This may be the most important letter I’ve ever read. (Romans 1-6)

1:6

We all want peace in our lives. Grace brings peace. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." How does grace bring peace?

If we see life through the lens of grace, we more notice and appreciate the gifts and blessings we receive. We exist in a state of gratitude. We constantly see the goodness in our lives.

We love things as they are. We aren't living in constant dissatisfaction. There isn't constant judgment about what is fair. We aren't hung up about who has wronged us or how we were cheated out of what was rightfully ours.

We aren't accusing those things that don't measure up to some arbitrary bar that we've set. For example, we love the home we have and aren't longing for something better. We see our house as a gift that most humans on this planet would pray for.

To live with dissatisfaction is exhausting. To never feel fulfilled is tiring. To compare what we have and are with others is the opposite of peace.

But, to know that we are in the right place, doing the right things, at the right time is a fountain of peace. To know that Jesus Christ has already won and that our salvation is assured brings peace. To view our short lives from the perspective of eternity brings peace. Peace is truly a gift that was given at the creation of this world and from Christ's atonement.

The gifts keep on coming. Grace is given in every second. Now is the moment of creation and it's bursting with grace. Peace can be found in any situation - whether in a palace or prison.

1:11-12

"For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established." This is an interesting verse in that we know that spiritual gifts are gifts of the Spirit. They cannot be given from one human to another. So what does Paul mean?

I think that we can help each other recognize and utilize gifts of the Spirit. We can do that by strengthening each other. We do that by teaching. We do that by being good examples. We can give gifts but we can help each other receive the gifts that we have been given.

"That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." I love it when Marci and I are with other church members and we feel edified. We love hearing others' experiences with their faith. We love sharing our testimonies and lessons learned. We truly are strengthened when we are around other faithful people who strengthen us. I like to think that these times of sharing and strengthening are of mutual comfort for each other.

This is the heart of why there is a church organization.

1:15-16

Paul was a committed teacher. "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." He understood the importance of people receiving the gospel of Christ. He knew that it would bring strength and peace and comfort to all those who received his message.

He wasn't embarrassed to share the gospel. He didn't feel shame. His lack of shame is from an abundance of perspective. He saw this life for what it is and saw others as his brothers and sisters. If we understand the plan of salvation and truly love our fellow man, we will feel compelled to share the gospel.

I think many of us don't want to be perceived as "Jesus freaks." We don't want to be compared with those who stand with signs on street corners yelling at passers-by. I personally haven't wanted to be viewed as a televangelist "praising Jesus." However, I'm getting better and better at sharing elements of the gospel in "normal and natural ways." I see opportunities to share gospel principles to the people I know. It is possible to preach without being preachy. There is a way to share eternal principles without sounding judgmental or pious.

The more we surround ourselves with the gospel and study its principles, the more we will see opportunities to weave principles into our interactions with others.

1:17

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." What is the righteousness of God? Looking at the footnote, it connects to "God, the Standard of Righteousness." This is essentially God's will. So, God's will will be revealed from faith to faith.

In other words, we will progressively be more in tune with God's will as we exercise faith. We will see God's plan for us more plainly. The correct path for us to take will become more clear for us as we exercise faith.

For example, years ago, we felt inspired to build a home on a property where we would be protected from the imminent chaos that is predicted to come to the world. As we have done that and lived here, we see that it would be God's righteousness to sell this property and go on consecutive missions. It is clear to us that this is God's will.

Our path did lead to this home. We have had experiences and opportunities here that have been and continue to be beautiful. The people we have met and served with will be friends into eternity. We were supposed to be here.

But, God's will is revealed "faith to faith." If we are faithful, we will see the plan that God has for us and have the courage to walk down that path.

1:20-22

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." God is invisible. He doesn't reveal himself directly to us. We must know of his existence from the things which he has created. To those with spiritual eyes, the evidence of a creator surround us.

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Those who deny that there is a creator come up with some other theory for how we exist. Instead of submitting to the idea of a creator, they will do mental gymnastics about how evolution happens. They propose that we exist from an infinite series of mutations that led to humans.

They ignore that our closest cousins have no ability to speak and build. There is no advanced monkey building a flying contraption. No computers are used by gorillas. How can we logically believe that mutations created the complex structures of eyeballs and ears. Consider how hearing works through a series of "devices" including specialized bones to amplify sound waves and convert those to electrical impulses.

I've heard someone suggest that, if you put a group of monkeys in a room with typewriters, over the course of an eternity - one of them could write the Bible. Since there are 26 letters and 3.1 million letters in the Bible, the odds of that happening are: 1/26 x 1/26 x 1/26 x 1/26....3.1 million times over. This number would have approximately 4.7 million digits. It's an incredible number! Technically, it's possible but, logically, it's not. It's the same thing with us simultaneously developing complimentary organs through mutation.

It is clearly obvious for those who aren't trapped by their "vain imaginations" that there is a creator. If there is a creator, we can't help but be thankful for the infinitely varying beauty of this world. If we deny there is a creator, the thankfulness doesn't exist because all of this careful planning is attributed to chance. "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

1:25, 27

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." To me, this is about serving the natural man rather than God. We are caring more about the opinions of men rather than our Heavenly Father. We put ourselves on a pedestal and God gets what's left over. We choose to serve God more than mammon.

Those who give into their natural desires are serving "the creature more than the Creator." If we believe that God created men and women to be together to continue to create bodies for his spirit children, to not do that is to put our will above God's. Paul wrote about this. "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

I think that all of us could point to something in our life that doesn't seem like a fair burden. It's not for us to decide what's fair and when to rebel against what God has said. We cannot serve the creature more than the Creator. It's not about what we want. It's about what God wants for us.

2:1

"Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." We cannot judge each other. Our natural man wants to. We want to see others' weaknesses. It makes us feel better about our own.

Ironically, when we judge others as unrighteous, our judgment exposes our own unrighteousness. Which is worse - the person not obeying the Sabbath or the person judging the person not obeying the Sabbath? I suggest that the judger is the one with the greater problem. If one of our two main commandments is to love our fellow man - if we don't through judging them, how in the world are we going to be obedient to that commandment.

Furthermore, how are we going to endure an eternity of service for our infinite number of spirit children when we can't seem to not judge our neighbor? If we are attempting to develop this ability to selflessly serve, judging others puts a huge obstacle in our path! We've got to develop this quality in ourselves.

2:4

What do we value in this world? Do we value worldly riches more than heavenly reward? "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Do we appreciate how forgiving God is toward us? His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering should be viewed as the beautiful aspects of our lives in mortality.

It's interesting that "the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." If we see things clearly and have a heavenly perspective, we will see the goodness of God all around us - regardless of the difficulty or our present situation. The more we see the goodness of God, the more we will be led to repent. We will be drawn to Heavenly Father and see that the path to becoming like him is repentance. Our desire to repent is based in our love and appreciation for our Heavenly Father.

2:7

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." I love that phrase. Much of this life is about "patient continuance in well doing." This life isn't usually some dramatic battle against good and evil. We are not Captain Moroni tasked with defeating an enemy. Instead, we are generally slogging through our average life filled with small frustrations, interruptions, disruptions, and distractions.

We are not trying to win a grand battle. We are attempting to restrain the natural man inside of us in a million little ways. Our days are filled with little temptations and distractions. There seems to be little time to patiently study each day. It's difficult to make it to the temple. It's easier to relax at home than visit someone who may need support.

Our good deeds are generally small. We generally don't receive public accolades. There isn't a round of applause. People may not even notice the good that we're doing. Where is the award for finding names in our family history? I've never gotten an email from the church when I submit a name. Often, our good deeds can seem tedious. But, we press forward with a "patient continuance in well doing."

1:13

"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Hearing the law doesn't strengthen our character in any way. Listening does not earn entrance to the celestial kingdom.

While we are not earning our way into the celestial kingdom in any way, it is our works that are the evidence of our true conversion. Our desires and our love show up as good works.

If we are ever in a position to say, "this is my work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man," we will have to be willing to work. Again our works don't earn heaven - but God is not going to force us to choose that heavenly path. We must choose to go that direction. We must choose to repent. We must choose to be obedient. We must choose to work.

For us to want to work throughout eternity, we should develop that character in this life as much as possible. We should place importance on what we do - not just what we think or study. We cannot get to heaven by studying the word. Following the word is how we successfully prepare. It is how we justify ourselves.

2:25, 29

"For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." This verse isn't really about circumcision. It is about doing the will of God vs. appearing to do the will of God. Our public appearance will mean nothing in eternity. It is our inner faith and obedience to God's law that will steer our course.

"But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." The important thing isn't that we take the sacrament. The important thing is that we are willing to keep the commitment we make during the sacrament.

The "saving ordinances" have less to do with the physical ordinance than the change of heart that the ordinances inspire. There is no saving power that originates in an ordinance. All power to save originates from the atonement of Jesus Christ. The ordinances that we participate in exist only to turn our hearts to Jesus. If an ordinance builds our faith in Jesus Christ, it has served its purpose.

3:3

Does our faithlessness effect the faith OF God? No. "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?" Our righteousness or sinfulness has no effect on the righteousness of God. Our weakness doesn't affect God's strength. Our actions don't change God in any way.

This is important because we are all sinners. If our sin disconnected us from the mercy of God, we would all be in a mess. "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar." We are all sinners but God is true.

3:5-8

This can get confusing. "But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)" He's saying that if our unrighteousness simply brings out more righteousness from God, isn't that a good thing? His answer is in verse 6 "God forbid."

We can't simply say that God's righteousness will overcome all of our unrighteousness. "For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?" In other words, "if our falsehood enhances God's righteousness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?" We can't think this way.

The moment we start thinking in this way, we damn ourselves. "Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just." God's grace can overcome all of our sins. Through Christ's atonement, we can be forgiven of whatever we do in this life. But, if we rely on that mercy and stop trying, this is rebellion. That same rebellious spirit we have in this life will rise with us in the next.

Instead of bolstering our ability to resist sin and be righteous, we will have let our spirituality atrophy. Our progression will be damned.

This is about effort. This is about loyalty to God. This is about working as hard as we can to progress and relying on the mercy and grace of God to make up the difference between our feeble efforts and perfection. If we are teachable, God can make us into anything. If we are rebellious, God will never force us to be good. We choose.

3:9-10

We are so blessed to be members of the church. It is such an advantage! Does it make us better than others. No! "What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin." Whether we are church members or not, we are all sinners. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." We must see ourselves as works in progress and dreadfully imperfect. If we could see ourselves clearly, we would be astounded at the work we have left to do.

"They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." As King Benjamin told his people, we could serve with our "whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants." None of us can pay back what God has given us in this life. We shouldn't attempt to balance the scales because we won't. We must stop attempting to earn our way. We all must throw ourselves at the feet of the Savior and rely on his merits.

3:20

Obedience to the law is not what saves us. It is Jesus Christ that saves us. We become righteous through his blood. The law does not make us like God. "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

Here, the purpose of the law is explained. The law lets us become conscious of our sin. How else would we know where we could improve if it wasn't for the law? When I take a test, the questions that I missed indicate where I could use some additional study.

The law provides the roadmap for us to follow to stay on track. Consider your last road trip. The map on your phone didn't move you one inch closer to your destination! It is your car that moves you. (BTW, without your car, you wouldn't make much progress. To do a cross-country road trip on foot is impossible for many of us. In this way, I believe Christ is our vehicle to move us toward our goal. We have to choose to make the right turns and go the right speed - but Christ is doing the work of getting us to our destination.)

How would we know how to help succor someone else who is struggling with their righteousness if there wasn't a law. It's hard to imagine but try for a second. How could we help someone to not lie if we didn't really know that being untruthful is wrong? Righteousness would be very hard to define without the law!

3:21

God's righteousness is much bigger than the law. His greatness is not set by the bounds of the law. "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets." The law and the prophets point to and testify of the righteousness of God. The law and prophets aren't God. They are road signs and mile markers and guardrails.

3:22-24

True righteousness is sought after through faith. Faith in Jesus Christ can be had by any person on earth - member of the church or not. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference." Whether we are born in Utah or Ukraine, we can all have faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is the primary thing that keeps us moving forward. Anyone, anywhere can progress through faith in Jesus Christ.

Where we live really determines how we live. If we grow up in Bountiful or Borneo matters. Our cultures vary incredibly. One thing that makes us all the same is that we are all SINNERS. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This is one thing that ties us all together. None of don't fit in this demographic! All of our efforts will always come up "short of the glory of God."

What gets us there? "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." We are justified through grace. Period. Our sinfulness can only be redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can't strip ourselves of sin. We cannot ever perfect our imperfect selves. If anyone reading this feels like they are "sinless," you have great cause to repent.

We may review the Ten Commandments and the word of wisdom and tithing and church/temple attendance and consider ourselves perfect in our obedience to that small list. However, we need not look past the two great commandments of truly loving God and loving each other to see our areas for improvement. This is especially true for Jesus's "new commandment" that he gave his apostles that they love each other as he loved them. How close are you to loving others the way Christ loved us? If you're like me, you have a LONG way to go.

3:25-26

Jesus Christ is the only way to be perfected. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atonement) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." The atonement wasn't a backup plan for when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit. It was by design from before the beginning of creation itself.

The plan wasn't about each of us pulling ourselves up on our own and overcoming sin on our own. We will screw up over and over again and God has infinite grace through is infinite forebearance (tolerance).

We can be justified. Is it by our works? No! "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." The key to our salvation is our enduring faith in Jesus Christ. We must believe in Jesus and we must BELIEVE JESUS. He can save us! He will save us if we choose to have faith and continually repent.

There is no limit on how much we can repent. No one is holding a clipboard, telling us "you've already repented three times for that - no more." Jesus said that we should forgive "seventy times seven." Certainly, God himself follows the same standard. BTW, the number seven was a symbol of perfection. God's ability to forgive those who repent is perfect. We just need to believe - not in ourselves but in Jesus.

3:27-30

Who among us feels pride in their righteousness? I have to admit that this is a temptation of mine. I feel proud of the good choices I make. When I am obedient, it seems that pride can slip in.

Obedience to the law shouldn't be a source of pride. "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works?" Our works aren't what saves us. We shouldn't feel overwhelming joy because of our obedience. The law shouldn't give us reason to boast.

But, we can boast about Jesus Christ. We can feel contentment and joy in that we can be saved through Him. Does the law give us cause to boast? "Nay: but by the law of faith." We can know that we are on the right track if our compass is pointed towards Jesus Christ. Exercising faith in Him, not the law, is what will lead us to eternal progression.

Again, it is through faith in Jesus Christ that all men can be saved. "Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith." It is by faith in Jesus Christ that members of the church are saved. It is also through faith in Jesus Christ that non-members are saved. Everyone who has ever lived will only be saved through faith in Jesus. Church membership isn't the qualifying factor. Jesus is.

3:31

Does all this mean that we can throw out the commandments and simply focus on faith? That's like throwing away our map and GPS because all we need is a car to get to our destination! "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Our faith in Jesus Christ reinforces that the map is correct in the first place. We need the map AND the car.

BUT, we also need to do our part. We can't simply say that "I don't need a map. I only need to believe in my car and I'll get there." Nope. We must get in and drive. We've got to do the work to get there. We are the one's making turns and using the accelerator. It takes three things to get across the country. A map, a car and a driver.

This analogy will make less sense as the cars become more autonomous...

4:2-5

I love how Paul writes. As some of you may have noticed, I sometimes make points and then make the same point another way. It makes these posts quite long. I'm happy to say that Paul does the same thing. He's made his point well but then reinforces his point through the example of Abraham. "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." Our faith generally leads to good works. Here, Paul is asserting that Abraham's faith counted as righteousness - before the works were performed.

Our works justify us before men. We will be undoubtedly praised by many if we fill our lives with good works. We will be appreciated and even celebrated. The public will count us as fully "justified."

This isn't exactly true "before God." If we are simply working for our heavenly pay then we are just doing a job. God is an employer who gives us a wage for our effort. That is not how any of this works! "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt." We can't earn grace. Grace is freely given.

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Paul is making the point that our faith alone is a good thing. The key factor of our progression is faith in Christ. For someone to have faith in Christ but not the strength to do good works is in a better position than someone who has no faith and attempts to earn salvation (or simply praise) through obedience.

Our works are not a driving force. Our works are a result of our faith. Our faith must be in place to do rightoueous works for the right reasons.

4:9-13

This is an interesting series of verses. In a nutshell, I think it's about reinforcing the idea that righteousness can occur before the righteous act is done. In verses 9&10, Paul introduces the point. "Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision." Abraham was blessed before he was circumcised.

Abraham was promised many blessings in his Abrahamic covenant. The covenant was already made before circumcision was commanded. Circumcision was a "sign" of that covenant already made. In other words, Abraham's righteousness was in effect prior to the act of circumcision.

"And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that BELIEVE, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised."

Circumcision was a seal of righteousness of the faith that Abraham had before he was circumcised. Abraham wasn't meant to be the father of circumcised Jews. He was meant to be the father of all those who were walking by faith towards the gospel. What an amazing change! I'm sure the current members of Israel weren't too excited about hearing that! The Jewish people had so much pride that they were the children of Abraham and that is what separated them from the Gentiles. To think that Father Abraham was, instead, father to those who were YET to be adopted into the family of Israel was a revolutionary point!

The promise of the Abrahamic covenant was not meant to be based on the LAW. "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." This is huge! The base of the Abrahamic covenant is faith - not obedience. Our obedience is a result of our faith. The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant are rooted in faith.

4:14-16

If we depend on the law only, where does faith fit? "For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." When we are focused on obedience only, the obedient can use the law as a source of wrath. We can use the law to accuse each other. The law can be used as a club to beat ourselves and each other up. Focusing on the law is about determining who gets the wrath of God and of each other. The law is used to judge each other. It's not good.

Instead of this gospel being about the law, it is about faith and grace. "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all." Where the law is about wrath, faith is about grace.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people. This gospel is NOT just for members of the Church. It is not only for those who have already made covenants in the temple. The blessings of the gospel begin the moment that faith in Christ is exercised. Members of the church are not the only partakers of the love of God. The atonement of Jesus Christ reaches all people. For any of us to believe that his atonement doesn't extend to all people is foolishness and untrue.

Instead of using the law to judge others who may not be as obedient as we are, we should use the law to determine who we can best serve. This is what grace is. Grace is about seeing someone who is struggling and seeing what they need and being willing to offer the help that is needed. This is what we should do for others and it's what God does for us.

4:20-21

Sometimes, God's goodness and grace seems to great. It doesn't seem fair that he would give us what we need instead of what we deserve as sinners. But, it's a fact - he does. When God told Abraham, a 99 year old man that his equally elderly wife would bear him a child, it didn't seem possible. But, Abraham didn't pause a moment with unbelief. "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."

He was too old and his wife's womb was "dead." That didn't matter. Sometimes, we can feel like our chances of the celestial kingdom are dead and buried. Nonsense! If God can reverse the condition of a long-since menopausal woman, He can make you perfectly obedient.

But, for us as mortals, the point isn't the perfect obedience. The point is that we have the faith that Christ can save us in our current disobedience. God's work is to reverse our physical and spiritual death. It's his work and glory to do this for us. He is perfect at it.

5:1-5

Paul is such a great writer! I love this! Again, we are saved by Jesus Christ. We aren't saved by our ability to be perfect in this life. I am saved by Jesus Christ. I am NOT saved by Eric Adams - thank goodness. Taking the pressure off of my shoulders alone is such a relief! I am not perfected simply by my ability to make good choices. Because, alas, I'll continue to make incorrect choices throughout my life. I'm a hopeless case if my salvation relies on me!

Understanding this brings peace. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Our hope is in Jesus Christ - who is perfect. Having faith in a perfect Savior is the definition of hope! We access the grace of God through faith. We must believe!

The blessing of this only magnifies during times of trial. Having hope for the future when things are going well is easy. In a way, this hope is "cheaper." The good news is that this hope endures through our trials. "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope."

When we have enduring hope through tribulations, it helps us see those trials as opportunities to grow. We see the eternal perspective in all aspects of life - including the trials.

5:6-8, 10

Who would you die for? If you had a choice, you'd die for a great human. If you could die for George Washington in 1775, you'd do it. If you could take the bullet for Martin Luther King Jr, you'd do it. It's easy to die for a great person. "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die." Again, it's easy to die for someone great.

How hard is it to die for a miserable person? How hard is it to die for someone who is insufferable? What if they were evil? WHO WOULD DIE FOR TED BUNDY? None of us would volunteer to die for a truly wicked person. However, amazingly, this is exactly what Christ did. He died for the wicked sinners! "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Christ did not die only for the awesome people!

This point illustrates God's unconditional love for us - ALL of us - wicked or not. Of course, it doesn't hurt to be righteous. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." When we are God's enemies, we can be reconciled by his death. Once reconciled, we can then be reconciled by his life. What does this mean?

Christ conquered death through his resurrection. But, he sacrificed his life in two ways. He died for us but he also LIVED! We can be saved by following the principles that he taught. We can be exalted in the celestial kingdom by following his example while he was ALIVE. What did he say? What did he do? If we can study his words and acts during his 33 years and attempt to be like him, our place in the celestial kingdom is assured. The key word there is attempt.

5:18-21

There is opposing parity between Adam and Jesus Christ. Through Adam's transgression, death and sin was brought to us all. Through the life of a single man, so much death and suffering has entered the world. It is like a seed that started with person and spread to the whole of humanity. "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

This is an important way to consider the fall and atonement. I have faith that one single man can bring so much death and destruction. I also have faith that one single man can bring eternal life and salvation.

None of us deserved the death and destruction. We didn't earn it. In the same, way, none of us deserve eternal life and salvation. We won't earn it. Adam and Jesus are parallel fathers of our destiny. Their actions spring eternal.

The fact is, Christ's atonement overwhelms the sinful results of Adam's transgression. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Death does not reign - grace does. It's helpful if we don't forget that. Sometimes, it seems like sin and death are unstoppable. We must all have faith that sin and death will, indeed, stop through Jesus Christ.

6:1-2

So, with all of this talk about the superior power of grace, is the desire to be righteous gone? "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Those who truly have faith in Jesus Christ would not turn their backs to the man who they accept as their Savior. If we've turned our backs to sin, it doesn't make sense to continue to live in sin. It isn't natural.

6:3-8

(These verses remind me a lot of Adam Miller's book "An Early Resurrection." I have to think that he based that book on these verses. I encourage you to read it.)

The true message of baptism is death. That sounds weird I know but it's true. We know that it represents the death and burial of Jesus Christ. It can be our own death and burial. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" What does this mean? It's explained in the next three verses.

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Our baptism can be the death of our sinful selves. We don't have to wait until the end of our lives to die. We can let our sinful self die NOW. Imagine that! What would that feel like? What if Eric can die now? What I mean is that Eric's guilt and shame and burdens that he's carried his whole life can die. That man can end. His worry and stress about the future can end. We don't have to wait until we pass on to stop caring about this world! I don't need to worry about what's going to happen next week or next year. All that can die!

Instead, I can simply live each day in Christ. I can be fully present. I can attempt to make good, righteous choices today. I can live each day as a true disciple of Christ. It would be beautiful to shed my old, sinful, worried self and focus only on Jesus Christ. "For he that is dead is freed from sin." If the old Eric is dead, I can be fully freed from sin.

My life can end and I can begin life as a new creature. "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him." Again, imagine how nice it would be to shed our old selves and live purely as a disciple of Christ. Sounds like an adventure!

6:11-13

We can be dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ. "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Dying early is about no longer being a slave to sin. In many ways, we are slaves to sin. We allow our natural desires to control us. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."

We can rise above this. "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." Our lives are about who and what we yield to. Do we yield to the natural man or do we yield to promptings of the Spirit?

We don't need to be controlled by sin. We are not animals simply controlled by our appetites. We are above that. We are also not controlled by the law. We aren't all lawbreakers and have a destiny of being accused by a judge. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

6:15-16, 18

Again, Paul makes clear that the superior power of grace doesn't make us free to choose whatever we want. "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

Life is not meant to be a lawless, chaotic disaster. Truly, this life is about learning how to submit. The question is: who will we submit to? "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" We must choose who we will serve. We can't serve both.

We can be freed from our servitude of sin. "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."

6:20-23

We can choose to be servants of sin. That would free us from that pesky righteousness... "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness." That's the kind of freedom that we DON'T want. Why? Because of the results. "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death." The results of being a servant of sin is shame and death. The results are an unhappy life of disappointment and depression. It's a life of falling, over and over again, into the pitfalls of sin - which are everywhere.

But, as we've discussed, there's another way. "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." The results of being servants to God is holiness and eternal life. That's a pretty good deal. Think about it. If someone offered you a job where you had to be his servant and he offered you $10 million a year, you'd happily take that job. Consider how much greater the compensation is for being a servant of God. It is a beautiful, infinitely fulfilling agreement. Good wages.

Paul sums it up in the last verse. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." What a beautiful, truly inspired letter Paul wrote to the Romans! I love these chapters!