Just Right! – The Message of Romans

“Just Right! – The Message of Romans” is the title of our new blog and video series. The gospel is God’s power to save, the only way that we can become “Just Right” – with God, with others, and with ourselves! Only because of the cross, our sin-broken lives can be justified and redeemed. Baptized into his death, we rise with him to start fresh. We reject sin, wrestle with it, and overcome it. We marvel at his faithful dealings with Israel. We treat each other with grace and love. That’s “Just Right!”

God fixes broken lives, broken people, and broken relationships. He makes sinners whole. He saves those who have lost their way. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ – not by our own merit – He redeems us, justifies us, and transforms us. When we die to sin and are buried with Him in baptism, He raises us up and makes us … just right. Then He teaches us to live that way.

He appeases His own righteous wrath (propitiation), buys our freedom (redemption), forgives our sins (justification), and transforms our character (sanctification). He gives us His Spirit to enable us to overcome sin.

He teaches us how to recognize our personal strengths and address our personal weaknesses. He teaches us how to treat others and improve every human interaction that can be improved.

Though He is perfectly holy, and we are desperately sinful, He makes a way through Jesus Christ to make it all right. Amazing grace. Immeasurable love. Supernatural deliverance.

The bad news is that our world is broken. We are broken. In fact, we are dying because of sin. The good news, really the best news ever, is the gospel. The holy God makes broken sinners like us right! As a gift, free for the taking, purchased by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ!

Refreshing and reassuring. Comforting and convicting.

Romans also raises great questions. If we are saved by grace, why not keep on sinning? If the Law cannot save, what purpose does it serve? Can we do without it?

If the Jews were chosen to be God’s people, has God promised to save them unconditionally? How could they be lost, and if they are, how can they be saved?

If eternal life is a free gift, how could you lose it? Why is it that the wages of sin is still death? Why is it that repentance and baptism are necessary? How should we see our responsibility to the government? How should we treat differences of judgment?

Romans presents to us the most liberating of all truths. We can be right with God! Righteousness is not something we accomplish through perfect understanding or flawless performance. It is rather a gift from God. It is not what we present to Him; it is what He grants to us. His answer to all our failings, fears, insecurities. All our shame, loss, negligence. All our guilt. All our debt. All our frustrating efforts to get ourselves together and make life work right.

Romans gives us the basis for missions. All are lost in sin. All can be saved by following Christ. But “faith comes by hearing.” How can they hear without preachers being sent throughout the world? They cannot. And so we preach, and so we send!

All written materials will be posted on this website, http://servingandsharing.com/, under the category, “Romans – Just Right!”

All corresponding video presentations may be found on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7JRppjEn33aIrggv9opfecN4rksInQsM.

Here’s our schedule:

Written by Cory Collins