ROMANS

It's Sunday!  I love Sundays!  I cannot wait to preach and teach God's Holy Word, I cannot wait to meet and greet God's people, and I cannot wait to enjoy His presence in the local church.  The Home of my Faith! I'm in Romans today, and here are a few thoughts: SHORT WORK- In Romans 9:28, it says:  "For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness:  because a short work will the LORD make upon the earth."  When it comes time to change everything from man's corrupt ways to God's eternal ways on earth, it will take God only a "short work".  Just a little while and it will be done!  Praise God for that. END OF THE LAW- Romans 10: 4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."  It doesn't mean that there are no laws we should be trying to observe, it means that "for righteousness", we have no laws to accomplish this, only Christ!  We are not saved by the law or the keeping of the law, only by our faith in Christ who has perfectly kept the law and then as that perfect sacrifice, gave Himself for our sins.  Now the law still serves a purpose of exposing our sins, and guiding us into a life of obedience rather than disobedience, but has nothing to do with our being saved or staying saved.  Christ is the end of the law "for righteousness"! POWER- I Cor. 1:18 says: "For the preaching of the cross is....the power of God.."  I Cor. 2:4 says: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.."  vs. 5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."  I Cor. 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."  I Cor. 5:4 "In the name of our LORD Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our LORD Jesus Christ."    There is power in the LORD Jesus Christ, Power in the Gospel, Power in the believer with the presence of the Holy Spirit.  Power is that which comes from God for effectiveness in the Christian Life.  It is a trait of God, not man, and as we yield to the LORD, he empowers us for the earthly tasks that have a heavenly mission..  Let us lean on His power to get our work done for Christ and others! Well, I've got to go and take off for Church now.... It's Sunday!!   Praise the LORD!   Dr. Mike Mutchler