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When man refuses God, he descends into an abyss of desperate wickedness. There is neither a point of reference for ‘goodness’ nor the motivation to pursue what fails to fulfill some fleshly preference.

Without the spiritual anchor in God Himself, the natural urges of man’s flesh are the sole basis for his decisions. As the apostle James states in his letter, “Everyone is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desire and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it brings forth sin and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.” When men choose to expunge the knowledge of God from their minds, they receive the ‘fitting recompense’ of God abandoning them to their depraved thinking and dishonourable passions.

Unrestrained by God or the acknowledgement of God, unmotivated by ...

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in it by faith to faith according as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness …”

It has become popular to ignore or even deny God’s wrath. But the apostle Paul, whose ministry began with an encounter with the risen Christ, proclaims God’s wrath against sin as the basis for man’s need for salvation. A popular teacher’s speaking tour was entitled, “The Gods Are Not Angry”...

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in it by faith to faith according as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shown it unto them.

For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, both His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse...

So, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are atRome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.

As one burdened for all men, Paul was prepared, in fact eager, to proclaim the Gospel to those in Rome, for he knew without question that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power to Salvation to all who believe. By faith in Christ – only by faith and only in Christ – do we have access to God’s own righteousness conferred in place of our sin. Only by faith in Christ, for ‘the just shall live by faith.”

Paul’s greatest joy and sole desire for those whom he met was that they would come to know Christ, to trust in Him, and receive salvation through faith in His blood. As his rejoicing to God for them is their faith, of which was known throughout the ‘whole world’, Paul longed to visit the saints inRome in order to bless them with some spiritual blessing so they could grow stronger in their faith in Christ. Not only did Paul love these brothers and sisters in the Lord, but he considered himself to owe all men the benefit of hearing the gospel of Christ, and being built up and more firmly established in their faith in Him.

Romans 1:8-14

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

For God is my witness, whom I serve w...

The letter written by the apostle Paul to the Romans is a rich treatise on the grace and goodness of God towards men. As the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul had not met those to whom his letter was sent. He begins by identifying himself and his intended audience, and clarifying the nature and purpose of his ministry, that of a servant under His Master, Jesus Christ, sent out as Christ’s ambassador with the proclamation of God’s good news pertaining to Christ.

In a few short lines, Paul succeeds at establishing both the humanity and the deity of Christ Himself, as well as the historical anticipation of His coming in fulfillment of God’s express promise recorded throughout the Old Testament.

Romans 1:7

Paul a servant of Jesus Christ, called an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (which ...

That’s what temptation is: struggle against the urges and desires that are by nature wicked, or by circumstance detrimental. And that’s why so many people fail; because they won’t struggle. When temptation comes – and it will always come – the voice of “I want” is allowed to drown out the objections, and the urge to satisfy every tugging desire over-rules any sense of what is right, best, or helpful.

When man chooses to refuse God, why does he then accuse God of abandoning him to the consequences of his independence? While demanding that God exercise no authoritative influence over his life, he continues to expect Him to exercise exceptional benefit in interfering with any negative influences that may cross his path.

When we meet other people who desire the kind of relationship with us, one in which they only desire our presence to improve some otherwise unpleasant reality in their life, we call those people “users”.

Somehow, men have come to believe that because God is abundantly able to affect any aspect of our material existence, that if He is a good God, He is also obligated to do so to our advantage...

9       For My name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10      Behold,I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

11      For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another.

12      Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, My called; “I am He. I, the first, I also the last

13      Mine hand laid the foundation of the earth; My right hand has spanned the heavens. I call to them, they stand up together.

14      All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD (YHWH) hath loved him: He will do His pleasure on Babylon, and Hi...

What was the cup which Christ came to drink?

Some say Christ’s cup was separation from God the Father, but Psalm 22 says the Father did not turn His face away from His Son on the cross, but withheld His hand until His afflicted Son spoke the word – “It is finished”.

Some say it was the cup of God’s wrath poured upon Christ for men’s sins, but when James and John asked to have the right and left-hand positions in Christ’s kingdom, answering that they were indeed prepared and able to drink of the same cup that Christ drank, Jesus affirmed that they would indeed drink of the cup that He drank. But no man bore the wrath of God for the sins of men other than Christ. No disciple bears God’s wrath for his own sin, much less for the sins of the world...