Introduction The Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome is, without question, his most sterling effort at setting forth the doctrines of God, especially the doctrine of justification by faith alone. As the apostle introduces himself and praises the saints of Rome, he proceeds to give them the reason for his writing. First, he thanks God through Christ “that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Romans 1:8); second, that he has a tremendous desire to come by the will of God to visit them personally, but he notes in verse 13 that his coming to them had been hindered in his desire to visit them; third, that he “might impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of both you and me” (vss. 11-12); lastly, and most importantly, the apostle emphasizes his desire to “preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also” (Romans 1:15). This brings us to the focal point of th...
1 Corinthians 1:18-19 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” These verses of scripture are often read as though this were teaching how the preaching of the cross is different to the child of God than to those who are not God’s children. We often refer to those that are not God’s as being spiritually dead, and we consider this in terms of a loss of life. However, one who has not been quickened by God is not dead in those terms. If one is never quickened, then from a spiritual standpoint they are dead like a stone. It is not that they have lost life with God; they have never had life with God. Like a stone, these individuals do not accept or reject the word of God. I can line up stones of all shapes and sizes and declare the alphabet to them for hours. This is not foo...