The balance between holiness and grace

(Audio: Spanish)

SUMMARY: The central message of the epistle to the Romans is that man cannot be saved by his own righteousness, but only through Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul uses several illustrations and concepts to explain this, including the idea of death and resurrection in Christ. He clarifies that identifying with death in Christ means dying to sin and the law, and rising to a life under the lordship of Christ, where we bear fruit for God. He also explains that the law is not bad in itself, but rather sin uses it as a platform to manifest itself. However, through the death of Christ, we are freed from the law and serve under the new regime of the spirit. Paul also differentiates between Jewish law and dead religion, which is religion of commandments without the grace of the spirit. Ultimately, God wants us to discern the spirit of Christ in every situation in life, rather than simply following a set of commandments.

God wants us to have a mature spirituality, not just follow a set of commandments. He wants us to learn principles of life and spirituality so that we can discern the presence of the spirit within us. The spirit of Christ within us will guide us and help us find solutions to any problem in life. We should aim for a flexible and living spirituality, not a sterile and stiff religiosity. Christians should be the nicest and most attractive people in the world, full of emotional and spiritual health. We should be informed about the culture we live in and have good conversations. We should be an honest church, acknowledging our own sins and weaknesses, so that we can minister to society and offer mercy and love to all who come to us. Paul recognizes that even he is inherently built to sin, and we all need a savior to pay the price for our sins.

The speaker discusses the tension between the call to holiness and the need for a savior. He emphasizes the importance of striving for holiness while also acknowledging the inevitability of sin and the need for Christ's sacrifice. He also highlights the benefits of living a holy life, such as better mental and physical health, and the consequences of sin, such as guilt and anxiety. The speaker encourages a balanced spirituality that aims for excellence while also relying on the grace and mercy of God. He uses the analogy of the blood in our bodies to illustrate the cleansing and healing power of Christ's blood in our lives. The speaker concludes by praying for a church that maintains this balance and extends grace to others.

The life lived in the word of God is a solid life, it is a life that advances and grows. Let's go, brothers, to the word of the Lord. I am going to be judicious in the use of time because we have done many things since they are a blessing but that is precisely what it is about; we want to be a church that honors the word of God and recognizes its importance. And we have been doing this tour through the letter to the Romans that has shown us the mystery of life lived on the grace of God.

There is a central recognition throughout this epistle to the Romans that man cannot be saved by his own righteousness. Paul is in charge, time and time again, of showing us that no one can be justified before God by his good works. No human being can say that I am going to enter heaven because I behaved perfectly, as God expected. We have all failed and will fail. And Paul put it very well, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the grace of God...."