Author: jritchey28

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: The Glory that is to be Revealed

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: The Glory that is to be Revealed

This week at River City Reformed, we will be studying Romans 8:18-30. Paul begins this section in verse 18 by stating, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” In Christ there is a guarantee that believers will reach glory. Paul demonstrates this clearly when he elaborates on what has often been referred to as “the Golden Chain of Salvation.” He writes, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

These are the truths we need to have deep in our souls. During the trials and storms of life, we need these promises of God, we need to know of all that He has given us in Christ, and we need truths to rest in such as are expressed in Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Join us this Lord’s Day for worship at River City Reformed as we consider these truths together. We meet at 9 AM at 9820 W Markham St. in Little Rock (the sanctuary of Faith United Methodist Church). For more information, click here, or contact us. You can also watch our service on YouTube with a link posted to our Facebook page.

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: The Spirit of Adoption

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: The Spirit of Adoption

Last week, as we began our study of Romans 8, we noted that this chapter gives a practical theology for the whole of the Christian life. We see that in verses 12-17, as these verses deal with the ongoing battle with sin that believers have. But that is a hopeful and not a hopeless battle, because it is carried out in dependence upon the Holy Spirit who guides us. But it is also hopeful because in Christ, we are adopted as children of God. Believers are said to “have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” (Romans 8:15)

Join us this week for worship as we consider these truths together. We meet at 9 AM at 9820 W Markham St. in Little Rock (The sanctuary of Faith United Methodist Church). For more information, click here, or contact us. You can also watch our service on YouTube with a link posted to our Facebook page.

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: No Condemnation

Romans 8 and the Christian Life: No Condemnation

This week at River City Reformed, we will begin a four part series on Romans 8. This chapter really deals with the whole of the Christian life and experience. This week we will be studying Romans 8:1-11.

Romans 8:1 is a wonderful declaration of the assurance we have in the Gospel: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” This is because Christ Himself has stood in our place and borne the condemnation we deserved. Because He has died for us, we are now set free if we are found in Him.

Please join us this Lord’s Day as we consider this passage together. We meet for worship at 9 AM at 9820 W Markham St. in Little Rock (the sanctuary of Faith United Methodist Church). For more information, click here, or contact us for more information. You can also watch our service on YouTube with a link posted to our Facebook page.

Promises Kept

Promises Kept

The Lord’s promises are sure. If we are ever to doubt God’s faithfulness to His promises, we ought to look to passages such as Exodus 12:29-51. The promises fulfilled here are really twofold. He kept His promises to deliver His people, but He also kept His promise to judge the unrepentant.

He kept His promises to deliver His people. He led His people out of Egypt, and even the Egyptians themselves command them to leave. He delivered them by night and even fulfilled promises made to Abraham regarding the provisions His people would have upon leaving Egypt, as they would be given favor and wealth from the Egyptians. The fact that God keeps His promises to deliver His people ought to be of great encouragement to us. There are so many circumstances in life that may drive us to doubt or wonder what it is God is doing. But even after 430 years in Egypt, God had not abandoned His people. This Exodus from Egypt would be such a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His promises that it would be harkened back to many times. You see this particularly in the Psalms. You as a believer can press on in the Christian life knowing that God is the One who delivers His people.

But God also fulfilled His promise of judgment. This is seen throughout the ten plagues, but especially in the tenth plague. This is a warning against unrepentance. Sin rightly deserves the judgment of God, and only those found in Christ will be saved from it.

The Lord reminds His people of their deliverance in the Passover meal. Only those who were willing to covenant with God could partake of that meal. The Lord’s Supper, which now takes the place of the sign of Passover is only to be taken by those who have trusted in Christ. This is why we exhort those who are not found in Christ not to take the Supper but rather to run to the Christ of the Supper. He is the One your soul needs.

So dear friend, have you heeded the warning of judgment? Have you found rest in Jesus, having confidence in God’s promise of redemption? We will consider all of this this Lord’s Day during worship at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church at 5 PM. For directions, click here or contact us for more information. You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube.

“There Where the Blood of the Lamb Was Spilt”

“There Where the Blood of the Lamb Was Spilt”

The tenth plague of the book of Exodus is one of the book’s climactic points.  Judgment falls on those oppressing the people of God in a way that is more severe even than the previous plagues.  And we see in the passage that this is a judgment carried out by God Himself.  

The people of God are given many instructions in order to prepare for the Passover, and they are also given many instructions for its remembrance.  This is a reminder just of how serious the worship of God truly is.  We are drawn to consider His holiness and the fact that He is the One who directs how He is to be worshiped.  

We see that the people of God are commanded to sacrifice a lamb without spot or blemish, and that they are commanded to put its blood on their doorposts in order that God’s judgment may pass over them and that the firstborn of their households be spared.  We see here the seriousness of sin and its judgment, but we also see the Lord’s pardoning mercy.  In the account of these lambs being slaughtered, we are to focus our attention on the greater sacrifice to which these lambs pointed–the Lamb who would be slain for the sin of His people. He is the One who would truly bring deliverance from judgment as He Himself bears the justice, the wrath and curse of God. As the people of God found refuge under the blood on their doorposts, we need to ask ourselves–have we found refuge under the blood of the Lamb of God?  
Dear friend, have you found your hope in Christ and what He accomplished at Calvary?  Is your hope there, as the hymn says, “There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt?” (“Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord,” written by Julia H. Johnston, 1910)  Join us as we consider these things in more depth during worship this Lord’s Day at The Commons at St. Andrews’ Church.  For directions, click here, or contact us for more information.  You can also watch on FacebookLive@RiverCityARP or on YouTube.