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Key Text: Romans 8

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” — Romans 8:1 (KJV)

Introduction

If Romans 7 describes the believer’s struggle, Romans 8 celebrates the believer’s victory.

Many Christians consider Romans 8 to be the greatest chapter in the Bible. It begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation. Between those two glorious truths, Paul explains how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live victorious Christian lives.

Romans 8 reminds us that the Christian life is not about trying harder—it is about trusting the Holy Spirit to accomplish in us what we could never accomplish on our own.

If Romans 7 leaves us crying, “Who shall deliver me?” Romans 8 answers with joy:

Jesus Christ has already done it.

No Condemnation in Christ (Romans 8:1–4)

Paul opens with one of the most comforting promises in Scripture.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

Notice three wonderful truths.

No Condemnation

Paul does not say there is less condemnation.

He says there is none.

Because Jesus bore our judgment on the cross, believers will never face God’s condemnation.

Our sins have been forgiven; our debt has been paid; our case has been settled forever.

In Christ

This promise belongs to those who are united with Jesus Christ through faith.

Our confidence rests not in our performance but in His finished work.

The Law Could Not Save

Paul explains that the Law revealed God’s holiness but could not overcome our sinful nature.

What the Law could not accomplish…

Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.

Only Christ can do what religion never could.

Living According to the Spirit (Romans 8:5–11)

Paul contrasts two ways of living.

The Mind of the Flesh

Those controlled by the flesh focus on earthly desires.

Self becomes the center of life.

The result is spiritual death.

The Mind of the Spirit

Those who belong to Christ have received the Holy Spirit.

Their hearts are increasingly drawn toward God’s will.

Paul writes:

“To be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

The Holy Spirit changes not only our behavior but also our desires.

Christian maturity is not merely doing better.

It is learning to love what God loves.

Children of God (Romans 8:12–17)

One of the greatest privileges of salvation is adoption.

Paul says believers have received:

“The Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

The word Abba expresses deep affection and intimacy.

It is similar to saying,

“Father,” or “Dear Father.”

The Creator of the universe invites His redeemed children into a personal relationship with Him.

Heirs with Christ

Paul also declares:

“If children, then heirs.”

Everything Christ has secured belongs to those who trust Him.

We are heirs of eternal life.

Heirs of God’s promises.

Heirs of His coming kingdom.

Our future is secure because it rests upon God’s faithfulness.

Present Suffering and Future Glory (Romans 8:18–25)

Life is not easy.

Paul knew suffering firsthand.

He endured:

• Imprisonment
• Beatings
• Rejection
• Shipwrecks
• Persecution

Yet he boldly writes:

“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Creation Groans

Paul describes creation itself longing for restoration.

The world bears the scars of sin.

Disease.

Death.

Natural disasters.

Decay.

But one day Christ will make all things new.

Hope Sustains Us

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking.

It is confident expectation.

Believers endure present trials because we know God’s promises cannot fail.

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray (Romans 8:26–27)

Sometimes we simply do not know what to pray.

Our hearts are overwhelmed.

Words fail us.

Paul offers incredible comfort.

“The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities.”

The Holy Spirit intercedes for believers according to God’s perfect will.

Even when our prayers are weak…

God’s Spirit perfectly understands our needs.

What an encouragement!

We are never alone in prayer.

All Things Work Together for Good (Romans 8:28–30)

Perhaps no verse has comforted more believers than Romans 8:28.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.”

Notice what Paul does not say.

He does not say all things are good.

Cancer is not good.

Loss is not good.

Persecution is not good.

Sin is not good.

But God is so sovereign that He can weave even painful experiences into His perfect plan.

God’s Purpose

His goal is not merely our comfort.

It is our conformity to Christ.

Every trial becomes another opportunity for God to shape us into the image of His Son.

God Is for Us (Romans 8:31–34)

Paul asks one of the greatest questions in Scripture.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

This does not mean believers never face opposition.

It means no enemy can ultimately defeat God’s purposes.

Christ Intercedes for Us

Jesus not only died for us.

He rose again.

He now sits at the Father’s right hand interceding for His people.

Our Advocate never stops praying for us.

Nothing Can Separate Us (Romans 8:35–39)

Paul concludes with one of the greatest victories in all the Bible.

He asks:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

His answer is overwhelming.

Not:

• Tribulation
• Distress
• Persecution
• Famine
• Danger
• Death
• Angels
• Powers
• Things present
• Things to come

Nothing.

Paul triumphantly declares:

“We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Our security rests not in the strength of our faith but in the strength of God’s love.

He will never abandon His children.

What Romans 8 Means for Us Today

Romans 8 is filled with practical encouragement.

Live Without Fear

If God has removed your condemnation, you no longer need to live under the weight of guilt.

Confess your sin.

Receive His forgiveness.

Walk in freedom.

Depend on the Holy Spirit

Victory does not come through human determination.

It comes through daily dependence upon God’s Spirit.

Trust God During Difficult Times

Even when life is confusing, God is still working.

His purposes are never defeated.

Rest in God’s Love

Feelings change.

Circumstances change.

God’s love never changes.

Nothing can separate His children from His faithful care.

Living Romans 8

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I living in the freedom of knowing there is no condemnation in Christ?
• Am I depending on the Holy Spirit each day?
• How is God using present difficulties to shape me into Christ’s image?
• Do I believe God is working even when I cannot see His plan?
• Am I resting securely in His unfailing love?

Romans 8 calls us to live with confidence because our future is held securely in God’s hands.

Final Thoughts

Romans 8 stands as one of Scripture’s greatest declarations of hope.

Because of Jesus Christ:

There is no condemnation.

The Holy Spirit lives within us.

God calls us His children.

Our suffering has purpose.

Our future is secure.

Nothing can separate us from His love.

The Christian life is not defined by fear.

It is defined by grace.

Not by defeat.

But by victory.

Romans began by revealing humanity’s sin.

Romans 8 celebrates God’s glorious salvation.

And what God has begun in His people, He will faithfully complete.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 8 teaches that believers who are in Jesus Christ have been set free from condemnation and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live new lives. God adopts His children into His family, works through every circumstance for their ultimate good, and promises that nothing—not suffering, death, or any spiritual power—can separate them from His love. The chapter calls Christians to live confidently, knowing that Christ has secured both their present victory and their eternal future.

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Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 7

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 7:24–25 (KJV)

Introduction

Have you ever found yourself doing the very thing you promised God you would never do again?

Have you ever struggled with temptation, failed, confessed your sin, and wondered, “Why do I keep fighting the same battle?”

If so, you are not alone.

Romans 7 is one of the most honest chapters in the entire Bible. The Apostle Paul opens a window into his own spiritual struggle. Here is the great missionary, church planter, and writer of much of the New Testament admitting that he experienced an ongoing conflict between his desire to obey God and the pull of his sinful nature.

Romans 7 reminds us that the Christian life is a battlefield. But it also points us toward the victory that comes through Jesus Christ.

Released from the Law (Romans 7:1–6)

Paul begins by explaining our relationship to God’s Law.

He uses the illustration of marriage.

A married woman is bound to her husband while he lives. When he dies, she is free from that legal obligation.

Paul applies this principle to believers.

When we trusted Christ, we died with Him.

Because of that, we have been released from the Law as a means of obtaining righteousness.

This does not mean God’s moral standards have changed.

Rather, it means we no longer seek acceptance with God by trying to keep the Law perfectly.

Instead, we now belong to Christ.

Serving in a New Way

Paul says:

“We should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”

The Christian life is no longer driven by fear of punishment.

It is motivated by love for the One who saved us.

Obedience flows from a transformed heart.

Is the Law Sin? (Romans 7:7–13)

Paul anticipates another question.

If the Law cannot save us, is the Law itself bad?

His answer is emphatic.

“God forbid.”

The Law is holy because it reflects God’s holy character.

The problem is not the Law.

The problem is us.

The Law Reveals Sin

Paul explains that he would not have understood the seriousness of coveting had God’s Law not forbidden it.

The Law functions like a mirror.

A mirror reveals dirt on your face.

It cannot remove the dirt.

Likewise, God’s commandments expose our sin but cannot cleanse our hearts.

The Law diagnoses the disease.

Only Christ provides the cure.

The Battle Within (Romans 7:14–20)

Now Paul describes the struggle that every sincere believer understands.

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

What honesty!

Paul desired to obey God.

Yet he discovered another force pulling him toward sin.

Two Natures at War

When we become Christians, we receive a new nature that delights in God’s will.

Yet our old sinful flesh has not disappeared.

As long as we live in these earthly bodies, there is a continual conflict.

One nature desires holiness.

The other still pulls toward sin.

Every believer experiences this struggle.

The very fact that the battle exists is evidence of spiritual life.

Unbelievers generally do not struggle because they are content to follow sinful desires.

Believers struggle because the Holy Spirit has given them new hearts that long to please God.

The Law of Sin (Romans 7:21–23)

Paul summarizes his experience.

Whenever he desired to do good…

Evil was present.

He delighted in God’s Law inwardly.

Yet he found another law working within him.

This conflict explains why spiritual growth requires intentional dependence upon God.

Victory does not come through willpower alone.

It comes through surrender.

The Christian life is not self-improvement.

It is Spirit-empowered transformation.

Paul’s Cry for Deliverance (Romans 7:24)

Paul reaches the emotional climax of the chapter.

“O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

Notice he does not ask,

“What will deliver me?”

He asks,

“Who?”

The answer is not found in better discipline.

Not in more education.

Not in stronger determination.

The answer is a Person.

Jesus Christ.

The Victory Through Christ (Romans 7:25)

Paul immediately answers his own question.

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 7 ends with hope.

The struggle is real.

Temptation is real.

Failure is real.

But Jesus Christ is greater than them all.

The full explanation of that victory comes in Romans 8, where Paul introduces the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 7 shows the struggle.

Romans 8 reveals the victory.

What Romans 7 Means for Us Today

Romans 7 encourages every believer.

Don’t Be Surprised by the Battle

Following Christ does not eliminate temptation.

It changes how we respond to it.

Spiritual warfare is part of Christian growth.

Stop Trusting Yourself

Many Christians become discouraged because they rely upon their own strength.

Paul learned that victory comes only through Christ.

Dependence is stronger than determination.

God’s Law Is Good

The problem has never been God’s commands.

His Word reveals His perfect character and points us toward Christ.

Hope Remains After Failure

Every believer stumbles.

The difference is that believers do not stay down.

God’s grace invites us to confess, repent, and continue walking with Him.

Failure is never the final chapter for those who belong to Christ.

Living Romans 7

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I relying upon my own strength instead of God’s power?
• What recurring temptations reveal areas where I need greater dependence on Christ?
• Do I view God’s commands as burdens or as expressions of His love?
• When I fail, do I run from God or back to Him?
• Am I looking forward to the victory promised through the Holy Spirit?

The Christian life is not about pretending the struggle doesn’t exist.

It is about trusting Christ in the middle of the struggle.

Final Thoughts

Romans 7 gives hope to weary believers.

Paul reminds us that spiritual conflict is not evidence that God has abandoned us.

Rather, it is evidence that we belong to Him.

The Christian life is a daily battle between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit.

But we are not left to fight alone.

Jesus Christ has already secured the victory.

Our task is not to manufacture holiness through human effort.

Our task is to abide in Christ, depend upon His strength, and walk in obedience one day at a time.

Romans 7 ends with a cry.

Romans 8 begins with a celebration.

The struggle leads to the Savior.

And the Savior always leads to victory.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 7 teaches that believers experience an ongoing conflict between their new desire to obey God and the lingering influence of their sinful flesh. God’s Law exposes sin but cannot overcome it. Victory comes not through human effort but through Jesus Christ. Christians should not be discouraged by the battle within but encouraged that Christ provides forgiveness, strength, and ultimate victory through the Holy Spirit.

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 6

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” — Romans 6:11 (KJV)

Introduction

If salvation is entirely by grace, does that mean Christians are free to live however they please?

That question naturally follows Paul’s teaching in Romans 5:

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Some might wrongly conclude, “If God’s grace increases when we sin, shouldn’t we sin more?”

Paul’s answer is immediate and emphatic.

“God forbid.” (Romans 6:2)

Grace is never a license to sin.

Instead, grace breaks sin’s power and enables believers to live a new life.

Romans 6 teaches one of the greatest truths of the Christian life: through our union with Jesus Christ, sin is no longer our master.

Dead to Sin (Romans 6:1–4)

Paul begins with a question.

“Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”

His answer leaves no room for misunderstanding.

“God forbid.”

The phrase could be translated,

“Absolutely not!”

Why?

Because something dramatic happened the moment we trusted Christ.

United with Christ

Believers have been united with Jesus in His:

• Death
• Burial
• Resurrection

Paul points to baptism as a beautiful picture of this reality.

Going beneath the water symbolizes our old life being buried with Christ.

Rising from the water pictures our new life in Him.

Baptism does not save us.

It publicly proclaims what Christ has already done in our hearts.

Walking in Newness of Life (Romans 6:4–7)

Paul says believers should:

“Walk in newness of life.”

Christianity is not simply turning over a new leaf.

It is receiving a new life.

The old person we once were has died with Christ.

Our identity has changed.

We are no longer defined by our past.

We belong to Jesus.

The Power of Sin Has Been Broken

Paul explains:

“Our old man is crucified with him.”

Sin still tempts us.

But it no longer owns us.

Before salvation, we could not escape sin’s domination.

Now, through Christ, we have the freedom to obey God.

Alive with Christ (Romans 6:8–11)

Because Christ died and rose again, believers share in His victory.

Paul reminds us:

“Death hath no more dominion over him.”

Jesus conquered death forever.

Those who belong to Him now share in that triumph.

Then Paul gives one of the most important commands in Romans.

“Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.”

The word reckon means to count something as true.

God says your old life has been crucified with Christ.

Now live in light of that reality.

Faith means believing what God says about your identity.

Do Not Let Sin Reign (Romans 6:12–14)

Although sin no longer rules us, we must still choose whom we will obey.

Paul writes:

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body.”

Notice he does not say sin no longer exists.

The battle continues.

But the outcome has changed.

Sin is no longer king.

Jesus is.

Present Yourself to God

Paul urges believers to present every part of themselves to God.

Our:

• Eyes
• Ears
• Hands
• Feet
• Minds
• Words

All belong to Him.

Every day we choose whom we will serve.

Slaves to Righteousness (Romans 6:15–19)

Paul again anticipates another misunderstanding.

“Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?”

Again he answers:

“God forbid.”

Grace does not remove obedience.

Grace changes the reason we obey.

We no longer obey because we fear condemnation.

We obey because we love the One who saved us.

Everyone Serves Someone

Paul teaches that every person is a servant.

We either serve:

• Sin
• Or righteousness

There is no neutral ground.

Before Christ, we served sin.

Now we joyfully serve the Lord.

True freedom is not doing whatever we want.

True freedom is becoming what God created us to be.

The Fruit of a New Life (Romans 6:20–22)

Paul asks believers to remember their old lives.

What lasting benefit did sin produce?

None.

Sin promised satisfaction.

Instead it produced shame.

Now everything has changed.

Believers have become:

“Servants to God.”

The result?

• Holiness
• Spiritual growth
• Eternal life

The Christian life is not merely avoiding sin.

It is becoming increasingly like Christ.

The Great Contrast (Romans 6:23)

Romans 6 concludes with one of the best-known verses in Scripture.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Notice the contrast.

Wages

Sin pays exactly what it promises.

Its paycheck is death.

Physical death.

Spiritual separation.

Eternal judgment.

Sin always costs more than we expect.

Gift

God offers something completely different.

Eternal life is not earned.

It is received.

The difference between wages and a gift is enormous.

Wages are deserved.

Grace is undeserved.

That is the beauty of the Gospel.

What Romans 6 Means for Us Today

Romans 6 speaks directly to every believer.

Remember Who You Are

You are not the person you once were.

Your identity is now found in Christ.

Stop allowing your past to define your future.

Victory Is Possible

Temptation remains.

But through Christ, sin no longer has absolute control.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to choose obedience.

Daily Surrender Matters

Every morning we choose whether we will present ourselves to sin or to God.

Victory begins with surrender.

Grace Produces Holiness

Some imagine grace encourages careless living.

Paul teaches the opposite.

Grace transforms hearts.

Those who truly know Christ increasingly desire to honor Him.

Living Romans 6

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I living as though my old life has died with Christ?
• What areas of my life still need to be surrendered to God?
• Am I presenting my mind, words, and actions to righteousness?
• Do I see obedience as a burden or as a privilege?
• How is God’s grace changing my daily walk?

Every day provides a new opportunity to live out the new life Christ has given us.

Final Thoughts

Romans 6 is a chapter of victory.

Paul reminds believers that salvation does far more than forgive sin.

It changes our relationship with sin.

We are no longer slaves.

We have been set free through Jesus Christ.

The Christian life is not about trying harder through human effort.

It is about living in the reality of who we already are in Christ.

Sin still whispers.

Temptation still comes.

But Christ has broken sin’s authority.

Because He lives, we can walk in newness of life.

The same grace that saves us also empowers us to live for God’s glory.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 6 teaches that believers have been united with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. Because of that union, sin no longer has dominion over them. Christians are called to live according to their new identity, presenting themselves to God as instruments of righteousness. While sin leads to death, God’s free gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Grace not only forgives—it transforms.

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Read the article below or watch the video here:

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 5

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1 (KJV)

Introduction

What happens after a person is justified by faith?

Romans 5 answers that question.

Paul has already shown us that we are sinners (Romans 1–3) and that we are justified by faith alone (Romans 4). Now he explains the wonderful blessings that belong to every believer because of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5 is a chapter filled with hope. It reminds us that our salvation is secure, our suffering has purpose, God’s love is beyond measure, and His grace is greater than Adam’s sin.

If Romans 3 explains how we are saved, Romans 5 explains what we now possess because we are saved.

Peace with God (Romans 5:1–2)

Paul begins with one of the greatest declarations in Scripture:

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Notice he does not say we are trying to make peace with God.

He says we have peace.

Before salvation, we were separated from God because of sin.

Now, through Christ, the war is over.

The Judge has become our Father.

The enemy has become His child.

This peace is not merely an emotional feeling.

It is a new relationship with God based upon the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Access into Grace

Paul also says:

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.”

In the Old Testament, only the high priest entered God’s presence once each year.

Now every believer has continual access to God.

We do not stand before Him because we deserve it.

We stand in His grace.

Rejoicing Even in Trials (Romans 5:3–5)

Paul then makes a surprising statement.

“We glory in tribulations also.”

No one enjoys suffering.

Paul is not saying pain is pleasant.

He is saying God accomplishes something valuable through it.

Notice the progression.

Tribulation Produces Patience

Trials teach endurance.

Faith grows stronger when it is tested.

Patience Produces Experience

As we watch God remain faithful through difficult seasons, our confidence in Him increases.

Every answered prayer becomes another reminder that God never abandons His children.

Experience Produces Hope

Hope is not wishful thinking.

It is confident expectation that God will keep His promises.

Believers can face tomorrow because God has already proven Himself faithful.

God’s Love Demonstrated at the Cross (Romans 5:6–11)

Perhaps nowhere is God’s love described more beautifully than here.

Paul writes:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Notice when Christ died.

Not after we improved ourselves; not after we became religious; not after we earned His favor.

He died while we were still sinners.

That is grace.

Christ Died for the Ungodly

Most people might sacrifice themselves for someone they deeply love.

Jesus died for His enemies.

He loved us before we ever loved Him.

The cross forever answers the question:

“Does God really love me?”

Look to Calvary.

There is your answer.

Reconciled to God (Romans 5:10–11)

Because of Christ, believers are reconciled to God.

Reconciliation means a broken relationship has been restored.

Sin separated us.

Jesus brought us back.

God did not simply overlook our sin.

He dealt with it completely through the sacrifice of His Son.

Now we no longer approach Him with fear.

We come as beloved children welcomed into our Father’s presence.

Adam and Christ (Romans 5:12–21)

The second half of Romans 5 introduces one of Paul’s greatest comparisons.

There are two representative men in human history.

Adam

Through Adam:

• Sin entered the world.
• Death entered the human race.
• Condemnation spread to all humanity.

Every person inherits Adam’s fallen nature.

That explains why the world is filled with suffering, brokenness, and death.

Christ

Through Jesus Christ:

• Grace entered the world.
• Forgiveness became available.
• Righteousness was offered.
• Eternal life became possible.

Paul emphasizes that Christ accomplished far more than Adam destroyed.

Notice how often he uses the words:

• Much more
• Grace
• Gift

Where sin spread…

Grace overflowed.

Grace Is Greater Than Sin (Romans 5:20)

One of the most encouraging verses in Romans says:

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Paul is not minimizing sin.

Sin is deadly.

It destroys lives.

It separates people from God.

But God’s grace is greater.

No past is too sinful, no failure is too great, and no life is beyond Christ’s power to redeem.

This verse has given hope to countless believers who thought they had gone too far.

God’s grace always exceeds our greatest failures.

Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:21)

Paul concludes with a beautiful contrast.

Sin reigns through death.

Grace reigns through righteousness.

One kingdom ends in judgment.

The other ends in eternal life.

Every person belongs to one of these kingdoms.

The invitation of the Gospel is to leave Adam’s kingdom and enter Christ’s.

What Romans 5 Means for Us Today

Romans 5 offers incredible encouragement for believers.

Rest in Your Peace with God

You do not have to wonder whether God has accepted you.

If you have trusted Christ, you already possess peace with Him.

Trust God During Trials

Difficult seasons are not evidence that God has abandoned you.

Often they are the very tools He uses to strengthen your faith.

Never Doubt God’s Love

When circumstances make you question God’s care, remember the cross.

Jesus’ sacrifice is the greatest demonstration of divine love.

Grace Is Greater Than Your Past

Many people carry guilt for mistakes they cannot undo.

Romans 5 reminds us that God’s grace is greater than our deepest failures.

Living Romans 5

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I living in the peace Christ has already secured?
• How has God used trials to strengthen my faith?
• Do I truly believe God loves me as demonstrated at the cross?
• Am I allowing guilt from my past to overshadow God’s grace?
• Am I sharing this message of reconciliation with others?

The Gospel does not merely forgive our past.

It transforms our present and secures our future.

Final Thoughts

Romans 5 is one of the most hope-filled chapters in the Bible.

Because of Jesus Christ:

We have peace instead of condemnation.

Grace instead of guilt.

Hope instead of despair.

Life instead of death.

Paul reminds us that every blessing of salvation rests upon the finished work of Christ.

Adam brought sin into the world.

Jesus brought salvation.

Adam’s disobedience brought condemnation.

Christ’s obedience brought justification.

Where sin increased…

Grace overflowed.

That is the wonderful message of Romans 5.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 5 teaches that everyone who has trusted Jesus Christ has peace with God, access to His grace, hope for the future, and confidence in His love. Although sin entered the world through Adam, God’s grace entered through Jesus Christ and is far greater than humanity’s greatest failure. Believers can face trials with hope because God uses them to strengthen faith, and they can rest in the assurance that nothing is more powerful than His saving grace.

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Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Read the article below or watch the video here:

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 4

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” — Romans 4:3 (KJV)

Introduction

How has anyone ever been saved?

Many people assume that people in the Old Testament were saved by keeping the Law, while people in the New Testament are saved by grace. Romans 4 completely destroys that misconception.

Paul points to Abraham—the father of the Jewish nation—and proves that salvation has always been by grace through faith.

Long before Moses received the Law, before the Ten Commandments, before circumcision became the sign of God’s covenant,

Abraham simply believed God.

His story reminds us that salvation has never been earned. It has always been received as God’s gracious gift.

Abraham Was Not Saved by His Works (Romans 4:1–8)

Paul begins with an important question.

“What shall we say then that Abraham our father…hath found?”

If anyone could claim salvation by works, surely Abraham could.

He obeyed God, left his homeland, followed God’s call, and became the father of God’s covenant people.

Yet Paul says:

“If Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”

Even Abraham had nothing to boast about before the Lord.

Faith, Not Performance

Genesis 15:6 says:

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Notice what Abraham did.

He believed.

God did the saving.

Faith is not a work that earns salvation.

Faith is the empty hand that receives God’s gift.

Grace Is a Gift, Not a Wage (Romans 4:4–5)

Paul uses a simple illustration.

If you work forty hours, your employer pays you a wage.

That paycheck is not a gift.

It is something you earned.

Salvation works differently.

Paul writes:

“To him that worketh not, but believeth…his faith is counted for righteousness.”

God does not pay salvation as wages.

He freely gives it through grace.

That is wonderful news because none of us could ever earn eternal life.

David Celebrated God’s Forgiveness (Romans 4:6–8)

Paul now introduces another Old Testament witness—King David.

David knew what it meant to experience God’s forgiveness after terrible failure.

He writes:

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

What joy belongs to those whose sins are forgiven!

Notice what David does not say.

He does not rejoice because he became perfect.

He rejoices because God forgave him.

Every believer shares that same joy today.

Abraham Was Justified Before Circumcision (Romans 4:9–12)

Paul now answers another objection.

Was Abraham accepted because he had been circumcised?

The answer is no.

God declared Abraham righteous years before circumcision.

Circumcision became the outward sign of a relationship that already existed.

The order is important.

Faith came first.

The sign followed.

The same principle applies today.

Baptism does not save us.

Church membership does not save us.

Religious ceremonies do not save us.

They are expressions of faith—not substitutes for faith.

The Promise Comes Through Faith (Romans 4:13–17)

God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations.

That promise was not based upon law-keeping.

It rested upon God’s grace.

Paul writes:

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.”

If salvation depended upon perfect obedience, no one could receive it.

Because it depends upon God’s grace, everyone who believes may come to Him.

The Gospel opens the door to all people.

God invites Jew and Gentile into His family through faith in Jesus Christ.

Abraham Believed the Impossible (Romans 4:18–22)

Perhaps the greatest lesson from Abraham is the strength of his faith.

God promised him a son.

There was only one problem.

Abraham was nearly one hundred years old.

Sarah was ninety.

Humanly speaking, the promise seemed impossible.

Yet Paul says:

“Against hope believed in hope.”

Abraham looked beyond circumstances.

He looked to God’s character.

Faith Trusts God’s Promises

Paul says Abraham:

• Considered not the impossibility.
• Did not stagger in unbelief.
• Grew strong in faith.
• Gave glory to God.
• Was fully persuaded that God would do what He promised.

Faith is not wishful thinking.

Faith rests upon the character of a faithful God.

God’s promises are always greater than our circumstances.

Abraham’s Story Is Our Story (Romans 4:23–25)

Paul concludes by saying Abraham’s experience was recorded:

“Not for his sake alone.”

His story was written for us.

Just as Abraham trusted God’s promise…

We trust God’s provision through Jesus Christ.

Paul points us to the heart of the Gospel.

Jesus:

“Was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

The cross paid for our sins.

The resurrection declared God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice.

Because Jesus lives, believers stand justified before God.

What Romans 4 Means for Us Today

Romans 4 offers tremendous encouragement.

Stop Trying to Earn God’s Favor

Many people live as though God grades on a curve.

They constantly wonder whether they have done enough.

The Gospel says:

Christ has already done enough.

Rest in His finished work.

Trust God’s Promises

Like Abraham, we often face impossible situations.

Health problems.

Financial struggles.

Family concerns.

Uncertain futures.

Faith remembers that God’s promises never fail.

Rejoice in Forgiveness

David reminds us that forgiven people are blessed people.

The burden of guilt no longer defines us.

God has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.

Live by Faith Every Day

Faith is not merely how we begin the Christian life.

It is how we continue walking with God.

Each day we choose to trust His wisdom above our own.

Living Romans 4

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I trying to earn what God freely gives?
• Do I truly believe God’s promises even when circumstances seem impossible?
• Am I living in the joy of forgiveness?
• Is my confidence resting in Christ or in my own performance?
• How can I demonstrate faith through obedience today?

Faith does not ignore reality.

It simply believes that God is greater than every circumstance.

Final Thoughts

Romans 4 reminds us that God’s plan of salvation has never changed.

From Abraham to David…

From the apostles to today…

People are made right with God by faith.

Abraham’s life points us forward to Jesus Christ.

He believed God’s promise.

We believe God’s Son.

The object of our faith is different in clarity, but the principle remains the same.

Salvation is God’s gift, received by faith alone.

When we understand Romans 4, we stop striving to earn God’s acceptance and begin resting in His amazing grace.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 4 teaches that salvation has always been by grace through faith. God declared Abraham righteous because he believed God’s promise, not because he earned God’s favor through good works or religious rituals. Likewise, every believer is justified by trusting in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. The Christian life is built on trusting God’s promises and resting in His grace.

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Read the article below or watch the video here:

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 3

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” — Romans 3:23 (KJV)

Introduction

Romans 3 contains some of the most important verses in all of Scripture.

If Romans 1 revealed humanity’s rebellion and Romans 2 exposed the emptiness of religion, Romans 3 reaches an unmistakable conclusion:

Every person is guilty before God.

At first, that sounds like discouraging news. But Paul is preparing us for the greatest announcement ever made. Before we can appreciate the cure, we must understand the disease. Before we can celebrate God’s grace, we must recognize our desperate need for it.

Romans 3 moves us from the courtroom of God’s justice to the cross of Jesus Christ, where mercy triumphs over judgment.

God’s Faithfulness Never Fails (Romans 3:1–8)

Paul begins by answering an obvious question.

If being Jewish cannot save a person, what advantage did Israel have?

His answer is clear:

“Much every way.”

God entrusted Israel with His Word.

They received His covenants, His promises, His prophets, and His Law. These were tremendous privileges.

Yet privilege does not guarantee salvation.

Paul also reminds us that even when people are unfaithful, God remains faithful.

“Let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4)

People may reject God’s truth.

Cultures may redefine morality.

Societies may abandon biblical values.

But God’s truth never changes.

His faithfulness is not determined by human opinion.

The Whole World Is Guilty Before God (Romans 3:9–20)

Paul now delivers his verdict.

“We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.”

No one escapes.

Religious people.

Irreligious people.

Good citizens.

Criminals.

Everyone stands guilty before a holy God.

Paul supports his conclusion with a series of Old Testament quotations.

No One Is Righteous

“There is none righteous, no, not one.”

Humanity often believes people are basically good.

Scripture says otherwise.

Compared to one another, some appear more moral.

Compared to God’s holiness, every one of us falls short.

No One Naturally Seeks God

Paul writes:

“There is none that seeketh after God.”

Left to ourselves, we pursue our own desires rather than God’s will.

It is God’s grace that awakens our hearts and draws us to Himself.

Sin Affects Every Part of Our Lives

Paul describes:

• Corrupt speech
• Deceitful lips
• Violent actions
• Proud hearts
• Minds that ignore God

Sin is not merely something we do.

It is a condition that affects our entire being.

Like poison spreading through the body, sin touches every part of human life.

The Purpose of God’s Law (Romans 3:19–20)

Many people believe they can earn God’s favor by keeping His commandments.

Paul explains why that cannot happen.

“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified.”

The Law was never intended to save us.

Instead, it reveals our need for salvation.

Imagine looking into a mirror.

The mirror shows dirt on your face.

But the mirror cannot wash you.

God’s Law functions the same way.

It exposes our sin but cannot remove our guilt.

Only Christ can do that.

The Righteousness of God Revealed (Romans 3:21–22)

These two words mark one of the greatest turning points in the Bible:

“But now…”

Human effort has failed.

Religion has failed.

Morality has failed.

But now God has revealed another way.

It is:

“The righteousness of God…by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.”

This is the heart of the Gospel.

God does not ask us to produce our own righteousness.

He provides His righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Salvation is not achieved.

It is received.

All Have Sinned (Romans 3:23)

Perhaps no verse is quoted more often than this one:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Notice two important truths.

All Have Sinned

No exceptions.

The pastor.

The businessman.

The student.

The retiree.

Every one of us has violated God’s holy standard.

We Fall Short

Paul does not merely say we sinned in the past.

He says we continually fall short.

Even our best efforts cannot bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God.

That is why we need a Savior.

Justified Freely by His Grace (Romans 3:24–26)

Here we encounter one of the richest words in Scripture:

Justified.

To justify means to declare righteous.

It is a legal term.

Imagine standing in a courtroom.

The evidence proves your guilt.

The Judge then announces:

“Not guilty.”

How can that happen?

Because Jesus paid the penalty in your place.

Paul says we are:

“Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Three beautiful truths appear here.

Grace

Salvation is God’s gift.

It cannot be earned.

Redemption

Jesus paid the price to purchase our freedom from sin.

His blood accomplished what we never could.

Propitiation

Paul explains that Christ became the sacrifice that satisfied God’s righteous wrath.

At the cross:

Justice was satisfied.

Mercy was extended.

Love was displayed.

No other religion offers such hope.

There Is No Room for Boasting (Romans 3:27–31)

If salvation comes entirely through grace, who deserves the credit?

Only God.

Paul asks:

“Where is boasting then?”

His answer:

“It is excluded.”

No Christian can boast,

“I earned heaven.”

No church can claim,

“We saved ourselves.”

Every believer stands before God only because of His amazing grace.

Faith does not compete with good works.

Rather, genuine faith produces good works.

Obedience becomes the grateful response of those who have already been saved.

What Romans 3 Means for Us Today

Romans 3 speaks directly to our generation.

Stop Trusting Yourself

Our culture encourages self-confidence.

The Gospel calls us to Christ-confidence.

We cannot save ourselves.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Someone else’s failures do not erase our own.

God measures us against His perfect holiness.

Receive God’s Gift

Salvation is not something we achieve through effort.

It is received through faith.

Live in Gratitude

When we realize the price Jesus paid, obedience becomes an act of love rather than obligation.

Grace motivates holiness.

Living Romans 3

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Have I admitted that I am a sinner before God?
• Am I trusting Christ alone for my salvation?
• Have I stopped trying to earn God’s acceptance?
• Does gratitude for God’s grace shape how I live?
• Am I sharing this wonderful Gospel with others?

The greatest news in the world is that God has provided exactly what we could never provide ourselves.

Final Thoughts

Romans 3 is the turning point of the Gospel.

Paul proves beyond any doubt that every person is guilty before God.

Then he announces God’s astonishing solution.

Jesus Christ has done for us what we could never do for ourselves.

He lived the perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose victorious over the grave.

Now everyone who trusts Him is justified freely by grace.

No wonder Martin Luther called Romans “the chief part of the New Testament.”

No wonder believers throughout history have found peace in these words.

The message of Romans 3 is not merely that we are sinners.

It is that God loves sinners enough to provide a perfect Savior.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 3 teaches that no one can earn salvation because every person has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. God’s Law exposes our guilt but cannot remove it. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers forgiveness, righteousness, and justification as a free gift of grace to everyone who believes. Our hope rests not in our goodness, but in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Genesis 1 — In the Beginning: God Creates the World

Key Scriptures: Genesis 1:1–31; John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 11:3

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1

The Bible does not begin by trying to prove that God exists. It begins with God.

“In the beginning God…”

Before there were stars in the heavens, oceans upon the earth, trees in the forests, or human beings walking upon the ground, God was already there.

Genesis 1 introduces us to the Creator and answers one of humanity’s most fundamental questions: Where did everything come from?

The biblical answer is wonderfully simple.

God created it.

Everything we see ultimately owes its existence to Him. Creation is not an accident. Humanity is not meaningless. Life has purpose because the universe came from the wisdom, power, and will of God.

In the Beginning God

Genesis begins:

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” — Genesis 1:1

Those first ten words establish the foundation for everything that follows in Scripture.

God existed before creation.

God did not emerge from the universe. The universe came from God.

Psalm 90:2 declares:

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”

Everything else has a beginning.

God does not.

Before matter existed, God was already there. Prior to time as we know it began, God was. Even before the first star burned in the heavens, God preexisted.

That means God is not merely part of our world.

He is Lord over it.

God Created Everything

Genesis 1 describes God’s creation in an orderly progression.

Day One — Light

God said:

“Let there be light: and there was light.” — Genesis 1:3

God separated the light from the darkness and called the light Day and the darkness Night.

Notice the power of God’s Word.

God speaks, and creation responds.

Day Two — The Heavens

God separated the waters and established the firmament—the expanse of the heavens.

The world was taking shape according to God’s design.

Day Three — Land and Vegetation

God gathered the waters so that dry land appeared.

Then He commanded the earth to produce grass, plants, and fruit-bearing trees.

Again, God created order, abundance, and life.

Day Four — Sun, Moon, and Stars

God placed lights in the heavens to govern day and night and to mark seasons, days, and years.

Genesis simply says:

“He made the stars also.” — Genesis 1:16

Think about that statement.

The heavens contain an unimaginable number of stars, yet Scripture describes their creation almost in passing.

The universe that overwhelms our imagination did not overwhelm God.

Day Five — Fish and Birds

God filled the waters with living creatures and the skies with birds.

The seas that had been empty now swarmed with life.

The skies that had been silent now filled with movement.

God blessed these creatures and commanded them to multiply.

Day Six — Animals and Humanity

God created the animals that live upon the land.

Then something remarkable happened.

God said:

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” — Genesis 1:26

Human beings were not merely another animal added to creation.

God gave humanity a unique place within His creation.

Created in the Image of God

Genesis 1:27 declares:

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

This truth gives every human life tremendous value.

Our worth does not come from wealth, intelligence, education, appearance, productivity, age, social position, or physical ability.

Human life has value because human beings bear the image of God.

Men and women possess the ability to reason, communicate, make moral decisions, form relationships, exercise creativity, and know their Creator.

God also gave humanity responsibility over creation:

“Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” — Genesis 1:28

Human beings were created to live under God’s authority while exercising responsible stewardship over the world He made.

We are not the owners of creation.

We are its caretakers.

God Said — And It Happened

One phrase repeatedly appears throughout Genesis 1:

“And God said…”

God said, “Let:

• there be light.”
• there be a firmament.”
• the earth bring forth grass.”
• there be lights.”
• the waters bring forth abundantly.”
• the earth bring forth the living creature.”

Creation responds to the command of its Creator.

Psalm 33:9 summarizes it beautifully:

“For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

God does not struggle to create.

He does not need raw materials supplied by someone else.

He speaks.

And creation obeys.

Hebrews 11:3 tells us:

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”

The God who speaks creation into existence possesses unlimited power.

That should change the way we think about the problems we bring to Him.

Nothing we face is greater than the God who said, “Let there be light.”

Creation Reveals the Creator

We can learn something about an artist by studying his artwork.

In the same way, creation tells us something about its Creator.

Psalm 19:1 says:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

Look at the stars on a clear night.

Watch waves roll onto a beach.

Listen to rain falling through trees.

Study the complexity of the human body.

Hold a newborn child.

Creation continually points beyond itself toward the One who made it.

Paul writes:

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen.” — Romans 1:20

Creation does not tell us everything we need to know about God. For salvation, we need God’s revelation in Scripture and ultimately in Jesus Christ.

But creation tells us unmistakably:

There is a Creator, and He is powerful.

God Saw That It Was Good

Another statement appears repeatedly throughout Genesis 1:

“And God saw that it was good.”

Light was good.

Land and vegetation were good.

The heavenly lights were good.

The creatures of the sea and sky were good.

The animals were good.

Then, after creating humanity, God looked upon everything He had made.

Genesis 1:31 says:

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

This is important because the world we experience today is not exactly the world described at the end of Genesis 1.

We experience sickness, suffering, violence, disasters, hatred, aging, and death.

Someone might ask, “If God created the world, why is the world such a mess?”

Genesis answers that question too.

But not in chapter 1.

Genesis 1 tells us how God created the world.

Genesis 3 will tell us what went wrong.

God’s original creation was very good.

Sin brought corruption into God’s good world.

Jesus and Creation

Genesis 1 becomes even more remarkable when we read it alongside the New Testament.

John begins his Gospel with language deliberately reminding us of Genesis:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1

Then John tells us:

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” — John 1:3

The Word is Jesus Christ.

Paul says of Christ:

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible.” — Colossians 1:16

Jesus did not begin His existence in Bethlehem.

The baby lying in the manger was the eternal Son of God through whom the universe was created.

The hands that would someday be nailed to a cross were the hands of our Creator.

And the One who created life came into His creation to give us eternal life.

What Genesis 1 Means for Us

Genesis 1 is not simply information about the distant past. Its truths affect how we live today.

1. Your Life Has Purpose

If everything happened accidentally, ultimate purpose becomes difficult to explain.

But if God created us, our lives have meaning.

You are here because God created humanity for His purposes.

Our first question should therefore not be:

“What do I want to do with my life?”

A better question is:

“God, what did You create me to do?”

2. Every Person Has Value

Every human being bears God’s image.

That includes the unborn child, the elderly person, the disabled person, the poor person, the wealthy person, the powerful person, and the forgotten person.

Christians should treat human life with dignity because human beings bear the image of God.

3. Creation Belongs to God

Psalm 24:1 declares:

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof.”

Everything ultimately belongs to God.

Our:

• possessions belong to Him.
• abilities belong to Him.
• time belongs to Him.

Even our bodies belong to Him.

We are stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

4. God Is Bigger Than Our Problems

Sometimes our problems appear enormous because we have allowed our view of God to become too small.

Genesis 1 corrects our perspective.

Look at the:

• heavens.
• earth.
• oceans.
• stars.

Then remember:

God made them.

The God who created the universe is not confused by your situation or overwhelmed by your problem.

5. We Owe Our Creator Worship

Creation should lead us to worship.

We do not worship creation.

We worship the Creator.

Revelation 4:11 declares:

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things.”

Genesis begins by establishing the most basic relationship in existence:

He is the Creator. We are His creatures.

When we understand that relationship, life begins to fall into its proper order.

The Beginning of the Story

Genesis 1 introduces us to a world without sin, suffering, or death.

God:

• created.
• blessed.
• provided.

And God looked upon everything He had made and declared it very good.

But the story will soon take a tragic turn.

Humanity will rebel against its Creator. Sin will enter the human experience. Death will follow.

Yet even then, God will not abandon His creation.

The Creator will become the Redeemer.

The Bible begins:

“In the beginning God…”

And that is still the best place for us to begin.

Before our:

• plans.
• opinions.
• fears.
• questions.

Begin with God.

Finally, WIM Takeaway

Genesis 1 teaches us that God created everything by His power and according to His purpose. Because He is our Creator, our lives have meaning, every human life has value, and God alone deserves our worship.

Questions for Reflection

1. What does Genesis 1 teach you about the character and power of God?
2. How should being created in God’s image affect the way you see yourself?
3. How should it affect the way you treat other people?
4. What part of God’s creation most reminds you of His greatness?
5. Is there a problem in your life that seems smaller when you remember the power of the Creator?
6. What would change if you began each day with the thought, “My life belongs to God”?

<<Back to the Book of Genesis

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Read the article below or watch the video here:

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 2

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest…” — Romans 2:1 (KJV)

Introduction

It is easy to read Romans 1 and think, “Paul is talking about those sinful people.”

That is exactly what many of Paul’s Jewish readers probably thought. They agreed with his condemnation of pagan idolatry and immorality. But then Paul does something unexpected. In Romans 2, he turns the spotlight on the religious person.

His message is clear:

Being religious is not the same as being righteous.

Church attendance cannot save us.

Bible knowledge cannot save us.

Family heritage cannot save us.

Only faith in Jesus Christ can make a sinner right with God.

Romans 2 reminds us that God’s judgment is perfectly fair, completely impartial, and based upon truth—not appearances.

Beware of Self-Righteous Judgment (Romans 2:1–5)

Paul opens with a startling statement:

“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest.”

He is not condemning all discernment. Scripture calls believers to recognize right from wrong. Instead, Paul is exposing hypocritical judgment.

The religious leaders of Paul’s day condemned others while practicing many of the same sins.

Jesus addressed this same problem.

“First cast out the beam out of thine own eye…” (Matthew 7:5)

It is always easier to see another person’s failures than our own.

The Danger of Self-Righteousness

Self-righteousness is one of Satan’s most effective deceptions.

A person may compare himself to criminals, addicts, or immoral people and conclude,

“I’m doing pretty well.”

But God never compares us to other sinners.

He compares us to His perfect holiness.

When we compare ourselves to Christ, every one of us falls short.

God’s Judgment Is According to Truth (Romans 2:2–3)

People judge by appearances.

God judges by reality.

He knows:

• Every motive
• Every thought
• Every secret
• Every hidden sin

Nothing is overlooked, misunderstood, or escapes His attention.

That truth is frightening apart from Christ—but wonderfully comforting for those who belong to Him.

God’s judgments are always perfectly just.

God’s Kindness Leads Us to Repentance (Romans 2:4)

One of the most beautiful verses in Romans says:

“The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

Many people imagine God constantly waiting to punish sinners.

Instead, Paul says God patiently extends mercy.

Every sunrise, every answered prayer, every undeserved blessing, every opportunity to hear the Gospel:

These are expressions of God’s kindness.

His patience is not approval of sin.

It is an invitation to repentance.

Sadly, some mistake God’s patience for permission.

God delays judgment because He desires that people turn to Him.

There Is Coming a Day of Judgment (Romans 2:5–11)

Paul reminds us that every person will one day stand before God.

His judgment will be:

Righteous

God cannot be bribed.

He cannot be deceived.

He cannot be manipulated.

Fair

Verse 11 declares:

“For there is no respect of persons with God.”

God does not judge based upon:

• Wealth
• Race
• Education
• Popularity
• Social status
• Church membership

Every person stands equal before Him.

According to Our Works

Paul is not teaching salvation by works.

Throughout Romans he clearly teaches salvation by grace through faith.

Rather, our works reveal whether genuine faith exists.

A changed life is evidence of a changed heart.

Hearing God’s Word Is Not Enough (Romans 2:12–16)

Paul now addresses those who possessed God’s Law.

Simply possessing Scripture does not make a person righteous.

He writes:

“Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law.”

Many people today own multiple Bibles.

They attend Bible studies.

They listen to sermons every week.

Yet knowledge without obedience produces spiritual pride.

God desires transformed lives—not merely informed minds.

Religious Activity Cannot Save (Romans 2:17–24)

Paul speaks directly to religious Jews.

They had tremendous spiritual privileges.

They possessed:

• The Law
• The Scriptures
• God’s promises
• The covenant
• Circumcision

Yet many assumed these privileges guaranteed God’s acceptance.

Paul says otherwise.

Their lives contradicted their profession.

They taught others…

Yet failed to obey themselves.

They condemned stealing…

Yet stole.

They condemned adultery…

Yet committed adultery.

As a result,

“The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you.”

Nothing damages our witness more than hypocrisy.

The world expects Christians to live differently.

While believers are not perfect, our lives should increasingly reflect the Christ we profess.

True Faith Begins in the Heart (Romans 2:25–29)

Circumcision was the outward sign of God’s covenant with Israel.

Many believed the ritual itself guaranteed God’s favor.

Paul explains that external rituals mean nothing without inward transformation.

He writes:

“He is a Jew, which is one inwardly…”

The principle applies today.

People may be:

• Baptized
• Confirmed
• Church members
• Bible readers
• Religious volunteers

Yet still lack genuine faith.

God always begins with the heart.

Christianity is not merely external religion.

It is an inward work of God’s grace.

What Romans 2 Means for Us Today

Romans 2 confronts several dangers that remain common today.

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

The standard is not your neighbor.

The standard is Jesus Christ.

Religious Activity Cannot Replace Faith

Church attendance is valuable.

Bible study is essential.

Prayer is necessary.

But none of these save us.

Salvation comes through Christ alone.

God’s Patience Is Mercy

If God has given you another day, He has given you another opportunity to draw near to Him.

Never presume upon His patience.

Live What You Believe

The Gospel should change more than our beliefs.

It should change our character.

Our neighbors should see Christ in the way we speak, work, forgive, serve, and love.

Living Romans 2

Consider these questions this week:

• Am I more concerned about the sins of others than my own?
• Is my faith merely outward, or has Christ transformed my heart?
• Am I relying upon religious activity instead of God’s grace?
• Does my daily life strengthen or weaken my witness?
• Am I responding to God’s kindness with repentance?

God is not looking for perfect people.

He is looking for humble people who trust Him completely.

Final Thoughts

Romans 2 removes one of humanity’s greatest false hopes:

Religion cannot save us.

Good morals cannot erase guilt.

Religious traditions cannot cleanse sin.

Church membership cannot make us righteous.

Only Jesus Christ can do that.

Paul lovingly strips away every false confidence so that we might place our confidence where it belongs—in the finished work of Christ.

Romans 2 prepares us for the great declaration that is coming in chapter 3:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Only after we understand our need can we truly appreciate God’s amazing grace.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 2 teaches that God judges every person with perfect fairness. He is not impressed by religious appearances, family heritage, or outward ceremonies. He looks at the heart. The chapter reminds us that God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not complacency. Genuine faith is demonstrated by a transformed life, and true righteousness comes only through Jesus Christ—not through religion or human effort.

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Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text: Romans 16

“Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.” — Romans 16:16 (KJV)

Introduction

At first glance, Romans 16 may appear to be little more than a list of names and personal greetings.

Many readers are tempted to skip over it.

But if we do, we miss one of the most beautiful pictures of the early church found anywhere in Scripture.

After fifteen chapters of profound theology, Paul closes his letter by introducing us to real people whose lives had been transformed by the Gospel. These men and women were ordinary believers who faithfully served Christ in extraordinary ways.

Romans 16 reminds us that Christianity is not merely a set of doctrines to believe.

It is a family to which we belong.

The Gospel not only reconciles us to God—it brings us into fellowship with one another.

Commending Phoebe (Romans 16:1–2)

Paul begins by introducing a remarkable woman.

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister.”

Phoebe was a servant of the church in Cenchrea.

Many Bible scholars believe she may have carried Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome.

A Faithful Servant

Paul describes her as:

• A sister in Christ.
• A servant of the church.
• A helper of many believers.

Her example reminds us that faithful service often happens quietly behind the scenes.

Not everyone preaches sermons.

Not everyone leads large ministries.

But every act of faithful service matters to God.

The kingdom advances because ordinary believers faithfully use their gifts.

Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:3–5)

Paul next greets one of the New Testament’s most beloved ministry couples.

Priscilla and Aquila had:

• Worked alongside Paul.
• Risked their lives for him.
• Opened their home for ministry.

Paul calls them:

“My helpers in Christ Jesus.”

Ministry Happens Together

God often uses families, friendships, and partnerships to accomplish His work.

No one builds God’s kingdom alone.

Healthy churches are filled with believers who encourage, support, and strengthen one another.

Honoring Faithful Believers (Romans 16:5–16)

Paul continues by mentioning more than two dozen individuals.

Some were:

• Men.
• Women.
• Jews.
• Gentiles.
• Wealthy.
• Ordinary laborers.
• Former companions.
• New believers.

Although we know little about many of them, Paul knew their faithfulness.

Notice how often he describes them.

• Beloved.
• Fellow worker.
• Approved in Christ.
• Laborer.
• Faithful servant.

Paul valued people.

The Gospel had created a diverse family united by one Savior.

Every Believer Matters

Not everyone becomes well known.

Yet every faithful act of service is remembered by God.

The church is strengthened by countless believers whose names may never appear in history books—but whose faithfulness is written in heaven.

Beware of False Teachers (Romans 16:17–20)

After expressing so much affection, Paul suddenly offers a serious warning.

“Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Christian love does not ignore false teaching.

Healthy churches protect both:

Truth.

Unity.

Recognize Deception

Paul explains that false teachers often use:

• Smooth words.
• Flattery.
• Persuasive speech.

Their goal is not God’s glory.

It is their own influence.

Believers must remain grounded in Scripture so they can recognize error when it appears.

Wise and Innocent

Paul encourages believers:

“Be wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.”

Know God’s truth well.

Do not become fascinated with evil.

The more deeply we know Christ, the easier it becomes to recognize counterfeit teaching.

Satan’s Defeat

Paul concludes this section with a wonderful promise.

“The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.”

Evil will not have the final word.

Christ has already secured the victory.

Satan’s defeat is certain.

Final Greetings (Romans 16:21–24)

Paul sends greetings from several of his ministry companions.

These names remind us again that ministry is always a team effort.

Behind every faithful servant stands a community of believers encouraging one another.

The early church spread the Gospel because ordinary Christians worked together for an extraordinary Savior.

A Glorious Doxology (Romans 16:25–27)

Paul closes Romans with one of the Bible’s most beautiful expressions of praise.

He glorifies God because He is able to:

“Stablish you according to my gospel.”

The Gospel was once described as a mystery hidden through the ages.

Now, through Jesus Christ, God’s plan of salvation has been fully revealed.

Paul ends exactly where he began.

The Gospel exists:

“For the obedience of faith.”

Saving faith always produces transformed living.

Finally, Paul gives all glory where it belongs.

“To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever.”

After sixteen chapters, one truth shines above all others:

God deserves all the glory.

What Romans 16 Means for Us Today

Romans 16 offers several practical lessons.

Every Believer Has a Place

You may never preach to thousands, or write books, or become widely known.

But your faithful service matters to God.

The church needs every member.

Treasure Christian Fellowship

The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation.

God designed His people to encourage, strengthen, and pray for one another.

Healthy churches are built upon loving relationships.

Guard Sound Doctrine

Love and truth always belong together.

Christians should be gracious, but also discerning.

Every teaching should be measured by God’s Word.

Give God the Glory

Paul finishes Romans exactly where every believer should finish.

Not with pride.

Not with self-congratulation.

But with worship.

Everything God accomplishes through us is ultimately for His glory.

Living Romans 16

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I faithfully serving where God has placed me?
• How can I encourage another believer today?
• Do I value Christian fellowship as God intends?
• Is my life pointing others toward God’s glory rather than my own?

God delights in faithful servants, even when their word goes unnoticed by the world.

Final Thoughts

Romans 16 reminds us that behind every great movement of God stand ordinary people who faithfully love Jesus.

Phoebe.

Priscilla.

Aquila.

And dozens of others.

Most of them are known only because Paul mentioned their names.

Yet each one played an important role in advancing the Gospel.

The same is true today.

God continues building His church through believers who quietly serve, faithfully love others, remain committed to biblical truth, and glorify Christ in everyday life.

Romans began by proclaiming:

“The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.”

It ends by showing us what that Gospel produces:

A family of believers united in Christ.

Faithful servants using their gifts.

Churches standing firmly upon God’s truth.

Lives devoted to His glory.

May we become the kind of believers Paul would have gladly included in such a chapter.

What’s It Mean?

Romans 16 teaches that the Gospel creates a family of faithful servants who work together to advance God’s kingdom. Every believer has a valuable role in the church, regardless of how visible that role may be. The chapter also warns Christians to guard sound doctrine while maintaining loving fellowship. Above all, Romans concludes by reminding us that everything God accomplishes through His people is for His glory alone.

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.

Prefer to watch instead of read? Watch the video below:

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Key Text:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” — Romans 1:16 (KJV)

Introduction

If someone asked you to summarize Christianity in one sentence, what would you say?

The Apostle Paul gives us the answer in Romans. More than any other New Testament book, Romans explains what God has done through Jesus Christ to save sinners. Chapter one serves as the grand introduction to this remarkable letter. Paul introduces himself, explains his mission, declares the power of the Gospel, and describes humanity’s desperate need for salvation.

Before we can appreciate the beauty of God’s grace, we must understand the depth of our need. Romans 1 does exactly that.

Paul Introduces Himself (Romans 1:1–7)

Paul begins by identifying himself as:

“A servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”

Three descriptions define his life.

A Servant

The Greek word means bondservant—one who willingly belongs to another. Paul no longer lived for himself. Jesus Christ was his Master.

Every Christian should ask:

Who is truly directing my life?

Christianity is not simply believing certain facts about Jesus. It is surrendering our lives to His lordship.

An Apostle

Paul did not appoint himself.

God called him.

His authority rested not in popularity or education but in God’s commission.

Separated Unto the Gospel

Notice what Paul was separated to, not merely what he was separated from.

God calls believers away from sin so they may dedicate themselves to His work.

The Christian life is not merely avoiding evil—it is pursuing God’s purposes.

The Gospel Was God’s Plan All Along (Romans 1:2–6)

The Gospel did not begin in Bethlehem.

It did not begin at Calvary.

It did not begin with the apostles.

Paul reminds us the Gospel was:

“Promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures.”

Throughout the Old Testament God prepared the world for Christ.

The sacrifices…
The prophets…
The promises to Abraham…
The covenant with David…

All pointed toward Jesus.

God’s plan of redemption has never changed.

Jesus Christ Is the Center of the Gospel (Romans 1:3–4)

Paul summarizes the Gospel in two great truths.

Christ Became Man

Jesus was:

“Made of the seed of David according to the flesh.”

Jesus truly became human.

He entered our world.

Jesus experienced hunger, weariness, temptation, grief, and suffering.

Because He became like us, He can sympathize with us.

Christ Is the Son of God

Jesus was also:

“Declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead.”

The resurrection is God’s public declaration that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be.

Without the resurrection, Christianity collapses.

Because Christ lives, our hope is secure.

Grace Produces Obedience (Romans 1:5)

One of the great themes of Romans appears immediately.

Paul says believers have received:

“Grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith.”

Grace does not encourage careless living.

Grace transforms people into obedient followers of Christ.

Saving faith always produces a changed life.

Obedience does not earn salvation.

It demonstrates genuine salvation.

Paul Longs to Encourage Believers (Romans 1:8–15)

Paul had never visited Rome.

Yet he loved these believers deeply.

Several characteristics stand out.

He Prayed Constantly

Paul thanked God for their testimony.

Healthy churches become known for their faith.

He Desired Fellowship

Paul wanted to encourage them.

Notice something beautiful:

Paul expected mutual encouragement.

Even the great apostle knew he needed fellowship with other believers.

Christianity was never intended to be lived in isolation.

He Was Eager to Preach

Paul declared:

“I am ready to preach the gospel…”

His enthusiasm had not faded after years of ministry.

The Gospel never grows old.

The Great Theme of Romans (Romans 1:16–17)

These two verses summarize the entire book.

“I Am Not Ashamed”

Paul had been imprisoned.

Beaten.

Rejected.

Mocked.

Yet he never apologized for the Gospel.

Why?

Because the Gospel possesses divine power.

The world offers advice.

The Gospel offers salvation.

The world modifies behavior.

The Gospel changes hearts.

The Power of God

The Gospel is not merely information.

It is God’s power working in those who believe.

People are not saved by clever arguments.

They are saved when God’s Spirit works through the message of Christ.

Salvation Is Available to Everyone

Paul says:

“To every one that believeth.”

The invitation is universal.

Jew or Gentile.

Rich or poor.

Educated or uneducated.

Young or old.

Anyone who believes may be saved.

The Righteousness of God

Human beings cannot make themselves righteous.

God provides righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the heart of justification.

We stand accepted before God—not because of what we have done—but because of what Christ has done.

Why Humanity Needs the Gospel (Romans 1:18–23)

Beginning in verse 18, Paul explains why salvation is necessary.

God’s wrath is revealed against human sin.

This is not uncontrolled anger.

It is God’s holy response to evil.

Everyone Knows God Exists

Creation itself reveals God’s existence.

The heavens…

The earth…

Life…

Conscience…

No one can honestly claim there is absolutely no evidence for God.

Creation continually points to its Creator.

Humanity Rejected God

Instead of worshiping the Creator, people worshiped created things.

Idolatry is exchanging God’s glory for something less.

Modern idols may not be carved statues.

They may be:

• Money
• Success
• Pleasure
• Politics
• Entertainment
• Self

Whenever something replaces God as our highest affection, it becomes an idol.

The Consequences of Rejecting God (Romans 1:24–32)

Three times Paul writes:

“God gave them up…”

This is one of Scripture’s most sobering phrases.

When people continually reject God, He allows them to experience the consequences of their choices.

Sin always promises freedom.

Instead, it produces slavery.

Notice the downward progression.

People reject truth.

Truth is exchanged for lies.

Sin becomes celebrated.

Hearts become hardened.

Eventually people approve of evil rather than merely practicing it.

This is not simply the story of ancient Rome.

It describes every society that turns away from God.

What Romans 1 Means for Us Today

Romans 1 speaks powerfully to our generation.

The Gospel Still Saves

Our culture has changed.

Technology has changed.

People have not.

Every generation needs the same Savior.

Truth Still Matters

Our world often teaches that truth is relative.

God declares otherwise.

His truth never changes.

Sin Still Destroys

Ignoring God’s commands never produces freedom.

God’s instructions are given because He loves us.

Grace Still Changes Lives

No sinner is beyond God’s reach.

The same Gospel that transformed Paul can transform anyone who believes.

Living Romans 1

Ask yourself these questions this week:

• Am I living as Christ’s servant or my own master?
• Am I ashamed to speak about Jesus?
• Have I trusted in God’s righteousness instead of my own?
• Are there modern idols competing for my devotion?
• Is my life demonstrating the obedience that flows from genuine faith?

Romans reminds us that the Gospel is not merely something we believe once.

It is the power that transforms how we live every day.

Final Thoughts

Romans begins with two great realities.

God has provided salvation through Jesus Christ.

Every person desperately needs that salvation.

The Gospel is not one message among many. It is the message of hope for a lost world. Paul was not ashamed because he knew its power. May we have the same confidence today, boldly proclaiming Christ in both our words and our lives.

As we continue through Romans, we will see God’s magnificent plan unfold—from humanity’s sin to Christ’s sacrifice, from justification by faith to the victorious Christian life in the Spirit. The journey begins here, with the glorious Gospel that is still “the power of God unto salvation.”

What’s It Mean?

Romans 1 teaches that every person stands in need of God’s salvation because all humanity has rejected Him. Yet God has not left us without hope. Through Jesus Christ, He offers forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life to everyone who believes. The Gospel is not merely good advice—it is God’s power to rescue sinners and transform lives. The question Romans 1 asks each of us is simple: Will we trust in our own righteousness, or will we trust in the righteousness God freely offers through His Son?

<<Back to Bible Passages

Want to do a deeper dive in the study of Romans? Get my book, Romans: The Glory of the Gospel and the Obedience of Faith, by making your choice of platforms below:

Dr. Alan Holden has served in pastoral ministry for more than 35 years, preaching and teaching the Bible in churches across the United States. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary and a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Through What’s It Mean?, he seeks to help readers understand the meaning of Scripture and grow in their walk with Christ. He is currently the pastor of Lake Saunders Baptist Church in Tavares, FL.