Here We Still Stand-Breakout Session 1-RJ Grunewald

Maybe selfishness is not a generational thing.  Maybe it is something that started in the Garden of Eden.

Luther described this as “curved in on himself” 
For Luther, the book of Romans is what wrecks his life.  This leads to 95 theses. Romans was essential to his understanding of Jesus.
Luther lectured on the book of Romans in 1515-1516. He lectured on law/gospel, sinners/saints, justification by faith.

Romans exposes us.  It is not just about exposing us, but pointing to Jesus.  
The Bible does a great job of not hiding the mess.

The Christian life is the battle between the old man and the new man.
The way you become a new man is by gift not your efforts or intentions.  
Grace is the pronouncement that you are a son/daughter and it has nothing to do with what you do.

Theology of the Cross-The cross alone is our theology.
  • It’s time to get back to forgiveness of sin.
  • The abuse and misuse of the law is bad and it is prevalent. 
  • The Law exposes us so that the remedy is found in Christ.
  • The most popular sermon in the church today is “Just Do It” or “Try Harder”. Instead, we need more churches preaching the gospel.
  • It’s all about the work of Christ. 
  • When the Law becomes the primary message of the church, it robs us of grace and power of the gospel.
  • The Law is necessary, but it is not primary. 
  • God acts “while we were still” sinners, powerless, a hot mess.
  • The solution to powerlessness is not gaining power ourselves, but instead finding the ONE who has the power. 
  • Sometimes people want to accuse us of cheap grace, but it is worse than that—it is free. 
  • Justification is about making things right and Romans is the book that changed Luther and the church.
  • Closed with the blessing from Romans 15:13

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