A servant of the gospel, who
Was set apart for Christ, like you.
While serving sinners far from home
Wrote to the saints who live in Rome.
Have grace and peace to you from God.
Reports of your true faith are broad.
I long to see you, comfort each.
To wise and foolish both I preach.
The gospel is transformative.
By faith the righteous one shall live.
God's evidence is every place.
You'll get his wrath if not his grace.
Fools won't give thanks or glorify.
They've treated truth in for a lie.
To the Creator they won't sing.
They worship mere created things.
God let them go, pursue their lust,
Choose evil and be covetous.
They're filled with malice, greed and strife,
With words and deeds despairing life.
They're proud, they brag and cause offense.
They have no mercy, love, or sense.
And though they know such things aren't right,
With those who do them, they delight.
But woah, hold up, do not condemn.
You've done the wrong thing, just like them.
You're not the judge, leave that to God.
Toward reformation he does prod.
But when his day of wrath does come,
He'll give to each for what they've done.
Pursue the good and he will bless.
Choose evil, and get much distress.
Behavior will not get you in.
You know the law, yet still you sin.
When people see bad things you do
God's name is blasphemed 'cause of you.
God cares not how your look's arranged.
God praises those whose hearts are changed.
God's faithfulness 'cross time has stood.
Law makes us conscious, but not good.
For righteousness comes as a gift
From Christ who heals our fatal rift.
Because we're equal, none can boast.
Uphold the law with faith foremost.
What says the past, like Abe and Dave
About the righteousness God gave?
Was it from works, something they earned?
Nope. God forgave them, court adjourned.
So must you get an outward seal?
Again, your actions ain't the deal.
It's for his faith Abram was prized.
Made righteous first, then circumcised.
His offspring's not just those conceived.
He's father of all who believe.
What's impossible, yet God saith,
If you believe, well, that's faith.
Belive in Jesus, what God did,
As righteous you'll be credited.
At peace with God, we now can cope
With suffering which leads to hope.
Hope of God's glory from above
Because he filled our hearts with love.
Self-sacrifice for innocents -
Uncomommon, but there's precedents.
God's love, though, is unparalleled.
He gave his son as we rebelled.
Now reconciled, our sentence waived,
We boast in Him by whom we're saved.
Just as through Adam death has reigned,
Through Jesus, righteousnes is gained.
The Law reveals sin's lurking place.
In death, sin reigns. In life, it's grace.
More sin increases grace, it's true.
That doesn't mean it's good to do.
Through baptism you died to sin
So that a new life could begin.
A life for God, a life controlled
By righteousness, not by sin's hold.
Serve by the Spirit, free from Law,
Though at the flesh sin still may gnaw.
With God or flesh are you aligned?
The answer's where you set your mind.
The minds on flesh, sin's all they see.
Toward God in constant enmity.
The minds on Spirit, as God's heirs,
They care for what the Spirit cares.
Creation all longs to be healed.
Through us God's glory is revealed.
We crave redemption in our bones.
The Spirit intercedes with groans.
Predestines, called, and justified.
In Jesus' likeness, glorified.
If God is for us, who's against?
He gave his Son and grace dispensed.
God's love stays with us, that's for sure,
And through it makes us conquerers.
By works or birth you cannot tell.
God's promise makes you Israel.
He says he'll have compassion on
Those whom he'll have compassion on.
If God decides to use a man
To show his power, well, he can.
And if you say, "hey that's not fair",
You question God? How do you dare?
For he's the potter, we're the clay.
He might make vessels to display
His power to make his glory known
To vessels he made for his own.
He makes those fall who think they could
Just work their way to being good.
The path is Christ, that stumbling stone.
You cannot get there on your own.
For none knows God who won't confess
That Jesus IS God's righteousness.
Who calls on his name will be saved.
His message on our hearts engraved.
Some hear the good news but reject.
Hearts hardened unlike the elect.
So did they stumble beyond hope?
The God of promises says, "Nope".
The covenant, like olive tree,
Can graft into the family
The whole among the human race
God chooses by his own good grace.
And those cut off can gain relief
When they reject their unbelief.
Don't be conceited, you got in,
But not by works avoiding sin.
In disobedience we fall
And God has mercy on us all.
The depths of God man has not known.
He takes no counsel but his own.
To truly worship, Paul's advice
Is be a living sacrifice.
Do not abide by this world's norm.
To know God's will, your mind transform.
As different parts, in Christ we dwell.
Just play your part, and play it well.
Abhor the evil. Hold the good.
Be kind amongst the brotherhood.
See others honored before you.
Serve God with zeal and fervor too.
In hope, rejoice. In trials, endure.
That you pray faithfully, ensure.
Then share with others what they lack.
When someone hurts you, don't hurt back.
Now share in sadness, share in joy.
Be equals with the hoi polloi.
Don't be conceited. Live at peace.
If vengeance has your hold, release.
Though evil fights you, don't succumb.
By goodness, evil's overcome.
The Lord established government.
To its authority, relent.
Now love your neighbor, do not yaw.
Love is fulfillment of the Law.
Awake! Don't live as if it's night.
Put on the armor of the light.
Don't let your mind be flesh-enticed
But clothe yourself with Jesus Christ.
Accept the one whose faith is weak.
God's servant you shall not critique.
While some are shoeless, some are shod,
And both can walk their walk with God.
Don't cause your brother's stumblings.
Don't argue over minor things.
Bear with the failings of the weak.
It's not your own pleasure you seek.
Build up your neighbor for his good.
Praise God together as you should.
Accept each other, when you do,
That's like how Christ accepted you.
In service Jesus spent his days
That all the world would give God praise.
And in like manner, Paul was spurred
To preach to those who had not heard.
Then as his work was near its end
He greeted many saints and friends.
Watch out for those who would cause fights
While serving their own appetites.
Through Jesus and the news sublime,
To God be glory all the time.
© 2024 Jotham McCauley TheBibleRhymes.com