Paul anchors everything he has said in Israel’s own sacred texts, showing that this is not a theological detour but a faithful reading of the covenant story. From Moses through the prophets, God had made it clear that covenant membership was never confined to external markers such as ethnicity or circumcision. A circumcised heart – […]

People generally prefer the simplest explanation available, whether or not it is the most accurate one. It’s easier to place ideas into familiar categories than to wrestle with deeper truths that challenge our assumptions. In this passage, the easy conclusion is to say that Paul is dividing humanity into two ethnic or religious groups—Jews and […]

I am sure we have all known people like this. The attitude that says,  “My membership in this church—or this synagogue—comes with benefits and privileges.”  has appeared in every century of God’s people. It wears different clothing in different eras, but the assumption remains the same: proximity to holy things is mistaken for participation in […]

When I was growing up, truth was something solid. It was fixed, objective—something you discovered, not something you created. Truth stood outside of you. It didn’t bend to your preferences, your feelings, or your experiences. It simply was. If something was true, it was true whether you liked it or not, whether you agreed with […]

It is easy—and strangely comforting—to point out the faults and failings of others, so long as we quietly exclude ourselves from the indictment. Moral comparison gives the illusion of righteousness. As long as someone else appears worse, we feel justified, secure, and even validated. In Romans 2:1–2, Paul addresses Jewish believers who, having heard his […]

Here is an excerpt from my study in Romans 5:1. In Romans 5:1, Paul writes: “Because we are justified…εἰρήνην ἔχομεν — We have peace with God.” Peace is not merely calm — It Is the end of hostility. A preacher I once knew said that  “Peace is the cessation of againstness.” The Greek word Paul […]

Romans chapter 1 introduces Paul’s gospel and then lays out the fundamental problem of humanity: although God has clearly revealed Himself through creation, people suppress that truth, refuse to honor Him, and exchange His glory for substitutes. As a result, God’s wrath is revealed not primarily through sudden punishment, but by giving people over to […]

I grew up in Alaska, surrounded by mountains and trees, oceans and rivers, lakes that reflected the sky like mirrors. I watched bears move through the brush, deer step quietly along the tree line, salmon fill the streams, and halibut rise from the depths. Ducks and geese traced their ancient paths across the water and […]

The wrath of God is even now being revealed. Perhaps not in a way you might expect. God is addressing godlessness and wickedness – two different aspects of the sin problem we have in humanity. Godlessness is the vertical aspect – the relationship between man and God. Wickedness is the horizontal aspect of the sin […]

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven… A Hurricane The key to the sentence are the words “is being“. Another way of saying it might be to say the wrath of God is in the process of being revealed. It is not fully revealed… yet. If the wrath of God were a character […]

Paul’s declaration is striking: “I am not ashamed of the gospel.” That is not a throwaway line. It is a settled conviction. When do people usually feel shame? When their words and their lives do not line up. Shame creeps in when we are exposed—when what we claim to be and what we actually are […]

In this podcast, Paul is setting the stage for what is to come in the next three chapters. When it comes to the Gospel, the playing field is leveled. There is no difference in status or position when it comes to what he is about to share. Greeks and non-Greeks (think Gentiles and Jews) alike […]

The word “holy” in Paul’s greetings is applied to the recipients of this letter. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy (ἅγιος  – hagios) people: What does it mean to be called “holy”? Paul says those believers in Rome are called “holy people”. By extension, that also […]

In this 4th episode of the Romans series, I look at verses 3-6 of chapter 1. Paul hints at several conversations to come concerning what “Being called” means, the relationship between Jewish and Gentile Believers, and the divinity and authority of Jesus. There will be several conversations Paul will be having in this letter. Convincing […]

A promise moves us from the realm of prediction to the realm of relationship. A promise is personal—a commitment made from one party to another, an assurance that something will indeed come to pass, and it comes with the declaration that the one who promises is personally guaranteeing it will come to pass. With a […]

Before Paul wrote his letter, the church in Rome was marked by both growth and tension. The Christian community there did not begin under apostolic leadership but developed organically through Jewish believers and early Christian travelers who carried the gospel to the capital of the empire. As a result, the church initially had a strong […]

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— The apostle Paul, the author of the letter to the Romans, stands as one of the most influential figures in early Christianity. Once a zealous Pharisee known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul was rigorously trained in […]

I am very excited to undertake this next project. Last year was the year of Revelation – this year is the season of Romans. Why not the YEAR of Romans? Simple – I will be presenting podcasts of my studies in this epic letter from Paul until late 2027 (maybe even into 2028)! This will […]