th century, Emil Brunner, may have gone astray on certain critical points in his theology, but his book The Mediator … Continue reading
The Absolute Finality of ‘No Condemnation’ Text: Romans 8:1 Introduction: Are you sure? This question has become the calling card of Evangelicals who have embraced Postmodernism and as such very much like being identified as “post-conservatives.” The postmodern mindset, with … Continue reading
The Symbol of the Cross and ‘No Condemnation’ Text: Romans 8:1 Introduction: In 1 Peter 1:12 there is a remarkable statement about angels. Peter tells us that the sufferings of Christ and the glory that followed are subjects that these … Continue reading
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