Ruf Mississippi State University

What if behind all the stories and circumstances of our lives, there was another story, the ultimate story? In Revelation 12, John sees and tells that story. There's a princess, a dragon, and war.

If Revelation 4 and 5 are true, that God and the Lamb sit enthroned at the center of the universe, then how do I process the sin and suffering in the world and in my life? The Lion has conquered, and the Lamb is worthy to open the seals, and as we witness it through John's eyes in Rev. 6 we can begin to make sense of that question.

Our world is in a crisis, and more and more it is harder to deny this fact. In Revelation 5 John weeps because he sees the cosmos in crisis. Who is worthy to open the scroll of God's plan and purposes for the universe?

Now begins all the big and spectacular images Revelation is known for. How do they come? How are we to see and understand? The same as John, we've been invited by Jesus himself through the door.

Before getting to the more popular visions and images of Revelation, Jesus, the one who is in the midst of the lamp stands, speaks directly to each of the seven churches. What would it be like to get a letter from Jesus?

Revelation 1:9-20. The first thing John saw was so magnificent, so majestic, so glorious, so vision shattering that he fell down as if he were dead. What did he see? Jesus.

Rev. 1:1-8 - Many people bring many different assumptions and baggage to a look into the the last book of the Bible. What is it about? Why is it there? Simply put, John wants to show us something. More specifically, John wants to show us someone. Take a look for yourself.

There is no greater truth in the gospel than that there is nothing, not one thing, that can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. How can that be? Because God has loved us with an everlasting love, springing from eternity past and guaranteed to secure us into eternity future.

There is no greater truth to give us assurance of God's love than this: that we can be called children of God.

Many consider Romans 8 to be the best chapter in the Bible. Here Paul brings home succinctly all the threads he's been weaving about the glorious truths of justification by faith alone, and he begins with the glorious truth of the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

If we have died to sin, how can we live in it? But, we're not under law, we're under grace. So... is the law sin? In Romans 7 Paul answers just as emphatically as he had in Romans 6, by no means! What good, then, is the law?

Grace covers sin, and I've plenty of that, so is that it? Just when you thought it couldn't get any bigger or more profound Paul brings the grace of the gospel to bear on our every day lives. The grace that saves is the grace that makes us new. How? Because by grace we have been saved AND united with Christ. Therefore not only is my sin covered, but it's power has been broken as well.

As Paul continues to unpack the good news of justification by faith in Jesus he wants to make something clear: what we have in the gospel is a sure thing. Far from some fragile truce, the gospel of justification by faith reveals to us a love that will not let us go.

There is nothing perhaps harder to wrap our minds and words around than faith. What is it? How do I do it? Is it important? Paul says the keys to understanding this glorious good news of being made right with God by a righteousness apart from the law and works is that it comes through faith. So, yes! It's pretty important!

Romans 3:9-31 - Paul arrives at the big news to which he's been building and from which the rest of the letter will flow. We need righteousness to be right with God. What if that righteousness was from God? That kind of news would change everything.

We are blessed to welcome to RUF this week Rev. Gary Leibovich, the senior pastor of Strong Tower Fellowship (PCA) Macon, GA.

Romans 2 - As quickly as he Paul spoke of the judgment of God against the irreligious, he turns and says the religious are no different. How can this be? How can the religious deserve judgment just like the irreligious? Again, it all boils down to a righteousness(in this case "self" righteousness) that falls short.

Romans 1:18-32. Paul opened his letter by telling us he has really good news, but he immediately follows that up with the wrath of God. What are we to make of this often taboo subject? How does it square with the supposed good news?

In the opening verse of his well known letter to the church at Rome Paul tells us that he has Big News that he's Not Ashamed of about what it means to be Right with God.

Follow Sammy on Twitter @sammyrhodes and look out for his new book, "This is Awkward," hitting shelves March 1, 2016.