Vintage Grace's Podcast

All throughout humanity we see the brokenness of God's children on full display. Our lack of faith, our dark hearts and our evil intentions continue to play on repeat, but what man intends for evil, God transforms for good, and one of the best stories depicting this truth is the story of Joseph. This summer we will see the sovereignty of God, trumping the evil of man. Jesus is the true hero, working all things together for our good and His Glory (8:28), no amount of sin, brokenness and intentions of evil can separate us from His Love #HisBetterIsBetter.

Paul calls us to consider the depth & magnitude of God’s love expressed to us. He sacrificed his greatest treasure so that we might become his children. What would He withhold if He has already given us His Son? The Love of Christ means we have nothing to fear, the Kingdom and the King’s victory are here! #GoodNewsVintage: a Church that lives in the certainty of the promise & love of God → There’s “No Bad News” in the Kingdom, we are “More than Conquerors”

Paul wants us to know that ALL circumstances work for our good. What a promise. The challenge is to believe this in the middle of the ‘Grap’. Paul tells us: suffering is God’s plan for now, there are better days (eternity) ahead, the Holy Spirit helps us in our suffering, giving us a firm foundation of faith. Perhaps the most accurate appraisal of our faith is when we are suffering. Do we actually trust that each and every circumstance will be used for our good? Vintage: a church where everyone was growing in their ability to believe this extraordinary promise of God.

We do not groan alone in the gap- Creation groans comparing its current curse to the glory of its future freedomOur hope in the gap- We groan comparing our present selves to the glory of our future sonshipOur Help in the Gap- The Holy Spirit groans for us & His compassion has no comparison

As those who treasure Jesus, the Holy Spirit plays an essential, life-transforming role in our lives. The Holy Spirit moves to convert us into children of God, then as children of God the Holy Spirit continues to provide us with spectacular ongoing power and benefits.

We all have a choice to make- live by the flesh or live by the Spirit.

Paul states that ALL believers IN CHRIST experience no condemnation for eternity (future) & the present reality!  We no longer struggle with trying to abide by the law, living under sin & death—law has been fulfilled in Christ; but rather we walk in a newness of life: freedom in the Spirit.  This is good, good news for our present reality & our future in eternity!

1. What are you holding onto as confidence & certainty of your salvation (power to save)?2. Prayer life changes & includes active repentance because of a growing awareness of sin.3. Holy Spirit activates & empowers garden (Imago Dei) living living = new humanity & new affections.4. Communion “Thanks be to GOD!”

Paul wants to make clear that the law is NOT evil rather it is a gift from God that makes us aware of the evil in our hearts.  Not only that, but the law actually activates the rebellion in our spirit to resist God as a good Father.  The law was a gift from Him to protect and provide true and eternal intimacy for his children.

Paul tells his audience that they are not just dead to sin and the old self, they are also dead to the law.We need to know that God wants something for us more than he wants something from us.

Paul wants you to experience being set free.  He doesn’t want you to be set free for just a moment, but wants you to be set free forever.  Forever freedom comes from receiving the free gift of grace offered to you in Christ.

In God's great wisdom, He always knew what his children were worth & was always willing to pay the price. This Easter may we remember that God willingly sent & crushed His Son to redeem us, but death could not hold Him–He has overcome the grave to heal the sick & give us all Living Hope!

 Paul wants it to be clear: Just because we are justified by grace doesn’t mean our behavior doesn’t matter. He writes in order to continue to clarify our understanding of who we are through faith in Jesus & to empower us in our battle with sin. Our attitudes & actions matter in terms of our eternal destiny. If we exhibit a lifestyle that doesn’t reflect God as master of our daily lives, we should NOT be confident that we belong to him. BUT if we have genuine faith in Christ, we will joyfully obey Him.

For the first time in Romans, Paul gives us commands & marching orders for our “new life” as followers of Christ. Flowing out of 6:1-11, Paul moves from right thinking to right action. He states that “in Christ” the war with sin has been won (Justification) and yet our battle has just begun (Sanctification).

Paul tells his audience that newness of life starts with death. Newness of life is only experienced when you change how you see who you really are.

Paul starts out this section by asking a rhetorical question. He hears the people saying, “Well, should I sin more that grace may abound?” To which Paul as loud as possible says BY NO MEANS. Why? Because we have died to the old life and now live in JOY. Jesus influences us into a change that transforms us. God promises us NEWNESS of life; which is a life of more JOY than we could ever imagine.

Paul sets Jesus alongside Adam; & by comparing & contrasting the two, he tunnels us into the utter depths of our sin; which enhances our experience of the infinite beauty, power, glory & gift of Christ.  The GIFT is greater than the sin.  As much destruction as sin has done in this world, the grace of God is greater still–more powerful than the prince of darkness, breaking the chains of the generational sin I inherited, & greater than the self destruction of my heart–God WINS. 

Small things in the hands of a BIG God bring about eternal glory for all who trust Him. Just like we see in Ezra, God is GOD and He is working in every detail of your personal life AND our corporate life here at Vintage for His glory, our good and our friends' eternal joy!

Sin didn’t start with us but it certainly hasn’t ended with us. From Adam to Moses, everyone in between, and everyone since, sin has led to death. The first sin set humanity on a course for destruction but the first perfect man has set us on an even more powerful course of redemption.

In Paul’s ongoing effort to deepen our faith and increase our joy, he continues to unpack the depth & significance of what it means that we are “justified through faith in Jesus”. May we today, pause and process the depth of God’s love for us!