Sunrise Community Church

All theology is ultimately practical it is about real life so how does what Paul write here, speak into how we are to live? That is the question we need to consider as we explore this text. And what we discover is that God is forming one, unified people for His name, comprised of both Jew and non-Jew saved by grace alone through faith alone. This truth has all kinds of implications for how we ought to live in relationship with others, both within and outside of the church.

Paul begins this passage with a question which is critical to the letter of Romans as a whole and to the situation of his original recipients; Has God rejected Israel? And his answer is an unequivocal No! Even though at that time the majority of Gods people have rejected God, God has not rejected Israel. God in His grace has saved a remnant from among them. And Paul goes on to make clear that this is how God has always worked in the past and that it is how God is working now in the present. By grace He saves a remnant.

Bryan Clarke was our guest speaker.

As we move forward in Pauls argument, we come in this passage in which Paul makes the importance of evangelism very clear. The Word about Jesus must be proclaimed and disciples of Jesus have been called to that vital task. In the course of this passage, Paul also makes it clear that the reason many of his fellow Jews have rejected Christ is not because they have not heard the message. They have. Their rejection at this point in time is rooted in their stubbornness. Yet, God cries out to them, inviting them to call on the name of Jesus and be saved.

At this point Paul carries on his argument, asserting first, his deep desire for his fellow Jews to be saved, and then second, that the reason they remain on the outside is due to the fact that they have tried to attain a righteous status before God by works. He then goes on to show how the Law has always been pointing ahead to Jesus and that in his life and death, Jesus has fulfilled the Law. It is now for us for anyone, Jew or Gentile to trust in Jesus and confess him as Lord. Salvation is right here, right now, for all who look to Jesus.

Having spoken about Gods sovereignty in salvation and emphasizing that salvation for both Jew and Gentile is a gift of Gods unmerited mercy, Paul now shifts our focus to the choice that stands before us What will we do with Jesus. The righteousness that we need is a gift received through faith in Jesus and is not something we can achieve by our own striving and efforts. If we trust Jesus, he will be the foundation stone upon which our lives will stand, but if we aim to achieve righteousness by our performance, he will prove to be the stumbling stone over which we trip.

When learning to drive a car, one needs to focus on where you are going on what is in front of you. Certainly you should have an awareness of what is around you, on the periphery, but your eyes are focused on what is in front of you. So too here in this passage of Romans. To be sure, here we encounter some doctrines that are difficult to consider, but they are, in a sense, peripheral to what is central the declaration that God is the merciful one and that salvation is a gift of His unmerited mercy.

In this message we continue to walk through Romans 9-11, a section of Paul's letter focused on the relationship between the story of God's people in the Old Testamnent and what God is now doing through Jesus and the gospel. Here Paul shows us, first, how God can be trusted and second, how salvation is truly and fully a gift of God's grace, from beginning to end.

In coming to Romans 9, we enter into a new section of this letter and one in which we encounter a dramatic shift emotionally. Paul has just lead us as readers into celebration of our security in the love of God. Here suddenly he speaks of having great sorrow and unceasing anguish. Why lies behind Pauls deep heart ache? How does this new section of Romans fit with all that has preceded it? What is this all about? It is these questions that we will begin to explore as we study the opening verses of Romans 9.

With this text we reach the mid-point of the letter to the Romans but also its pinnacle. We look back and take in the marvel of what God in Christ has done and what is now true of us who are in Christ. Paul helps us see and rejoice in the assurance that is ours in Christ. Certainly in this world we may face difficulties and suffering but no matter what, we find ourselves firmly and securely in the grip of Gods love.

In this passage we come to one of the best known verses, certainly in Romans, but perhaps in the scriptures as a whole. In order to correctly understand it, we must first explore some critical doctrinal matters as well as the context in which Paul writes these words. Once we have grappled with those two matters, we will be in a position to rightly understand the rich promise contained in the key verse in this passage.

Here Paul carries on from what he spoke about in the previous verses. All of creation groans as we live in the already not-yet of Gods redemptive work. And creation is not alone. We groan too but we dont groan alone. Though we will walk through suffering, we do so with confidence that the fullness of our redemption yet awaits and even now, we have not been abandoned in our pain. The Spirit is with us, praying for us, groaning with us.

In these verses the apostle Paul urges us to lift our eyes up from our suffering to the glory that lies ahead instead. It is not that our suffering is not suffering. It is, but as he asserts, it is not worth comparing with the glory that awaits. And that glory is far bigger and grander than we can scarcely imagine the restoration, the setting right, of all things.

Here we continue to discover that to be saved through faith in Christ and enter into life in the new way of the Spirit means that we have a radically new identity we are no longer slaves but adopted children of God. And out of that identity as Gods children, flow three other realities we do well to recognize as we live the Christian life.

Here Paul continues to speak about what life looks like for this who are in Christ and are subsequently living in the "new way of the Spirit. What Paul asserts is that this new life involves a new obligation. Not one that earns or merits Gods love for us but one that naturally arises from Gods love for us. The theological term used for what we are called to is mortification. By the power of the Spirit living within us, we are called to war against sinful impulses that come from within and belong to our former life, and also against temptations that come at us from outside of us. This process is about becoming who we already are in Christ.

As we approach Christmas it is important that we take a really close and careful look at what it is we are celebrating. We need to look past all the lights and decorations, the turkey and the gifts to see what is at the very centre of this season Jesus, God in human flesh. And when we get our eyes rightly focused, we will be left marvelling before the manger.

Here Paul continues speaking of the central and essential place of the Spirit in the lives of believers. To that end he contrasts two communities of people those who do not have the Spirit and those who do. Believers are those who do and this makes all the difference. He will yet speak to the implications of this reality but here he focuses our attention on this fact and the resultant truths.

Here Paul begins to spell out for us the vital role of the Holy Spirit in Gods redemptive work. The Father sent the Son. The Son died for us as a sin offering and the Spirit applies the work of the cross to our lives, freeing us from the tyranny of sin and empowering us to live out our new lives. As those in Christ, we no longer live in the realm of the flesh but now in the realm of the Spirit.

Here we tackle a much debated text in Romans. How are we to understand what Paul writes at this point in his letter? Is he describing his current experience as a Christian or is something else going on here? Listen to explore with us why this passage is debated, what Paul is arguing, the point he is making and what this all means for us today.

Here Paul begins a two part digression in the flow of his argument. In light of a number of things he has said about the Law and especially in light of what he just said in the previous verses that we have been released from the Law Paul preemptively counters a possible conclusion some might come to, namely that the Law is sinful. But it isnt. The Law is good, it just cant save us. Our problem lies elsewhere.

Having made clear both our need for justification and the way of justification (through faith in Jesus), Paul is now addressing the implications of justification for our lives. In chapter 6 he has made it clear that justification does not mean that we should continue in sin (to increase grace) or that we should continue in sin (because we are not under law). But how then should we live if not by mere rule-keeping. Here in the beginning of chapter 7, Paul points us to the new way we are to live as those justified by the grace of God.

Laurence Hiebert was our guest speaker.

Here Paul confronts us with the assertion that we as human beings are all enslaved either to sin or to God. The freedom that is ours through faith in Jesus, does not liberate us to live however we want but rather ushers us into a new kind of slavery, a slavery to God. Radically different that our former slave-master, God loves us and desires that we become who he created us to be His image bearers reflecting his likeness in the world and walking in intimate fellowship with Him. Submission to God obedience is, in fact, true freedom.

Paul continues his argument with exhortations that naturally follow what he has previously asserted about our union with Christ and the new life that is ours through faith. In light of that new reality there is something we are not to do any longer and there is now something new we are to do. Living out these exhortations, both negative and positive, will not come easy. But as those who now live under grace, we are called to lean into this new life, fighting the fight of faith.

Having described two streams of humanity those in Adam and those now in Christ Paul asserts what is true for the latter. Those who have trusted Jesus are now win Christ which means their old life in Adam is over and they have entered into a new life. This radical change is symbolized in baptism which illustrates our union with Jesus our substitute. Grasping the truth of this spiritual reality is the foundation for us learning to live out that new reality.

In this message we will reflect on how we are to live as followers of Jesus in this world that is not ultimately our home. This how is fleshed out in our Vision statement and speaks to three different but important aspects of the Christian life. To this end we will survey and explore Peters first epistle which speaks to Christians in his day living in an inhospitable world. In the midst of difficult surroundings we are called to pursue Jesus in community on mission for Christ and this because of what is already true of us through Jesus.

In this message we are focusing again on the mission to which God has called us, and indeed all of his people. That mission is to point others to Jesus but proclaiming the good news that, through him God has done for us what we can never do for ourselves. Through Jesus death in our place we receive forgiveness and righteousness and life. Now, as those who have been redeemed, we have the joy and privilege of pointing others to Jesus and this incredible good news!

Nate Vedoya was our guest speaker.

Keith Bienert was our guest speaker.

Jerry Shepherd was our guest speaker.

Bruce Reed was our guest speaker.

Here, having addressed our need for justification, the way of justification and the results of justification, Paul helps us step back and survey the big picture of redemptive history. The picture Paul paints helps us to see two human communities one that is in Adam and another, having received Gods gift of grace is now in Christ. This new identity is or can be ours through Gods abundant grace.

How can we be certain about the future? How can we have assurance of our salvation? Those are the questions to which Paul responds in these three verses. Paul points back to what has already happened in Jesus as evidence of the certainty of what lies ahead. Because of what God has already done through the cross of Jesus in the past, we can have absolute confidence that He will complete in the future what He has already started. Grasping this reality will fill us with peace and move us to passionately worship God with our lives.

In these verses Paul points to the death of Jesus for helpless, ungodly sinners as a demonstration of the amazing love of God love that far surpasses the greatest human love we can imagine. Not only that. It also stands as proof that the hope we have as those who have been justified, will not let us down.

In these verses we encounter a word that is radically counter-cultural. Suffering is not something to avoid or deny or something from which we should seek to numb ourselves. Rather, in light of our hope in Christ, we are to glory in them, knowing that through them God is at work in us and that in the end, we will know the sheer glory that will be ours through Christ. That future hope transforms our response in the midst of suffering in the present.

At this point in his letter to the Roman church, having expounded both the need for justification and the way of justification, Paul begins to explain the marvellous results of glorification. Those who have put their faith in Jesus, now live in a whole new and radically different reality as Gods redeemed children.

Having contended that justification is a gift of grace received through faith, Paul points to the ancestor of the Jews, Abraham, to demonstrate this truth. Contrary to what some believed, Abraham was credited as righteous apart from circumcision and from works of the Law, but rather on the basis of faith. This reality highlights the fact that subsequently he is the father of all who share in his faith, both Jew and Gentile, united as one people of God at the foot of the cross.

Having laid out the problem the universal problem of sin that impacts every person alike Paul shifts his focus to Gods initiative to set things right through the cross. Through Jesus the penalty for sin has been paid, the punishment for sin has been borne and a whole new status has been bestowed on all who put their faith in Jesus. Here we encounter the very heart of the gospel!

Here Paul comes to the conclusion of the first major section of Romans in which he has been arguing for the universal problem of sin. The argument leaves all of us standing in the prisoners dock before God, exposed as guilty and without excuse in silence. But though that is where this part of Pauls letter concludes, this is not where we are left. In Jesus and through his work on the cross, the power of the gospel breaks in and sets free all who put their faith in him.

As Paul nears the close of the first major part of his letter his case for the universal problem of sin for both Gentile and Jews he deals with a couple more anticipated objections. Though when it comes to Gods judgment upon sin, Jews have no advantage over Gentiles, that does not mean they have not had a privileged role in salvation history. They have! And their unfaithfulness in no way impacts Gods faithfulness. He remains faithful always!

Here Paul continues his argument for the universal problem of sin, specifically how it is also a problem for Jews and not only Gentiles. In these verses he tackles two objections that he knows his Jewish listeners will raise their possession of the Law and their being marked with the sign of the covenant circumcision. Paul demonstrates once more that it is obedience that matters and on those grounds, all of humanity stands in trouble. It is this reality, however, that makes the gospel truly remarkable and glorious news for all who believe!

As we move into Romans 2, we come to a really difficult text to understand in light of what we think we already know. Is Paul saying what he seems to be saying that we will each be judged on the basis of what we do? Understanding what Paul is, and isnt saying, requires that we grasp the context into which he writes and his larger argument at this point in his letter. Far from arguing for a works based salvation, Paul is demonstrating that all alike are disadvantaged by sin.

In this text Paul paints a picture of humanity in its rejection of God and of what is true. To be sure, the picture is dark and disheartening. Society disintegrates. Community breakdown. Freedom from Gods way leads not to joy but devastation. But even in this dark text there is a glimmer of hope. God has planted within each person a recognition of the wrongness of sin, and as Paul will go on to assert later in this letter, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. As dark as this text is, in Jesus there is hope and light!

In these verses we encounter words that are both profoundly controversial and deeply relevant in our current cultural moment. Here Paul speaks about homosexuality and his words here reflect the same message as every other Biblical text on this topic, namely that homosexual activity is sinful. But what we will see as we explore these words in the context of Pauls larger argument is that, though they speak of homosexuality, they are not ultimately about homosexuality. Paul here is speaking about the universal problem of sin that we each face and he illustrates how our lives go wrong, when reject what is true. But God in his great grace, does not abandon us in our sin but invites each and everyone one of us to come to Him to find forgiveness and true life.

Keith Bienert was our guest speaker.

These verses bring us face to face with a topic we do not want to think about the wrath of God. Paul says that "the wrath of God being revealed. What does that mean and why is this the case? In these verses Paul explains to readers the story of humanitys rebellion against God and our sin, by three distinct steps; first, the suppression of truth; second, the rejection of God; and third, the replacement of God with idolatry. The consequence is the revealing of Gods wrath, however, there is good news and a way to be rescued from the wrath of God.

Here we come to the central theme of the letter to the Romans. Paul declares that he is not ashamed of good news for it is the good news that brings salvation to all who believe. The good news is an announcement of a fact, of something that has happened that transforms lives. And though it offends, it is ultimately good news amazing news! For all who believe it and put their trust in Jesus will be saved!

This is an amazing story about a remarkable event but it is far more than just that. It is a story that shines a bright light on the identity and mission of Jesus. He is the conqueror of death and the giver of life. This story helps us to see that faith in Jesus changes everything. In him our enemy death is defeated and the power of God is present in us, empowering us to live as his redeemed. Let this familiar story fill you with a new sense of wonder this Easter.