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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
At the very end of his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul pauses to deliver one of His most urgent warnings. In just a few verses, Romans 16:17-20, he calls every believer to stand guard, stay alert, and take the spiritual battle around them seriously. This is not a message for pastors alone. It is a call to every follower of Jesus. What Does It Mean to "Keep Watch" as a Christian? Paul opens this passage with a striking phrase: "I appeal to you, brothers." The word "appeal" here carries the weight of a plea. He is begging his readers to pay attention. To keep watch means to faithfully stand guard. It means remaining spiritually alert to danger and ready to respond. Think of a soldier stationed at a post during wartime. It is not enough to simply be present. You have to be alert. The New Testament uses several Greek words to capture this idea:
These are military words. They paint a picture of someone who understands they are in a real conflict and takes their post seriously. What Should Christians Be Watching For? Paul gets specific. He tells believers to watch out for two types of people: those who cause division and those who teach false doctrine. How Do Divisive People Harm the Church? A divisive person is someone who separates friends, stirs up discord, and creates factions to further a personal agenda. Often, this behavior is rooted in insecurity or jealousy. And while it might seem like a lesser offense compared to other sins, God takes it seriously. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, and the final one on the list is "one who sows discord among brothers." The point of ending the list there is intentional. We tend to see murder or lying as obviously terrible, but divisiveness? We often let that one slide, especially when we are the ones doing it. "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." - Proverbs 16:28 This kind of behavior does not stay in middle school. It shows up at work, in families, and in churches. And sometimes, without realizing it, we become the divisive person because we have been hurt and we give ourselves permission to act in ways that do not reflect the image of Christ. How Can You Recognize a False Teacher? False teachers are anyone who teaches doctrine contrary to the Word of God, who misrepresents Scripture, denies or alters it, or avoids it altogether in favor of worldly wisdom. This is a real and present danger. The internet is full of false teaching. Christian bookstores carry books that are more about what sells than what is true. And when believers do not know their Bibles, they become easy targets. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." - Matthew 7:15-16 Jesus says the standard for recognizing false teachers is fruit. And the definition of spiritual fruit does not change across the Bible. Paul spells it out clearly: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 A teacher who is genuinely walking with Jesus will be growing in love for Him, deepening in the Word, and showing increasing reverence for Scripture over time. A red flag is a teacher who works overtime to explain away the hard parts of the Bible rather than standing on them. Four Signs of a Divisive Person or False Teacher Paul gives four identifying marks in Romans 16:18:
What Should You Do for Spiritual Protection? Be Uncompromisingly Obedient to Jesus One of the most powerful things a believer can do is move from being a hearer of the Word to a doer of the Word. When you act on what God says, even when it costs you something, you will feel your spiritual strength grow. Obedience builds spiritual muscle. Be Skilled at Righteousness, Not Evil Paul says in Romans 16:19: "I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." The word translated "wise" here carries the meaning of being a skilled craftsman, someone who has mastered their trade. The goal is not to become an expert in evil so you can recognize it. The goal is to become so excellent at what is good that evil becomes obvious by contrast. What Happens When Believers Stay Spiritually Alert? Paul closes this passage with a promise that should stir something in every believer: "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." - Romans 16:20 God's plan for winning the spiritual battle is not a dramatic display from the sky. It is you. He intends to crush Satan under your feet, at your workplace, in your neighborhood, in your school, through the gospel that is alive and active in your life. This does not happen when we are spiritually asleep. It happens when we take our post seriously, build our strength through obedience and the Word, and stay alert to what is happening around us. Life Application This week, take one concrete step toward becoming a more diligent spiritual watchman. Open your Bible and spend time in it daily, even if only for ten minutes. Let the Word itself be your standard, not a podcast, not a bestseller, not a social media personality. If you are already in the Word regularly, ask yourself whether you are also acting on what you read. Obedience is where spiritual strength is built. Ask yourself these questions as you go through your week:
The Holy Spirit is ready. His strength is not diminished. The question is whether we are willing to take our post seriously and let Him work through us.
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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Being saved by grace is just the beginning. Once we understand that salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, the next question becomes: now what? Romans 13-15 gives us a practical roadmap for what life looks like when we choose to walk as people of light in a dark world. What Does It Mean to Live as a Person of Light? Paul spends the first eleven chapters of Romans establishing one foundational truth: we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Not by works, not by effort, not by anything we bring to the table. His righteousness is credited to us, and we receive it by faith. But starting in chapter 12, Paul shifts from doctrine to application. The question becomes practical. What does a grace-saved life actually look like in the day-to-day? Romans 13-15 answers that with seven clear principles. 1. Wake Up: Why Urgency Matters for Believers Paul opens this section with a call to alertness. "Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed." - Romans 13:11 The "salvation" Paul refers to here is not justification, which already happened when we placed our faith in Christ. He is pointing to glorification, the future moment when Jesus returns for His church and we are fully transformed to be like Him. Salvation has three tenses worth understanding:
There is no unfulfilled prophecy standing between now and the return of Christ. He could come at any moment. That reality should create a growing sense of urgency in how we live. We need to be awake, alert, and tuned to the fact that Jesus is coming back. 2. Suit Up: What It Means to Put on the Armor of Light Paul follows the call to wake up with a call to get dressed for battle. "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." - Romans 13:12 This is an active choice. We are not passive recipients here. We are specifically casting things off and deliberately putting things on. Paul develops this idea of spiritual armor in Ephesians and Galatians as well, but the principle is the same: we are in a spiritual war, and we need to dress accordingly. Nobody suits up for a battle they do not believe is happening. If we are not awake to the spiritual warfare around us, we will not bother to put on the armor. That is a dangerous place to be. Paul is also clear about what we are putting on. "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." - Romans 13:14 We do not need a stronger version of ourselves. We need to be clothed with Christ. Every one of us knows where we are most vulnerable to sin. We know where the guardrails need to be. The answer is not pride or self-reliance. Eleven chapters of Romans make it clear: our righteousness is worthless apart from Him. We need to stop leaving the gate unlocked and start taking our spiritual protection seriously. 3. Shut Up: Stop Criticizing Others Romans 14 introduces a principle that is uncomfortable but necessary. Paul addresses the tendency of believers to criticize one another over secondary issues, things that have nothing to do with salvation. In his day, the flashpoints were food (specifically meat that may have been sacrificed to idols) and the observance of certain days (like the Sabbath). These were real points of division between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Paul's response is direct. "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls, and he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make Him stand." - Romans 14:4 When we forget that we were saved entirely by grace and brought nothing to the table ourselves, pride begins to creep in. We look at believers who are newer or different from us and start to look down. That is not spiritual maturity. That is pride dressed up as discernment. "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer." - Romans 14:13 Much of what we call "church hurt" flows from this exact problem. Before we allow anything critical to come out of our mouths about another believer, we need to ask whether we are sitting in the wrong chair. The damage pride does is not just to others. It damages the proud person deeply as well. 4. Step Up: How to Love Others Selflessly as a Christian Rather than judging, Paul calls us to something much harder: selfless love. "But rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." - Romans 14:13 Paul introduces a powerful principle here. Even if something is not sinful in itself, if it goes against a fellow believer's conscience, we should hold back out of love. This is not about admitting we are wrong. It is about choosing love over personal preference. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17 We should never pressure someone to do something they feel is wrong in their conscience. That kind of pressure belongs to our enemy, not to us. Instead, we are called to go above and beyond in love for those who struggle with things we may not struggle with ourselves. "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23 If we pressure someone into something they are not at peace with, two people have now done wrong. Love means we lay our preferences down for the sake of another, just as Christ laid His life down for us. 5. Shape Up: Why Spiritual Discipline Matters for Christians Paul opens chapter 15 with a call to spiritual strength. "We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves." - Romans 15:1 Just like physical muscles weaken when they are not used, our spiritual strength fades when we neglect the disciplines that build it. We need to be in the Word consistently. We need to be feeding on spiritual truth regularly. "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." - Romans 15:4 This is a clear vindication of the entire Bible, including the Old Testament. It was all written for our instruction. The Old Testament makes no sense without the New, and the New is incomplete without the Old. We need all of it. Spiritual exercise does not require reading the entire Bible every day. It requires consistent, daily feeding on God's Word in whatever form works for your life. The goal is to build one another up and strengthen each other so we can stand firm together. 6. Sync Up: Why Christian Community and Harmony Are Essential Paul calls believers to pursue harmony with one another. "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 15:5-6 It is easy to judge someone you do not know. It is easy to be in conflict with someone whose struggles and scars you are completely unaware of. But when we prioritize fellowship and actually get to know one another, harmony begins to grow naturally. Jesus did not design the Christian life to be lived in isolation. He called us together as a church family, knowing we would poke and irritate each other, and knowing that working through that would make us grow. Conflict is inevitable. Harmony is not. We have to work toward it. "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." - Romans 15:7 Our unity was God's plan from the beginning. In a culture that encourages people to pull away from community when it gets hard, we are called to lean in. 7. Fill Up: What Happens When We Live as People of Light The final principle is the only one that is not something we do. It is something we receive. When we orient our hearts toward God and pursue these other six things, something powerful happens. God fills us. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." - Romans 15:13 God is doing the heavy lifting here. He is the God of hope. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that causes us to overflow. When we pursue these things, hope begins to fill us to the point where it spills over onto everyone around us. The world chips away at hope. News cycles are designed to keep us afraid and watching. But God wants His people overflowing with hope, not because life is easy, but because He is faithful. If you feel like your cup is empty today, it may simply be a matter of orientation. He wants to fill you more than you want to be filled. Life Application This week, choose one of these seven principles and apply it with intention. If you have been critical of another believer, go out of your way to encourage them instead. If you have been neglecting the Word, commit to five minutes of Scripture every morning. If you have been isolating from community, reach out to someone in your church and invest in that relationship. Living as a person of light is not a passive experience. It requires waking up, suiting up, and stepping up. But the reward is a life overflowing with the hope that only God can provide. Ask yourself these questions as you reflect on this message:
From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Romans 12 marks a major turning point in Paul's letter. After eleven chapters of deep theology about salvation, Paul shifts to a simple but challenging question: now what? How do we actually live this out? The answer centers on one powerful idea: becoming a living sacrifice. What Is a "Living Sacrifice" and Why Does It Matter? Paul opens Romans 12 with one of the most quoted passages in the New Testament. He writes, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1) The phrase "living sacrifice" is intentionally striking. In Paul's culture, sacrifice meant death. So a living sacrifice is a paradox that demands attention. It means complete surrender to God, not a one-time event, but an ongoing posture of giving your whole life to Him. The word "therefore" at the start of chapter 12 is doing a lot of work. Paul is pointing back to everything he has argued in the previous eleven chapters. Because Jesus did it all, because salvation is by faith and not by works, the right response is total surrender. Does Spiritual Transformation Happen All at Once? Paul continues in verse 2: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) Transformation is the outcome of surrender. But it rarely happens all at once. For most people, God works gradually, day by day, through small acts of obedience that build into something significant over time. If you feel like you surrendered to God but are still a mess, you are in good company. Every believer is still in progress. The key word is progress. Every now and then, it is worth pausing to look back and notice what God has already done. You are not who you used to be, and you are not yet who you will be. Six Signs of Spiritual Transformation in Your Life Paul spends the rest of Romans 12 and into chapter 13 describing what transformation looks like in practice. These are not the only signs, but they are six powerful markers worth examining honestly. 1. Are You Walking Humbly Before God? Paul writes, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." (Romans 12:3) Humility is one of the clearest signs that Jesus has changed you. Before knowing Christ, there is no real reason to walk humbly before God. But coming to Jesus requires stepping off the throne of your own life and letting Him sit there instead. Pride is notoriously hard to see in yourself. Others usually spot it in you long before you do. This is why having spiritually mature people in your life who will tell you the truth is one of the most valuable things you can have. True humility is not running yourself down constantly. That is false humility. It is being clear, honest, and truthful about who you are, nothing more and nothing less. 2. Are You Faithfully Serving the Body of Christ? Paul lists a variety of spiritual gifts and then says simply: use them. "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them." (Romans 12:6) There is no one like you. Your combination of gifts, personality, experiences, and calling is completely unique. No one can do exactly what you can do, where you are, with what you have been given. God does not make cookie-cutter people. The rarest substance in the entire universe is not gold or diamonds. It is wood, found only on this planet. But even rarer than that is you. There is only one of you in all of creation, which is exactly why Jesus considered you worth dying for. When you faithfully serve the body of Christ, something happens in your own character. You are being remade through your service. Serving others is not just something you do for them. It transforms you. 3. Are You Authentically Loving the Brotherhood? Paul writes, "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection." (Romans 12:9-10) Genuine love within the church does not mean the absence of conflict. In fact, conflict is the doorway to true intimacy. Diamonds do not become diamonds without heat and pressure. The same is true in relationships. Church hopping to avoid conflict is one of the most spiritually costly habits a believer can develop. God is not surprised when people who are different rub each other the wrong way. He designed it that way. You need people who are not like you to help you become someone you could not become on your own. The church that never experiences conflict is not the healthiest church. It is the shallowest one. Lean in when it gets hard, because that is often when something great is about to happen. 4. Are You Graciously Suffering Together? Paul writes, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another." (Romans 12:15-16) Suffering is not optional in this life. Whether you follow Christ or not, this broken world brings pain. But when you live for Christ, your suffering is redeemed. It carries meaning and eternal value. Paul goes further: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (Romans 12:19) There is suffering we cannot escape, but there is no suffering that Jesus cannot redeem. Leaning into difficulty rather than running from it is one of the most powerful catalysts for spiritual growth. 5. Are You Peaceably Submitting to Authority? This one is uncomfortable, especially in a culture that prizes independence. But Paul is direct: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1) Paul wrote these words under Roman rule, a government that was actively hostile to Christians. And still he called believers to submit. That context matters. This does not mean agreeing with every policy or feeling warm toward every leader. But it does mean Christians are called to a higher standard than the surrounding culture when it comes to how they speak about and treat those in authority. When we slander those in office, we are violating this passage. Paul also addresses taxes directly: "Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed." (Romans 13:7) Submitting to authority is a mark of spiritual transformation. It shows the world that Jesus is living inside of you. 6. Are You Generously Loving Your Neighbor? Paul writes, "Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8) He goes on: "For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Romans 13:9) This is not about loving people at church. This is about loving the actual neighbor who drives you crazy. When we love our neighbor, we fulfill the law. It is one of the clearest signs that transformation is happening in our lives. Life Application This week, take an honest look at these six signs of spiritual transformation and score yourself from one to ten in each area:
Nobody scores a ten across the board. That is not the point. The point is to identify one or two areas where you need to go to God and say, "I need help here. I need your power in this area of my life." God is always faithful. He is always waiting for us to come to Him with open hands, and He is ready to work transformation in any area we surrender to Him. Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:
God's number one priority in your life is to make you more like Jesus. If you give Him permission to work in any area, He will. Come to Him with open hands and let Him do what only He can do. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Romans 11 raises one of the most misunderstood questions in all of Scripture: Has God rejected the Jewish people? The answer, according to the Apostle Paul, is a resounding no. But understanding why requires us to look carefully at what the Bible actually says about Israel, salvation, and the mercy of God toward all people. What Is Romans 11 Actually About? The book of Romans builds toward one central idea found in Romans 1:16: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Everything Paul writes flows from that single truth. Chapters 9, 10, and 11 zoom in specifically on Israel. Chapter 9 covers Israel's past. Chapter 10 addresses their present. Chapter 11 looks at their future. And the future, it turns out, is far more hopeful than many people realize. Why Were People Confused About Israel's Place in God's Plan? In the first century, the early church was largely Jewish. But most Jewish people were rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. This created a real identity crisis. People were asking hard questions: Are the Jewish people still God's chosen people? Does their rejection of Jesus cancel God's promises to them? Is the gospel only for Gentiles now? These are not small questions. They cut to the heart of how we understand God's faithfulness and the nature of salvation itself. Has God Rejected the Jewish People? Paul answers this directly in Romans 11:1: "I ask, then, has God rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin." His point is simple but powerful. If God had rejected the Jewish people entirely, Paul Himself could not be saved. And yet he is. Every one of Jesus's disciples was Jewish. The early church was led by Jewish believers. God had not rejected His people. His people had rejected His Messiah. Those are two very different things. What Is Replacement Theology and Why Does It Fall Short? There is a theological position called replacement theology, still held in many denominations today, which teaches that God is finished with Israel and that the church has now replaced Israel in God's plan. The problem with this view is straightforward: it contradicts what Paul writes plainly in Romans 11. God did not abandon His promises to Israel. His purposes for the Jewish people have not been cancelled. Believing otherwise requires us to ignore large portions of Scripture and to misread the very passage Paul is writing. Have There Always Been Believing and Unbelieving Jews? Yes, and Paul makes this clear by pointing back to the prophet Elijah. Elijah believed he was the last faithful person left in all of Israel. God corrected Him: "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal" (Romans 11:4). Even in Israel's darkest moments of rebellion, God preserved a remnant of faithful people. This has always been true. There have always been believing and unbelieving Jews, just as there have always been believing and unbelieving Gentiles. The existence of unbelief in a group does not mean God has abandoned that group. Are Jewish People Coming to Faith in Jesus Today? Absolutely. Romans 11:5 says, "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace." This is not just ancient history. Today, there are more Messianic congregations in the city of Jerusalem than at any other point in human history. There are more Jewish believers in Jesus alive today than ever before. God is still at work among His people. What Does It Mean That Gentiles Were Grafted In? Paul uses the image of an olive tree to explain the relationship between Jewish and Gentile believers. The Jewish people are the cultivated tree with deep, ancient roots. Gentile believers are wild olive branches that have been grafted in. The branches do not support the root. The root supports the branches. This is a call to humility for Gentile Christians. We did not replace Israel. We were invited in. The Old Testament is not irrelevant. It is the very foundation we stand on. Treating it as unimportant is not just a theological mistake. It is a failure to honor the root that holds us. Does Rejecting Jesus Have Consequences? Romans 11:25 describes "a partial hardening" that has come upon Israel "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." Rejecting Jesus results in spiritual hardening and blindness. This is not unique to Jewish people. It is a pattern throughout Scripture that applies to anyone who persistently turns away from God. Jesus Himself wept over Jerusalem and said in Matthew 23:37-39: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing. See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" That final phrase is significant. Jesus is pointing to a future moment when Israel will recognize and welcome Him as Messiah. Will Jewish People Ultimately Turn to Jesus? Scripture points toward a widespread turning of Jewish hearts to Jesus as Messiah. Romans 11:26 says, "And in this way all Israel will be saved." This does not mean every Jewish person who ever lived will be automatically saved. Paul has been clear throughout Romans that salvation comes through faith in Jesus, not through ethnic identity. What it does mean is that there is coming a time when so many Jewish people will turn to Jesus that it will be as if all Israel is being saved. The prophets spoke of this. Jesus spoke of this. And the growing number of Jewish believers today may be the beginning of that movement. What Is the Only Way to Be Saved, for Jews and Gentiles Alike? This is where Paul brings everything back to the beginning. Romans 11:32 says, "For God has consigned all to disobedience, that He may have mercy on all." Both Jews and Gentiles have been disobedient. Both are in need of mercy. And God, in His extraordinary grace, offers that mercy to both through Jesus Christ. There is one salvation. There is one Messiah. There is one gospel. Acts 4:12 makes it plain: "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Before Jesus came, people placed their faith in God's promise to send a Messiah. After Jesus came, we place our faith in the Messiah who has been revealed. It is the same salvation, the same God, the same grace. The door is open to all who believe. How Should Christians Think About the Jewish People Today? Two errors need to be avoided. The first is blind political support for everything the nation of Israel does simply because they are Jewish. Calling evil good is always offensive to God, regardless of who is doing it. Truth must be applied evenly. The second error is anti-Semitism, the idea that Jewish people are cursed or rejected by God and therefore deserve contempt. This has no place in the body of Christ. None. God has not rejected the Jewish people, and neither should we. The right posture is one of love, prayer, and a genuine desire to see Jewish people come to know their Messiah, the same desire Paul carried throughout his entire ministry. Life Application Paul closes Romans 11 with an outburst of worship: "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" (Romans 11:33). The right response to understanding God's faithfulness is not pride or confusion. It is awe. This week, take one concrete step to reflect that awe in how you live. Pray specifically for Jewish people to come to know Jesus as their Messiah. If you have never seriously engaged with the Old Testament, begin reading it with fresh eyes, recognizing it as the root that holds everything you believe. Ask yourself these questions as you go:
God's faithfulness to Israel is a mirror of His faithfulness to you. He has not given up on His people, and He has not given up on you. The gospel door is still open. The question is what we will do with that. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Romans chapter 10 cuts through centuries of religious confusion and gets to the heart of one of the most important questions anyone can ask: how is a person actually saved? The answer is clearer than most people think, and it has never changed. What Is the Main Message of the Book of Romans? The entire book of Romans is built around one thesis statement found in Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." Every chapter circles back to this single idea. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Not by following the law. Not by doing enough good things. Salvation is received as a gift, based on Jesus' performance, not ours. Who Was Paul Writing To in Romans 10? Paul was writing primarily to Jewish Christians who were wrestling with deep questions about their identity and heritage. If salvation comes through faith in Jesus, what does that mean for the law of Moses? Do Gentiles have to become Jewish first? Do Jewish believers have to abandon their heritage? Paul's answer to both questions is no. You do not have to become Jewish to follow Jesus, and you do not have to stop being Jewish to follow Jesus. These were not small questions. They were grief-inducing struggles for real people trying to understand what God was doing. What Are the Only Two Ways to Be Saved According to Scripture? Paul lays out two and only two options in Romans 10.
Because Jesus fulfilled the law completely, His righteousness can be credited to those who place their faith in Him. That is the gospel. What Does "Confess with Your Mouth and Believe in Your Heart" Really Mean? "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9 This is not a two-step checklist. It is one thing happening. Jesus Himself made the connection clear: what comes out of our mouths flows from what is in our hearts. When someone genuinely confesses that Jesus is Lord, it is not a performance. It is the overflow of what is already happening inside them. Faith expressed outwardly through confession is faith made real. It is how an internal reality becomes visible. Where Does Faith Come From? "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17 Paul walks through a chain of logic using rhetorical questions. How can someone call on Jesus if they have not believed? How can they believe if they have never heard? How can they hear without someone preaching? How can someone preach unless they are sent? The answer to every question is: they cannot. Faith is not manufactured from within. It comes through hearing the word of Christ, which is why the gospel being proclaimed matters so much. The gospel itself is the power of God for salvation. Why Do Some People Hear the Gospel and Still Not Believe? This is one of the most honest and important questions in the passage. Paul does not soften the answer. He identifies four real barriers that keep people from responding to the gospel in faith.
It is not confusion. It is not a lack of information. People build high walls against the work of God, even in their own lives. Paul quotes Moses and Isaiah to show that this pattern is not new. God predicted it centuries before it happened. "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." - Isaiah 65:1 (quoted in Romans 10:20) This should reshape how we pray for people in our lives who have not yet believed. The barrier is rarely intellectual. It is almost always something deeper. How Does God Respond to Disobedience and Opposition? This may be the most important question in the entire passage. When people reject Him, when they oppose Him, when they are disobedient, what does God do? "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people." - Romans 10:21 He holds out His hands. All day long. To everyone. To neighbors, family members, enemies, the frustrated and the frustrating. There is no category of person to whom God has stopped extending His grace. Scripture does warn us not to take that kindness for granted. Every day eventually ends. But the posture of God toward people who have not yet come to Him is not rejection. It is an open invitation, patient and persistent. What Does This Mean for Israel, Then and Now? Paul is clear that the Jewish people are not in a different category when it comes to salvation. "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." - Romans 10:12-13 The same Lord who is God over Israel is God over all people. There is one source of salvation, and it has always been the same. Even before Jesus came, faithful Jewish people were trusting in God's promise of a coming Messiah. That was saving faith, even without knowing His name. But when Jesus came and did not fit the expected model, many chose to oppose rather than trust. The lesson for all of us is the same: when we do not understand what God is doing, the wisest response is to trust His word rather than try to help Him fix what we perceive as a problem. God does not need our help keeping His promises. Life Application This week, identify one person in your life who has heard the gospel but has not responded in faith. Instead of assuming they simply need more information or a better argument, pray specifically against the real barriers Paul names: jealousy, anger, disobedience, and opposition. Ask God to soften what is hardened and to open what has been closed. Then look for one natural opportunity to share the gospel with them, not to win a debate, but to hold out the same open hands that God holds out all day long. Ask yourself these questions as you reflect this week:
From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Romans 9 is one of the most wrestled-over chapters in all of Scripture. Theologians have debated it for centuries, and for good reason. It raises big questions about God's choices, human responsibility, and what it truly means to be saved. Here is a clear look at what this passage teaches and why it still matters deeply today. Why Is Paul So Brokenhearted at the Start of Romans 9? Paul opens the chapter with raw emotion. He says he has "great sorrow and unceasing anguish" in his heart for his fellow Israelites. He even says he could wish himself cut off from Christ for their sake. This is not dramatic language for effect. Paul genuinely loves his people and grieves that so many have missed the Messiah they were waiting for. He then lists everything that belonged to Israel: the adoption as God's people, the glory, the covenants, the law, the worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and ultimately the lineage through which Christ Himself came. These were real, God-given privileges. And yet, something had gone wrong. Three False Assumptions the Jewish People Were Making To understand Romans 9, it helps to understand the assumptions that many Jewish people held at the time. Paul spends much of this letter addressing them directly.
What Does "Election" Actually Mean in the Bible? The word election simply means to choose. In Scripture, election refers to God exercising His divine prerogative to act and to choose. That is not a complicated idea. We see God making choices and taking action throughout all of Scripture. That is largely what the Bible documents. But here is the critical balance: God exercising His divine prerogative to act and choose does not erase our ability to act and choose. Just because God can choose does not mean we cannot. Human beings are held accountable throughout Scripture for their own decisions. That accountability only makes sense if real choice exists. Does Being Born Jewish Guarantee Salvation? Paul makes this point clearly. "Not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel." Genetic descent from Abraham was never the promise. Abraham had eight sons total, but God said the covenant would continue through Isaac, the son of promise. This was God's choice, not a matter of birth order or bloodline. The same principle applies today. You are not saved because your grandmother was devout. You are not saved because you grew up in a Christian home or attended church your whole life. Salvation has always been by faith, not by family. What Does "Jacob I Loved, But Esau I Hated" Really Mean? This verse tends to stop people cold. But context matters enormously here. In covenantal language, the words "loved" and "hated" often function as terms of selection and non-selection, not emotional hatred in the way we use the word today. God was not condemning Esau to hell. In Genesis, God poured out tremendous blessing on Esau and made nations from His line. What God was saying is that He chose to continue His covenant purposes through Jacob, not Esau. It was a choice about lineage and purpose, not a declaration of eternal rejection. Can God Show Mercy Without Miscarrying Justice? Yes, and here is why. God can show mercy to whomever He chooses because Jesus satisfied the demands of justice completely. The penalty for sin was paid in full. That frees God to extend grace without compromising His righteousness. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 God's plan was never improvised. From before the foundations of the world, the cross was always the answer. Mercy and justice are not in conflict when Jesus stands between them. Did God Really "Harden" Pharaoh's Heart? This is one of the most misunderstood passages in all of Romans. The Greek word translated "harden" means stubborn. And when you look at the Hebrew word used in Exodus, it carries meanings like strengthen, encourage, take courage, and prevail. It is not the idea of God locking someone into a decision against their will. What actually happened with Pharaoh is this: Pharaoh wanted to defy God. He wanted to keep Israel enslaved. He wanted to win. But standing against an almighty God takes a kind of courage no human being can sustain on their own. So God strengthened Pharaoh's resolve, not to force Him to do something against His will, but so that Pharaoh could carry out what Pharaoh Himself wanted to do. God kept His opponent standing. And in doing so, He displayed His power and glory to the entire world. Our ability to choose remains unhindered, even when God is at work around us. Why Did Israel Miss the Messiah They Were Waiting For? Paul says it plainly in Romans 10. The Jewish people had great zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They were pursuing righteousness through the law rather than through faith. And when the Messiah arrived, He became a stumbling stone. "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame." - Romans 9:33 Jesus Himself said, "Blessed is anyone who does not take offense at Me." The scandal of Jesus as Messiah was predicted long before it happened. And yet, many stumbled over it anyway. Paul's response to this is not judgment. It is grief. "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved." That is the posture we are called to as well. What Is the Bottom Line of Romans 9? The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes, both Jew and Gentile. Every person's default condition is the same: lost and in need of grace. It does not matter your background, your family, your ethnicity, or your religious history. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation. It has always been this way, even in the Old Testament when the Messiah was promised but not yet revealed. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4 Christ does not abolish the law. He fulfills it. But He ends the idea that the law can produce righteousness or earn salvation. That work belongs to Him alone. Life Application This week, let the broken heart of Paul become your own. He did not respond to the spiritual lostness of His people with judgment or frustration. He responded with grief, prayer, and a deep desire for their salvation. Think about the people in your life who are far from Jesus. Maybe they are family members, coworkers, or neighbors. Maybe they are people who have great religious zeal but have not yet placed their faith in Christ. Your challenge this week is to pray specifically for one person by name who does not yet know Jesus. Ask God to soften your heart toward them and to open a door for a real conversation about faith. Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:
From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Many people wonder why the law matters if salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Romans chapter 7 tackles this question head-on, and the answer is both challenging and deeply freeing. Why Does Paul Talk About the Law So Much in Romans? The Book of Romans was written largely to a Jewish audience wrestling with a radical idea: that the Gospel, not the law, is the power of God for salvation. Paul had heard every argument. He had preached across the Roman Empire. And now, writing ahead of his arrival in Rome, he lays out his case systematically. Between chapters 3 and 11, Paul asks 36 questions. Each one builds on the last, moving from simple to complex, from clear to controversial. By chapter 7, he arrives at one of the most pointed questions of all: Is the law sinful? Does the Law Cause Sin? Paul's answer is immediate and firm. "By no means." But then he says something striking: "Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin, for I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness." - Romans 7:7-8 The law did not create sin. But it did expose it. And that exposure is exactly what God intended. How the Law Leads Us to Grace in Jesus 1. The Law Reveals Sin and Our Rebellious Hearts There is something in human nature that resists being told what not to do. When a rule is given, the desire to break it often rises up immediately. This is not a personality flaw unique to a few people. It is the universal human condition. God knew this. The law was never designed to be a ladder we climb to reach salvation. It was designed to be a mirror that shows us what we truly are. Without seeing our need, we cannot receive the cure. The question worth sitting with is this: Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you keep doing the very things you know are wrong? That tension is not random. It is the law doing exactly what it was meant to do, revealing the depth of our need for something greater than willpower. 2. Sin Uses the Law Deceptively and Lethally Paul uses a literary device throughout this section that is easy to miss. He personifies sin, writing about it almost as a tyrant or slave master. He describes sin as something that reigns, enslaves, deceives, seizes opportunities, and pays wages. "For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me." - Romans 7:11 This is not Paul removing personal responsibility. He is helping us see that sin is not just a list of bad choices. It is a spiritual power at work in fallen humanity, one that exploits the law to produce death. Understanding this matters because it changes how we fight. Paul makes it clear elsewhere that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual powers. The body is not the enemy. Sin is. 3. The Law Is Holy, Righteous, and Good "So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." - Romans 7:12 The law is not impossible to follow. That framing actually does more harm than good. Most of the commandments are not physically impossible. They are inconvenient. They are uncomfortable. They require sacrifice. But they are not beyond human capacity. What is impossible is for law-keeping to save you once you have broken any part of it. That is the distinction. The law is perfect. We are not. And that gap is exactly where grace enters. There is no need to minimize the law to make grace look better. Grace is already glorious. The law is beautiful, and our failure to keep it perfectly is what makes the cross so necessary and so stunning. 4. The Law Amplifies the Tension Between Spirit and Flesh Paul describes an experience that every believer recognizes: "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." - Romans 7:15 This is not a sign that something has gone wrong in your faith. This tension is the Holy Spirit at work. When the Spirit moves into a life, He does not find a clean, empty space. He finds a war zone. And He begins the long, patient work of transformation. Think of it like a master sculptor chipping away at stone. There is friction between the chisel and the rock. That friction is not failure. It is progress. The more we cooperate with the Spirit's work, the more that transformation takes shape. Many people who come to faith later in life reflect that before Christ, they knew something was wrong but it did not bother them much. It was only after receiving the Holy Spirit that the tension became real. That tension is not the enemy. It is evidence that God is at work. What Does Paul Mean When He Says "Wretched Man That I Am"? "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" - Romans 7:24 This is Paul's exasperated conclusion after wrestling with the war inside himself. It is the same word borrowed by the hymn writer of Amazing Grace. It is not self-loathing for its own sake. It is the honest cry of someone who has glimpsed holiness and knows how far short they fall. People throughout history have tried to answer this cry in every way imaginable. Sacrifices. Personal piety. Wealth. Intelligence. Pleasure. Distraction. None of it works. Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived, summed it up at the very start of Ecclesiastes: "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." - Ecclesiastes 1:2 Without Christ, the search for deliverance leads nowhere. Only Jesus Can Rescue Us from Sin and Death After all the wrestling, Paul lands on the only answer that holds: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" - Romans 7:25 He does not claim that following Jesus means the war is over. He acknowledges that with his mind he serves God's law, but with His flesh He still feels the pull of sin. The tension remains. But the outcome is no longer in question. Jesus saved us while we were still His enemies. He is not going to abandon us now that we belong to Him. The Holy Spirit does not surrender. God does not give up. Even when we are still under construction, we are held. The grace of Jesus is not Plan B. From the very beginning, God declared that He would show mercy to whom He would show mercy. The law was always pointing toward this. The cross was always the destination. Life Application This week, pay attention to the tension. When you feel the pull between what you know is right and what you are tempted to do, do not run from it or try to silence it. Recognize it as the Holy Spirit doing His work in you. Instead of fighting the discomfort, lean into cooperation with God. Surrender to the chisel. Ask yourself these questions:
The law is not your enemy. Sin is. And the One who defeated sin is already living inside of you. Trust Him with the war. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Romans 5 is one of the most dense and rewarding passages in all of Scripture. In just a few verses, Paul lays out everything a believer possesses because of justification through faith in Jesus Christ. These are not distant promises. They are present realities that belong to every follower of Christ right now. What Does "Justified by Faith" Actually Mean? Paul opens Romans 5 with the word "therefore," which ties everything back to what he has already established. Humanity is broken, fallen, and sinful by nature. But through Jesus Christ, God provided a permanent solution to that problem. Justification is the judicial declaration that because of Jesus, you are "not guilty." It is not a transformation of your character in that moment. It is God, like a judge with a gavel, declaring you righteous because Jesus took your sin. Salvation itself carries three tenses:
With that foundation in place, Paul begins stacking truth upon truth about what believers now possess. 1. You Have Peace With God "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." - Romans 5:1 This is not the peace of God, which is a separate concept Paul addresses in Philippians. This is peace with God. Before Christ, every human being is in conflict with God, whether they realize it or not. A common but serious error in our culture is the idea that everyone is already a child of God. Scripture is clear that we are all creatures of God, but being a child of God is a specific reality reserved for those who are in Christ. We are born as children of Adam, inheriting his sin nature and the separation that came with it. When you are justified in Christ, the war is over. The wrath of God that Scripture says is being stored up is no longer directed at you. That is not a small thing. That is everything. 2. You Have Permanent Access to Grace "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand." - Romans 5:2 The original Greek here uses a "perfect tense," which describes something that is always present and always moving forward. This is a standing grace. It does not expire. It does not run out when you fail. Many believers struggle with the feeling that ongoing sin disqualifies them. But Jesus knew you would still struggle after coming to faith. He died for that struggle too. His grace is not a one-time gift. It is a permanent, ever-present reality in your life. 3. You Have Hope in God's Glory, Not Your Own "We rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:2 The word translated "rejoice" here can also mean "boast," carrying the idea of triumphant confidence. Every other religion in the world leaves its followers asking, "Have I done enough?" There is no real basis for confidence there. But because we are justified by faith and not by works, we have a reason for genuine, grace-filled confidence. We are not boasting before the game. Jesus already won. We celebrate a completed victory every time we gather to worship. 4. You Have Hope in Your Eternal Salvation, Even Through Suffering "We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame." - Romans 5:3-5 Suffering is not a sign that God is angry with you. It is part of what it means to live in a broken world. But for the believer, suffering has a purpose. It is a snapshot of the sanctification process, the Holy Spirit working to shape your character into the likeness of Jesus. There are two unhealthy extremes when it comes to suffering. The first is total avoidance. The second is unnecessary indulgence. The wiser path is to pursue wisdom to avoid needless suffering, while trusting Jesus through the suffering that cannot be escaped. That endurance builds character, and that character produces hope, both in you and in the people watching your life. 5. You Have God's Love Poured Into Your Heart "God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 God has not dripped His love into your heart with an eyedropper. He has poured it in without measure. This love was given while you were still His enemy. That is how lavish it is. And here is the reason He gives so generously: there are people around you who do not yet have this love. God fills your cup to overflowing so that you can pour into others. You will never run dry. Your only job is to empty your cup, trusting that He will always refill it. 6. You Have the Holy Spirit Everything described above is made possible through the Holy Spirit who has been given to every believer. This is not a small addition to the list. It is the power behind all of it. In the Old Testament, God's people had the revelation of His righteousness but no internal means to live it out. On the day of Pentecost, everything changed. The disciples who had been confused and stumbling were transformed because the Holy Spirit now lived inside them. The same is true for you. The Holy Spirit is recreating you from the inside out. He is the reason sin no longer feels comfortable the way it once did. He is the reason you can love, endure, worship, and grow. You are not the same person you were before Christ. You have been changed because you possess the Holy Spirit. 7. You Have Received Reconciliation "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." - Romans 5:11 Reconciliation means two things being made one. Through justification and sanctification, God is bringing you into unity with Himself. He looks at you and sees Jesus. That is not something you earned or helped accomplish. That is the power of the atonement. Paul closes this section of Romans 5 by making the point unmistakably clear: "As one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." - Romans 5:18 One man, Adam, brought sin and death. One man, Jesus Christ, brought righteousness and life. You did not help. He did not ask for your help. He accomplished it all so that the glory belongs entirely to Him. Life Application This week, when doubt, guilt, or confusion creeps in about your standing before God, open your Bible to Romans 5 and read the first eleven verses. Let the truth of what you possess in Christ anchor you before you spiral into shame or despair. Ask yourself these questions:
You are not saved by your effort. You are not sustained by your performance. Everything you need has already been given to you in Christ. Walk in it. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Faith has always been at the center of God's plan for humanity. Not works, not heritage, not effort. Just faith. Romans chapter 4 makes this clear through the life of Abraham, and the implications are just as relevant today as they were when Paul first wrote them. Why the Book of Romans Matters (And How to Read It) Romans can feel overwhelming. It is long, layered, and packed with theological concepts. But everything in the book flows from one central thesis found in Romans 1:16-17. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'" - Romans 1:16-17 That one phrase, "the righteous shall live by faith," is the thread that holds the entire book together. Paul spends the rest of Romans answering one core question: who is righteous, and how does that righteousness come? Why You Cannot Ignore the Old Testament Before diving into Romans 4, it is worth addressing something that trips a lot of people up. Some teachers and writers suggest the Old Testament is something Christians can safely set aside. That is a serious mistake. The Old Testament and New Testament are inseparable. Everything introduced in the Old Testament is fulfilled and revealed in the New. Everything found in the New Testament is hidden in the Old. When you embrace both together, the full picture of God's plan comes into focus. There Is No Room for Personal Pride at the Cross Romans 4 opens with Paul using Abraham as an illustration of what it means to be justified by faith. His first point cuts straight to the heart. "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to Him as righteousness.'" - Romans 4:2-3 If Abraham had earned his righteousness through good deeds, he would have reason to boast. But he did not earn it. He believed God, and that belief was credited to Him as righteousness. Personal pride is one of the biggest barriers to receiving salvation. The desire to earn it, to contribute something, to pull yourself up spiritually by your own effort, is rooted in pride. And that pride will keep you stuck. Many people spend years frustrated in their faith because they are working hard to accomplish something that only Jesus can accomplish. The turning point comes when a person finally stops striving and simply receives what Christ has already done. Repentance is not just turning away from individual sins. At its core, it is turning away from the arrogance that says, "I can help earn this." Salvation is not a partnership between you and Jesus. It is Jesus alone. What the Story of Abraham Actually Teaches Us About Faith The moment Paul is pointing to in Genesis 15 is not the dramatic scene where Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac. It is much earlier, and much more ordinary. Abraham was an old man. His wife was old. They had no children. God had promised to make Him the Father of many nations, and Abraham had no idea how that could possibly happen. God did not explain the how. He simply said it would be so. And Abraham believed Him. That was it. No great act of heroism. No perfect track record. Abraham was a man who had made plenty of mistakes, who had tried to take matters into his own hands more than once. But in that moment, he trusted God with something that seemed impossible. God counted that faith as righteousness. This is the accounting language Paul uses. God reconciled the books in Abraham's favor, not because of what Abraham had done, but because of what Abraham believed. David Understood This Too Paul also brings in David to reinforce the point. He quotes from Psalm 32: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count His sin." - Psalm 32:1-2 (quoted in Romans 4:6-8) David knew this truth personally. His life was marked by failure, scandal, and consequence. Yet his trust in God never wavered, and He understood the depth of God's grace and forgiveness. Righteousness was never about David's perfection. It was about God's mercy received through faith. Salvation Is for Everyone Who Believes, Jew and Gentile Alike One of the most radical claims Paul makes in Romans 4 is that salvation has never been limited to one group of people. He points out that Abraham received circumcision as a sign of the righteousness he already had by faith. The sign came after the faith. That means circumcision was never the source of his justification. It was a symbol of something that had already happened. "The purpose was to make him the Father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well." - Romans 4:11 This was a ground-shaking statement in the first century. Many Jewish believers struggled with the idea that Gentiles could be fully included in God's family without adopting Jewish practices. Paul makes it clear: there is not one version of salvation for Jews and another for Gentiles. There is one gospel, one faith, and one way of being made right with God. The same is true today. Salvation is not reserved for a particular background, heritage, or religious tradition. It is for all who believe. All Believers Are Children of Abraham Through Faith Building on this, Paul makes another bold claim. All who believe are spiritually connected to Abraham. "That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring, not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all." - Romans 4:16 God told Abraham He would make Him the Father of many nations. Paul says this was never just about physical descendants. It was about every person from every nation who would follow in Abraham's footsteps of faith. When someone from any background, any language, any culture places their faith in God, they are walking the same path Abraham walked. That makes Abraham a spiritual Father to all who believe. You Are Declared Righteous by Divine Decree Paul closes the chapter by making the personal application clear. "But the words 'it was counted to him' were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." - Romans 4:23-25 The story of Abraham was written for us. The same faith that was credited to Abraham as righteousness is credited to everyone who believes in Jesus. Jesus took our sin to the cross and rose again so that we could be declared righteous, not because of anything we did, but because of everything He did. The Hidden Story of Salvation in Abraham's Life There is one more layer worth noting. In the story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac, a remarkable picture of the Trinity appears. Abraham represents God the Father. Isaac represents the Son. And the unnamed servant who accompanies them, identified earlier in Genesis 15 as Eleazar, represents the Holy Spirit. The name Eleazar means "God is my helper," and can also be translated as "God is my comforter." The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter in the New Testament. In the story, the Father and Son tell the servant to wait while they go ahead. Later, the Father sends the servant out to find a bride for His son, and the servant qualifies her by offering gifts and inviting her to choose for herself. The New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament. God's plan of salvation is woven through the life of one man, across decades, pointing forward to Jesus. Life Application This week, take an honest look at where pride might be getting in the way of your faith. Are you still trying to earn something that has already been freely given? Are you frustrated in your spiritual life because you are working hard to accomplish what only Jesus can accomplish? The challenge this week is simple but not easy: surrender the effort. Stop trying to help Jesus save you, and simply receive what He has already done. Ask yourself these questions:
Righteousness has always come by faith. It came that way for Abraham. It came that way for David. And it comes that way for you. The question is whether you are willing to let go of your own effort and trust Him completely. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
In our journey through Romans, we encounter one of the most profound truths in all of Scripture: the reality of justification by faith. After establishing that all humanity stands guilty before God, Paul reveals the incredible solution that changes everything. The Advantage That Doesn't Make You Better Paul begins Romans 3 with a crucial question: "What advantage has the Jew?" His answer reveals a paradox that applies to all of us today. Yes, the Jews had tremendous advantages - they were entrusted with the oracles of God, the Scriptures themselves. But Paul makes a startling declaration: having advantages doesn't make you better off spiritually. Knowing Truth vs. Living Truth The fundamental issue Paul addresses is this: knowing the truth is not the same as living the truth. The Jewish people had access to God's Word, yet they still fell short of God's glory. This principle applies directly to Christians today. We may have the complete Bible, understand the gospel, and attend church regularly, but knowing the gospel is not the same as living the gospel. Just because you have spiritual information doesn't mean you're off the hook for the penalty of sin. Just because you know better doesn't mean you are better. The Dead End of Self-Righteousness Paul declares definitively in Romans 3:20: "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." What the Law Actually Does The law serves a specific purpose - it gives us knowledge of righteousness and knowledge of sin. It's literally the means to understand our problem, but not the means to solve it. The law was never meant to bring salvation; it was meant to help us understand what righteousness looks like and how far short we fall. This leaves us with only one option: trust. From the very beginning, salvation has always been by faith. The just shall live by faith. Understanding Biblical Justification When we try to justify ourselves, we're attempting to move from the defendant's chair to the judge's chair. But we have neither the wisdom nor the authority to sit in that position. We are not the justifier - we want to be the justified. The Judge's Verdict Justification is a judicial term. When a judge declares "not guilty" and brings down the gavel, that's justification - a judicial expression of innocence. When we try to justify ourselves, we're like defendants claiming innocence, but that's not meaningful justification. The gospel tells us that if we come before God claiming innocence, that's a surefire way to be found guilty. But in Christ, we can be found innocent by saying, "I am guilty, but I'm trusting in Jesus." The Revelation of God's Righteousness Three Types of Divine Revelation Paul uses three distinct Greek words to describe how God reveals truth:
The Righteousness Belonging to God "'But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it'" - Romans 3:21 This isn't about God's righteous acts, but about a righteousness belonging to God that He can confer upon others. It's a judicial righteousness that God possesses and has the right to give to whomever He chooses. Key Biblical Terms Explained Redemption Redemption means "to buy back." In ancient times, someone could purchase a slave out of bondage. Jesus becomes our kinsman-redeemer, purchasing us back from our slavery to sin. Propitiation This refers to a special sacrifice for appeasing or atoning for sin. It's a sacrifice that costs significantly and dies in our place to appease God's wrath. Forbearance Divine forbearance means God refrained from exercising His legal right to punish sin immediately. He pushed the payment forward until Christ could make the ultimate payment. The Glory We All Fall Short Of "'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'" - Romans 3:23 The glory of God isn't a thing - it's a person. The glory of God is Jesus Christ. When we read that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we understand that we've all fallen short of Jesus, who lived the perfect life and fulfilled every measure of the law. Salvation: A Gift to Be Received Not by Works, But by Faith "'And are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'" - Romans 3:24 Salvation is a gift to be received by faith, not earned by works. Many struggle with this because we'd feel better if we could earn it. But this mindset is exactly what Jesus calls us to repent of - our self-righteousness. Jesus doesn't need your help to save you. If you think you can add something to His salvation through good works, you misunderstand His salvation and it's actually offensive to God. Individual, Not Corporate God is "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Salvation isn't based on family lineage, cultural background, or church attendance. It's individual faith in Jesus Christ. God doesn't have grandchildren - only children. The Ongoing Process When you place faith in Jesus, your salvation is complete - you are justified, declared not guilty. But salvation is also an ongoing process called sanctification, where the Holy Spirit gradually transforms you from the inside out. You can say:
Life Application The truth of justification by faith challenges us to examine where we're placing our trust. Are you trusting in your good habits, family heritage, church attendance, or moral behavior? Or are you trusting solely in Jesus Christ? This week, take an honest inventory of your heart. Identify any areas where you might be trusting in your own righteousness rather than Christ's righteousness. Remember that belonging to Jesus is the only way to true freedom. Questions for Reflection:
The good news is that Jesus has already made the payment. Salvation is available today through faith in Him alone - not through your works, but through His finished work on the cross. |
Apply it!Next Steps is a collection of articles drawn from the sermons of Pastor Jon Alsdorf, and guest speakers, written to help you connect God's Word to real life. Each post is designed to inspire, challenge, and encourage you to live out your faith in practical, everyday ways -- because following Jesus is more than words, it's actions. Archives
September 2026
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