Youʼve probably heard of the Romans Road to Salvation. It is a set of verses from the Book of Romans that ʻleadʼ a person to faith in Jesus Christ. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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While we might refer to the 10 commandments, Jews would refer to the 613 commandments! This may have, in fact, been the background of the question posed to Jesus about which was the greatest commandment. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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God is evangelistic. From the beginning He has been revealing His salvation to the human race. Immediately after Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them in the Garden of Eden and offered them what Iraneaus, in the second century after Jesus, called the proto-evangel, meaning the ʻfirst Gospel.ʼ He was referring to Genesis 3:15. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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We like to keep three groups of people distinct as we read the Bible: the nation of Israel, the Gentiles, and the church. God has a plan for each of them – for each of us. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Is the nation of Israel “no longer [Godʼs] people”? Weʼll let the apostle Paul answer that for us. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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The mystery here is the identification of the fullness of the Gentiles which was not a subject of revelation in the Old Testament. Paul seemed extremely concerned that Gentiles would “be wise in [their] own opinion” about God setting aside Israel and bringing the Gospel directly to the other nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. Looking back over history, he was wise to be concerned as you see the prevalence in every generation of anti-semitism. There is no place for it in the church! (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Chapter eleven closes with what many call a doxology; and it is, although I think we should hear it as more spontaneous. Itʼs like when a worship leader or songwriter gets a lyric directly, immediately, from the Lord. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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“I beseech you” is not an expression of duty, but one of devotion. Paul, after all, was an apostle with authority from God. He could have commanded or demanded. Instead he appealed to the Roman believers as his “brethren.” (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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When it says, “do not be conformed,” it means “stop being conformed.” It is a definite possibility that after youʼve been regenerated and have a new inner heart life you can still choose the values of this present evil age and go on being conformed by them. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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What about urging people to “forget the church?” How does that square with the Scripture? Not very well! For one thing, Jesus said He was going to build the church. I donʼt want to find myself abandoning the very thing Jesus said He was building! (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Some have likened the church to a hospital for those needing help and healing. A new, popular name for churches utilizes the word “refuge,” which promotes the idea that the church is a spiritual shelter from pursuit, danger, or trouble. The church is those things, and more. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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I want to tell you I have what I consider to be a control belief through which I approach the text. It is this. Christians all over the world, in every nation, hold a dual citizenship, but one citizenship takes priority over the other. We are citizens of Heaven first, then citizens of our nation, in our case the United States. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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There is an ongoing debt you and I owe. Itʼs one we must pay and that we will never be out from under. Itʼs in verse eight of Romans 13. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Diets and days were causing disputes in the church at Rome. Such things still cause disputes in the church today. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Missions for God were on Paulʼs mind and heart as he got close to the end of the Book of Romans. Romans 15:8-12 discuss Jesus as missionary to the Jews and verses 9-21 discuss Paul as missionary to the Gentiles. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Whenever you attempt to serve the Lord you can expect to be hindered. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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Paul always had a sense of urgency about him. It came from his trials and from his theology (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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We talk about getting established in a home or in a business. We mean that there is a lot of work especially in the beginning but, afterwards, we can enjoy the benefits. Paul ends his letter to the Romans telling them God “is able to establish” them. Notice it is a work God does, not something you do. It’s like a father turning over his successful business to his son. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)
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