Romans

This month, I am studying Romans. God is just so good as to also lead my pastor in the same direction for his sermon series at the same time! Always cool when God overlaps the facets of our lives in such a way as to continually build us up.

I love Jesus. I love God. And I love the Holy Spirit.

They are so unique in the purposes for living an effective and fulfilling Christian life and, yet, at the same time, They are ONE. This concept is always a hard one for most of us to grasp. I am sure you have heard the egg or apple analogy. I have used the card the comes at Christmas time to your family to describe it. My favorite was a geologist explaining it in comparison to the parts of space. But in this study, the author puts into a list form, how each member of the Godhead participates in providing our salvation and I think this makes sense and helps! The reference is Romans 8:1-4 and the lists are:  
The Father: gave His Son in order to save us, since the Law (the requirements for right living found in the Old Testament, given prior to Jesus' death) is powerless to overcome sin (8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21). Those who put their trust in Him receive His righteousness and sin's control over them is broken. He also gives us His Spirit (8:4).

                            **Sin's control is broken!! That is shouting material, right there! I mean, does it get  any better than that? WOO!!

The Son: Came in human likeness--except He was without sin (8:3; John 1:14; Phil 2:8; Heb 4:15). He became a sin offering, turned aside God's wrath, set us free from sin and death, and became for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

**Set us free from sin and death! We are holy and righteous!
So unmerited. So free. So AMAZING!

The Holy Spirit: Unites us to Christ and His body (John 3:3, 5, 8: 1 Cor. 12:13). Through Christ's sacrifice, the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death (8:2) and enables us to fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law (8:4). The prophet Ezekiel foretold this (36:27)

**Again, here we are FREE! Not only free but given what we need
to obey the requirements of the Law!

They each play such a vital role in giving us the life-giving freedom of salvation and empowering us to live full and amazing lives.

The Trinity, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are who make my life worth living and gives me hope of a future beyond my physical death.