Please turn with me to Romans 4 verses 1 through 5.

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

For if Abraham was justified by Father according to the flesh has found.

For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

For what does the scripture say?

And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but is what is due, but to the one who does not work, but believes in him who

justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. righteousness.

There was an article in the paper yesterday that answered a question that I had when I got up.

Namely, how can I help us as a church make our way back into Romans after a

six week interlude on other great things in a way that's fitting in proportion to the

magnitude of what's at stake in these chapters.

The article was in section B, page 6, and it was entitled, Sinners Earn Eternal Damnation, Pope says.

Now, Now I am very thankful for every biblical truth that I share in common with every other person who believes these things.

And the Roman Catholic Church in particular,

and our church, for example, share some stunning truths in common.

God exists in a triune nature, three persons in one divine being.

Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God.

The scriptures are inspired by God.

The Holy Spirit has been given and without him there is no hope of holy living and so on.

Many glorious truths that we share in common with the Roman Catholic Church.

However, when I read this article, which had quotations from the Pope in it, I was reminded that

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