The Roman Road

It's a difficult one, that's for sure! We are only two days in but it feels like we've been at it for a month. The professor and Don and so many others have been talking about how difficult Romans is but I like what Lish said, "I never thought it was a hard book until this week!" more specifically today's class. So many different topics and ideas and intricate details of doctrine have been spread before us, it's hard to figure out which goes where. It's like a giant buffet of bizarre foreign food is in front of you, but you are high on a balcony looking down. Most of it looks good, some of it looks questionable and some if it is not even recognizable as food. Then there is someone with you pointing out each thing, explaining what it is, how it is made, all the ingredients and where it originated. It's hard to figure out which dish your helper is even pointing to, never-mind remembering all the details pertaining to each. Then once you get down there and get in line, you are madly trying to remember but you mostly just recall the familiar stuff and so there is a little bit of hesitation and panic when it comes to trying something new.

So I dunno if that illustration made ANY sense whatsoever to any of you but this Roman Road is a trek through steep valleys, wide spread oceans, rapid rivers, imposing mountains and the occasional grassy meadow. There are some parts that I've heard before and I'm enjoying having certain doctrines clarified but then there are parts that I've never before seen in the text and I'm gasping for air as I try to keep up. Mostly in class I just type, type, type. It's only really after dinner, during our group study time that I start to comprehend.

I am thanking God for this difficult class though because it is bringing groups of us together in study of His word. We are learning to work together, to listen to one another, to help and give time to one another and really, that is worth every tedious note I have to take in class. What better way to spend the hours than sitting around with good friends discussing justification, sanctification, glorification, condemnation, God's righteousness, human depravity, etc. That's why I'm in Bible school right?