Who is Jesus?

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8 (day seven)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

At our High School Beach Retreat this weekend, our theme was “Who is Jesus?” I asked a  question that I believe we should all answer, “When was the last time you were genuinely curious about who Jesus is?”  Curiosity creates wonder. To become more like Jesus we need to become more curious about who He is, and in turn, that will create a sense of wonder in our heart. Watch this:

All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:3

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Phil 2:6-7

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

The Creator of us loves us so much that He came down to us so that He could serve us in order that He might raise us up. Jesus loves us so much that He reached down into our darkness to pull us up into His light. Jesus loves me, this I know!

More Than Forgiven

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8 (day six)

“Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” Romans 5:2

We sometimes describe salvation as though forgiveness were the end of the story. Jesus died, our sins were forgiven, and our record was cleared. That is extraordinary grace, but Paul says there is still more.

John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople in the fourth century, wrote:

“If God brought us near to himself when we were far off, how much more will he keep us now that we are near!… What grace is it that we now have access?… For we were not reconciled merely in order to receive forgiveness of sins; we were meant to receive countless additional benefits as well.”

Through Jesus, former enemies have been brought near to God. We have peace with him, access to his presence, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and hope of sharing his glory regardless of the circumstances we face.

Grace is not only the doorway through which we entered; it is the place in which we now stand. The God who reconciled us has so much more to graciously give us.

Hope

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8 (day five)“and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  One of the bigger storylines (meta narratives) of the Bible is Hope. Hope that we have lost/forfeited and then provided/gifted by a gracious God. The scriptures describe hopes that can never fully deliver, and direct us to discover a true hope that promises to give everything we need- God’s hope. God’s Word guides us away from people, places, and priorities that deliver false hope, while compelling us toward a lovingly wise and eternal God who endlessly supplies hope for His glory and our good. One last insight. Hope’s address and location are even closer than you might think.  Inside us. Look no further than your own heart to find it. As believers, hope lives in us because the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts, and even now the gracious and glorious God lives in us bringing (pouring out) His hope, to us, with Him, in us.

Undeserved Privilege

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8 (day four)

The NLT version of this text describes our position before God as “undeserved privilege.” Because of the work of Christ on our behalf, we can now stand confidently before the Father with peace and joy knowing we are awaiting an eternity spent in his glory. We’ve done nothing to earn a place in his presence. No matter how hard we try, we will continue to come up empty handed in an effort to earn a place in the Kingdom. But because of Christ’s sacrifice, we’re given the undeserved privilege of eternity with God.

This is an encouraging text, although when we read a little further, Paul is discussing this idea in relation to suffering. When we stand in this privileged position, our experiences of suffering are even turned for our good, producing endurance, character, and ultimately a renewed hope in the work of Christ. In our undeserved privilege, we can call upon the God of the universe in our suffering, knowing that he meets us in the lowest of places. While we were helplessly disconnected from God by sin, he entered into our hopeless state and offered us eternal life. Now, in our times of suffering, we’re reminded that God continuously enters into our lowest lows and offers us undeserved hope.

Poured Out

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8 (day three)

5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Raise your hand if you want suffering! I highly doubt any of us would gladly and willingly accept suffering as a means of understanding God’s love a little more. But, that is what we need sometimes. I love that through Paul here, God reminds us that hard times and rough patches are not worthless. They are a means of producing in us an understanding and witness to God’s immeasurable love, mercy, and grace on us. It is through hard times and rough patches that we come to understand that God truly is capable of always being there with us and guiding us through “to the other side.”

Paul’s words in verse five indicate that God’s love is not just allotted out to us little by little. Rather, it is “poured out.” It is in excess. It is more than enough. Paul’s word usage reminds his readers of the way the Holy Spirit is promised in Acts 2:17-18 and Joel 2:28-29. The Holy Spirit is with those that suffer, so that through suffering we might grow closer to the Lord and understand His love all the more.

If you are in a rough patch, having a difficult time, or suffering right now, be encouraged. It is not worthless. You have the Holy Spirit to help you, guide you, and remind you of the goodness of God! Let your hope reside in the Lord because God will come through.

Mercy

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8  (day two) 

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. v. 6

Nothing you do, have done, or will do will ever earn your salvation. Period. How often do you need reminding of that fact? Even among believers we can have a heart knowledge that Christ has given himself for us as a free gift, but something in our head struggles to come to grips with this truth. Don’t buy into the lie that your past is a disqualifier. Mercy isn’t mercy if you have to earn it. Feeling unworthy of the gift is understandable and often very humbling. But make no mistake, this gift is the distinguishing marker for all believers. Christ died for you. Accept that gift. Now go and tell others.

Monday Re:Vlog – 9/21/26

Re:Verse passage – Romans 5:1-8
(day one)

Join us as  Senior Pastor Chris Johnson, Associate Pastor Aaron Hufty, and  Executive Pastor Scott Lane walk us through Romans 5:1-8 in our Re:Verse Series: “Romans: Good News for All.”

Partiality pt 2

Re:Verse passage – Romans 3:21-31 (day seven)

Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also. Romans 3:29

Or is God the God of the Baptists only? Is He not the God of the all denominations also? Yes, of all denominations also.

One of the questions I get most often from students, “Why are there so many denominations?” Especially as we teach Baptist distinctives with conviction, it becomes easy to move into a place of self-righteousness believing that we are right and everyone else is wrong. You can see this in other protestant denominations who have said that their way is the only way to heaven. Jesus, however, seemed to say that He was The Way and no one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus is bigger than our denominational differences.

These differneces are a product of reading and interpreting scripture differently. They are not a product of worshipping a different God. As we move to a place of worship with friends who read scripture differently, can we put aside our differences and make the main thing the main thing? Can we recognize that Jesus is the commonality that brings us all together? Imagine with me a moment a city where all the churches came together and worshipped the King of Kings in one place in one voice. Imagine how that kind of city could impact the Kingdom. We pray that San Antonio will be that city.

One Boast

Re:Verse passage – Romans 3:21-31 (day six)

“Can we boast…that we have done anything to be accepted by God?” Romans 3:27

We are remarkably skilled at finding reasons to place ourselves above one another. We boast in accomplishments, education, morality, politics, religious knowledge, and even our suffering. Whatever distinguishes us can become evidence that we are wiser, stronger, or more deserving than someone else.

Paul dismantles every claim to superiority: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Jew and Gentile, religious insider and outsider, we have all failed to reflect God’s goodness, and all depend upon his mercy.

But grace does not leave us with nothing to celebrate. It redirects our boasting. Paul writes in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We did not rescue ourselves. God acted through Jesus to redeem us from sin and death and welcome us into his family.

Boasting in ourselves divides us because it requires comparison. Boasting in Jesus unites us around the same Redeemer.

We have nothing to boast about over one another, but everything to boast about together in Jesus.

Penalty and Promise

Re:Verse passage – Romans 3:21-31 (day five)

It seems like an easy question to answer. Because we have placed our faith in Jesus, the law really shouldn’t matter any more to us, right?  At first glance the answer is yes. The righteousness of God has been given apart from the law, 3:21. Yet Paul’s answer is a resounding NO (may it never be). The law must always be kept. Death- penalty if law not kept. Life- promise if law is kept. The gospel declares that when we put our faith in Jesus, the law of God still has its place in the life of the believer. It humbles us in recognizing that we can never completely keep it (3:23). The righteousness from His perfect life and obedience becomes ours. And it also holds a special place of encouragement when we realize that the death demanded for failing to keep the law is paid for us by Jesus’ death on the cross. He takes our death. He gives His life. The law must always be kept both in penalty and promise. And in Christ, it is, and both are!!  Righteousness and Redemption, manifested and displayed.