I have some questions for you:

• Are Some People Predestined to Hell?

• Why Did So Many Jews Refuse to Believe in Jesus?

• Are the Jews Still the Chosen People?

You know you’re interested! Our final All-Church Bible Study of 2024 is Wednesday, 10/30, and we’ll be covering those questions as we look at chapters 9-11 in Paul’s Letter to the Romans. 6:30-8:00 PM. Sanctuary. Dinner beforehand.

P.S. Our new Romans reading guides are in! Pick yours up at Asbury, or email Sandie and she’ll mail you one. Readings begin on 11/1, and I’m really excited to work through this final section of Romans with you.

 This is going to be a fascinating evening, and I hope you’ll make every effort to attend. Bring friends!

Romans 8:33-34

33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Paul was no stranger to persecution. He knew that the Christian life required fortitude and perseverance under pressure. So, part of what he is doing in this letter is giving the Roman church what it needs to stand firm under pressure.

He imagines Christians being accused by hostile Roman society the way Jesus was accused in front of Pontius Pilate. But because God is the ultimate and only judge who matters and because Jesus has died and has taken His place at the right hand of the Father—“from where He shall come to judge the living and the dead”—he reminds that Romans that it doesn’t matter what anyone else says. People can lie about you and accuse you and insult you, but nothing they say will affect your status as part of “God’s elect,” that is God’s people. And since God is working all things for good and because that includes your future position in glory and because the Holy Spirit is with us now and gives us comfort in the midst of difficulties—because of all those things, the only word that matters is God’s word.

Keep going, and do not be afraid.