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From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Paul's letter to the Romans begins with one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture. Before diving into the complexities of faith, Paul establishes a crucial foundation: understanding why we desperately need the good news requires first grasping just how bad the bad news really is. The Gospel: God's Power for Salvation What is the Gospel's Purpose? "'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'" - Romans 1:16. This verse serves as the thesis for the entire book of Romans. Paul declares that the gospel isn't just good advice or moral teaching - it's literally God's power working to save people. The phrase "to the Jew first and also to the Greek" encompasses all of humanity. Paul uses "Greek" to represent all non-Jewish people, what we call Gentiles. This salvation is available to 100% of humanity, regardless of background, ethnicity, or past. Faith from Beginning to End Paul continues: "'For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith'" - Romans 1:17. This phrase "from faith to faith" means from beginning to end, from eternity past to eternity future. God didn't change His plan between the Old and New Testaments. Salvation has always been by faith, never by works or religious performance. Why Do We Need Salvation? The Wrath of God Revealed "'For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth'" - Romans 1:18. This is the reality every human being faces: God's righteous anger against sin. Paul identifies two core problems: - Ungodliness : Living life separated from God, as if He doesn't exist - Unrighteousness : Doing what is wrong instead of what is right The Suppression of Truth The fundamental issue is that humanity suppresses truth. We live in a culture that expends enormous energy trying to explain away God's existence, promoting ideas that make no scientific, philosophical, or theological sense. When we divorce reality from God, we end up living by lies instead of truth. As Alexander Solzhenitsyn powerfully stated: "Live not by lies." This four-word phrase captures what followers of Jesus must choose - to stand for truth regardless of the cost, because when no one stands for truth, only God's wrath remains. Five Desecrations That Follow Rejecting God 1. Desecration of Worship When people reject God, they don't stop worshipping - they redirect their worship. Instead of honoring the Creator, they give credit to creation, to themselves, or even to nothing. This is deeply offensive to God, like eating a meal your spouse prepared and thanking someone else for cooking it. 2. Desecration Through Idolatry "'Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things'" - Romans 1:22-23. Modern idols might be parked in our driveways or stored in our phones. Anything we exalt above its proper place becomes an idol. 3. Desecration of Marriage Sexual intimacy reserved for marriage spills into inappropriate places. Marriage becomes devalued while unfettered sexual expression gets elevated. This matters because marriage was designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. When marriage is attacked, this beautiful picture becomes obscured. 4. Desecration of Humanity "'For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions...'" - Romans 1:26-27. Humans are made in God's image as His representatives on earth. When we reject God's design for sexuality and relationships, we distort the very image of God that we're meant to display. 5. Desecration of Society The final collapse comes when society celebrates evil and condemns good. Paul lists the characteristics: "filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice...gossips, slanderers, haters of God" - Romans 1:29-30. When all other foundations crumble, society itself collapses. No One Has an Excuse Universal Knowledge of Right and Wrong "'Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges'" - Romans 2:1. Paul argues that everyone knows right from wrong. Even a preschooler knows when something is unfair. This moral awareness is God's fingerprint on every human heart. Creation itself testifies to God's existence. Looking at your own hand, the stars, a growing plant, or a child's eyes - all point to a Creator. The philosophical question "Why is there something rather than nothing?" demands an answer that points beyond the material universe. The Problem with Our Own Standards Every culture values truth-telling over lying, faithfulness over unfaithfulness. We all make moral judgments. The problem? None of us live up to even our own standards, let alone God's perfect standard. We can all judge what's right, but we've all failed to do what's right. The Law Cannot Save Same Judgment for All "'For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law'" - Romans 2:12. Whether you have God's written law (like the Jews) or just the moral law written on your heart (like the Gentiles), the result is the same: judgment for sin. External Religion Isn't Enough "'For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter'" - Romans 2:28-29. Paul warns against religious complacency. Going through religious motions - whether circumcision for Jews or baptism for Christians - doesn't save anyone. Salvation requires a genuine heart change, not just external compliance with religious practices. Life Application The judgment and wrath of God are inevitable, complete, just, infinite, and eternal. No one possesses any excuse for unrighteousness and ungodliness. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is equally complete, just, infinite, and eternal - and it's the only hope for avoiding God's wrath. This week, examine your own heart honestly. Are you trusting in Jesus alone for salvation, or are you relying on religious activities, good works, or cultural Christianity? Have you truly been rescued from God's wrath by Jesus alone, or are you hoping that Jesus plus your efforts will be enough? Consider these questions:
The good news is that anyone can go home today knowing they are secure in Jesus' hands forever. Salvation is available to everyone who believes - not everyone who checks religious boxes, but everyone who genuinely trusts Jesus as Lord and Savior. From a message by Jon Alsdorf
Easter is more than just a cultural holiday or a reason to gather with family. It's the celebration of the most significant event in human history - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While many people participate in Easter traditions, not everyone understands why this day matters so profoundly. The truth is, Easter proves three crucial things that can transform your life forever. What Does the Resurrection Actually Prove? When we examine the resurrection of Jesus, we're looking at something unprecedented in human history. Death has a perfect track record - everyone dies, and everyone stays dead. Except for Jesus. This singular event wasn't expected by anyone, not even His closest followers. The women who went to the tomb weren't expecting a resurrection; they were planning to properly prepare His body for burial. Jesus Is Exactly Who He Said He Was Throughout His ministry, Jesus made extraordinary claims about His identity. He repeatedly told His disciples that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day. The prophets had foretold these events centuries earlier, with Isaiah 53 reading like an eyewitness account written 700 years before it happened. “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35, ESV). This is an impossible claim unless you're actually the Son of God. He also proclaimed: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, ESV). Only God could fulfill such a promise. Perhaps most boldly, Jesus stated: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV). This flies in the face of cultural relativism, declaring that there is only one way to God - through Jesus Christ. The resurrection validated every one of these claims. It proved that Jesus wasn't just another religious teacher or prophet, but exactly who He claimed to be - the Son of God. Jesus Has the Authority He Claimed to Have Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated authority over sickness, demons, nature, and even death itself. He fed thousands with a small amount of food, healed people with just a word, and cast out evil spirits that His disciples couldn't handle. In John 17:1-3, Jesus prayed: "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (ESV). But it was the resurrection that demonstrated His ultimate authority - power over death itself. Jesus said: "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.” (John 10:17-18, ESV). If you belong to Jesus, you belong to the One who has authority over everything. Nothing is too big for Him, nothing overwhelms Him, and nothing takes Him by surprise. Jesus Does What He Says He Will Do God is a promise-keeping God. When Jesus told the religious leaders to "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19, ESV), He was speaking of His body. He kept that promise perfectly. Jesus promised His followers: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40, ESV). The resurrection was a demonstration of what He wants to do in your life. He also promised: "'In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also'" - John 14:2-3 (KJV). These aren't empty promises. Jesus has demonstrated He has the power to keep them all. What Difference Does the Resurrection Make in Your Life? Understanding what the resurrection proves is important, but the real question is: what difference does it make? If this is truly the biggest deal of all big deals, it should transform your life in practical ways. Your Sins Can Be Forgiven If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, nothing has changed. You would still be trapped in your sin with no hope of forgiveness. But because He conquered death, forgiveness is now possible. "In [the Lord Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7, ESV). Notice it says "according to the riches of his grace" - not according to your ability to earn it or deserve it. God's grace is immeasurably vast. Whatever you've done, however you've failed, His grace is bigger than your failure. The Scripture declares: "To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:43, ESV). That word "everyone" includes you. Your Struggles Can Be Overcome The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. "'…if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Romans 8:11, ESV). You don't have to face life's challenges in your own strength. When that strength runs out - and it always does - you can live by the power of the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean life won't be hard, but it means you're not alone and you're not powerless. "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4, ESV). Through faith in Christ, you become stronger than the struggles of this world. As Paul discovered: "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12-13, ESV). This isn't about achieving any personal ambition, but about having the strength to face every circumstance life brings. Your Eternity Can Be Secured Perhaps most importantly, the resurrection secures your eternal destiny. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36, ESV). Notice this doesn't say you will someday have eternal life - it says you have it now. When you trust in Jesus, you immediately move from spiritual death to spiritual life. "Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. (John 6:47, ESV). This transformation happens "not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5, ESV). Life Application The resurrection of Jesus Christ isn't just a historical event to commemorate - it's a present reality that should transform how you live. This week, challenge yourself to live in the power of the resurrection. Instead of facing your struggles in your own strength, consciously rely on the Holy Spirit's power within you. If you've never trusted Jesus for salvation, don't let this moment pass. The same God who knew you before creation and saw exactly how your life would unfold chose to go to the cross for you. His grace is bigger than your failures, and His love is deeper than your struggles. Ask yourself these questions:
The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He said He was, has the authority He claimed, and does what He promises. More than that, it means your sins can be forgiven, your struggles can be overcome, and your eternity can be secured. That's what makes Easter the biggest deal of all.  Excerpted from A Message By Jon Alsdorf on October 19, 2025
In a world filled with confusion and broken thinking, Christians are called to something higher. We're commanded to "always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). This isn't just a suggestion—it's a divine mandate that requires us to engage our minds and think with discipline. You Don't Need All the Answers Many believers feel intimidated about sharing their faith because they fear not having all the answers. Here's the truth: you don't need to be a walking encyclopedia of Christian doctrine. In fact, it's better if you're not. When someone asks a question you can't answer, the most honest and effective response is often: "That's a great question. I don't know the answer to it, but I'd love to help you find out." This approach keeps you approachable and human, rather than coming across as a know-it-all. Remember, most of us didn't have all the answers when we first gave our lives to Christ. We simply had enough answers to take that step of faith. The same principle applies when helping others—they don't need every question resolved before they can believe. Christianity Is Built on Reason The word "defense" in 1 Peter 3:15 comes from the Greek word "apologia," which means a reasoned statement or argument. This is where we get the term "apologetics." Christianity isn't built on blind faith—it's grounded in solid reason, evidence, and logical thinking. If God is the creator and chief architect of everything that exists, and if He is reasonable and orderly, then we should expect His creation to be understandable and researchable. This belief has actually been the foundation for Western culture's technological advances over the past 2,000 years. The Amazing Design of Our Brains Consider the incredible complexity of the human brain:
To put this in perspective, if you laid 100 trillion dollar bills edge to edge, they would cover the entire states of Texas and California combined. Despite decades of research, scientists still cannot explain how the brain functions as an information processing organ. This remarkable design points to an intelligence far greater than ourselves—a Creator who gave us these amazing minds for a purpose. What does God want us to do with these incredible brains? Use them. Think well. Process information with discipline and reason. Common Logical Fallacies That Hinder Clear Thinking To think well, we must identify and avoid logical fallacies—broken ways of thinking that prevent sound reasoning. Here are five common ones: Ad Hominem Attacking the person instead of addressing their argument. Example: "All Christians are hypocrites, so Christianity can't be true." Even if the first part were true, it doesn't logically lead to the conclusion about Christianity's validity. Straw Man Creating the weakest version of your opponent's position and then attacking that instead of their actual argument. Example: "Christians are simple-minded and superstitious." Appeal to Authority Accepting something as true simply because someone said it or you saw it somewhere. "I saw it on Facebook, so it must be true" is a classic example. False Dichotomy Presenting only two options when more exist. Example: "You're either a Christian or a scientist—you can't be both." Slippery Slope Claiming that one action will inevitably lead to a chain of negative consequences without logical proof. Example: "If we teach Christianity in schools, we'll end up being a theocracy." Why Pursuing Good Reason Matters God Is Logical, Reasonable, and Orderly Scripture reveals God's invitation to reason with Him. In Isaiah 1:18, God says, "Come now, let us reason together." He's not asking for blind obedience but inviting us to think through the evidence and make logical conclusions about His character and promises. God is described as "not a God of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33). In our age of confusion, we need to reflect His orderly nature through disciplined thinking. God Is the Source of All Wisdom and Understanding Proverbs 9:10 tells us, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." All true wisdom flows from God. Apart from Him, there is only unreason and confusion. As we pursue God's mind and thinking, we become more reasonable and better able to grasp truth clearly. The Gospel Represents God's Ultimate Wisdom The Gospel—Christ's death, burial, and resurrection—is the central feature of God's wisdom and the key to salvation. What was once a mystery hidden throughout the Old Testament is now revealed as God's masterful plan for defeating evil and redeeming humanity. Paul declares in Romans 1:16-17 that he's "not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." This isn't wishful thinking—it's the most reasonable response to the evidence of what Christ has accomplished. God's Judgment Is Obvious and Righteous Deep down, everyone knows this world is broken and unjust. Even as children, we instinctively cry "That's not fair!" when wronged. This universal sense of justice points to a coming judgment where all wrongs will be made right. Romans 1:18-22 explains that God's existence and nature are clearly visible in creation, leaving everyone "without excuse." The judgment that's coming isn't arbitrary—it's the logical consequence of rejecting the obvious truth about God. Our Spiritual Warfare Involves Promoting Truth and Reason Second Corinthians 10:3-5 reveals the true nature of spiritual warfare: "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Our battle isn't against flesh and blood but against false ideas, broken thinking, and deceptive arguments. We don't fight with physical weapons but with truth, reason, and the power of God's Word. This is offensive warfare—we're called to demolish strongholds of false thinking and set people free through truth. The Power of the Gospel to Transform Lives The Gospel isn't foolishness—it's "the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Look at your own life if you've trusted Christ. Consider how many things He's changed in your thinking, habits, and relationships over the years. This transformation didn't happen by accident or through your own willpower—it's evidence of the Holy Spirit's power at work. No one becomes more like Jesus apart from the Holy Spirit's work. This supernatural transformation is one of the most compelling evidences for Christianity's truth. Life Application This week, commit to developing more disciplined thinking habits. Keep a list of logical fallacies handy and practice identifying them in conversations, news reports, and advertisements. Make it a family activity—see who can spot fallacies first while watching TV or discussing current events. More importantly, examine your own thinking patterns. Where do you rely on logical fallacies instead of sound reasoning? Ask God to help you think more like Him—with clarity, logic, and truth. When opportunities arise to share your faith, remember that you don't need all the answers. Be honest about what you don't know, but be ready to share the reasons for the hope you do have. Focus on the evidence of God's work in your own life and the historical reality of Christ's death and resurrection. Questions for Reflection:
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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
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