Particulars and Patterns

There are basically two ways to enjoy a stained glass window. If you can get close enough, you can examine the intricacy of each uniquely shaped piece of colored glass and inspect the meticulous craftsmanship with which they’re joined, or you can stand back and let the sun shine through all the individual pieces, bringing the entire window to life as a glorious whole

As I’ve preached over the past several weeks—excluding last Sunday—I’ve been looking at the book of Romans up close, examining the particulars of some of the doctrine that’s meticulously developed in this letter. 

This week, though, I’d like to stand back a little, because this week’s Epistle reading isn’t primarily about particulars, although there are some. This passage is about a biblical pattern…a glorious whole every particular has been pointing to.