Beers & Bible Podcast

Episode 269: Romans 5:6-11In this week’s conversation we unpack why “limited atonement” is better called definite atonement—the cross designed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and applied by the Spirit to truly save a people, not merely make salvation possible. Paul’s logic in Romans 5:6–11 carries us from our helplessness and enmity to the wonder of God’s love, the satisfaction of His wrath, and the deep assurance that we are “saved by His life.”Christ died to actually save His people. Enemies become family; wrath becomes welcome; fear becomes assurance.Main PointsDefinite Atonement: The cross achieves what God eternally designed—the real salvation of Christ’s sheep.Human Helplessness: We weren’t neutral; we were ungodly and powerless. Grace starts where our ability ends.God’s Love, Clarified:Benevolence (goodwill to all)Beneficence (kind gifts to all)Complacent love (delight for those united to His Son)Wrath Satisfied: Salvation means rescue from God’s righteous wrath through Christ’s atoning sacrifice.Reconciliation: God took the initiative to reconcile enemies to Himself.Saved by His Life: Jesus’ righteous life credited to us and His living intercession keep us to the end.

In this episode we unpack Paul’s big idea that Christian hope isn’t a wish—it’s Spirit-wrought assurance anchored in God’s promises. We contrast the world’s “maybe” hope with the New Testament’s anchor-hope, then trace Paul’s chain of grace: tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance forges character, and character yields a hope that will never put us to shame. We look at how God’s love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, giving us confidence to rejoice even in suffering. Finally, we explore the “when” of the atonement—Christ died for the ungodly precisely when we were without strength, and He did so in real history at the Father’s appointed time. Pastoral takeaways: rehearse truth when waves hit, bring afflictions to God in prayer, and let the cross reshape how you treat those who wrong you.Beer review:Mill Pond from Oyster City Brewing Vol Lager from Yee-Haw Brewing,

Justification is a finished act with present fruits: peace with God, access to grace, and unshakable hope—all through our Lord Jesus Christ.Peace (v.1): “Having been justified by faith” = past, once-for-all. The cosmic war with God is over; the treaty is permanent in Christ.Access (v.2a): The torn veil means real audience with God. We now stand in grace—boldly, never flippantly (cf. Heb. 12:22–24).Hope (v.2b): Not wishful thinking but a Spirit-given anchor. We “glory now in glory”—faith looks back to the cross; hope looks forward to completed redemption.Because we’re justified, we don’t beg for peace, access, or hope—we already have them in Christ.

Faith or Wrath (Romans 4:13–25)Big Idea: God secures Abraham’s promised inheritance by faith according to grace, not by law. The law exposes sin and brings wrath; faith rests in God’s promise—confirmed by Christ’s resurrection for our justification.Key Quote: “He was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform.” (Rom 4:21)We unpack Paul’s argument that the promise to Abraham (and to all who share his faith) comes through the righteousness of faith, not through works of the law. The law can only reveal our sin and summon wrath; grace gives what law cannot—assurance. Abraham believed against all odds because the object of his faith was the God who “gives life to the dead.” Paul lands the plane with the gospel’s heartbeat: Jesus was “delivered up for our offenses and raised for our justification.” Forgiveness and righteousness are both ours in Christ.Faith or Wrath (vv. 13–15): If inheritance were by law, faith would be void. The law exposes sin and brings wrath.What Is Sin? (v. 15b): Sin = lack of conformity to or transgression of God’s law (omission & commission). Sin is personal—against the Lawgiver.According to Grace (vv. 16–18): Justification is by faith so that it rests on grace—this produces assurance and extends to “many nations.”Not a Blind Leap (vv. 19–20): Abraham faced the facts but trusted the Promise-Maker; faith is reasonable confidence in God’s character.Fully Convinced (v. 21): Mature faith = settled confidence that God performs what He promises.Raised for Our Justification (vv. 24–25): Double imputation: our guilt to Christ; His righteousness to us. The resurrection is the Father’s public acceptance of the payment—our justification is secure.

Faith Like AbrahamText: Romans 3:27-4:12Main Idea: Salvation has always been by grace through faith—Abraham looked forward to Christ; we look back. Justification is by faith alone, not works.Boasting Excluded (vv. 1–2)Paul: no room for pride; Abraham saved by faith, not merit.Salvation in every age rests on Christ’s righteousness.Abraham Believed (vv. 3–4)Genesis 15: Abraham trusted God’s promise, and God counted him righteous.Faith is the instrument of salvation, not a meritorious act.Faith as Trust (vv. 5; James 2)Paul: justified before God; James: faith proven before men.True faith includes personal trust (fiducia), not mere belief.Counted Righteous (vv. 5–6)“Faith alone saves, but not a faith that is alone.”Works flow from faith—they’re fruit, not foundation.Blessedness of Imputation (vv. 6–8)David: blessed are those forgiven and credited with Christ’s righteousness.Imputed righteousness = alien righteousness from Christ, not earned.Sign and Seal (vv. 9–12)Abraham justified before circumcision—faith, not ritual, saves.Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are signs and seals of covenant grace.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most important sections of Paul’s letter to the Romans—his teaching on justification by faith alone. R.C. Sproul reminds us that this is the very heart of the gospel: God declares sinners righteous not because of anything in them, but because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them and received by faith.Declared Just, Not Made Just – Why our righteousness must come from outside ourselves and what Luther meant by simul iustus et peccator (“at the same time righteous and sinner”).The “But Now” Moment – Paul’s announcement that God’s righteousness has been revealed apart from the law, rooted in both the Law and the Prophets.Faith as the Instrument – How the Reformers rejected baptism and penance as the instrumental cause of justification, insisting instead that faith alone links us to Christ.The Double Transfer – Our sins placed on Christ and His righteousness placed on us. This is the great exchange at the center of the gospel.Propitiation & Expiation – Why we cannot afford to lose these biblical terms, and how Christ both satisfies God’s wrath and removes our sin.The Just and the Justifier – How God remains perfectly just while also declaring sinners righteous in Christ.Justification is not cheap grace. It is free for us, but costly for Christ. At the cross, God satisfied His justice and extended His mercy—making Him both just and the justifier of those who believe.

No one naturally seeks God, speaks purely, or lives rightly. God’s law silences our self-defense and drives us to Christ, whose righteousness is received by faith alone.No Seekers (v.11) – Unbelievers chase God’s benefits, not God Himself. True seeking starts after God finds us (Matt 6:33).Unprofitable Good (v.12) – “Civic righteousness” exists, but God defines good by both action and God-ward motive (John 14:6).The Things We Say (vv.13–14) – Throat, tongue, lips, mouth: a biopsy of our speech—deceit, venom, cursing (Matt 23:27; James 3:6).The Things We Do (vv.15–18) – Swift to violence; we don’t know the way of peace because we don’t fear God (Prov 9:10).All the World Guilty (vv.19–20) – The law stops every mouth; by works no one will be justified.Justification Defined – A forensic (legal) declaration: God counts sinners righteous in Christ by faith alone.Key TakeawaysThere are no natural seekers; seeking God is evidence He has already sought you.Good deeds without a God-loving motive are not “good” before God.Your words reveal your heart; guard both input and output.The law is a mirror, not a ladder—it exposes sin; it doesn’t erase it.Hope rests in a verdict secured by Christ’s righteousness, not our record.

In this week’s Beers & Bible Podcast, we break down Romans 3:1–11 where Paul answers big questions about God’s Word, His faithfulness, and the universal problem of sin.The Oracles of God (vv.1–2): Israel’s advantage was receiving God’s Word—salvation is not in rituals but in Scripture.God’s Faithfulness (vv.3–4): Human unbelief never cancels God’s promises.A Just Judge (vv.5–6): God’s wrath flows from His righteousness—judgment is certain.A Just Condemnation (vv.7–8): Grace is no excuse for sin; true faith bears fruit.All Under Sin (vv.9–11): Jew and Gentile alike are crushed by sin—no one is righteous, no one seeks God.Romans 3 shows us the crushing weight of sin but points us toward Christ, our only hope.Highlights:

Romans 2: Hypocrisy, Judgment, and the Circumcision of the HeartPaul turns the camera around. After exposing pagan sin in Romans 1, he indicts the religious in Romans 2—people who condemn others while doing the same things. God’s judgment is according to truth, His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, and there is no partiality with Him. Whether you’ve got the Law (Jews) or only a conscience (Gentiles), we all stand guilty—and we all need a righteousness not our own. True belonging to God is not an outward badge but an inward work of the Spirit: a circumcised heart.God’s impartial, truth-based judgment exposes religious hypocrisy and drives us to Christ, whose righteousness alone covers our guilt and renews our hearts by the Spirit.Shift of focus: from Gentile sin (Rom. 1) to Jewish hypocrisy (Rom. 2).“O man”—Paul directly confronts his own people.Problem: condemning others while practicing the same sins.Jesus already warned us: the plank vs. the speck (Matt. 7:3).God’s judgment is always according to truth—no spin, no loopholes.“Every mouth will be stopped” (Rom. 3:19).Don’t mistake God’s patience for permission; His kindness is meant to lead to repentance, not complacency.Every unrepentant sin “deposits” wrath for the day of judgment.God renders to each according to deeds:Eternal life for those who persevere in doing good, seeking His glory.Wrath for the self-seeking and disobedient.No partiality—Jew and Gentile are judged by the same standard.Jews with the Law perish by the Law; Gentiles without the Law perish without it—conscience bears witness.Universal guilt: everyone fails the light they’ve received.Final judgment will expose “the secrets of men”—through Christ Jesus.Only Christ’s righteousness can cover our shame and make us right.Israel boasted in the Law—guides, teachers, lights—but didn’t practice it.Result: God’s name is blasphemed among the nations.Today’s parallel: church folks who boast in the Bible but live contrary to it.The critique “the church is full of hypocrites” is real—but the church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.Circumcision is an outward sign; without inward reality it’s meaningless.True circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not merely by the letter.Modern parallels: baptism and membership are signs—not salvation.God judges impartially and truthfully; excuses won’t stand.God’s kindness is not approval of sin; it’s an invitation to repent.Religious performance can hide a hard heart—only the Spirit gives a new one.We don’t need a better mask; we need Christ’s righteousness.

Episode SummaryPaul’s argument moves with laser-sharp logic: God’s power saves (v.16) because God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel (v.17). But that righteousness is necessary because God’s wrath is revealed against sin (v.18), a response we understand as we behold God’s glory in creation (vv.19–20). In this episode, we trace that flow, unpack the nature and objects of divine wrath, and follow the tragic yet honest downward spiral of human rebellion—idolatry, moral degradation, and social disorder—so we can see why the good news is truly good.The Logical Link to the Gospel (vv.16–20)Power → Righteousness → Wrath → GloryWhy the bad news is necessary for the good news to make senseThe Nature of God’s Wrath (v.18)Holy, personal, and just—not impulsive human angerGod is never morally neutralWho Faces God’s Wrath (vv.18–20)Against “godlessness” (irreverence toward God) and “wickedness” (injustice toward others)Suppressing the truth made plain in creation leaves everyone “without excuse”The Downward Spiral (vv.21–32)Idolatry: Knowing God but refusing to honor or thank HimSexual impurity: “Exchanges” that degrade the body (vv.24–25)Against nature (vv.26–27): Paul’s teaching on created order and sexual ethicsDepraved mind (vv.28–32): A cascade of vices, broken relationships, and approving of evilWrath defined: God’s wrath is His righteous, settled opposition to evil.General revelation: Creation clearly reveals God’s eternal power and divine nature—enough to render us accountable.Sin’s trajectory: Rejecting God leads to idolatry, moral confusion, and social decay.Heart of the matter: The essence of sin is knowing God yet refusing to glorify or thank Him.How does seeing God’s wrath make the gospel more compelling rather than less?Where do you notice “truth suppression” in our cultural moment—or in your own heart?In what everyday ways can gratitude to God push back against idolatry (v.21)?How should Christians hold together truth and compassion when discussing Romans 1:26–27?Which of the vices in vv.28–32 do you see most clearly in society—and which is God exposing in you?How does Romans 1 prepare us for Paul’s explanation of justification by faith that follows?Romans 1:16–17 — Power and righteousness of God in the gospelRomans 1:18–20 — Wrath revealed; truth in creation; “without excuse”Romans 1:21–25 — The “exchange”: glory for images; truth for a lieRomans 1:26–27 — Paul’s appeal to created orderRomans 1:28–32 — Depraved mind and the approval of evilWhat We CoverKey TakeawaysDiscussion QuestionsScripture Highlights