Road down Romans: A journey through Grace, Law and Faith

  The Art of Fellowship Read: Romans 15 Imagine an orchestra tuning before a performance. Each instrument has its unique sound and purpose, but unless they harmonize under the conductor's guidance, the result is chaos. Fellowship within the body of Christ is much like this. Each believer brings something unique, but unity under Christ—the ultimate "Conductor"—is essential for glorifying God. Romans 15 teaches us how to live in harmony, bearing one another’s burdens, welcoming diversity, and working together toward a shared mission. You can clearly see from this passage it is a continuation of the previous chapter. Paul is still talking to the Christian’s who are “strong in faith” and is continuing the sense of unity we should have in supporting each other, especially those who are “weak” in faith. Bearing one Another’s Burdens (Verse 1-6) Paul tells us that we should support those who are “weak.” He echoes this in Galatians 6:2, where believers are to “bear one anot...

  When Christians Disagree Read: Romans 14 Disagreements are a natural part of life. Everyone is going to have disagreements at some point in life. Imagine you are a part of a sports team, and everyone has a different idea on how to win. Some players think it’s best to play aggressively and take big risks, while others prefer a careful, defence-focused strategy. Each approach has its strengths, but if everyone insists on their way without considering the team, it could lead to chaos on the field. In the body of Christ, we face similar challenges: differing opinions and approaches can either divide us or make us stronger, depending on how we handle them. In Romans 14, Paul addresses these differences, urging believers to prioritize unity over personal preferences. Back in Rome, the early believers were divided over issues like special diets and observance of holy days. Some thought it was sinful to eat meat, so they only ate vegetables, while others believed it was wrong not to ...

  Faithful Citizenship Read: Romans 13 Submit to Government (v1-7) If you’ve seen the news lately, you’ll know that Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 US election has stirred strong reactions across all media. For some, it’s cause for celebration; for others, it’s a source of concern. Regardless of where we stand, Romans 13 reminds us that God is sovereign over all authorities. Verse 1 emphasizes, "The authorities that exist have been established by God." This means that, as believers, we’re called to submit to the government leaders God has placed over us, even when we don’t always agree (v2). Paul was writing to believers in the heart of the Roman Empire, a time when persecution was looming, and citizens were expected to declare, “Caesar is God.” Yet, instead of urging rebellion, Paul takes an unexpected approach: he calls them to respect the state’s laws while remaining steadfast in doing good (v3). Our submission should come from a place of conscience. If we fac...

  How to be more like Christ? Read: Romans 12 Imagine training to be an athlete. It’s not just about showing up for the game, it’s the daily discipline, practice and small choices that lead to success. To be in top form, an athlete needs to focus on the right habits and discard the ones that hold them back. In a similar way, Romans 12 serves as our training guide, helping us set aside distractions and embrace habits that reflect Christ. In a world that often values power and status, Paul’s message calls us to live differently— to love deeply and serve selflessly. But how do we put this into practice? Let’s explore 5 key principles Paul shares to help us embody Christ’s character in our everyday lives… 1.        Do Not Conform to the World (Verse 1 & 2) First of Paul tells us that our bodies are to be a “living sacrifice” Verse 1 and in verse 2 Paul focuses on our mind. This is showing that in these first two verses Paul is urging us to fo...

  Hope in God’s Plan Read: 1 Kings 19 v 9-18 (Context) Romans 11 Imagine you’re on a long road trip, but suddenly the GPS reroutes you through unfamiliar, winding backroads. It’s easy to feel lost and unsure if you’ll reach your destination. But if you trust the GPS, it’s actually leading you on a better, faster route that you just can’t see yet. Sometimes, life feels like that detour—uncertain, confusing, and discouraging. In the Bible, we see that even when things seem uncertain, God’s plan is still at work. But we’ll see this through the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and how it connects to Paul’s teaching in Romans 11 about hope and God’s faithfulness. God’s Response to Elijah’s Despair (1 Kings 19:9-18) In 1 Kings 19, Israel is in turmoil, having turned away from God to worship Baal. Elijah feels alone, thinking he’s the last faithful prophet, and his hope is fading (v. 9-10). But in verses 11-12, God reveals Himself in a gentle whisper, reminding Elijah that He is ...

  The Need for the Gospel Read: Romans 10 Path to Faith Verse 1-4 Picture yourself driving on a motorway, and you're trying to reach an important destination. There’s only one open lane that is free from obstacles, and signs clearly point you toward it. But instead of following those signs, you keep trying to drive through blocked or crowded lanes, believing your route is better. In Romans 10, Paul tells us that God has provided a clear way to salvation through faith in Jesus that is seen in the gospels. But many people still try to take their own path, ignoring the clear directions. This is like the Jews at the time who reject Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in chapter 9. So, Paul is encouraging them to look at the gospels and see the evidence for themselves. Now we can all learn for Paul because we see in these first 4 verses that Paul is clearly pleading with them to be saved. Verse 1 he says, “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel that they may be saved.” Now t...

God’s Mercy for His People Read: Romans 9 Rejecting Christ: Verse 1-5 You know what’s annoying! Seeing a celebrity or a top-level athlete have a child with all the advantages in the world, but they just waste it. One example that comes to mind for me is world champion Boxer Chris Eubank's son, Chris Eubank Jr. Now Chris Eubank Sr was a legend in British boxing, but his son never reached the level of his dad. Despite having all the best coaches, they all said he’s too lazy. They had so much potential and all the advantages but just fall flat on their face. The same can be said with of the Jews in the first 5 verses of chapter 9. We see Paul lamenting over the Israelite people. Lamenting is a biblical term that means to have a passionate grief or mourn towards God. We see in verse 4 the advantage the Israelites have which are: “Adoption”: They are the chosen people, children of God, adopted into His family, as seen in Exodus 4v22. “The glory”: This refers to the visible presence of G...

  Love Inseparable Read: Romans 8 verse 31-39 This is part 3 of the blogs in Romans 8 and the last part. Previously we talked about how God’s love frees us from sin in part 1 and in part 2 how God loves us when we are suffering and gives us strength. In this 3 rd and final part of Romans 8 we will talk about how God’s love is absolutely inseparable. I remember in school there was that one kid who was just amazing at football. Everyone knew that if he was on your team, your team was going to win. He was clearly the deciding factor when it comes to winning and losing. That’s just like what it is like when we have God on our side. God helps us from temptation and any attacks Satan may throw at us. But ultimately, He has defeated sin and death, seen in Romans 6v9, that Jesus’ resurrection has defeated death, which means God gives us the victory for whoever lives their lives for Him. But how is God for us? (v31) We when we look at John 3v16 we see clearly in that well known ver...

  Love Through Suffering Read: Romans 8 verse 18-30 This is part 2 of blog 8. Last time we saw God’s love even though we sinned and let Him down. This time we see God’s love for us when we suffer and when we are weak. But with anticipation as to what is to come… Now I struggle getting through things I don’t enjoy, sometimes I lack a lot of discipline. This could be a workout, revising for an exam or doing work for university. So, sometimes I buy myself a bar chocolate or something for when I am done I have something that I can look forward to. Then to find that my brother has ate it. But it still works for me getting through hard times knowing there is a reward waiting at the end. That mindset is similar to what Paul gives us when us as believers face hard times. This is one of my favourite verses for this reason and its verse 18 where Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to ...