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Because of Sin, God Judges

July 13th, 2023

Romans 1:26-32

William was rebellious.

The president of Moody Bible Institute received an anguished call from a pastor, begging for his son to be enrolled in the school. Although sympathetic, the president informed the pastor that he ran an institute, not a reform school. Yet the father was persistent, and the president eventually relented on the condition that the son would come to see him daily and would follow the rules.

Many years later, a professor at that same school was alone in his classroom making lesson plans when he began writing his testimony in the form of a poem on the back of an envelope. He took the poem to the music director of the school, who put it to music. The two men then sang together the hymn “At Calvary.” The writer of the poem, of course, was William R. Newell (1868-1956), the rebellious student. He had met regularly with the president and eventually accepted Christ.

Today’s passage describes unregenerate humanity. Yet there is grace and mercy at the cross for those who, like William, repent and turn their lives over to Jesus.

Author: Karen Hiner