Romans 1

As we began our study of Romans this past Sunday, the thing that Corey and Connie brought up that caught their attention was, what does it mean to be a 'slave for Christ' (Romans1:1) in our culture in the year of our Lord 2011?

It can be deeply troubling to realize that these words might very well apply to us as they did for Paul...because in Paul's life it meant that God often changed his schedule and prevented him from going the places he wanted to go; it also meant shipwreck, imprisonment and persecution.

So, what does it mean for us today?

This coming Sunday will mark the shift in the discussion toward handling of sin. The online dictionaries define sin in the following manner...An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.

Paul says that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but Christ prays that we might be perfect, even as He is perfect. What does this mean? Are we 'once saved, always saved?' Or are we working out our salvation with 'fear and trembling'?

Look at II Timothy 4 and Paul's instructions to what must have been a teenage / young adult Timothy...do those instructions still hold true today? This is deep material and we may spend a few (Sun) days on it!