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Pastor's Blog December 23, 2021
"View of God in Romans XLII"#
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Merry Christmas, friends! As we come to the end of the year, it is fitting that we arrive at a final passage in Romans that talks about what we have because of God's character. In Romans 16:19-20 and 25-27, Paul lists two gifts Christians already have: obedience and the gospel.
Paul states very clearly, "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:19-20, NASB). According to Paul, the Roman Christians were obedient to God - and everyone else had heard about it! But the reason they were obedient was because the God of peace had made them obedient. This is why Paul also expresses his wish for them, that they be wise in good and innocent (or ignorant) in evil: because the God of peace will address evil for them and will build them up in goodness. Only God can make us good and delight in good; only God can give us the gift of obedience - an obedience that doesn't waver from following and loving him.
Then Paul explains in a prayer that God also gives us the gospel: "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen" (Romans 16:25-27, NASB). Sometimes Christians worry that the gospel hasn't been handed down faithfully from generation to generation. But Paul reminds the Roman Christians that they already have the gospel, because the eternal God is the one who gives it to them - and he continually gives it to us as well!
Friends, as we go into 2022, you can trust that God will provide for your spiritual needs because he loves you.
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God bless,
Pastor Nathaniel Gamble
