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 f I had to choose one passage from the Bible that God has used most to change my life, it would be Romans chapter 1. It’s not my favorite passage in the Bible, because Romans 1 is not particularly cheery or uplifting. In fact, it contains some of the worst news I had ever heard in my life! Number 16: The Power Of God For SalvationBy Eric Elder If I had to choose one passage from the Bible that God has used most to change my life, it would be Romans chapter 1. It’s not my favorite passage in the Bible, because Romans 1 is not particularly cheery or uplifting. In fact, it contains some of the worst news I had ever heard in my life! But the truth is the gospel is often “bad news” before it’s “good news.” There’s no reason to put your faith in a Savior unless you realize that there’s something in your life from which you need to be saved. And that was the case with me: I didn’t realize there was anything in my life I needed saving from until I read Romans chapter 1. Then I realized that I, too, needed a Savior. The book of Romans is actually a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers who lived in Rome. Paul longed to see them so they could mutually encourage one another in their faith, and so he could reap a harvest among them, bringing still more people to faith in Christ. He loved preaching about Christ, even though it had landed him in prison many times. He said: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).Paul then began to describe to them the gospel that he loved to preach, starting with the “bad news” that God was revealing His wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. As I read through Paul’s words in chapter 1, I was struck by the fact that God’s wrath wasn’t so much that He was raining fire down from heaven, or causing calamity among the people. His wrath was quite simply this: giving people up to follow their own sinful desires and choices, and then letting the natural consequences of those choices overtake them. Three times in Romans 1, Paul describes God’s wrath in similar terms: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves...” (Romans 1:24).“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions...” (Romans 1:26a).“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done...” (Romans 1:28).As I read through the list of the things people did that dishonored God, I realized that I had done many of them. I had, as Paul described it so eloquently, “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25). And I, too, was “without excuse” (Romans 1:20b), for I knew in my heart that what I was doing was wrong, if only from the evidence of the natural order of God’s creation itself. It was the worst news I had ever heard. I had sinned against God and His wrath was now bearing down heavily upon me, a wrath that was simply the natural result of the sinful choices I had made. That’s when I finally realized the “good news” of the gospel: that God already knew about my sins, and He had sent His Son to save me from them, if I would put my faith in Him. Within 24 hours of reading Romans chapter 1, I had put my faith in Christ for everything in my life. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and to fill me with His Holy Spirit so I could live the life He wanted me to live. He did, and I’m now on a new path now, a path of life that will lead on into eternity. The whole book of Romans is incredibly thought-provoking, and we’ll revisit some more passages from it later in this series. I’d encourage you to read through Romans yourself, starting with chapter 1, and invite God to speak to you as you read. It’s turned me into a believer and saved me--just as Paul said it would--for the gospel is, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Let’s pray... Father, thank You for loving us enough to give us the free will to choose Your path or choose our own. But Father, we pray that You would fill us with Your Spirit so that we will always choose to follow You in everything we do, and avoid the wrath that we would otherwise bring upon ourselves. We put our faith in Christ again today for everything in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.Today’s Scripture: Romans 1 Today’s Memory Verse: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16, ESV). Today’s Song: “When You Come Home For Christmas,” by Denise Rosier, dedicated to the servicemen and woman who can’t be with their families over the holiday season: Take a listen at this link: To read more from this series, “The Top 20 Passages in the Bible,” click here: And if you’re still looking for some inspiring Christmas gifts, you have till Friday, December 17th to get free shipping when you order $25 or more of our inspiring books and music from The Ranch Giftshop! To browse and order, please visit the link below. Your gifts will bless us as well as those you give them to! To find us on Facebook, look for us at “The Ranch Messages” and click “Like!” Invite your friends! We’d love to have them study along with us--and you! Just forward this email and encourage them to sign up for themselves at the link below. To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this newsletter, click here: |
