Current Studies

Adopted Through the Gospel (Romans 8:12-17)

We are in Romans 8 where Paul is teaching us how we can have the good life, the transformed life, because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (cf. Romans 8:1). We have been set free from the law of sin and death and have been enabled to obey Christ. We noticed in our last lesson that the first step is a change in the mind. We must change the way we think. We must change what we value in life. Paul said that those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit (cf. Romans 8:5). The struggle with sin reveals that there are areas in our lives that we value more than the things of God. Now the apostle Paul is going to further motivate this change of thinking in our lives by showing us what we have in Christ. Open your copies of God’s word to Romans 8 and we are going to spend our time in verses 12-17…

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Excel Even More (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)

There has never been a sport in which a successful athlete has ever said that he or she does not need to practice any longer. Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Yet he did not proclaim that he is such a great player that he did not need to practice. His desire for success continued to propel him to practice more and more. This is true not only for great athletes but also for any work or effort. Whether we are talking about music and entertainment or about education or career, no one can remain successful if they stop working at their craft. Yet one of the dangers of the Christian life is becoming content with our current level of faithfulness. It is easy to think that since we have hit particular levels of faithfulness or spiritual maturity that we can be content with that level…

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The Mind of the Gospel (Romans 8:5-11)

Romans 7 has proclaimed an important truth which is summarized in Romans 8:2. You have been set free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. The glorious words of hope are proclaimed in Romans 8:1. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” But the message of “no condemnation” and being set free from the law of sin and death does not stop there. We have not been set free to return to the works of the flesh. We have not received the decree of “no condemnation” so that we would go on doing things that God condemns. Paul is going to direct us to the hope of the changed life. Paul is going to direct us to the new life, the good life, that is in Christ Jesus. Please open your copies of God’s word to Romans 8:4. We concluded our last lesson at this verse. But this is a transition verse, concluding the prior paragraph and opening a new paragraph that Romans 8 explores. Paul proclaims in Romans 8:4 that God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us. Paul is introducing an important direction for us. The righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled in us. We have been set free to obey the Lord who has freed us and proclaimed no condemnation over our lives. But how can we do what the Lord has asked us to do? Romans 8 shows us what the good life is Christ looks like and how we can do it…

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