Paul's letter to the Romans explores the concept of God's rich mercy for obstinate people, including the Jewish nation that has rejected Christ. He argues that a remnant will be saved by God's gracious choice, and that the Gentiles will be grafted into the kingdom of God through faith. The passage also highlights the importance of dependence on God's grace and the warning against pride and conceit. [... more]

The Bible teaches that Jesus is a friend who wants to associate with us and has affection for us, despite our brokenness and sin. This radical picture of Jesus is found in Matthew chapter 11, where he says he is a friend of sinners. We can learn to be friends like Jesus by interacting with him as a friend, cultivating our relationship with him, and being a friend to others in the same way he is to us. [... more]

The Bible teaches that sinfulness is a profound issue that separates us from God, and that understanding this sinfulness is crucial for grasping the magnitude of the Gospel's saving grace. The Gospel reveals that Christ alone and completely is the sacrifice for sin, and that any attempt to add to this sacrifice negates it. The consequences of unbelief, obstinate ignorance, and self-righteousness are eternal damnation, while faith in Christ alone leads to forgiveness and eternal life. [... more]