What I learned from my pastor... 3-28-10

Kevin is preaching from Romans 8 for the next three weeks. Romans 8 is, I think, one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible, if it is even possible to narrow one chapter down that way. I've read it often in the past six months, as well as other seasons in my life. Today Kevin focused on the first few verses, which condense some of the most critical components to understanding God's plan for salvation. It is both awe-inspiring and sobering to read that first verse: "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" - Wonderful to know that there is now no condemnation when we are saved by Christ, but sobering because that means God does condemn sin. Kevin explained how these verses give us a foundation on which to stand and understand the world and its suffering: That we who believe Jesus are justified or counted free from guilt, that He paid the penalty for our sin through His atonement, and that we are sanctified - to walk in a new way as a result of our new position in Christ.