This first part of a 4 part series reviewing some of the major elements that shape a worldview. We consider truth and ultimate sources of truth. Are our OBSERVATIONS of the world enough? or Do we NEED REVELATION to make sense of our world?

In this session we discuss and define some of the big terms in this section of Romans: Propitiation, Redemption, and Grace.

Jesus gives His first parable – the parable of the soils – warns His followers to “Take care how you hear…” The proper response to the Word of God has serious consequences. The Luke arranges 4 miracles to reaffirm and establish Jesus’ power and authority over Nature, the Demonic, Sickness and Death. After He sends…

What is justification by faith? It is establishing right relationship with God through the work of Jesus without the Law through faith. All of this flows out of Paul’s argument that we are justified freely as a gift of God’s grace.

Jesus continues to preach and heal, establishing His authority and power. As John the Baptizer has his doubts, those on the “outside” of society receive Jesus’ mercy and grace by trusting Him.

What is “righteousness”? This is a critical concept in Romans. We need to understand this biblical truth to understand what Paul means by “there is no one who is righteous, no, not one.”

Jesus has established His power and authority over the unclean spirits, sickness as well as His authority to forgive and establish what is right in “religious” matters. Now that He has chosen His 12 Apostles, The Lord gives His first sermon defining His “New Way.”

What advantage does the Jewish person have? What is the benefit of circumcision? What is “circumcision of the heart”? These are the questions Paul addresses in this section.

As Jesus’ ministry grows, He preaches and He heals. In doing so, He establishes His authority over the demonic realm, His authority to forgive, and His authority over “religious” issues. This begins His ongoing controversy with the Pharisees and Scribes. But Jesus came to call those who know they are sinners, not those who think…

We discuss the wrath of God in terms of being “handed over” to our own sinful desires. But the self-righteous are also condemned for the sinfulness of their own judgment of others. Paul is “leveling the field” to show that all are condemned under sin and in need of God’s Grace.