In the world of literature and writing, one of the ‘hooks’ that is often used in the opening line of a story or in the title of the book is a question. In the famous children’s story book “Charlottes Web,” the opening line is… “Where is papa going with that ax?” (as the spider is saving the life of the pig friend). I drove by a church property this week and on the reader board out front was a sermon series titled being preached… “Why are you here?” We start with a question that draws us into an issue that we are struggling with and mulling over.
This brings us to Romans 6:1…
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?”
In chapter 5 the overwhelming power and amazing truth of the peace of God and the grace of God are so clearly laid out to us… Amazing Grace! But if this grace and peace are so overpowering, why do I still struggle with sin? I thought the battle with personal sin was conquered and over!!!!! I thought the gospel eliminated my problems!!! That’s why the first line of chapter 6 starts with this question. This is where we are going over the next few weeks. And you and I need to fully grasp the problem and the answer in order to know the gospel story.
As you prepare for this coming Sunday morning read carefully Romans 1:1-14. But I would also ask that we all take the next few weeks and read several times and meditate carefully Romans chapters 6 – 8. Read them alone. Read them with others out loud. Write out these verses on your own. Spend time in these chapters. Contemplate the internal struggles that you have in your own life and see how the gospel answers them for you. I have often said that Romans 8, especially the last few verses, are some of the most powerful in all the Bible. They are some of my favorites in all of Scripture. I cannot wait to get to those verses several weeks from now. But they become even more impactful when we consider all the issues of the struggle that are addressed in chapters 6, 7, and early 8.
See you Sunday morning
