I finish preaching in my church this Sunday (May 27) a series on Paul’s letter to the Romans (you can download sermons free from our website, www.newlifechurch.bc.ca).  I’ve enjoyed delving into the riches of Paul’s theology, even if my delving was mostly skimming – I covered all 16 chapters in 8 meagre weeks.  But it’s been enough for me, and I think my congregation, to emerge with a deeper appreciation for the revolutionary power of this one document.  No wonder the church many times through history – from Augustine’s conversion to Luther’s reformation to Wesley’s revival to Barth’s (almost) lone stand against Hitler – trace its roots to a rediscovery of Paul’s Letter to the Romans. 

                This Sunday, I’m attempting to cover the letter’s last five chapters, Romans 12-16.  Audacious, maybe foolish, as that seems, the five chapters are united in a single concern: that we would respond appropriately to the great good news of Jesus’ saving work.  If the first 11 chapters are primarily theological, the last five are primarily ethical.  How then shall we live?  Paul elaborates two responses: in the church, seek unity.  In the world, seek peace.  But the furnace that ignites both is worship – a whole-hearted worship in response to God’s great mercy, and issuing into Christ-like transformation (see Romans 12:1-2).  When the church worships for any other reason than that God showed us mercy, transformation never happens.  When we grasp how wide and deep and high and long is God’s mercy, we can’t help by give God our best and our all.  And with that, he always multiplies a thousand-fold.

 

Shalom

 

Mark Buchanan