Romans 1:18-32 would state otherwise. We now know that it is not by our IQ or our EQ but by the will and Spirit of God through the cross of Christ that we would know and understand the free gifts given to us by God (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Verse 32 is not the end of the bad news. Praise God that Paul wrote vv.16-17 to state “Here is the solution” to follow by vv.18-32 “Here is the problem, part 1″.

Can’t wait for Romans 2.

We saw this when the gospel was first preached in Genesis 3:15. We saw this when Ezekiel preached to the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1-14. We saw this when Christ called out to a very dead Lazarus to “Come out!”

Something that R.C. Sproul once said that was shocking and rubbed me the wrong way when I first heard it. This teacher said, “The gospel is not for everyone but it is only for those who believe!” Immediately I thought, “Surely, we are to ‘go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” (Mark 16:15)?

But taking Paul literally here, the gospel is the power of God in salvation. Those who who hear the good news and believed, they are saved.

Later on in Romans, Paul backs up this point:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:8-9)

Preach the word of Christ so that all of creation might hear it and receive faith to believe and trust in His Name (Mark 16:15 cf. Romans 10:17).

Thank you for your exhortation for all of us to “grow in boldness”. I believe that if we truly and fully know that the gospel is the power of God in salvation, this should stir us up to fully walk out the Great Commission of Christ because of the power that is given to us by God on High.

It can also be said ” in Earth as it is on Heaven “. They are one in the same. I know how and why Jesus said it this way. Heaven is here. He was as fully human as you and I, unlike you and I however. In His human experience He operated in His Heavenly experience, unlike us. Even though He came to show us how to live in both (we didn’t listen, but a few did). We need not wait for Heaven, it is here. Did He not tell us that? Alan, I have seen, this is where our Father is taking us, back to the Garden. It is here and it is now. Eternal life is here and it is now. Very few will understand you if you tell them what you know to be true. That tuning fork is beginning to resinate with some. The brick and mortar church can not continue to sell a heaven that exists in the future (if we are good boys and girls). That is the greatest lie ever told. Our enemy says that is the greatest asset I have, letting them believe that. That takes their eyes off just enough to let them believe the nonsense. He trembles at the thought of us figuring out who we really are. It’s not a form or a signed card, it is a “Death Surrender” and I mean a death surrender, where the Spirit overtakes the flesh. It does happen. I KNOW! Heaven is here. The goal is not a heaven in the future, the goal is on Earth as it is in Heaven. You see our transportation to eternity is and always has been here. It sits out there on the runway (cloaked) waiting to take off. All we have to do is get on and when we do, it takes off and does a loop de loop and brings us right back to where we took off. We deboard and realize we were in Heaven all along.

You and I still need to have that lunch or spend some time together.

Your brother in Christ,

Steve New
817-614-8599

Thanks for your comment I totally agree. The only obedience he rewards us for is the obedience he produces in us. There is no merit earning self-effort at all. Only living faith, or dead works. No other options. Blessings – Alan

Now, you may think that you don’t qualify for God’s blessings because of the preceding verse which says that these blessings will come to pass only if you diligently obey God’s voice and keep all of His commandments. You know that no matter how hard you try, you just cannot keep all of God’s commandments. In fact, the Bible says that if you fail to keep just one commandment, you fail to keep all. (James 2:10)

My friend, I have good news for you: Jesus is the one who qualifies us for every single blessing because He has kept all of God’s commandments. When He died for us on the cross, He not only fulfilled all of God’s commandments, He also redeemed us from the curse of the law. (Galatians 3:13) Note that He did not redeem us from the blessings of the law, so the blessings are still ours today!

As you read the list of blessings in Deuteronomy 28, starting with “Blessed shall you be in the city… in the country… the fruit of your body… your basket… when you come in… when you go out…” (Deuteronomy 28:3–13), I believe that Jesus is saying to you, “Like the blessings? Then take them by faith!”

You may say, “But I don’t deserve them.” Yes, you don’t deserve them, but you still get them because of Jesus. That is God’s grace! The law says, “You must deserve the blessings.” But the law is no longer here. Grace is here. So take the blessings by grace through faith. Believe God for the blessings.

Today, it is no longer a question of how much or how well you have kept God’s commandments. It is a question of how much you can believe God for His blessings. All the promises of God in Christ are “Yes”, and because you are in Christ, you can say “Amen!” to His blessings! (2 Corinthians 1:20)

“Every new vista in God, however unexpected, informs new worship and new surrender.”

Serious ‘wordsmith’ stuff happening here!

Looking forward to this study unfolding … especially ch. 8 … happens to be an all time fav in the word. Good times ahead. Cheers!