Romans 2: The Gospel for the Jews

Application: The student will summarize that salvation is not of works but solely of grace.

WE WILL BEGIN TODAY BY BORROWING A VERSE OR TWO FROM CHAPTER 11 TO SET THE TABLE FOR OUR DISCUSSION ON THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE JEWS.

ROMANS 11:7-11:

“… Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for: but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

… God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this day.

… Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see…

Have they stumbled that they should not fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.”

WE REMEMBER THAT ROMANS ONE WAS A CLEAR FOCUS ON PEOPLE WHO INTENTIONALLY REBELLED AGAINST AND REJECTED GOD.

ROMANS TWO WILL BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT WILL COMPEL US TO EXAMINE BOTH THE JEWS AND OURSELVES IN THE COMMON NEED OF GRACE.

ROMANS TWO CENTERS ITS MESSAGE ON REFUTING RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY IN RULES BASED FAITH SUCH

AS JEWS THEN AND THE ROMAN CHURCH STILL TODAY

ROMANS ONE PROVIDED PERHAPS THE MOST DAMNING STATEMENT IN THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT ON FALLEN MANKIND IN THEIR WICKED DEPRAVITY.

23 FRIGHTFUL SINS WERE LISTED WHICH BROUGHT TOTAL MORAL PERVERSION THAT WAS EVIDENT IN ROME AT THE TIME OF THE EPISTLE.

THAT WICKEDNESS WAS COMPLETE AND GOD IN HIS WRATH GAVE THEM UP INTO THEIR REBELLIOUS LIVES.

FALLEN MAN CAN NO MORE STOP SINNING ON HIS OWN THAN HE CAN STOP BREATHING.

ALL THOSE VERSES WERE ADDRESSED TO THE GENTILES, AND NOW PAUL TURNS HIS ATTENTION TOWARD THE JEWS.

PAUL GAVE US A COMPLETE VIEW OF THE MIND OF GOD TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE UNRIGHTEOUS.

NOW HE WILL TURN THAT SAME ATTENTION TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE SELF RIGHTEOUS.

WE MUST NOT MISTAKENLY THINK THAT THESE VERSES ARE ABOUT SALVATION FOR THEY ARE NOT.

THEY ARE ABOUT SIN.

VERSE 1 QUICKLY TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO JUDGE OTHERS CONDEMN THEMSELVES BY DOING SO BECAUSE THOSE WHO JUDGE DO THE SAME THINGS.

TO REJECT THE SON OF GOD IMMEDIATELY BRINGS UPON A PERSON THE JUDGMENT OF GOD, AND THE ONLY VERDICT IS GUILTY.

1ST JOHN 5:12 SPEAKS ON THIS ISSUE SAYING THOSE WHO HATH NOT THE SON HATH NOT LIFE.

JOHN 5:24 SPEAKS ON THIS ISSUE TEACHING THAT THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD AND BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHO SENT IT HATH EVERLASTING LIFE.

JOHN 3:36 SPEAKS CLEARLY TEACHING THAT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.

PAUL NOW LAYS DOWN THE PRINCIPLES BY WHICH GOD WILL JUDGE SINNERS WHO ARE CULTURED AND REFINED AND KNOW THE COMMANDS OF JEHOVAH, MEANING HE IS ADDRESSING THE JEWS.

IN VERSE 2 HE SAYS THAT IT IS SURE THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO COMMIT SUCH THINGS AS REJECTING THE MESSIAH JEHOVAH SENT TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.

VERSE 3 TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO JUDGE OTHERS FOR SIN WHILE DOING THE SAME THINGS THEMSELVES CAN NOT ESCAPE JUDGMENT.

PAUL NEXT SAYS DIRECTLY THOSE WHO HAVE HARDNESS AND IMPENITENT HEARTS WILL BE HARSHLY JUDGED AND IN VERSE 5 EACH MAN SO HARDENED WILL BE RENDERED UNTO AS TO HIS DEEDS.

IN THIS 2ND PRINCIPLE, A WAY OF LIFE IS THE BASIS OF JUDGMENT, AND THAT WAY WAS JUST DESCRIBED.

IN THE 3RD PRINCPLE, GIVEN IN VERSE 11 PAUL TEACHES THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS.

THE JEWS KNEW THIS PRINCIPLE WELL AS IT IS DETAILED IN DEUT 10:17:

“For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.”

PETER RESTATED THIS OLD TESTAMENT TRUTH AS HE WITNESSED TO CORNELIUS IN ACTS 10 WHEN HE SAID:

“Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”

ALL MEN ARE ALIKE BEFORE GOD.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP OR A GOOD FAMILY OR BEING A GREAT CITIZEN HOLD NO VALUE IN THESE MATTERS.

THERE IS ONLY ONE ISSUE THAT MATTERS, DO YOU HAVE A SAVIOR WHOSE NAME IS JESUS CHRIST?

NO ISSUE IS ABOVE THAT ISSUE.

VERSE 12 SHOWS THE NEUTRALITY OF GOD NO MATTER WHERE SOME ARE IN THE LAW OR SOME ARE NOT.

THE SIN OF BOTH ARE THE SAME TO GOD.

VERSE 13 PROVIDES OUR NEXT PRINCIPLE.

“For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

NOW PAUL PROVIDES AND TEACHES THE 5TH PRINCIPLE IN VERSE 13.

GOD WILL JUDGE ALL SINNERS BY THEIR OWN CONSCIENCE AND THE SECRETS OF MEN WILL BE JUDGED BY JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO HIS GOSPEL.

GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE, AND THE JEWS IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THEIRS WAS A GOD GIVEN RELIGION.

VERSES 17-18 SAYS THEY KNOW THE WILL OF GOD HAVING BEEN INSTRUCTED OUT OF THE LAW.

RELIGION WAS NO LONGER CONSIDERED A CRUTCH OF THE JEWS.

THEY HAD BECOME PROUD AND THOUGHT THEY WERE SELF SUFFICIENT AND WERE SAVED ALREADY AS CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM.

PAUL TAUGHT IN GAL 3:9 THAT THOSE IN FAITH ARE BLESSED WITH ABRAHAM.

JOHN 1:13 CLEARLY TEACHES THAT SALVATION IS NOT OF BLOOD OR THE WILL OF MAN, BUT ONLY OF GOD.

IN VERSES 19-22 PAUL SETS UP 10 REASONS WHY JEWS HAD ORIGINAL ADVANTAGES OVER THE GENTILES.

THE 1ST FIVE ARE WHAT THE JEW WAS:

• HE BEARS THE NAME JEW (MEANING FROM JUDAH)

• HE RESTS UPON THE LAW WHICH WAS GOD GIVEN

• HE BOASTS OF THE THINGS OF GOD

• HE KNOWS THE WILL OF GOD FROM THE PROPHETS

• HE KNOWS WHICH ARE MORE EXCELLENT THINGS, BEING INSTRUCTED OUT OF THE LAW.

THE 2ND 5 ARE WHAT HE DID:

• HE WAS TO BE A GUIDE OF THOSE SPIRITUALLY BLIND

• HE WAS TO BE A LIGHT TO THOSE IN DARKNESS

• HE WAS TO CORRECT THOUGHTLESS & IMMATURE THINGS

• HE WAS TO BE A TEACHER

• HE WAS TO HAVE AN OUTWARD FORM OF KNOWLEDGE 

• AND TRUTH.

PAUL NOW CHALLENGES THE JEWS WITH QUESTIONS ASKING IF THEY ARE DOING THESE THINGS COMMANDED OF GOD FOR HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE TO DO.

HE SAYS ARE THEY DOING THE SAME THINGS THEMSELVES BY COMMITTING SINS AGAINST OTHERS, SINS OF SENSUALITY (SINS AGAINST SELF) OR SINS AGAINST GOD?

HIS TRUE QUESTION IS DO YOU PREACH THESE IMPORTANT GODLY THINGS AND DO YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH?

ALL OF THESE TEACHINGS TOWARD THE JEWS IN THIS CHAPTER ARE TO SHOW THE JEWS THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY THINK THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS SIMPLY FROM BEING JEWS, THEY ARE CONSIDERED SINNERS EXACTLY LIKE THE GENTILES.

TO PROVE THIS POINT PAUL MAKES THIS POINT OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN VERSES 25 & 26:

“For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?”

AND PAUL DRIVES THE POINT EVEN HARDER IN VERSE 29:

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

JEWS WOULD IMMEDIATELY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS TEACHING WAS TAKEN BY PAUL DIRECTLY FROM THE LAW OF MOSES GIVEN IN DEUT 10:16:

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff necked.”

THE TEACHING THAT WE MUST RECEIVE FROM CHAPTER TWO IS THAT INWARD IDENTITY IS MOST TRUE, NOT OUTWARD IDENTITY.

INWARD IDENTITY IS FOUND IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WERE BORN JEW OR GENTILE.

WE REMEMBER THAT JEWS ONCE CAME TO JOHN THE BAPTIST AT THE JORDAN RIVER FOR BAPTISM BUT HE REFUSED THEM SAYING THEY MUST BRING FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE. (MATHEW 3:8)

THEY KNEW ONLY THE PRACTICE OF THE LAW WITHIN THEM AND HAD NOT EVEN KEPT THAT.

THEY HAD NOT REPENTED TOWARD GOD AND BELIEVED IN THE PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH SENT.

JESUS REMINDED US ALL OF THIS FACTOR IN JOHN 1:47 AS HE DESCRIBED NATHANIEL AS A JEW IN WHOM THERE WAS NO GUILE, IDENTIFYING HIM AS A TRUE SPIRITUAL JEW, BECAUSE OF HIS BIRTH IN THE SPIRIT, NOT BECAUSE OF HIS BEING SIMPLY BORN JEWISH.

ALL ARE SINNERS AND ALL ARE IN NEED OF SALVATION.

THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS ON THEIR OWN, NO NOT ONE.

OUR SINFULNESS OF OUR ORIGINAL NATURE REMAINS WITH US EVEN AFTER SALVATION AND RECEIVING OUR NEW SECOND NATURE AS A NEW CREATURE IN CHRIST.

IN THE LAST 15 MINUTES OF OUR RECENT REVIVAL ON FRIDAY NIGHT, TERRY HEAD STEPPED BACKWARD AND GAVE US ONE OF THE GREATEST TEACHINGS OF THE ENTIRE WEEK WHEN HE SAID:

“I am not the good man you think I am.

And you are not the good people I think you are.

We have no righteousness of our own, and if there is any

found among us, it came from Christ”

HIS FINAL TEACHING TO US IN THAT WEEK OF REVIVAL IS EXACTLY WHAT PAUL IS TEACHING IN ROMANS TWO TO THE JEWS.

Romans 3: The Gospel of Grace for the World

Application: The student will identify the need of the gospel as evidence by the description of a sinner.

AFTER OUR STUDY STOPS ON THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE GENTILES AND THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE JEWS, WE NOW COME TO THE EXPANSION OF BOTH AS WE STUDY THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD.

ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL LESSONS ALREADY GIVEN US BY PAUL IN ROMANS IS THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE EQUAL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD IN TERMS OF SALVATION.

BECAUSE OF THAT FACT WE SAW IN CHAPTER TWO THAT THE JEWS WERE NOT CLOSER TO SALVATION THAN THE GENTILES BECAUSE BOTH ARE SINNERS IN THE VIEW OF GOD.

JEWS LOOKED DOWN ON THE GENTILES, THINKING THEM POLLUTED AND UNCLEAN, EVEN CONSIDERING THEM BELOW BOTH SAMARITANS AND DOGS.

THOSE WHO LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS DENY THEIR OWN PERSONAL NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE.

IN CHAPTER THREE, PAUL SHOWS US THAT ALTHOUGH SOME ARE PRIVILEGED, NONE ARE ASSURED OF SALVATION WITHOUT CHRIST AS THEIR ACCEPTED SAVIOR.

NO JEW WAS EVER ABLE TO KEEP THE LAW, EXCEPTING JESUS, AND THEREFORE THEIR NEED FOR GRACE WAS AS CRUCIAL AS THE GENTILES.

BOTH GROUPS ARE BORN IN SIN FROM THE FALL OF THE FIRST ADAM, AND PAUL TEACHES THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR THAT SIN IS REPENTANCE TO CHRIST AND THE NEW BIRTH WHICH COMES ONLY THROUGH GRACE FOUND BY FAITH.

IT CANNOT BE EARNED FOR IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

DAVID TAUGHT US THIS LESSON IN PSALM 51:5 WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WAS BORN IN INIQUITY AND IN SIN DID HIS MOTHER CONCEIVE HIM.

JESUS TAUGHT THE SAME LESSON IN LUKE 18:11 WHEN THE PHARISEE SPOKE TO GOD PRAYING THANKS THAT HE WAS BETTER THAN THE PUBLICAN.

THE PUBLICAN SIMPLY PRAYED : “LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME A SINNER”, AND JESUS SAID IT WAS THE PUBLICAN THAT WENT HOME JUSTIFIED, NOT THE PHARISEE.

PAUL IS UNPACKING THIS VERY NEW AND DIFFERENT CONCEPT IN ROMANS ASSURING THAT ALL ARE IN NEED OF MERCY AND GRACE AND THAT NONE ENTER THE KINGDOM WITHOUT IT.

BECAUSE OF THE FOREVER SIN OF MAN THE WORLD STANDS CONDEMNED AND NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS WITHIN THEMSELVES FOR THE WORLD PRACTICES SIN AND WILL ANSWER TO GOD FOR IT.

PAUL BEGINS CHAPTER 3 WITH A QUESTION WHICH IS WHAT ADVANTAGE HATH THE JEW?

WHAT PROFIT IS THERE OF CIRCUMCISION?

IN VERSE 2 PAUL ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION.

THE ANSWER IS “YES” THE JEWS HAD ADVANTAGES WHICH WERE GOD GIVEN BECAUSE THEY WERE CHOSEN TO RECEIVE THE ORACLES OF GOD.

THESE ORACLES BEGAN WITH THE COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM IN GENESIS 12 AND HE WAS THE FIRST CHOSEN BY GOD TO FATHER THE CHOSEN NATION.

WHAT THE JEWS HAD FORGOTTEN WAS THAT ALONG WITH THE ORACLES GIVEN THEM, COVENANTS AND PROPHETS, CAME ALSO RESPONSIBILITIES.

WE MUST NOT FAIL TO RECALL THAT IN THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE THAT PREDICTS A CHURCH.

WHAT IT DID WAS TO FORESHADOW A KINGDOM IN WHICH THE JEW SHALL BE THE HEAD.

JESUS CLEARLY SPOKE ON THIS MATTER TO THE SAMARITAN WOMAN WHEN HE TOLD HER SALVATION WAS OF THE JEWS. (JOHN 4:22).

IN VERSE 3 PAUL ASSURES THAT JUST BECAUSE SOME DID NOT BELIEVE DOES NOT MEAN THE FAITH OF GOD, EXPRESSED IN HIS GOSPEL, WAS OF NO EFFECT.

THAT UNBELIEF MADE MAN WHO DID NOT BELIEVE TO BE A LIAR AND THERE WOULD BE JUDGEMENT OF THAT LIE AND THE JUDGMENT WOULD BE HARSH.

PAUL THEN ASKS IF GOD IS UNRIGHTEOUS FOR THAT CONSEQUENCE? THE ANSWER IS NO BECAUSE THAT IS HOW GOD SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD.

GOD IS NOT UNJUST IN JUDGMENT BECAUSE MAN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF FAITH AND REJECTED IT WHEN HE DID NOT ACCEPT THE MESSIAH SENT.

IN VERSE 8 PAUL MAKES SURE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE WHO DO EVIL SO THAT GOOD MAY COME FROM IT ARE JUSTLY UNDER DAMNATION.

HERE IN VERSE 9 PAUL MAKES SURE THAT THE ROMAN CHURCH UNDERSTOOD THAT ALL MEANT ALL, AS HE SAYS BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES ARE ALL UNDER SIN.

VERSE 10 IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST REVIVAL QUOTATIONS:

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”

IN VERSES 11 & 12 HE DRIVES THE POINT EVEN FURTHER BY TEACHING THAT NONE UNDERSTANDS AND SEEK AFTER GOD, NOR NONE DOES ANY GOOD, NO, NOT ONE.

PAUL CANNOT LET THIS TEACHING REST AND GOES TO MUCH GREATER LENGTHS TO MAKE HIS POINT IN 13-19:

“Their throat is an open sepulchre

Their tongues are deceitful

Serpent poison is under their lips

Their mouth is full of cursing

Those same mouths are filled with bitterness

Their feet are swift to shed blood

Their ways are destruction and misery

They know not the way of peace

There is no fear of God before their eyes  

All the world is guilty before God

TO BE EXTRA SURE NO JEW MAY THINK THAT THESE AWFUL CONDEMNATIONS REFER ONLY TO GENTILES, PAUL ALLOWS NO EXCEPTION TO BE SEEN FOR JEWS.

VERSE 20 IS THE CROWNING JEWEL OF THESE DAMNING ACCUSATIONS:

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

RATHER THAN PROVIDE SALVATION FOR MAN, THE LAW REVEALS MAN TO BE A SINNER.

HAVING DAMNED BOTH GENTILE AND JEW IN TERMS OF BOTH BEING IDENTICAL SINNERS BEFORE GOD, PAUL NOW FINALLY COMES TO HIS FINEST POINT IN VERSE 21:

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets.”

LATER IN 2ND COR 5:21 PAUL WILL ELABORATE THIS POINT AND SAY THAT GOD MADE JESUS WHO KNEW NO SIN TO BE MADE SIN FOR US THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE RIGHTEOUS.

THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS APART FROM THE LAW.

IMPERFECT MAN CANNOT KEEP THE LAW AS NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS THEREFORE NONE ARE JUSTIFIED BY IT.

ISAIAH 56 HAS PROVIDED THIS SAME TRUTH BY TEACHING THAT GOD LAID ON JESUS THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.

WE NOTICE THE PROPHET DID NOT SAY THE INIQUITY OF THE GENTILES OR THE INIQUITY OF THE JEWS.

HE SAID THE INIQUITY OF US ALL.

VERSES 22 & 23 EXPLAIN THAT THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVEN TO US IS BY THE FAITH OF JESUS AND COMES UPON ALL WHO BELIEVE.

ALL WHO BELIEVE PROVES WE ARE ALL EQUAL IN FAITH  AND PAUL SAYS THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.

ALL REDEMPTION IS ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS.

GOD HAS SET HIM FORTH TO BE THE PAYMENT FOR THE REMISSION OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD AND VERSE 25-26 TEACHES THAT THEREFORE OUR BELIEF IN HIM IS OUR JUSTIFIER. (ACTS 10:43)

VERSE 28 & 29 BEGIN PAUL’S SUMMARY BY SAYING THAT A MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH WITHOUT THE DEEDS OF THE LAW AND THAT GOD IS NOT THE GOD OF THE JEWS ONLY BUT ALSO OF THE GENTILES.

THERE IS ONE GOD WHO JUSTIFIES BOTH THROUGH FAITH AND BY THAT FACT THE LAW IS FULLY ESTABLISHED.

WE SEE BY THIS TEACHING THAT THE GOSPEL OF GRACE IS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.

PAUL KNEW THAT MANY OF THE JEWS THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS RIGHT WITH GOD  BY THEIR WORKS IN THE LAW OF MOSES AND BY THEIR BEING BLOOD CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM.

THEY PRIDEFULLY CONSIDERED THEMSELVES TO BE CLOSER TO GOD THAT ANY GENTILES WHO THEY THOUGHT OF AS HEATHEN AND GODLESS.

PAUL SHOWS IN CHAPTER 3 THAT EVEN THOUGH THE JEWS DID INDEED HAD SOME PRIVILEGES, THEY EQUALLY FELL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, EXACTLY AS DID THE GENTILES.

NO MAN WAS RIGHTEOUS WITHIN HIMSELF, NEITHER JEW NOR GENTILE.

NONE DID GOOD, NO NOT ONE.

ALL ARE UNDER SIN AND THEREFORE UNDER CONDEMNATION.

BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WAS JUSTIFIED.

BEING JUST BEFORE GOD, THEREFORE, IS NOT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, BUT BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.

AS JESUS TAUGHT IN JOHN 3:18:

“Those who believe have eternal life and those that do not are condemned already.”

WE KNOW THAT NICODEMUS CAME TO BELIEVE THROUGH THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD FOR WHEN THE BODY OF JESUS NEEDED TO BE SOUGHT AND PREPARED AND BURIED, HE, WITH JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, WERE THE TWO WHO DID SO.

SO HOW MAY WE SUMMARIZE ALL THAT PAUL IS TEACHING US ABOUT THIS COMPLETE CHANGE IN HOW MANKIND RELATES TO GOD?

WE SUMMARIZE BY SHOWING HOW GOD HAS UNFOLDED HIS OWN PLAN FOR THE CROWN OF HIS CREATION, WHICH IS MAN, CREATED ON THE 6TH DAY AFTER ALL OTHER CREATION AND THE ONLY PART OF HIS CREATION HE TERMED “VERY GOOD”.

WE FIND GOD’S PLAN BEST DESCRIBED IN THE 2ND CHAPTER OF THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS:

EPHESUS CHAPTER 2:

14: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.”

17: “And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

18: “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

SO BY THE LAMB SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, GOD KNEW AND PLANNED HOW HE WOULD RECONCILE MANKIND TO HIMSELF AND HE HAS REVEALED HIS FOREVER PLAN THROUGH HIS WORD TO ALL WHO WILL READ, LISTEN, AND OBEY.

THIS PLAN WAS ALWAYS AND STILL IS:

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE WHOLE WORLD.

NEXT WE WILL SEE HOW HE REVEALED THE ACTUAL WORKING OF HIS PLAN AND HOW WE GAIN PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE.

Romans 4: The Gospel of Grace & Justification

Application: The student will give examples of a life that has been justified by faith.

PAUL’S TEACHING FOR US IN HIS FIRST THREE CHAPTERS IS THAT EVERY HUMAN STOOD GUILTY BEFORE GOD AND THAT THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS IN THEMSELVES, NO, NOT ONE.

SINCE THE GARDEN, ALL HAVE INHERITED A NATURE OF SIN AND THEREFORE CANNOT OVERCOME THAT SIN BY THEIR OWN WORKS TO STAND FREELY BEFORE GOD TO ESCAPE HIS WRATH.

VERSE 3:23-24 SHOWS US THE PLAN OF GOD ALLOWING THOSE WHO BELIEVE TO STAND AS CHANGED CREATURES BEFORE THE LORD BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS, NOT BY ANY POSSIBLE EFFORT BY OURSELVES.

VERSE 24 CLEARLY TEACHES US THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE REDEEMED ONLY BY THE ATONING PRICE PAID IN FULL FOR EACH SINNER WHO REPENTS IN FAITH TO THE ONE SENT BY THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

ONLY BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ARE SINS REMITTED.

PAUL PREPARED HIS TEACHING CAREFULLY BY EXPLAINING THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR GENTILES, THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR JEWS, & THE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR THE WORLD.

THE BASIS OF THOSE TEACHINGS IS THAT ALL MEN ARE SINFUL CREATURES BY NATURE AND ALL MUST WALK THE NARROW PATHWAY IN FAITH FOR SALVATION AND NONE MAY COME TO JESUS CHRIST IN FAITH UNLESS THE HEAVENLY FATHER FIRST DRAW HIM. (JN 6:44)

ALL DOES NOT MEAN SOME – ALL MEANS ALL.

THE 30TH VERSE OF CHAPTER 3 MAKES CLEAR THAT BOTH THE CIRCUMCISION & UNCIRCUMCISION (JEW & GENTILE) WILL BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

IT IS BY THIS PROCESS THAT JESUS BRINGS US TO ETERNAL LIFE WHEN & ONLY WHEN WE BELIEVE AND ARE GIVEN THE NEARNESS OF GOD THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT GIFTED TO US.

IT IS BY THIS PROCESS THAT WE RECEIVE AND UNDERSTAND GOD’S LOVE FOR US AND IT IS ONLY BY THIS PROCESS THAT THE BELIEVER ESCAPES THE WRATH OF GOD

WHICH CONDEMNS ALL WHO DO NOT BELIEVE. (JN 3:18)

THERE IS NO OTHER MEANS BY WHICH OUR SIN DEBT MAY BE FORGIVEN.

PAUL NOW CHOOSES IN CHAPTER 4 TO GIVE TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS CONCEPT OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE.

THESE TWO EXAMPLES WOULD BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY ALL JEWS AND LIKELY ALSO UNDERSTOOD BY GENTILES ALIKE.

THESE TWO ARE ABRAHAM & DAVID.

ABRAHAM WAS CHOSEN BY GOD LONG BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN AND DAVID, WHO WAS UNDER THE LAW, WHICH DAVID CLEARLY EXPLAINED BY HIS OWN WRITING THAT GOD’S WORK IN MANKIND WAS GRACIOUS.

VERSE ONE BEGINS THIS TEACHING WITH A MOST CAREFUL DETAIL SHOWING THAT ABRAHAM IS CONSIDERED BECAUSE HIS LIFE PERTAINED TO THE FLESH.

ABRAHAM IS INTRODUCED AS “OUR FATHER” REVEALING THAT THE NATION OF ISRAEL BEGAN WITH HIM.

THE STORIES OF ABRAHAM ARE GIVEN US TO SHOW THAT IN THE FLESH ABRAHAM SINNED BUT REMAINED UNDER GOD’S PROTECTION REGARDLESS.

IF HE HAD BEEN JUSTIFIED BY HIS WORKS, HE MAY HAVE FOUND SOME GLORY, BUT NOT BEFORE GOD, ONLY BEFORE MAN.

PAUL REMINDS IN VERSE 3 THAT ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

(GENESIS 15)

ABRAHAM WAS CHOSEN BY GOD NOT BECAUSE HE BELIEVED BUT BELIEVED BECAUSE HE WAS CHOSEN.

HIS CHOOSING IS GIVEN IN GENESIS 12, BEFORE HE CAME TO BELIEVE GOD.

IN GENESIS 15:2 ABRAHAM ASKS GOD A QUESTION WHICH IS WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME SEEING THAT I AM CHILDLESS?

THE ANSWER WAS GOD’S PROMISE THAT HIS SEED WOULD BE SO NUMEROUS THAT THEY WOULD BE AS THE STARS.

ABRAHAM TOOK THAT PROMISE AND HE RESTED IN IT FOR ALL HIS DAYS.

HE REMEMBERED IT WHEN HE WAS TOLD TO OFFER UP ISAAC FOR IF GOD’S PROMISE WAS TRUE, EVEN IF ISAAC DIED, GOD WOULD RAISE HIM AGAIN BECAUSE OF THAT PROMISE.

ABRAHAM’S FAITH WAS NOT A WORK NOR AN ACTION BY HIM, BUT SIMPLY AN ATTITUDE OF LIFE AS HIS HEART WAS TURNED AWAY FROM HIMSELF AND TOWARD GOD.

GOD HAD COUNTED ABRAHAM’S HEART AND RECKONED IT CORRECT, THEREBY IMPUTING TO HIM THE LORD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH AS TAUGHT IN VERSE 5.

ACCORDING TO GOD’S WISDOM GIVEN TO PAUL, NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE.

THEREFORE FAITH IS THE ONLY CONDITION GOD ACCEPTS WHICH ARE IN PLACE OF WORKS.

THERE IS NO MERIT IN FAITH BUT IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD FREELY OFFERS.

FAITH HONORS GOD AND SECURES RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR MAN.

GOD CREDITED THE ACCOUNT OF ABRAHAM IN THIS MOMENT OF BELIEVING.

NEXT PAUL EXTENDS HIS TEACHING ON THIS IMPORTANT MATTER BY USING THE EXAMPLE OF DAVID.

VERSE 6 INTRODUCES DAVID BY STATING THAT DAVID DESCRIBED THE BLESSEDNESS OF MAN UNTO WHOM GOD IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS, WITHOUT WORKS.

DAVID LIVED UNDER THE LAW WHICH ARRIVED 400 YEARS AFTER ABRAHAM.

HOWEVER, DAVID COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE LAW, FOR WE KNOW THAT BY THE LAW IS NO FLESH JUSTIFIED. (ROMANS 3:20)

PAUL QUOTES PSALM 32: VERSE 1&2. THIS IS ONE OF DAVID’S TWO GREAT PSALMS OF FORGIVENESS, ALONG WITH PSALM 51.

HERE PAUL REMINDS THAT DAVID TEACHES OF THE FORGIVING OF INIQUITIES, BLESSINGS GIVEN BY THE COVERING OF SINS.

INIQUITIES MEANS LAWLESSNESS.

DAVID DELIBERATLEY BROKE THE LAW.

HE DID NOT DO IT OUT OF IGNORANCE. HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING AND DID IT ANYWAY.

HE WAS FORGIVEN AND WROTE THIS TRUTH IN BOTH PSALM 32 & 51.

THIS WAS A DEFINITE ACT BY GOD AND WAS A COMPLETE ACT OF REMISSION POINTING FORWARD BY GOD OF THE COVERING OF SIN THAT WOULD ARRIVE WHEN THE LORD WAS INCARNATED IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH.

DAVID WAS A GREAT SINNER AND GOD PUT AWAY THE SIN OF DAVID FULLY.

GOD’S PROPHET NATHAN SO STATED IN 2ND SAMUEL 12:13:

“The Lord hath also put away thy sin, thou shalt not die…’

DAVID WAS SEVERLY CHASTENED BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT SIN.

FOUR OF HIS CHILDREN WERE TAKEN IN DEATH, THE BABY OF BATHSHEBA, AMNON HIS FIRSTBORN, ABSALOM, AND ADONIJAH.

SORROW WENT WITH DAVID ALL THE DAYS OF HIS LIFE BUT HIS GUILT WAS NOT PLACED UPON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.

THE JOY OF SALVATION WAS RETURNED TO HIM AS HIS PERSONAL SINS WERE COVERED, AND HE KNEW IT AND WROTE OF IT.

DAVID WAS A JEW AND ONLY WERE THE JEWS UNDER THE LAW, THEREFORE ONLY THE CIRCUMCISION FOUND THIS JOY WHILE UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES.

FOR THIS REASON, PAUL NOW RETURNS TO THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM TO COMPLETE THE TEACHING.

ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN AND WAS JUSTIFIED BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED.

VERSE 10 SAYS “HOW WAS IT RECKONED?”

GOD MADE A PROMISE TO HIM AND HE BELIEVED GOD LONG BEFORE THERE WAS ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT MADE AT ALL BETWEEN ABRAHAM & GOD, OTHER THAN GOD SAID WHAT HE WOULD DO AND LATER DID IT.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN THE FULLY NAKED PROMISE OF GOD AND IN VERSES 11-13 PAUL SAYS BECAUSE OF THAT FAITH BOTH THOSE WHO ARE JEWS AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT CAN WALK IN THE STEPS OF THE FAITH OF OUR FATHER ABRAHAM.

IN VERSE 16 PAUL REVEALS THE FINAL TRUTH WHICH IS THAT THEREFORE IT IS OF FAITH THAT IT MIGHT BE OF GRACE.

GOD SAVED ABRAHAM BY FAITH ALONE.

PAUL NOW SHOWS THAT ABRAHAM ALSO CAME TO BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION TO COME.

PAUL SAYS ABRAHAM CONSIDERED HIS OWN BODY NOT DEAD AS HE WAS ABOUT 100 YEARS OLD NOR DID HE CONSIDER THE WOMB OF SARAH AS DEAD.

HE BELIEVED IN THE PROMISE OF GOD TO PROVIDE A CHILD EVEN AT HIS ADVANCED AGE AND SARAH ALSO.

IN VERSE 21 PAUL SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ABRAHAM WERE DOUBTFUL IN MAN’S EYES, THAT GOD HAD MADE A PROMISE AND WAS ABLE TO PERFORM IT.

HE WAS SAID TO BE “FULLY PERSUADED”.

HE BELIEVED BOTH HIS BODY AND THE BODY OF SARAH WOULD BE RESURRECTED IN THE PROMISE OF GOD AND THEY WERE.

THAT FAITH IN GOD IS TAUGHT IN VERSE 22 BROUGHT FURTHER IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS.

OUR FINAL LESSON HERE IS FOUND IN VERSES 23-24 TEACHING US THAT THIS IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS TO HIM WAS NOT WRITTEN FOR HIM ALONE.

BUT IT WAS WRITTEN FOR US ALSO, TO TEACH US THAT SUCH RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL BE IMPUTED TO US AS WELL IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD.

THE BODY OF ABRAHAM COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AS DEAD PHYSICALLY AND THE WOMB OF SARAH WAS AS A TOMB AS SHE WAS FAR BEYOND THE TIME OF CONCEPTION.

BUT OUT OF BOTH OF THOSE BODIES CAME LIFE, JUST AS GOD PROMISED, AND JUST AS HE PERFORMED AGAIN AS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE TOMB OF DEATH.

VERSE 25 FINALIZES THIS TEACHING SHOWING US THAT JESUS WAS DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES (OUR SIN) AND WAS RAISED AGAIN FOR OUR JUSTIFICATION.

1400 YEARS LATER MARTIN LUTHER USED THIS TEACHING TO PREPARE HIS STAND AGAINST THE POWER OF THE ROMAN CHURCH AS HE BEGAN THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION UNDER WHICH WE STAND TODAY.

HE STATED HIS CASE BASED UPON WHAT ARE CALLED HIS  FIVE SOLAS:

• SOLA FIDE - SAVED BY FAITH ALONE

• SOLA SCRIPTURA - BELIEF IN SCRIPTURE ALONE

• SOLUS CHISTUS - BELIEF IN CHRIST ALONE AS SAVIOR

• SOLA GRATIS - CHRIST SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

• SOLI DEO GLORIA - SAVED ONLY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

THE ENTIRE PROTESTANT CHURCH WAS FOUNDED AND STILL STANDS UPON THE TEACHING OF PAUL IN ROMANS AND BEGAN WITH THE GOSPEL OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE GIVEN IN OUR STUDY STOP TODAY.

Romans 5-6: The Gospel of Grace & Sanctification

Application: The student will model the life of a devoted servant of the true God.

AFTER OUR JUSTIFICATION THROUGH OUR SALVATION INTO THE KINGDOM WE BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE THE HOLY PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION.

THAT LIFE LONG PROCESS IS THE BENDING OF THE HUMAN WILL CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE DIVINE WILL.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE BUT HAVING BEEN CHANGED INTO A NEW CREATURE, WE ALSO NOW HAVE THE VITALITY OF SPIRIT TO WAGE WAR AGAINST SIN.

HAVING EXCHANGED OUR SIN FOR IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE NOW CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL EXCHANGE.

WE ARE PROGRESSIVELY CONFORMED TOWARD THE IMAGE OF CHRIST WHILE PROGRESSIVELY PURGING THE SINFUL TENDENCIES THAT CAN DIMINSH THE JOY OF THE NEW LIFE AFTER THE NEW BIRTH.

IN THE TIME OF JUSTIFICATION, GOD’S WORK IS MOST SEEN.

IN THE TIME OF SANCTIFICATION THE WORK OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIAN IS SEEN AIDED BY THE DIVINE GIFT OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS IS A LONG, SWEATY, BLOODY, AND IRRECONCIBLE WAR WITH SIN UNTIL WE BREATHE OUR LAST BREATH.

SINFUL MAN CANNOT ENTER THIS WAR ALONE. THIS WAR IS FOUGHT ONLY BY THOSE SAVED BY GRACE.

SIN HAS NOT LEFT US AFTER OUR SALVATION. 

WE BECOME CREATURES WITH TWO NATURES, NOT ONE.

WE BECOME A NEW CREATURE IN GOD AS HIS CHILD AND WE ARE GRANTED CERTAIN BENEFITS BY HIM THAT ALLOW US TO WAGE THE WAR OF LIFE AGAINST OUR ORIGINAL SINFUL NATURE.

THESE ARE:

• PEACE WITH GOD (5:1)

• ACCESS BY FAITH (5:2)

• HOPE (5:3-4) 

• LOVE OF GOD (5:5)

• STRENGTH (5:6)

PAUL BEGINS VERSE 12 WITH THE WORD “WHEREFORE” MEANING BECAUSE OF WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE.

HE TAUGHT THAT ADAM CHOSE WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE

AND BECAUSE OF THAT CHOICE, ALL WHO CAME FROM ADAM ARE BORN AS SINFUL BEINGS, EXCEPT JESUS.

DEATH BECAME THE PROMISED RESULT OF SIN.

SPIRITUAL DEATH CAME FIRST BUT MORTAL DEATH FOLLOWED AND ALL WHO CAME AFTER HIM (EXCEPT JESUS) ARE DEAD BOTH WAYS.

PAUL IS STRONGLY CLEAR THAT BEFORE OUR REGENERATION WE ARE DEAD IN OUR TRESPASSES AND SIN. (EPHESIANS 2:1)

BUT WE WERE CHOSEN IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD TO BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE. (EPHESIANS 1:4)

IN VERSES 13 & 14 PAUL INSISTS THAT MAN UNDERSTAND THAT SIN AND DEATH WERE PRESENT IN MAN BEFORE AND WITHOUT THE LAW.

SIN WAS NOT IMPUTED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE LAW.

OUR SIN NATURE IS COMPLETE FROM BIRTH, UNLIKE ADAM, WHO WAS CREATED IN INNOCENCE BUT CHOSE TO ENTER INTO SIN.

ALL OF HIS DESCENDANTS DID NOT BEGIN IN INNOCENCE BUT WERE BORN INTO SIN.

HOWEVER BOTH CHOSE TO CONTINUE IN SIN IN LIFE AND THEREBY BY THAT CHOICE COME TO MORTAL DEATH.

VERSES 15-17  BEGINS TO EXPLORE OUR ONLY HOPE WHICH IS THE FREE GIFT TO ALL WHO BELIEVE OF HIS GRACE GIVEN THROUGH HIS MESSIAH SENT TO PAY SIN’S DEBT.

ADAM’S SIN BROUGHT CONDEMNATION UPON MANKIND ALONG WITH SPIRITUAL & MORTAL DEATH BUT JESUS CHRIST BROUGHT THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE BY JUSTIFICATION AND THEREFORE SALVATION FOR BELIEVERS.

AFTER SALVATION, DEATH & SIN NO LONGER REIGN IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER BUT ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS WITH FAITH AND NEVER ENDS.

THEREFORE GRACE IS SUPERIOR TO SIN & DEATH AS PAUL TEACHES IN VERSES 18-21.

NOT ONE CHILD OF ADAM IS WITHOUT THE SIN NATURE OR THE CONDEMNATION CAUSED BY THAT NATURE.

ALL HAVE SINNED AND ARE GUILTY BEFORE GOD.

IN FULL OPPOSITION TO THAT CONDEMNATION, PAUL OFFERS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.

BECAUSE THIS FREE GIFT IS BASED ON HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE BELIEVER MAY STAND JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD AS IT HAS BEEN IMPUTED BY FAITH.

GRACE IS FURTHER SUPERIOR BY ITS OBEDIENCE.

ADAM WAS GIVEN ONE COMMAND AND HE DISOBEYED IT AND THE CONSEQUENCE WAS AWFUL AND ETERNAL.

CHRIST CAME TO US IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH AND WAS FULLY OBEDIENT TO THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.

HE SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE SINFUL HANDS OF MEN AND WILLINGLY ALLOWED THEM TO CRUCIFY HIM SO THAT DEATH & SIN WERE CONQUERED WITH VISIBLE EVIDENCE.

PAUL’S TEACHING NOW BECOMES CLEAR.

THROUGH THE SIN OF ADAM SIN REIGNS OVER HUMANITY AND WE HAVE NO CHOICE IN WHETHER OR NOT WE INHERIT THE SIN NATURE.

EACH OF US HOWEVER DOES HAVE A CHOICE AS TO WHETHER WE WILL SUBMIT OUR HEARTS TO SIN AND FOLLOW THE SINFUL WAYS OF THE FLESH.

SIN IS REAL AND CANNOT BE DENIED BUT THAT SIN NATURE SHOULD NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER US BECAUSE WE HAVE A MEANS OF ESCAPE.

AS EVERY BELIEVER BECOMES BORN AGAIN BY FAITH IN CHRIST AND THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLS, GRACE THEN REIGNS OVER THAT HEART.

THAT CHANGE IS ONLY FOUND IN THE DRAWING OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. (JN 6:44)

AND NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER FOR ETERNAL LIFE EXCEPT THROUGH HIS SON SENT FOR THAT EXPRESS PURPOSE. (JN 14:6)

FURTHER ALL THAT ARE GIVEN TO JESUS SHALL COME TO HIM FOR LIFE. (JN 6:37)

BECAUSE OF THOSE TRUTHS PAUL TEACHES US IN CHAPTER 6 OF THE NEWNESS IN CHRIST IN VERSES 1-7.

IN VERSE 1&2 WE ARE TAUGHT THAT WE HAVE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.

BECAUSE OF THAT GIFT WE ARE TO NO LONGER PURSUE THE OLD LIFE OF OUR SIN NATURE.

WE SHOULD SEEK AND CHOOSE A LIFE THAT BRINGS US CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE LORD AS WE LIVE IT.

IN 8:29 WE WILL SEE THE TEACHING THAT GOD DOES HIMSELF COMFORM US TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.

IN VERSES 3&4 WE ARE TO WALK IN CHRIST AS WE LIVE.

IN 1ST COR 1:2 PAUL TEACHES US THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE SAINTS, MEANING TO BE SANCTIFIED ONES, LIVING MORE LIKE CHRIST.

IN EPHESIANS 4:1-3 PAUL TEACHES THIS PROCESS IS PROGRESSIVE IN THE LIFE OF EACH BELIEVER.

OUR WATER BAPTISM INDICATES OUR WILLINGNESS TO EXPRESS OUR OBEDIENCE TOWARD THIS GOAL.

FULL IMMERISION REPRESENTS OUR DEATH TOWARD THE POWER OF SIN AND OUR CLEAN EFFORTS TO THE POWER OF GRACE WITHIN US.

IN VERSES 5-14 PAUL ASSURES US THAT WE HAVE A NEW MASTER IN CHRIST.

THE “OLD MAN” MENTIONED IN VERSE 6 REFERS TO THE OLD SIN NATURE WE HAD BEFORE WE WERE SAVED.

THE POWER OF THAT CONDEMNATION HAD BEEN PUT TO DEATH, CRUCIFIED, IN CHRIST AND NO LONGER CAN CONDEMN THE BELIEVER.

VERSE 7 TEACHES THAT WE ARE THEREFORE “FREE” FROM OUR OLD MASTER OF SIN AND ARE SERVING A NEW MASTER IN CHRIST.

WE HAVE BEEN “QUICKENED” OR MADE ALIVE TO LIVE IN THE NEW MASTER WHO GIVES THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT OUR CHOICES SHOULD BE FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR MORTAL LIVES.

WE ARE NOW “ALIVE UNTO GOD” AND ARE “DEAD UNTO SIN’.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN WE HAVE ESCAPED ALL SIN BUT MEANS THAT WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES ONCE MORE YIELDING TO SIN WE HAVE A PATH TO FORGIVENESS, WHICH IS REPENTANCE THROUGH FULL CONFESSION.

HERE IS THE BEST WITNESS WE HAVE TO ONE WHO IS LOST AND HAS NO SUCH OPPORTUNITY IN HIS SPIRIT. HIS SIN REMAINS FOREVER UNLESS HE COMES TO CHRIST.

IN VERSES 12-14 PAUL NOW TEACHES US THAT WE ARE TO YIELD OURSELVES UNTO CHRIST AS WE STOP YIELDING OURSELVES TO OUR OLD PREVIOUS NATURE.

LATER IN ROMANS 12 PAUL WILL FURTHER EXPLAIN THAT WE ARE TO MAKE OURSELVES “LIVING SACRIFICES” TO THE LORD.

WE ARE TO NO LONGER ALLOW SIN TO CONTROL US OR HAVE ANY DOMINION OVER US.

TOOLS ARE GIVEN US IN EPHESIANS 6 TO HELP US TO DO SO.

OUR FREEDOM FROM RULES AND THE LAW OF MAN IS GRANTED AS WE YIELD OURSELVES UNDER GRACE IN OUR NEWNESS OF LIFE.

IN VERSES 15-19 OUR TEACHING IS THAT WE ARE TO BECOME SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOT LET GRACE BE AN EXCUSE TO ONCE AGAIN DWELL IN SIN BECAUSE WE ARE SAVED.

SUCH DISOBEDIENCE BY THOSE SAVED WHEN THEY ARE UNDER GRACE IS DISALLOWED.

PAUL SAW THIS VERY ACTIVITY IN THE CHURCH IN CORINTH AND HE STRONGLY CONDEMNED IT. (1ST COR 3:1)

OUR CHOICE SHOULD BE OF SERVICE TO GOD NOT SIN, AND OUR FREEDOM GIVEN US TO DO SO IS ONE OF THE MAIN BLESSINGS OF SALVATION.

OUR CHOICES BECOME MORE HOLY AS WE ARE MORE SANCTIFIED.

WE DO NOT BECOME LESS FREE IN LIFE AS WE ARE SANCTIFIED, BUT ACTUALLY MORE FREE AS WE SHED THE OLD NATURE MORE AND MORE.

SOLOMON SAID IN ECC 12:8 THAT AS HE REFLECTED ON ALL THE SINS OF HIS FLESH IN HIS LIFE HE FOUND ALL THAT PORTION OF HIS LIFE TO BE FREE OF MEANING, AND HE CALLED IT VANITY.

IN VERSES 22-23 PAUL TEACHES THAT THE NEWNESS OF LIFE GIVEN TO BELIEVERS BRINGS FRUIT AND THAT FRUIT WOULD PRODUCE HOLINESS & GODLY CONSECRATION.

PAUL REMINDS HERE THAT THERE WAS ALSO FRUIT FROM SINFUL LIVES AS HE WRITES WHAT HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST QUOTED VERSES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

DO WE NOTICE HERE THAT THIS POWERFUL VERSE ALLOWS A GREAT TRUTH WITHOUT REVEALING WHO WILL DO THE DYING?  

JESUS EARNED HIS POSITION AS OUR LORD THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS IN REDEEMING EACH BELIEVER BY HIS BLOOD.

THE FATHER HAS EXALTED HIM AFTER THAT LONG PLANNED MOMENT AND HE IS THEREBY LORD OF ALL LORDS.

AFTER SALVATION, GOD CALLS HIS CHILDREN TO BEGIN A JOURNEY IN LIFE OF CONFORMING TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH DAILY SANCTIFICATION.

THE FLESH WILL HINDER THE BELIEVER BUT THE BELIEVER CAN LIVE A LIFE OF GOD ACCEPTANCE BY WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND NOT IN THE FLESH.

BELIEVERS ALSO HAVE THE WONDERFUL HOPE OF THE COMPLETION OF THE REDEMPTIVE PLAN OF GOD AFTER MORTAL LIFE.

THAT HOPE SUSTAINS US HERE AS OUR WILLS BECOME MORE AND MORE BENT TOWARD THE DIVINE WILL FOR OUR LIVES.

Romans 7-8: The Gospel of Grace & the Law

ROMANS 7 & 8:1-13

Application: The student will praise God for salvation and walk after the Spirit.

IN THIS STUDY STOP PAUL ASSURES US BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE THAT MANKIND IS UNABLE TO OBEY THE LAW BECAUSE WE ARE INCAPABLE OF OVERCOMING OUR FLESH.

PAUL EXPLAINS THE FRUSTRATION THAT COMES WHEN WE CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AND FIND THAT WE MUST FACE THE FACT THAT WE ARE BY NATURE SINFUL CREATURES.

AFTER ESTABLISHING THIS FACT HE PROVIDES US THE PATHWAY GIVEN BY THE LORD IN HIS GRACE TO ALLOW US TO FOCUS ON THE PATHWAY TO A BETTER LIFE.

PAUL REQUIRES OF US THAT WE RECOGNIZE CERTAIN MATTERS TO FIND THAT PATHWAY.

GOD HAS FREED US FROM CONDEMNATION.

HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM BOTH SPIRITUAL AND MORTAL DEATH.

HE HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT AS OUR LIFELONG GUIDE AFTER SALVATION & JUSTIFICATION AND THAT SPIRIT INDWELLS US THROUGHOUT OUR LIFELONG SANCTIFICATION.

THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST ARE FOREVER SEALED IN HIM AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE IN HIM AT THE MOMENT OF BELIEVING.    (JN 3:18)

THAT MOMENT FOREVER REMOVES US FROM CONDEMNATION AND MAKES US ETERNALLY SECURE BECAUSE GOD HAS DECLARED US RIGHTEOUS BY IMPUTING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR SIN.

NOT ONLY THAT BUT WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER SIN’S CONTROL AS SIN ONLY HAS POWER OVER US WHEN WE ALLOW IT TO OVERPOWER US.

THE WEIGHT OF SIN HAS BEEN REMOVED BY JESUS AND THEREFORE WE ARE FREE IN HIM.

THERE IS NO GREATER FREEDOM.

IN CHAPTER 7 VERSES 1-6 WE ARE SHOWN THE BELIEVER’S RELEASE FROM THE LAW.

PAUL USES THE DESCRIPTION OF A WOMAN WHO HAS BECOME A WIDOW AND IS THEREFORE NO LONGER TIED LEGALLY TO HER FORMER HUSBAND.

IN CHAPTER 6 PAUL TAUGHT THAT WE HAD DIED TO SIN AND NOW HE TEACHES THAT WE ARE DEAD TO THE LAW.

THIS IS A POWERFUL TEACHING TO ANY JEWS WHO MAY BE A PART OF THE ROMAN CHURCH.

HERE PAUL SAYS THE OLD WAY IS “OF THE LETTER” WHICH WAS MOST DIFFICULT UNDER THE LAW BUT NOW THE NEW WAY IS “NEWNESS OF SPIRIT” AND IS FRESH AND SWEET IN LOVE.

IN VERSE 7 PAUL REMINDS THAT ALTHOUGH HE IS TEACHING FREEDOM FROM THE LAW, HE REMINDS READERS THAT THE LAW DID INDEED REVEAL SIN.

HE GOES FURTHER TO REVEAL HIS OWN SIN SHOWN TO HIM BY THE LAW.

HE HAD TOLD THE PEOPLE AT PHILLIPI THAT HE WAS BLAMLESS UNDER THE LAW BUT HIDDEN AWAY IN HIS HEART WAS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE WAS HIMSELF COVETING, A STRONG SIN, AND A PART OF THE ORIGINAL 10 COMMANDS.

VERSES 8-13 SHOW US EXPLAINS THAT BELIEVERS ARE MADE FREE FROM THE LAW AS THEY ARE UNDER GRACE BUT WHEN THE LAW STILL REVEALS SIN, EVERY BELIEVER MUST DEAL WITH IT.

HE VIEWS THE LAW AS HOLY AND GOOD BECAUSE IT DOES REVEAL SIN AND FORCES AN HONEST BELIEVER TO ACKNOWLEDGE SIN AND TO REPENT OF IT.

IN VERSES 14-23 HE FURTHER REVEALS TO US THE RELATION OF THE BELIEVER TO THE LAW AND HE DESCRIBES IT AS A BATTLE EVER RAGING.

PAUL HIMSELF IS LONGING FOR SOME KIND OF RELEASE FROM THE “LAW OF SIN WHICH IS IN MY MEMBERS”.

HE THANKS GOD THROUGH CHRIST FOR DELIVERANCE BUT ADMITS THAT IN HIS MIND HE SERVES THE LAW OF GOD WHILE IN HIS FLESH HE SERVES THE LAW OF SIN.

HE ASKS HOW HE MAY BE DELIVERED.

HE ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION BY TEACHING THAT IT WILL BE “THROUGH JESUS CHRIST”.

THIS WAR IS NOT OVER, AND WE ARE NOT PREDESTINED TO LOSE IT EVEN THOUGH WE DO LOSE SOME BATTLES WHILE IN COMBAT AGAINST OUR SIN.

VERSE 19 ALLOWS US POSSIBLY THE TRUEST CONFESSION EVER GIVEN BY PAUL:

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do”.

HIS HONESTY IS TO BE ADMIRED THAT EVERY BELIEVER IS SINFUL. HE WROTE THAT LINE TO QUICKLY REMIND US OF OURSELVES AND OUR SECRET BATTLE WITHIN US.

SCRIPTURALLY PAUL IS NOT THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF SUCH HUMBLE HONESTY.

HE JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE LAST ONE TO SO ADMIT WHAT WE ALL KNOW, THAT EACH OF US FALLS SHORT OF THE STANDARD OF GOD, UNABLE TO RISE OFF OUR KNEES BEFORE HIM AND TO STAND UNLESS JESUS IS STANDING FOR EACH SINNER AS MEDIATOR.

LET US TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO REVIEW OTHER PATRIARCHS WHO HAVE ALSO REVEALED THEIR BATTLES TO US:

When Abraham walked with the Lord he said, “Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak to the Lord, and am but dust and ashes.” (GEN 18:27) 

When Job came face to face with God , he said, “Behold I am vile”, 

(JOB 40:4) and later again said, “I abhor myself”. (JOB 42:6)

When Isaiah entered the divine presence of God he said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips.” (ISAIAH 6:5)

When Paul was addressing his young helper Timothy he said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (1ST TIMOTHY 1:15)

THESE WORDS DID NOT COME FROM UNSAVED PAGANS OR ENEMIES OF THE LORD, BUT ALL CAME FROM THE LIPS OF GOD’S CHOSEN VESSELS, HIS TRUE SAINTS.

THESE WORDS ARE NOT THE WORDS OF SOME BACKSLIDDEN BELIEVER, BUT WERE SPOKEN OF THE MOST HOLY OF GOD’S MEN.

WHEN PAUL SAYS TO HIS READERS IN ROME, AND TO US:

“O wretched man that I am.” HE IS OPENING HIS FULLY SAVED SOUL AND SHOWS THAT HE HAS NO DECEPTION IN HIS OWN HEART ABOUT HIS OWN UNWORTHINESS.

SO AS WE EACH CONDUCT OUR OWN BATTLES AGAINST OUR OWN SINS, EVEN THOSE THAT BESET US AND WILL NOT LEAVE US, WE MAY TAKE A MOMENT OF COURAGE TO CONTINUE OUR FIGHT KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT THE FIRST TO ENTER THAT WARFARE.

NOR ARE WE EVER ALONE IN IT. HE WHO IS IN US IS GREATER THAT HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.

SEVERAL VERSES ARE ASSIGNED TO US IN THIS STUDY STOP FROM CHAPTER 8.

IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF WRITINGS IN OUR NEW TESTAMENT THERE MAY BE NONE MORE POWERFUL THAN THE FIRST VERSE OF ROMANS 8:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”

PAUL HAS SPENT MANY VERSES BEFORE EXPLAINING HOW GOD JUSTIFIES SINNERS AND FREES THEM FROM DIVINE WRATH.

HE NOW SHOWS HOW MUCH MORE THE BELIEVER HAS TO ENJOY IN TERMS OF THE FREEDOM THAT FAITH IN CHRIST BRINGS.

HE IS SAYING THAT GOD DOES NOT CONDEMN HIS CHILDREN, WHO ARE REDEEMED, TO A LIFE OF FEAR OR DEFEAT.

PAUL CLOSED CHAPTER 7 WITH THE DISMAL WORDS “WITH THE FLESH” SHOWING HOW SIN OPERATES IN THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. 

THIS PHRASE CONCERNING THE FLESH IS AN ATTITUDE OR INCLINATION OPERATING IN REJECTION OF THE DIVINE WILL THAT REQUIRES OUR SELF SURRENDER.

WE MUST BE MINDFUL THAT THE MEASURE OF THE DEVOTION OF THE BELIEVER IS MEASURED ONLY BY THE DEPTH OF OUR SURRENDER.

IT IS IN THE FLESH THAT THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH EXISTS AND MOVES.

PAUL CAREFULLY OUTLINES THE STAGES OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH SINFUL HUMAN NATURE.

FIRST, GOD GAVE THE LAW OF MOSES, WHICH COULD NOT MAKE MAN RIGHT WITH GOD NOR MAKE HIM LIVE RIGHTLY BEFORE GOD.

THIS LACK OF ABILITY WAS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE LAW, BUT WAS A CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN NATURE AFTER THE FALL IN THE GARDEN.

SECOND, GOD THEN SENT “… HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, ON ACCOUNT OF SIN. (8:3)

IT IS STRONGLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOTICE THAT JESUS DID NOT ARRIVE IN HUMAN FLESH, WHICH IS SINFUL AND DEPRAVED FROM BIRTH, BUT CAME IN FLESH THAT WAS LIKENED TO OURS BUT WAS NOT OURS.

THIRD, CHRIST CAME “FOR SIN”.

HE CAME TO ACCEPT OUR SIN UPON HIMSELF AND BECOME OUR ONCE AND FOREVER SACRIFICE TO PERFECTLY ATONE FOR IT.

BY HIM WAS SIN OVERWHELMED.

FOURTH, THOSE WHO ARE “IN CHRIST” HAVE COME TO A NEW IDENTITY (BEING NEW CREATURES) AND IN THIS NEWNESS HAVE JOINED WITH HIM, TAKING THE FIRST STEP TO LIVING FREE FROM SIN’S DOMINION.

IN VERSES 9-11 PAUL TEACHES OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.

PAUL REFERS TO THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLING HIM THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.

IN HIM BONDAGE TO SIN IS BANISHED AND FREEDOM BEGINS TO BE OURS AT SALVATION AND THAT FREEDOM THEN FOREVER GUIDES OUR LIFE.

JUST BEFORE PAUL HAS SHOWN THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

BELIEVERS SHOULD BE UNCONCERNED BECAUSE WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE FLESH BUT ARE IN THE SPIRIT.

THEREFORE BELIEVERS ARE CAPABLE OF PLEASING GOD AND THE PROOF OF THEIR SPIRITUAL ONENESS IS PROVEN BY THE INDWELLING OF HIS OWN SPIRIT.

THIS IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT AFTER BEING BORN AGAIN.

IN VERSES 12-13 PAUL TEACHES US OF FULFILLED RIGHTEOUSNESS.

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT PUTS TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH.

THERE ARE THREE THINGS THAT IDENTIFY THIS REQUIREMENT:

• THE BELIEVER MUST MIND THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT

• RATHER THAN THE THINGS OF THE FLESH.

• THE BELIEVER MUST CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THAT SAME

• WAY, ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, NOT THE BODY.

• THE BELIEVER IS REQUIRED TO PERSIST IN THAT NEW

• AND CHOSEN WAY OF LIFE AND THAT PERSISTENCE

• WILL PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY.

A COURAGEOUS ACT OF SELF DENIAL IS REQUIRED OF EVERY BELIEVER.

THIS ACT IS SO DIFFICULT THAT SOME BELIEVERS FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH ALONE, EVEN THOUGH THE BELIEVER KNOWS IT IS RIGHT.

BUT WHEN THE BELIEVER CULTIVATES THE ATTITUDE OF THE SPIRIT USING THE GREATER POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT THEN THERE IS FAR MORE THAN ENOUGH STRENGTH AND POWER TO ACHIEVE THIS WAY OF LIFE.

THE QUALITY OF LIFE GRANTED TO THE BELIEVER THROUGH THIS DEPENDENCE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR ALL THINGS IS CALLED BY PAUL “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW”.

BUT WE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THAT THIS LIFE IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF FRUSTRATED SELF EFFORT, BUT RATHER IS THE RESULT OF HUMAN RESPONSE TO THE DIVINE SPIRIT WHO LIVES WITHIN.

THIS IS THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF THE HUMAN WILL TO THE DIVINE WILL THAT IS WHAT WE CALL SANCTIFICATION. 

Romans 8: The Gospel of Grace & Security

Application: The student will point out the comfort found in the security of believers.

THE THEME OF CHAPTER 8 IS THE NEW MAN, THE NEW CREATION, THE NEW BODY, AND THE NEW PURPOSE.

CHAPTER 8 BRINGS US TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONCEPT OF SANCTIFICATION.

IT ACTUALLY PRESENTS US WITH THREE GREAT SUBJECTS, SANCTIFICATION, SECURITY, AND NO SEPARATION FROM GOD.

MORE THAN A FEW COMMENTARY WRITERS OVER THE CENTURIES HAVE TERMED THIS CHAPTER THE HIGH WATER MARK OF ROMANS.

WE ENTER THIS CHAPTER WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN CHRIST, AND WE WILL CLOSE WITH THE CONCEPT THAT THERE CAN BE NO SEPARATION FROM GOD ONCE SAVED, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE TWO WE ARE TAUGHT HOW GOD WORKS ALL THINGS IN OUR LIVES FOR GOOD.

ALL OF THIS PORTION OF GOD’S PLAN IS HAPPENING WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE TO LIVE FOR GOD WHILE WE REMAIN IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF SIN.

PAUL HIMSELF MOANED ABOUT THIS FACT IN CHAPTER 7, VERSE 24:

“O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

HOW CAN HE LIVE FOR GOD WHEN HE STILL LIVES IN HIS SINFUL BODY?

THIS CHAPTER INTRODUCES US TO THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SANCTIFICATION.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MENTIONED 19 TIMES IN THIS CHAPTER, HAVING ONLY BEEN MENTIONED CASUALLY TWICE BEFORE (5:5 & 7:6)

NOW THE WORK OF THE ENTIRE TRINITY IS FULLY REVEALED.

GOD THE FATHER IN CREATION (1:1 – 3:20)

GOD THE SON IN SALVATION (3:21 – 7:25)

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SANCTIFICATION (8:1-39)

THE FIRST 11 VERSES OF THIS CHAPTER ARE CALLED:

The victory of the Holy Spirit over sin and death.

VERSE 2 SPECIFIES QUICKLY THAT “THE LAW IN THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.”

IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE LAW TO PRODUCE RIGHTEOUSNESS IN MAN.

THIS WAS NOT A FAULT OF THE HOLY LAW BUT THE FAULT LAY IN MAN AND THE SIN IN HIS FLESH.

PAUL SAID IN 7:18 THAT IN ME DWELLETH NO GOOD THING.

IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT DOES THE IMPOSSIBLE.

HE PRODUCES A HOLY LIFE IN WEAK AND SINFUL FLESH.

THE PROOF IS GIVEN BY PAUL IN VERSE 6:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

CARNAL MINDED MEANS WE ARE SEPARATED FROM THE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

OUR RESTORATION COMES ONLY THROUGH REPENTANCE AND FULL CONFESSION.

THE LIFE HERE MEANS LIVING IN FULL EFFORT FOR GOD.

PEACE HERE MEANS THE TRANQUILITY AND WELL BEING THAT RESULTS FROM RESTORATION.

PETER FOUND THAT TRANQUILITY IN HIS RESTORATION BY THE RISEN CHRIST IN JOHN 21.

VERSES 7-8 CONTINUE THIS TEACHING AND SAY THAT THOSE OF THE CARNAL MIND HAVE ENMITY AGAINST GOD AND IF THEY REMAIN IN THE FLESH THEY CANNOT PLEASE HIM.

HOWEVER IN VERSE 9 PAUL REMINDS THAT WE WHO ARE SAVED ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT BECAUSE THE SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US.

VERSE 10 TEACHES THAT WHEN CHRIST IS WITHIN IN THE PERSON OF THE COMFORTER, THE BODY IS DEAD BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE FOR WE HAVE EXCHANGED SIN FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE LAST THOUGHT IN THIS PASSAGE IS IN VERSE 13 THAT SHOWS WE DIE TO GOD IF WE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, BUT IF WE MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY THROUGH THE SPIRIT WE LIVE IN HIM. 

THIS IS HOW WE REMAIN LIVING IN SPIRIT WHILE WE ARE IN MORTAL LIFE.

WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY JESUS PROVIDED THE NEW COMFORTER TO GUIDE AND CARE FOR US UNTIL MORTAL DEATH.

BEGINNING IN VERSE 14 WE COME TO THE SUBJECT OF THE NEW MAN, MEANING THE NEW NATURE OF ONE WHO IS IN CHRIST.

THOSE WHO ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT ARE KNOWN AS THE SONS OF GOD.

GOD DOES NOT DRIVE HIS SHEEP, HE LEADS THEM.

THE GREAT TRUTH FOR US IS ALLOWED IN VERSE 15 ASSURING THAT WE REALIZE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE SPIRIT TO ONCE AGAIN FEAR BUT THE SPIRIT WE HAVE RECEIVED IS ONE OF ADOPTION, AND WE CAN THEN CRY “ABBA” MEANING FATHER.

VERSES 16-17 GIVES FURTHER TEACHING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS WITH OUR OWN SPIRIT IN WITNESS THAT WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

AND IF WE ARE CHILDREN, THEN WE ARE HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, SUCH THAT IF WE SUFFER WITH HIM WE SHALL SURELY BE GLORIFIED WITH HIM.

WHATEVER WE ENDURE IS TO STRENGTHEN US SPIRITUALLY AND TO FURTHER TRAIN US.

HEBREWS 12:6 IS VERY CLEAR THAT WHOM GOD LOVES HE CHASTENS AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.

HERE IS A PERFECT CHANGE OF TONE AND SUBJECT FOR PAUL’S TEACHING AS NOW HE BEGINS TO DISCUSS THE NEW CREATION IN VERSES 18-27.

PAUL’S SURPRISE IS ANOTHER ELEMENT OF HUMAN SUFFERING.

HE TELLS US THAT THE CREATION IS SUFFERING ALSO AND WE ARE SUFFERING WITH IT.

THE SIN OF MAN BROUGHT DESTRUCTION BY THE FLOOD.

BUT THE CREATION WILL ALSO BE FREED FROM ITS BONDAGE OF THE CORRUPTION OF MAN AND WILL REGAIN IT’S ORIGINAL GLORY.

LIKE MANKIND, IT WILL BE RESTORED IN THE ULTIMATE WORK OF THE LORD.

THE CHRISTIAN AND CREATION SHARE TWO THINGS.

THEY GROAN TOGETHER AND THEY ANTICIPATE TOGETHER.

BELIEVERS ARE PAINFULLY AWARE OF OUR LIMITATIONS, BOTH SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN WE WILL BE FREED FROM ALL THAT HINDERS LIFE.

PAUL SAYS THIS IS ALL PART OF THE SALVATION PROCESS AND IS A LEGITIMATE EXPECTATION FOR ONE WHO IS SAVED BECAUSE “… WE WERE SAVED IN THIS HOPE.” 

(VERSE 24)

LIVING IN THE SPIRIT INTRODUCES US TO A RELATIONSHIP OF LIVING INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS LIFE URGES US TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIME WHEN ALL THINGS, MANKIND (THOSE WHO ARE SAVED)_AND CREATION ARE FULLY REDEEMED AND RESTORED WHILE DEPENDING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE AND KEEP US UNTIL THAT DAY.

NOW VERSES 28-31 BRING US TO A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS WHERE WE ARE MORE THAN CONVINCED OF THE WISDOM AND WORKING OF GOD’S GREAT PLAN.

THE PIECES EXAMINED ONE BY ONE HERE ARE GOD’S FOREKNOWLEDGE, PREDESTINATION, CALL, JUSTIFICATION, AND GLORIFICATION AND THEY ALL FIT TOGETHER IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE “GOLDEN CHAIN” OF GOD.

MAN WAS CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD.

(GENESIS 1:26).

MAN FELL AND THAT IMAGE BECAME A POVERTY STRICKEN LIKENESS OF THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF MAN.

THAT POOR IMAGE CONTINUED UNTIL CHRIST CAME.

HEBREWS 1:3 CLEARLY TELLS US HE IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF THE PERSON OF GOD.

THE PLAN OF THE LORD IN THAT PASSAGE HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ORIGINAL DIVINE IMAGE WAS THEN REVEALED AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY JESUS CAME NOT IN OUR FLESH BUT IN THE LIKENESS OF IT.

THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE RESTORATION OF MANKIND, AND ALL THINGS UNDER THE POWER OF THE SON, THROUGH WHOM GOD ONLY SPEAKS.

JESUS TAUGHT US THAT HE HAS ALL POWER IN BOTH HEAVEN AND EARTH THEREFORE NOTHING CAN DELAY OR DIMINISH THIS PLAN.

GOD DETERMINES THE FATE OF EACH MAN OR WOMAN.

HE BOTH KNOWS IT AND GUIDES IT.

WHILE WE WERE GRANTED FREE WILL, NO MAN BY USE OF THAT FREE WILL CAN CHOOSE HEAVEN.

ALL MAY FREELY CHOOSE HELL BUT JOHN 14:6 IS CLEAR THAT NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY JESUS.

THE LORD HAS PERFECT FOREKNOWLEDGE, AND KNOWS OUR HEARTS BOTH NOW AND EVERY DAY TO COME.

GOD REVEALS HIS TRUTH TO EACH HEART IN HIS OWN TIME AND PLACE, INTERVENING IN EACH LIFE, AND THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT “CALLS” EACH HEART TO HIMSELF WHICH WILL THEN BE CONFORMED TO THE PERFECT IMAGE OF HIS SON.

SALVATION BRINGS JUSTIFICATION WHEREBY WE STAND AS JUST BEFORE THE LORD, NOT IN ANY RIGHTEOUSNESS WE HAVE BUT IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED FROM CHRIST WHICH HE EXCHANGES FOR OUR SINS.

HE HIMSELF WAS MADE SIN FOR US.

THE FINAL STEP IN THIS “GOLDEN CHAIN” WILL BE THE TIME WHEN ALL THE PREVIOUS STEPS ARE COMPLETED AND WE ARE GLORIFIED BY THE LORD TO BE WITH HIM ETERNALLY.

BECAUSE OF ALL THAT WAS REVEALED IN CHAPTER 8 PAUL EXPLAINS THAT WE ARE GOD’S ELECT AND IN VERSES 31-39 TEACHES THAT NONE CAN BRING A CHARGE AGAINST US.

(WE REMEMBER VERSE 1 THAT TAUGHT THAT THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION AGAINST THOSE IN CHRIST).

THESE ELECT ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOREKNOWN, CHOSEN, PREDESTINED, CALLED, AND JUSTIFIED SO THAT THEY MIGHT ARRIVE AT THE FINAL STATUS WHICH IS GLORIFIED LIKE THE ONE WHO WAS FIRSTBORN.

MATTHEW 27:52 SHOWS US THAT THOSE BORN FROM THE DEAD AROSE AFTER JESUS WAS RESURRECTED.

NOW, KNOWING ALL THESE THINGS, WE SEE HOW GOD’S PLAN MAKES US MORE THAN CONQUERORS AND THROUGH THIS NEW UNDERSTANDING WE ARE SURELY MORE CONFIDENT IN HIM, HIS GOSPEL, AND HIS PLAN IN PLACE SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

HIS MESSAGE IS SURE AND STRONG.

THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN POSSIBLY AFFECT THE ETERNAL PURPOSES OF GOD OR THE ETERNAL & UNDYING LOVE OF CHRIST.

EVEN MORTAL DEATH CANNOT ROB THE BELIEVER, BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD.

NOW OUR GRAND CLIMAX OF PAUL’S GREAT TEACHING CONCERNING THE HOLY GOSPEL IS SHOWN.

IT CONCLUDES WITH THE WORDS “OUR LORD” SHOWING HOW PERSONAL IS THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN REDEEMED MAN AND GOD.

HE IS OURS.

Romans 9-10: The Gospel and Israel

Application: The student will pray to have a burden to win lost souls to Christ.

THE FOCUS VERSES GIVEN TODAY LEAD US INTO CHAPTER 10 BUT THERE ARE SOME STRONG WISDOM WORDS IN CHAPTER 9 THAT WILL SET OUR HEARTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND CHAPTER 10 AS WE ENTER IT.

THE NATION OF ISRAEL WAS IN A PRIVILEDGED POSITION WHEN IT CAME TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

IN CHAPTER 9 PAULS EXPRESSES HIS SADNESS THAT ISRAEL HAD SQUANDERED THIS POSITION OF BEING THE CHOSEN NATION WHEN THEY REJECTED JESUS AS THEIR MESSIAH.

DESPITE CENTURIES OF FAVOR FROM GOD, AND HAVING BEEN ALLOWED THE SUPREME HONOR OF HAVING GOD’S SON GIVEN TO THEM, THEIR HARD HEARTS LED THEM TO RECEIVE HIM NOT.

THIS REJECTION BROUGHT CALVARY AND THE HEARTBRAKE OF PAUL FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE WHEN THEY FORSOOK THE GIFT AND CLUNG TO THEIR FALSE LEGALISM.

PAUL KNEW HE WAS SENT UNTO THE GENTILES BUT HE NEVER LOST HIS LOVE FOR ISRAEL AND HE ALWAYS HOPED FOR SALVATION TO ARRIVE FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE IN FULL.

CHAPTER 9 PRESENTS THE TEACHING OF GOD’S PAST DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL, CHAPTER 10 PRESENTS GOD’S DEALING WITH ISRAEL DURING PAUL’S LIFE, AND CHAPTER 11 PRESENTS GOD’S FUTURE PURPOSE FOR ISRAEL.

WE HAVE LEFT THE CHAPTERS OF DOCTRINE GIVEN IN 1 – 8 AND NOW CHAPTERS 9 – 11 WHICH ARE DISPENSATION WITH ROMANS 12 – 16 TO PRESENT DUTY.

PAUL DEFINES ISRAEL AND HIS SORROW FOR THEM IN VERSES 1-5.

HERE IN CHAPTER 9 PAUL WILL PROVIDE US WITH SEVERAL SPECIFIC THINGS THAT IDENTIFY ISRAEL FOR HIS READERS.

ONE: THEY WERE ADOTED AS A NATION BY GOD AND HE DECLARED IT IN EXODUS 4:22 SAYING THAT ISRAEL WAS HIS SON. GOD SAID IT AGAIN IN HOSEA 11:1 WHEN HE SAID HE CALLED HIS SON OUT OF EGYPT.

TWO: WITH ISRAEL GOD SHOWED HIS GLORY WHICH WAS NOT GIVEN TO ANY OTHER NATION. IN EXODUS 40:35 HIS CLOUD OF GLORY WAS SO THICK IN THE TABERNACLE THAT EVEN MOSES COULD NOT ENTER.

NO PEOPLE OTHER THAN ISRAEL HAVE EVER BEEN GIVEN THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF GOD.

THREE: GOD GAVE ISRAEL THE COVENANTS MANY OF WHICH HE HAS ALREADY FULFILLED AND ALL THE REMAINDER WILL ALSO BE FULLY FILLED AS HE HAS PROMISED.

FOUR: GOD GAVE ONLY TO ISRAEL HIS LAW. HE ANNOUNCED THIS IN EXODUS 19:5 AND SAID THEY WERE HIS “PECULIAR TREASURE” TO HIM. THE LAW OF MOSES POINTED THE NATION FORWARD TO THE REDEEMER AND JESUS TESTIFIED TO THIS FACT ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS.

FIVE: SERVICE AND WORSHIP TO GOD WERE DEFINED BY HIM AND GIVEN ONLY TO ISRAEL TO KEEP, WE KNOW THAT IN THE MELLENNIAL KINGDOM ISRAEL WILL ONCE AGAIN BECOME HIS PRIESTS.

SIX: GOD GAVE HIS SACRED PROMISES TO ISRAEL. HE PROMISED IT TO ABRAHAM, TO MOSES, AND THEN TO JOSHUA, AND HE GAVE IT EXACTLY AS PROMISED. ALL OF PALESTINE WAS SO PROMISED AND MOST OF IT IS NOW THEIRS WITH THE REMINDER STILL UNDER PROMISE TO THEM EVEN TODAY.

SEVEN: GOD GAVE ISRAEL THE FATHERS TO BEGIN HIS RELATION MEANING ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB,

EIGHT: GOD CHOSE ISRAEL TO RECEIVE THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL WHICH IS THE MESSIAH, PROMISED IN GENESIS AND FULFILLED EXACTLY AS PROMISED. HEBREWS 12:16 TEACHES US THAT JESUS TOOK NOT UPON HIMSELF THE NATURE OF ANGELS BUT RATHER TOOK ON THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.

AFTER GIVING SO MUCH GOD GAVE PAUL SOME OF THE MOST HOPEFUL WORDS OF THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT CONCERNING ISRAEL IN 9:6:

“… For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”

THE THE LORD ALLOWS US TO KNOW THAT THE SPIRITUAL OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM ARE AS MUCH A PART OF ISRAEL AS THE PHYSICAL OFFSPRING OF ABRAHAM WHO BELIEVE.

PAUL WILL TEACH THIS SAME TRUTH IN GALATIANS.

PAUL LATER AGAIN TEACHES THIS MATTER IN QUOTING HOSEA 2:23 WHEN HE SAID:

“I will say to them which were not my people thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God.”

IN VERSES 30-31 PAUL HAMMERS THIS POINT BY SAYING THAT THE GENTILES WHO HAD NOT FOLLOWED RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE ATTAINED IT WHILE ISRAEL WHICH FOLLOWED THE LAW HAD NOT.

WE CANNOT LEAVE CHAPTER 9 WITHOUT GIVING STRONG HONOR TO PAUL’S TEACHING HERE ON THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION.

IN INTERESTING PARENTHESIS IN VERSE 11 PAUL PRESENTS THE STRONG PROOF OF THE DOCTRINE:

“(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.”)

VERSE 13:

“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”

VERSE 18:

“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.”

THE QUOTE GIVEN IS FROM MAL 1:2-3 AND THE STATEMENT WAS ONLY MADE BY GOD AFTER BOTH BOYS HAD LIVED OUT THEIR LIVES AND NATIONS HAD SPRUNG FROM EACH ABOUT 2,000 YEARS LATER.

ESAU’S NATION WAS MUCH LIKE HIM, RECKLESS, PRIDEFUL, AND HAVING THEIR BACK TURNED TO GOD.

GOD KNEW THIS AND IN HIS SOVEREIGN WILL CHOSE THE ONE HE KNEW WOULD SERVE HIM, WHICH WAS JACOB.

NOW TO COMPLETE THE PASSAGE ON ISRAEL’S STATUS, PAUL IN VERSES 27-28 QUOTES ISAIAH 10:22-23 AND SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE AS NUMEROUS AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, A REMNANT OF THAT LARGE NUMBER WILL BE SAVED.

IN VERSES 30-31 PAUL MAKES HIS FINAL THRILLING STATEMENT CONCERNING THE GENTILES AND THE JEWS.

THE GENTILES WHO DID NOT FOLLOW AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS HAVE ATTAINED IT AND HAVE DONE SO THROUGH FAITH.

THE GENTILES, WITHOUT WILLING IT OR BRINGING WORKS HAVE FOUND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD BY ACCEPTING AND BELIEVING IN THE MESSIAH SENT.

BUT ISRAEL, WHICH HAD FOLLOWED AFTER THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HAD NOT ATTAINED RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IN VERSE 31 PAUL CLOSES THE MATTER BY SAYING WHEREFORE?

HE IS ASKING WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

BECAUSE ISRAEL SOUGHT IT NOT BY FAITH BUT BY WORKS OF THE LAW.   THAT WAS THEIR STUMBLINGSTONE AND AT THAT IMPORTANT ITEM, THEY STUMBLED.

ISAIAH 8:14 & 28:16 BOTH GIVE PROPHECY OF THIS STUMBLING.

WE ARE NOW READY TO CONSIDER CHAPTER 10, WHICH WILL REPORT THE DESIRE OF PAUL FOR THE CHOSEN PEOPLE FROM WHICH HE CAME.

THE THEME OF CHAPTER 10 IS THE STATUS OF ISRAEL AS A LOST NATION.

OVERALL ISRAEL REMAINS A LOST NATION TODAY.

THE REASON THEY ARE LOST IS THAT CHRIST WAS THE END OF THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

NOW PAUL TURNS TO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD AND TO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN.

THE CONCLUDING VERSES OF CHAPTER 9 BROUGHT THE NEED FOR THIS TRANSITION.

PAUL CONFIRMS ALL OF THIS MOMENT BY VERSE 1:

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.”

JESUS HAD ALSO CONFIRMED THIS STATUS IN LUKE 19 WHEN HE TOLD ISRAEL THAT THEY AND THEIR CHILDREN WOULD BE DEFEATED AND NOT ONE STONE WOULD BE LEFT STANDING.

HIS WARNING SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THEY KNEW NOT THE TIME OF THEIR VISITATION.

CHRIST WAS WITH THEM AND AMONG THEM AND THEY RECEIVED HIM NOT.

PAUL TEACHES IN VERSES 2-3 THAT THEY HAD A ZEAL FOR GOD BUT NOT ACCORDING TO THE KNOWLEDGE.

THEY WERE IGNIORANT OF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRIED TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN AND WERE UNWILLING TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO THE LORD WALKING AMONG THEM.

IN VERSES 1-5 ERROR OF ISRAEL IS EXPOSED.

PAUL SPEAKS WITH GREAT EMOTION CONCERNING ISRAEL AND ALLOWS THREE POINTS TO HIS TEACHING:

• HE IS CONCERNED FOR THEM BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM.

• HE SHOWS NO SUPERIORITY IN HIS WRITING, RATHER

• HE HUMBLY HOPES FOR THEM.

• HE FULLY UNDERSTANDS THEM AS HE GREW UP AMONG 

• THEM AND WAS ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY.

HE TEACHES THAT THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC AND SINCERE BUT THOSE ARE NOT ENOUGH.

ISRAEL IS SINCERE BUT IS SINCERELY WRONG.

THE ERROR INSIDE ISRAEL IS THAT THEY ARE FUNDAMENTALLY IGNORANTOF GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOW IT IS EXTENDED TO MANKIND.

THEY HAVE BEEN WELL INFORMED FOR CENTURIES BY THE PROPHETS OF GOD BUT THEY PERSIST IN THEIR OWN FORM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THEY TRY TO MAINTAIN AND KEEP THE LAWAND THEY ARE PERISHING SPIRITUALLY BECAUSE THE LAW IS ALREADY FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS GIVEN TO THEM EXACTLY FOR THAT REASON.

HOWEVER, ALMOST ALL OF THEM REMAINED IN UNBELIEF.

AFTER THE ERROR WAS EXPOSED AND EXPLAINED, PAUL NEXT EXPOSES THE TRUTH.

HE ILLUSTRATES THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF JUSTIFICATION THROUGH KEEPING THE LAW AND BEING BLESSED IN ANY WAY EXCEPT CHRIST ACCEPTANCE.

PAUL USES THE WORDS OF MOSES  IN THE FAREWELL SPEECH OF MOSES  TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN FIND THE SPIRIT OF HIS LAW IN THEIR HEARTS AND MOUTHS BY SERVING THE ONE THE LORD HAS SENT.

HE TELLS THEM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO ASCEND UP TO HEAVEN AT SOME FINAL DAY RESURRECTION TO FIND SALVATION.

JESUS HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN TO DWELL AMONG US TO BRING THAT SALVATION AS GOD’S GIFT.

THEY WERE UNABLE TO GRASP THAT THE DEFINITION OF FAITH IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A HEART BELIEF IN THE REALITY OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

THE BASIS FOR THIS TEACHING ON CONVICTION IS SEEN IN PAUL’S WORDS IN VERSE 11:

“Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed.”

IN THIS CHAPTER, PAUL IS BRINGING A MESSAGE VERY STARTLING TO THE JEWS.

JEWS WHO HAD ALWAYS, FOR MANY GENERATIONS, FELT THEY MUST KEEP ALL THE LAW PLUS THE ADDED RULES OF THE PHARISEES WERE NOW BEING TOLD SUCH BELIEF IS INSUFFICIENT FOR SALVATION.

PAUL NOW SAYS FAITH OVERCOMES ALL THOSE LIMITATIONS AND RULES AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GENTILES AND JEWS, FOR BOTH ARE TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD & ABRAHAM ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST.

NEXT HE SAYS THAT HOW WILL PEOPLE KNOW THIS NEW AND WONDERFUL TRUTH WITHOUT SOMEONE TELLING THEM?

HOW CAN PEOPLE BE TOLD UNLESS THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE SENT TO TELL?

THE GOSPEL IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF MANKIND BUT THOSE WHO ARE YET LOST MUST BE TOLD ITS TRUTH.

IN VERSES 16-21 PAUL SAYS GOSPEL WITNESS IS NEEDED AND EVEN THOUGH THE JEWS ARE UNHAPPY ABOUT THE SPREAD OF THIS NEW TRUTH, THOSE WHO KNOW IT MUST SHARE IT WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT.

HERE IS A MESSAGE AS STRONG TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.

THE CHURCH CANNOT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, AND THE FATHER’S PURPOSE, AFFORD TO MISUNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EVANGELISM.

THE CHURCH TODAY MUST NOT REPEAT THE FATAL ERROR OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE.

Romans 11: The Gospel of Grace & Israel Restored

Application: The student will determine to be faithful in all that the loving Heavenly Father has assigned him.

THE THEME OF CHAPTER 11 IS THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL COMING TO SALVATION WITH THE REST OF ISRAEL BLINDED WITH RESTORATION STILL IN GOD’S PLAN.

THE LONG HISTORY OF ISRAEL REJECTING THE LORD’S MESSIAH ALONG WITH THE TEACHING OF GRACE SALVATION OVER LAW SALVATION IS CLEAR.

COMMON SENSE MIGHT MAKE ONE WONDER WHETHER GOD HAS ACTUALLY TURNED AWAY FROM ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THEIR HARD HEARTS TOWARD CHRIST THE ANOINTED ONE.

PAUL QUICKLY ASKS THIS VERY QUESTION AS CHAPTER 11 BEGINS AND AS IS HIS WAY OF TEACHING, ALSO ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION.

HE DECLARES THAT THERE IS NOT THE SLIGHTEST POSSIBILITY THAT GOD HAS ENDED HIS RELATION WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE DESPITE THE FACT OF THEIR REJECTION.

KNOWING ALL THINGS, GOD HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF SEEING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING AND HE WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME NO MATTER HOW LONG HE CHOOSES TO WAIT.

THERE IS NO CHANCE THAT HE WILL REMOVE THOSE PREDESTINED BY HIM AND FOREKNOWN BY HIM TO BE HIS.

THE STORY OF ELIJAH IS MEANINGFUL HERE, AS THE PROPHET MOANED TO GOD THAT HE WAS THE ONLY FAITHFUL ONE LEFT FOR GOD IN ISRAEL AND GOD REPLIED THAT HE HAD A REMNANT OF 7,000 WHO HAD NOT BENT THE KNEE TO THE FALSE GOD, BAAL.

ISRAEL HAD REJECTED THE TEACHING OF SALVATION BY FAITH AND NOW GOD HAS SET THEM ASIDE ONLY TEMPORARILY AS THE TIME OF THE GENTILES ARRIVES.

HERE WE MUST RELY ON THE PROMISE OF DEUT 28:13 WHERE GOD PROMISED THAT ISRAEL WOULD BE THE HEAD OF NATIONS AND NOT THE TAIL.

OT PROMISES MADE BY GOD ALL COME TRUE AS WE LEARNED IN OUR STUDY OF EXODUS.

IN ANSWERING HIS OWN QUESTION, PAUL REMINDS HIS READERS IN ROME THAT HE HIMSELF IS AN ISRAELITE, OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM, OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN, ONE OF THE TWO TRIBES THAT NEVER SECEEDED FROM THE NATION MADE OF 12 TRIBES.

IN VERSE 5 PAUL SAYS THAT EVEN AT THE TIME OF HIS WRITING, THERE IS A REMNANT ACCORDING TO THE ELECTION OF GRACE.

HE ASSURES IN VERSE 6 THAT GRACE AND WORKS REPRESENT TWO MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE SYSTEMS WHICH ARE OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER.

THE CURRENT REMNANT PAUL DECLARES WERE SAVED BY GRACE AND THE REMAINDER OF ISRAEL IS HARDENED, BLINDED BY GOD.

PAUL REVEALS THIS FACT IN VERSE 7 SAYING THE REMAINDER WERE BLINDED.

AT THIS POINT WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DID NOT FAIL TO COME TO CHRIST BECAUSE THEY WERE BLINDED.

THEY HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO THE GOSPEL AS NO OTHER PEOPLE OF THE DAY HAD BEEN EXPOSED.

THEY WERE BLINDED BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE LIGHT GIVEN TO THEM.

VERSES 8-10 FURTHER EXPLAIN THIS IMPORTANT POINT.

THAT A REMNANT EXISTED WAS PROOF POSITIVE THAT GOD DOES NOT CAST AWAY HIS PEOPLE.

GOD GAVE THE SPIRIT OF SPIRITUAL SLUMBER TO THE UNBELIEVERS, DARKENED THEIR EYES, DEAFENED THEIR EARS.

PAUL THEN QUOTES PSALM 69:22 SAYING THEIR TABLE IS TO BE A STUMBLINGBLOCK AND IN VERSE 10 SAYS THEIR BACKS HAVE BEEN BOWED AWAY FROM THE LORD.

IN VERSES 11-15 WE ARE GIVEN THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE TURNING AWAY OF ISRAEL AND WHY GOD CAUSED IT AS THEY CAME TO REJECTION.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN ALLOWING ISRAEL TO OPENLY REJECT HIS SON, AND THEN TO LIVE ON IN THE DARKNESS AND HARDNESS OF THEIR HEARTS?

PAUL’S ANSWER IS STRIKING.

GOD IS MAKING ISRAEL JEALOUS BY TURNING TO THE GENTILES TO OFFER THEM WHAT ISRAEL HAS REFUSED. 

PAUL KNEW THIS WAS TRUE FROM HIS OWN EXPERIENCE IN EVANGELISM IN PLACES LIKE CORINTH.

HE MADE THIS POINT HIMSELF IN ACTS 18:6 WHEN HE SAID:

“From now on I will go to the Gentiles”.

THE DAY IS STILL IN THE FUTURE WHEN ISRAEL WILL BE SEEN TO ONCE MORE LEAD THE NATIONS UNDER GOD’S MESSIAH AND THROUGH FAITH IN HIM.

THAT DAY WILL COME WHEN EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS.

PAUL SPEAKS HERE WARMLY OF THE PRIVILEDGED POSITION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND HE REMINDS GENTILES OF THEIR RELATIVELY INFERIOR POSITION AND HE GATHERS BOTH PEOPLES TOGETHER IN VERSE 16.

HE SAYS IF THE ROOT IS HOLY THEN SO ARE THE BRANCHES.

JESUS USED THIS SAME THOUGHT WHEN HE TAUGHT THAT HE WAS THE TRUE VINE AND BELIEVERS ARE THE BRANCHES, DRAWING THEIR LIFE IN THE SPIRIT FROM HIM.

DESPITE ALL HER FAULTS, ISRAEL HAS NEVER BEEN LESS THAN GOD’S CHOSEN MEANS OF BRINGING BLESSINGS TO MANKIND.

SHE REMAINS IN THAT POSITION FOR ALL ETERNITY.

IN VERSE 12 PAUL STATES THIS POINT IN ELOQUENT TERMS.

“Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fulness?”

FOR THE TIME OF THE GENTILES, GOD HAS SET ASIDE ISRAEL, NOT YET DEALING WITH THEM AS A NATION CURRENTLY.

JAMES MADE THIS CLEAR AT THE COUNCIL OF JERUSALEM SAYING GOD IS CALLING OUT A GENTILE PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME, JUST AS HE CALLED OUT ISRAEL.

IN ACTS 15:16-17 GOD SAID HE WILL ONCE AGAIN BUILD THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, WHICH IS FALLEN DOWN.

NOW PAUL ADDRESSES HIMSELF TO THE GENTILES SAYING HE MAGNIFIES THE OFFICE GIVEN HIM FOR THEM.

HE STILL MENTIONS THAT IN DOING SO, MAYBE HIS WORK WILL PROVOKE SOME JEWS TO RECONSIDER.

(HE NEVER STOPPED LOVING HIS OWN)

IN VERSES 17-25 PAUL DISCUSSES GOD’S POWER WITH ISRAEL.

PAUL REMINDS US THAT GOD’S ABILITY TO ESTABLISH ISRAEL ONCE MORE AS THE TRUE VINE OF NATIONS RESTS COMPLETELY WITHIN HIS POWER.

WE SEE THAT GOD HAS NO RELUCTANCE IN TAKING WILD BRANCHES AND GRAFTING THEM INTO THE VINE, PROVIDING THE WILD BRANCHES WOULD DO WHAT THE NATURAL BRANCH ISRAEL REFUSED TO DO, WHICH IS TO COME TO HIM IN FAITH.

HERE ALSO GENTILES ARE WARNED IN VERSE 20 NOT TO BE HIGH MINDED. THE ISRAEL VINE WAS BROKEN OFF BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF AND THE GENTILES STAND BY FAITH.

WE ARE NOT TO BE HIGHMINDED BUT TO HAVE A REVERENCE FOR GOD, WHICH PAUL CALLS FEAR.

OUR WARNING COMES IN VERSE 21 THAT IF GOD SPARED NOT THE NATURAL BRANCHES WE MUST TAKE HEED FOR THE SAME RESULT MAY COME TO US

JUST AS GOD DID NOT SPARE AN APOSTATE PEOPLE, EVEN HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, HE WILL ALSO NOT SPARE AN APOSTATE CHURCH.

OUR REMINDER SHOULD COME FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS CONCERNING THE CHURCH AT LAODECIA WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE RICH AND IN NEED OF NOTHING WHILE JESUS SAW THEM DIFFERENTLY AS POOR AND BLIND.

THERE IS A TWOFOLD LESSON FOR US HERE.

TWO SIDES OF GOD ARE SHOWN TO US. 

THE JUDGMENT OF GOD AGAINST REJECTION OF CHRIST IN SIN, AND THE GRACE OF GOD TO THOSE WHO WILL ACCEPT AND TRUST CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

FINALLY IN VERSE 25 PAUL TEACHES US THAT THE BLINDNESS IN PART THAT HAS COME UPON ISRAEL WILL BE UNTIL THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES COME IN.

BLINDNESS AND HARDNESS OF ISREAL WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE CHURCH IS IN THE WORLD.

PAUL CALLS THIS MATTER A MYSTERY AND WE OURSELVES KNOW THAT THESE THINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE MOMENT IN REVELATION CHAPTER 4 WHEN THE CHURCH IS REMOVED.

PAUL FURTHER TEACHES HERE IN VERSES 26-27 THAT ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED AS A DELIVERER COMES TO ZION AND UNGODLINESS WILL BE TURNED FROM JACOB, MEANING ISRAEL.

HE CALLS THIS A COVENANT UNTO THEM.

IN VERSES 28-29 PAUL REMINDS THAT THEY ARE BELOVED FOR THEIR FATHER’S SAKES AND HE ALLOWS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL VERSES OF TEACHING IN 11:29:

“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”

GOD WILL NOT TURN FROM THOSE HE HAS CHOSEN. HE GIFTED ISRAEL IN MANY WAYS AND CALLED THEM TO HIMSELF.

VERSE 32 PROVIDES ADDED PROOF TO THE PLAN OF GOD:

“For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.”

JUST AS GOD HARDENED THE HEART OF PHARAOH THROUGH 9 PLAGUES SO THAT HIS POWER BE SHOWN OVER ALL THE FALSE GODS OF EGYPT, AND THAT THE 10TH PLAGUE MIGHT COME, GOD’S PLAN WILL NOT BE DISREGARDED.

WHY WAS THIS LONG AND DIFFICULT TIME NECESSARY AS IT HAPPENED OVER MANY CENTURIES WHICH ARE YET TO BE OVER?

OUR ANSWER IS GIVEN BY PAUL IN VERSE 33:

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.”

HERE IS PUREST PRAISE FOR THE SOVEREIGN WILL OF GOD WHOSE WAYS ARE FAR ABOVE OURS.

BY FAITH WE ACCEPT THAT HIS WILL BE DONE AND THAT IT IS FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY ALWAYS.

Romans 12: The Gospel of Grace & Christian Service

Application: The student will examine his responsibility to live a separated life and influence others to do likewise.

IN TODAY’S CHAPTER WE ARE REMINDED THAT WE WERE SAVED FOR GOD’S HOLY PURPOSE AND WE WERE CHANGED INTO A NEW CREATURE TO BRING GLORY TO GOD IN OUR LIVES.

THERE ARE SOME REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF OUR NEW LIVES AND THOSE DEFINE WHAT  SHOULD HAPPEN AFTER SALVATION AND JUSTIFICATION.

THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE A MAJOR PART OF OUR SANCTIFICATION UNDER THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE.

THESE ARE GROWING IN HOLINESS, USING THE GIFTS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, AND WALKING IN LOVE FOR THE REST OF OUR MORTAL LIVES.

HERE WE BEGIN THE STUDY OF THE FINAL DIVISION OF ROMANS.

THE 1ST EIGHT CHAPTERS WERE DOCTRINE.

THE NEXT 3 CHAPTERS WERE DISPENSATION OF DOCTRINE.

THE FINAL CHAPTERS ARE DISCUSSING CHRISTIAN DUTY.

NOW THE APOSTLE PAUL ASKS HIS READERS TO DO SOME REALISTIC CONSIDERATION OF HOW THEY HAVE APPLIED SPIRITUAL TRUTH TO THEIR LIVES.

HE BESEECHES THEM TO SHOW THEIR DEVOTION TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL BY PRESENTING THEIR BODIES IN APPRECIATION AS “LIVING SACRIFICES” TOWARD THE GOSPEL.

IN PREVIOUS CHAPTERS PAUL HAS CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT THE BODY IS THE AGENT OF SIN, BUT NOW HE TEACHES THAT IT IS TO BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF HOLINESS, WHICH WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND PLEASING TO THE FATHER.

HIS MESSAGE IS THAT WHEN WE ARE FULLY SURRENDERED TO GOD, WE SHOW THAT SURRENDER BY REMAINING IN THE WORLD BUT USING OUR LIVES AS A FAITHFUL WITNESS.

HE TELLS THE ROMAN CHURCH MEMBERS THAT THIS EVALUATION OF THEMSELVES WILL COME FROM A RENEWED MIND WHICH WILL DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER BELIEVERS AS A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION THROUGH GRACE REVEALED IN FAITH ALSO BRINGS GIFTS TO EACH BELIEVER.

WHILE HE DOES NOT DETAIL THESE GIFTS, HE DOES SEEM TO SAY THAT THESE GIFTS ARE TO BE USED FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST AND TO FAIL TO USE THE GIFTS LESSENS OUR DEDICATION.

IN REMINDING US OF THE CHANGED CONDUCT, PAUL IS NOT EXPRESSING ANOTHER SET OF RULES APART FROM THE LAW.

HE HAS CONSISTENTLY TAUGHT THAT WE ARE NOT TO WORSHIP RULES AS DO THE JEWS, BUT ARE TO SIMPLY RECOGNIZE THE GIFT GIVEN AND USE IT FOR GOD’S PURPOSE & GLORY.

IN THIS CHAPTER WE ARE COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TOP OF THEOLOGY PAUL PROVIDED IN CHAPTERS 8-11 AND ARE WALKING INTO THE EVERYDAY DUTY OF BEING A CHRISTIAN.

VERSES 1-2 DESCRIBE OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.

PAUL BESEECHS US, MEANING TO EARNESTLY BEG US BY THE MERCIES OF GOD TO ENTER INTO THE STATUS OF LIVING SACRIFICE TO THE LORD.

WHEN HE SAYS WE ARE TO PRESENT OURSELVES, HE MEANS YIELDING OURSELVES WHICH IS THE WAY OF CONSECRATION OF OURSELVES TO THE LORD.

IN 1ST COR 6:20 HE FURTHER TEACHES THAT WE ARE TO GLORIFY GOD IN OUR BODY WHICH IS NO LONGER OURS BUT BELONGS TO THE LORD AFTER SALVATION.

IN VERSE 2 WE SHOULD NOTE THAT WE ARE TO “BE TRANSFORMED” NOT TO EXPECT TO TRANSFORM OURSELVES, BY THE RENEWING OF OUR MINDS.

OUR BODIES, OUR MINDS, AND OUR SPIRITS, ARE TO ALL BE DEDICATED TO HIS SERVICE IN THE GIFTS WERE HAVE RECEIVED.

TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS IS BOTH GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD AND IS PLEASING TO HIM.

ESSENTIALLY PAUL IS SAYING HERE TO LIVE BY OUR OWN INVITATION HYMN AND TO TRULY MEAN IT WHEN WE SING

“I SURRENDER ALL”.

NOW IN VERSES 9-21 PAUL EXPRESSES HOW THE BELIEVER IS REQUIRED TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS EVIL AND IS TO CHOOSE THE GOOD.

HE BEGINS BY SPEAKING OF OUR RELATION TO OTHER BELIEVERS BEING IN LOVE WITHOUT HYPOCRISY.

HE USES A VERY STRONG WORD IN COMMANDING US TO ABHOR EVIL AND AN EQUALLY STRONG WORD TO COMMAND US TO CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD.

ABHORING EVIL MEANS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH. IF WE FIND EVIL WITHIN OUR ASSEMBLY WE ARE NOT TO FAIL TO SAY SO AND BRING IT TO THE ELDERS FOR REMOVAL OF IT.

CLEAVE IS THE SAME CONCEPT MEANING AS WE FIND GOOD IN OUR ASSEMBLY WE ARE TO BE WELDED TO IT HELPING IT TO GROW AND BEAR FRUIT.

SOME SPECIFIC DETAILS ARE NOW GIVEN BY PAUL IN ORDER TO ASSURE HIS MEANING OF THESE THINGS:

• KINDLY SHOW AFFECTION WITH BROTHERLY LOVE

• BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT, SERVING THE LORD.

• REJOICE IN HOPE

• BE PATIENT IN TRIBULATION

• CONTINUE FULLY IN PRAYER

• GIVE HELP WHERE NEEDED

• BE HOSPITABLE

• BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU, CURSE THEM NOT

• SHARE OTHER’S JOY AS WELL AS THEIR WEEPING

• BE OF ONE MIND, DIRECT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD

• BE NOW WISE IN YOUR OWN OPINIONS ONLY

DO WE NOTICE HERE THAT PAUL IS REMINDING BELIEVERS OF THE TEACHING OF JESUS IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 

IN THE 5TH BLESSING IN MATTHEW 5:38-48.

THERE IS TO BE NO VENGENCE OR GRUDGE AGAINST OUR OWN PEOPLE AS ORIGINALLY TAUGHT IN LEVITICUS 9:18.

JESUS SAID THERE IS TO BE NO BITTERNESS OF HEART AGAINST OUR OWN AS WE ARE TO OVERCOME THOSE THINGS WITH THE REDEMPTIVE POWER OF OUR LOVE.

JESUS ALSO TAUGHT THERE IN MATTHEW 5:3-12 THAT WE ARE TO REJOICE UNDER PERSECUTION, BEING WILLING TO SUFFER IT FOR HIS NAME AND GREAT WILL BE OUR REWARD IN HEAVEN FOR LIVING THIS WAY.

PAUL’S COMMANDS HERE ARE DIRECT ECHOES OF THE TEACHING OF THE LORD ON THE MOUNTAIN SERMON.

IN VERSES 19-20 PAUL REMINDS THAT VENGENCE BELONGS TO GOD, NOT TO MAN.

FEED OUR ENEMY IF HE HUNGERS, GIVE HIM DRINK IF HE THIRSTS.

DOING SO WILL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.

FINALLY THE COMMAND GIVEN IN VERSE 21 SUMMARIZES THE TEACHING BY SAYING WE ARE NOT TO BE OVERCOME WITH EVIL, BUT TO OVERCOME IT WITH GOOD.

IN GALATIANS 5 PAUL COMMANDS IN VERSE 16 THAT WE ARE TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND THEREBY WE WILL NOT FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH.

HE ALSO SAYS IN VERSE 25 IN GALATIANS THAT WE MUST WALK IN THE SPIRIT IF WE INTEND TO LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.

WHEN THE COMMUNITY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS OPERATING PROPERLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR EVIL, DIVISION, AND CONFLICT IS AVOIDED BY THE BLESSING OF COOPERATION THROUGH LOVE.

EVIL WILL PERSIST AGAINST US AND OUR CHURCH.

OUR SPIRITUAL GOODNESS MUST PREVAIL AND WE ARE NOT TO USE EVIL BACK AGAINST THOSE WHO BRING EVIL UPON US.

DEALING WITH THESE HARDSHIPS CAN BE AMONG THE MOST DIFFICULT CHRISTIAN CHALLENGES.

OUR POSITION IS NOT TO BE SEEKING TO GET EVEN BUT TO LOVE MORE.

WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS BUT WE ARE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS AND WE KNOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF JESUS THAT HAVE BEEN CLEARLY GIVEN.

EVIL WILL BE PUNISHED BUT WE ARE NOT TO BECOME THE PUNISHER.

A RENEWED MIND RESPONDING IN THIS RENEWED WAY  WILL REPAY EVIL WITH GOOD.

THERE IS SPECIAL TENDERNESS IN PAUL’S REMINDER OF HOW WE ARE TO LIVE AND RESPOND.

THE TRUE BASIS OF THIS NEW WAY OF LIFE AS DESCRIBED BY PAUL IS THE EXAMPLE JESUS SET FOR US BY HIS LIFE.

WHILE WE ARE NOT DIVINE AND OUR HUMAN REACTION MAY NOT ALWAYS BE AS GENTLE AS HIS WAS, OUR GOAL IS TO BECOME MORE LIKE HIM, MORE CHRISTLIKE.

THIS GOAL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OTHERS IN THE PROCESS OF OUR SANCTIFICATION, REMEMBERING THAT IT IS FOR THE CONTINUAL BENDING OF OUR WILL CLOSER TO HIS WILL.

Romans 13: The Gospel of Grace & Civil Government

Application: The student will describe the necessity to be a good citizen and support his government.

WHEN WE CLOSED OUT OUR STUDY OF CHAPTER 12 WE WERE REMINDED THAT WE ARE TO BEHAVE IN SOCIETY IN A CHRISTIAN MANNER SO THAT OUR BEHAVIOR WILL REFLECT WELL ON OUR FAITH AS BELIEVERS.

WE WERE REMINDED TO LIVE IN PEACE AND TO EVEN LOVE OUR ENEMIES WHILE LEAVING VENGEANCE TO THE LORD.

WE ARE ALL AWARE OF HOW OTHERS ENJOY POINTING TOWARD US IF MISBEHAVIOR IS SEEN WHICH REFLECTS HYPOCRISY OF OUR FAITH.

WE SEE THE WARNING OF THIS INSTANCE IN 2ND SAMUEL 12:14 IN THE WORDS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET NATHAN TO KING DAVID AS THE SIN OF DAVID WAS REVEALED:

“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”

WE HAVE SEEN THIS SAME INSTANCE IN RECENT YEARS AS ONE OF OUR GREATEST DEFENDERS OF OUR FAITH, RAVI ZACHARIAS, WAS REVEALED TO HAVE A SECRET LIFE OF HORRID SIN, ALLOWING EVERY ATHEIST HE EVER DEFEATED IN DEBATE TO POINT THE FINGER AT ALL BELIEVERS AS HYPOCRITS.

TO PROPERLY REFLECT CHRISTIAN VIRTUES IN AT THE CORE OF OUR INSTRUCTION BY PAUL AS HE TEACHES US THAT OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT IS NECESSARY.

VERSE ONE AIMS THIS INSTRUCTION AT “EVERY SOUL” CLEARLY INDICATING HOW PAUL VIEWED THIS TEACHING AS APPLYING TO ALL BELIEVERS.

IN THIS CHAPTER PAUL WILL TEACH US THE FOLLOWING:

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO HIGHER CIVIL POWERS (1-2)

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO RULERS (3-5)

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO DEBTS (6-7)

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO COMMAND (8-10)

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO TIME (11-12)

• WE ARE SUBJECT TO CHRIST (13-14)

BECAUSE PAUL REALIZED THE BELIEVERS IN ROME LIVED UNDER SUCH ADVERSE CONDITIONS EACH DAY, THEY NEEDED REMINDING THAT THEIR LIVES MUST REFLECT THE LORD EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUBJECT TO OTHER AUTHORITY IN CIVIL SOCIETY.

LIVING AND WALKING IN CHRISTIAN SPIRIT UNDER THESE AUTHORITIES WITNESSED PROPERLY FOR THE FAITH.

OUR OBEDIENCE IS TO BE CONSTANT UNLESS CIVIL AUTHORITY DIRECTLY COMMANDS BEHAVIOR CONTRARY TO THE WILL OF GOD.

HUMAN GOVERNMENT IS A DIVINELY DIRECTED INSTITUTION.

BELIEVERS ALSO ARE MEMBERS OF A SPIRITUAL INSTITUTION, THE CHURCH.

BUT BOTH BELIEVERS AND THE UNSAVED LIVE UNDER CIVIL SOCIETY.

THESE POWERS PAUL SAYS ARE ORDAINED BY GOD, EVEN WHEN INDIVIDUAL LEADERS ARE WICKED & UNGODLY.

GOD HAS DECREED GOVERNMENTS FOR MANKIND, BUT HE HAS NOT DIRECTLY COMMANDED THEIR NATURE.

HE HAS ALLOWED TRIBAL RULE, DEMOCRACY, MONARCHY, AND DICTATORSHIPS TO EXIST.

FIVE TIMES IN THE FIRST FOUR VERSES PAUL USES THE PHRASE “OF GOD” TO ASSURE US THAT GOVERNMENT IS UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY.

ALL GOVERNMENT GOES BACK TO THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH NOAH IN GENESIS 9 WHEN GOD GAVE THE RENEWED EARTH INTO THE HAND OF MAN.

GOD HAS NEVER REVOKED THAT COVENANT.

THEREFORE IT IS THE DUTY OF A CHRISTIAN TO BE A GOOD CITIZEN AND PETER TAUGHT THE SAME LESSON IN 1ST PETER 2.

VERSE 4 CLEARLY STATES THAT THE CIVIL LEADER IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MINISTER FOR GOD TO CITIZENS FOR GOOD.

HE CARRIES THE POWER TO PUNISH UNDER GOD’S AUTHORITY WITH THE SWORD UPON THOSE WHO DO EVIL.

GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY AND TO PUNISH CRIME.

VERSES 6-7 TEACHES US THAT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT IS GOD ORDAINED, WE ARE TO PAY TAXES, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ONEROUS.

WE REMEMBER THAT JESUS ARRANGED A UNIQUE WAY TO PAY THE TEMPLE TAX HIMSELF USING A FISH TO BRING THE TAX MONEY TO BE PAID.

OUR OVERALL LIFE BEHAVIOR IS DEFINED FOR US IN VERSES 8-14 TEACHING US TO LIVE WITH A VIEW OF THE RETURN OF THE LORD AND TO SHOW LOVE FOR ALL OTHERS UNTIL HE ARRIVES.

WE ARE NOT TO ENTER INTO MUCH DEBT OR OTHER OBLIGATION BUT RATHER TO SERVE THE DEBT OF LOVE.

CREDIT ITSELF IS NOT A SIN AS LONG AS WE ARE ABLE TO REPAY BUT WE ARE TO USE CREDIT WISELY.

THE DEBT OF LOVE FOR OTHERS SHOULD BE THE ONLY DEBT WHICH REMAINS UNPAID FULLY IN THIS LIFE.

IN VERSES 9-10 WE SEE THAT AS A PERSON WORKS TOWARD PAYING THE DEBT OF LOVE HE WILL INSTINCTIVELY KEEP THE OTHER COMMANDS IN HIS LIFE.

GOD BROKE DOWN THE ORIGINAL 10 COMMANDS INTO TWO SECTIONS, ONE BEING RELATION TO GOD AND THE OTHER BEING RELATION TO MANKIND.

PLUS JESUS ADDED A SECOND COMMAND OF “LOVING OUR NEIGHBOR AS OURSELVES” AS EQUAL TO LOVING GOD.

LOVE WORKS NO ILL TOWARD OTHERS.

IF A PERSON’S HEART AND LIFE IS CONTROLLED BY LOVE, HE WILL NEED NO OTHER CIVIL LAW.

VERSE 11 SPEAKS OF THE IMMINENCE OF THE LORD’S RETURN AND THIS MESSAGE WAS USED TO URGE HOLY LIVING.

CHRISTIAN DUTY IS OBEDIENCE TO CIVIL AUTHORITY UNTIL THE LORD RETURNS OR WE GO TO HIM IN MORTAL DEATH.

IN EITHER CASE, WE WILL HAVE EARNED THE BEST REWARD BY HAVING CHRIST GREET US AS FAITHFUL SERVANTS WHO HAVE DONE WELL.

THE LAST FOUR VERSES OF CHAPTER 13 LISTS EIGHT COMMANDS FOR CHRISTIANS AND THESE ARE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC TO ASSURE THERE IS NO MISUNDERSTANDING IN EXACTLY WHAT PAUL IS TEACHING.

THESE ARE:

• CAST OFF THE WORKS OF DARKNESS

• PUT ON THE ARMOR OF LIGHT

• LIVE HONORABLY

• STOP RIOTING AND DRINKING

• SHUN ALL IMMORAL LIVING

• REFRAIN FROM QUARRELS/CONTENTION/ OR JEALOUSY

• CLOTHE OURSELVES IN THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST

• MAKE NO PROVISION FOR LUST

THESE VERSES ARE A CALL TO HOLINESS.

CASTING OFF WICKED WAYS OF DARKNESS MEANS SPIRITUAL DARKNESS OF SIN, EVIL, WAR, CAUSING HUNGER OR SUFFERING TO OTHERS.

THE ARMOR OF LIGHT MEANS THE WEAPONS OF HOLY DEFENSE PAUL WILL LATER DEFINE FOR US IN EPHESIANS 6 AS THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD AGAINST DARKNESS.

THE NEXT TO LAST COMMAND OF PUTTING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS POWERFULLY MEANT TO ASSURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT OUR MOMENT OF SALVATION IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THAT NEED.

IT REMAINS A DAILY ACTIVITY AND EXPERIENCE AND REFERS TO OUR SPIRITUAL WALK AFTER WE ARE SAVED.

WE SEE THE TRANSITION IN PAUL’S TEACHING FROM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TEACHING ON THEOLOGY INTO TEACHING ON EVERY DAY LIFE OF THE BELIEVER.

PAUL FURTHER EXPLAINS THESE COMMANDS CAREFULLY IN COLOSSIANS 1 AND THERE HE SUMMARIZES IT PERFECTLY WHEN HE WRITES IN VERSE 19 THAT:

“…FOR IT PLEASES THE FATHER THAT IN HIM SHOULD ALL FULLNESS DWELL…”

JESUS HIMSELF TAUGHT US THAT WE ARE TO FIRST SEEK THE KINGDOM AND THEN ALL OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US.

WHILE THE CHRISTIAN WALK IS DEFINED FOR US IN THESE VERSES IT IS NOT PROMISED TO BE AN EASY PATHWAY.

IT IS THE PATHWAY OF THE FEW AND IS TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE PATHWAY OF THE MANY WHICH LEADS ONLY TO DESTRUCTION.

WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE MORE THAN A FEW ADVERSITIES AS WE SEEK TO WALK IN ONENESS WITH OUR LORD.

HE SENDS THESE ADVERSITIES TO US IN THE FORM OF SLIGHTS, INJURIES, INSULTS, INFIRMITIES, POVERTY, ABANDONMENT BY FRIENDS & RELATIVES, LIES, HUMILIATIONS, & TEMPTATIONS ALLOWED.

THESE ACTUALLY ARE NEEDED BY US SO THAT WE MAY ENLIST THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR INDWELT HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE US OVER THESE ISSUES WORKING WITH US TO UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS ARE NOT TO BE SEEN AS BITTER TO US BUT ARE RATHER PLACED IN OUR PATH SO THAT OUR OVERCOMING EACH ONE BRINGS US CLOSER TO THE DIVINE UNION WE ALL SEEK WITH THE LORD.

THE 1ST STEP IN THAT ETERNAL UNION IS IN OUR SALVATION MOMENT WHEN JESUS PROMISED IN JOHN 3:18 THAT FROM THAT INSTANCE, WE HATH PRESENT TENSE, LIFE ETERNAL.

PAUL PREACHES A FINE SERMON TO THE ROMAN CHURCH IN CHAPTER 13 CONCERNING THE LIFE EXPECTATIONS OF A BELIEVER.

HIS TEACHING HERE IS AS POWERFUL AND SURE FOR US AS IT WAS THE DAY HE WROTE IT 2,000 YEARS AGO.

NEXT WEEK WE STUDY CHRISTIAN LIBERTY.

Romans 14-15: The Gospel of Grace & Christian Liberty

Application: The student will assess his activities so as not to offend and destroy the faith of a weaker brother.

PAUL BEGINS ROMANS 14 WITH A COMMAND THAT BELIEVERS SHOULD WELCOME THOSE WHO ARE WEAK OR IMMATURE IN THE FAITH.

MATURE CHRISTIANS IN A CHURCH BEAR THE REPONSIBILITY TO WELCOME NEW BELIEVERS INTO THE FOLD.

A WISE CHURCH MEMBER WILL UNDERSTAND THAT HIS CHURCH WILL HAVE MEMBERS WITH DIFFERING OPINIONS REGARDING SOME MATTERS.

IT IS A TEST OF FELLOWSHIP IF A MEMBER DOES NOT ENDORSE THE DOCTRINE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH.

IF A NEW CHRISTIAN FAILS TO GRASP SALVATON BY GRACE OR THE VIRGIN BIRTH, OR THE BODILY RESURRECTION AND RETURN OF CHRIST, MATURE BELIEVERS MUST COUNSEL THEM TOWARD BETTER UNDERSTANDING.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT PRISCILLA & AQUILA DID FOR APPOLOS.

SECONDLY MATURE MEMBERS SHOULD RESIST ANY URGE TO LOOK DOWN OF THOSE LESS MATURE IN FAITH.

UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE SHOULD BE DEMONSTRATED.

IN MATTERS OF PERSONAL CONVICTION, GOD UNDERSTANDS THE PERSONAL GROWTH OF NEW BELIEVERS AND GUIDES THEM INTO FULLER MATURITY, BOTH BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND BY HELPFUL CHURCH MEMBERS.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS THAT IT CAN BE FILLED WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY DIFFERENT, YET THE ASSEMBLY THRIVES IN UNITY.

AS LONG AS CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF FELLOWSHIP, A CHURCH’S DIVERSE MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO UNITE FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL AND ENJOY THE HARMONY OF ONE BODY.

INSTEAD OF SEEING THESE DIFFERENCES AS OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE DIVISION, PAUL REMINDED HIS READERS THAT WE ALL BELONG TO THE LORD.

GROWTH IN FAITH WILL HAPPEN AMONG LESS MATURE MEMBERS BUT IT MAY NOT HAPPEN QUICKLY.

AGAIN, PATIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING ARE IMPORTANT WATCHWORDS NEEDED TO HELP THOSE AS THEY GROW.

THE SURE IMPLICATION HERE IS THAT WE WILL HAVE LITTLE TIME TO FIND FAULT WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IF WE ARE HELPFUL TO THEM AND CONCENTRATE OURSELVES ON OUR OWN NEED FOR HOLINESS.

PAUL KNEW THAT CHRISTIANS IN ROME WERE GOING BEYOND ACCOUNTABILITY AND WERE ACTUALLY DESPISING WEAKER BROTHERS.

HE COMMANDS THEM TO STOP FINDING FAULT AND DETERMINE NEVER TO PUT A STUMBLINGBLOCK IN THE SPIRITUAL PATH OF FELLOW MEMBERS.

INSTEAD OF TREATING LESS MATURE MEMBERS WITH CONTEMPT, THEY SHOULD TREAT THEM WITH LOVE THAT HELPS FAITH TO GROW.

HERE PAUL IS EXPRESSING THE BASIC IDEAS OF BOTH CONVICTION AND CONSCIENCE THAT ARE EQUALLY NEEDED TO ARRANGE A HEALTHY CHURCH.

THE SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE HAS A VERY HELPFUL THOUGHT ON THIS MATTER WHEN IT SAYS THAT THE CHURCH HAS NO AUTHORITY TO DECIDE QUESTIONS OF PERSONAL LIBERTY IN THINGS NOT SPECIFICALLY FORBIDDEN IN SCRIPTURE.

THE MATTERS THAT CAUSE DIVISION MUST BE ADDRESSED.

IMMEDIATELY IN THE FIRST VERSES OF ROMANS 14 PAUL ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF EATING MEAT THAT HAD BEEN OFFERED TO IDOLS.

MATURE BELIEVERS KNEW SUCH MEAT WAS NOT MEANT TO SHOW WEAKER FAITH.

JESUS HAD MADE ALL MEATS CLEAN IN MARK 7:19.

GOD HAD INDICATED THE SAME THING IN GENESIS 9:3 AFTER THE FLOOD SAYING ALL MOVING THINGS ARE TO BE MEAT JUST AS ALL GREEN HERBS ARE APPROVED.

PAUL STRONGLY ADDRESSES THIS MATTER ALSO IN 1ST COR 8:8 SAYING ONE IS NEITHER BETTER OR WORSE FOR EATING SUCH MEAT.

PAUL COULD EAT THIS MEAT WITHOUT HIS CONSCIENCE BOTHERING HIM BUT SOME NEWER MEMBERS CONSIDERED SUCH MEAT AS IMPROPER TO CONSUME.

PAUL SAYS THOSE WHO HELD THAT THOUGHT ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED NOR JUDGED. FOR GOD HAD RECEIVED THEM AS HIS OWN.

SUCH JUDGMENT IS VAIN AS PAUL EXPLAINS IN VERSE 4.

IN VERSES 5-6 PAUL SHOWS THE LIBERTY FOR THE BRETHREN AS ALL ARE TO SERVE THE LORD WITHOUT THE LEGALISMS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.

JESUS TOLD THE WOMAN AT THE WELL THAT WORSHIP WAS FOREVER CHANGED FROM RULES TO WORSHIP IN SPIRIT & TRUTH.

HERE WE SEE PAUL DISCUSS THE DAY OF WORSHIP IN THESE VERSES. 1ST COR 16:2 TEACHES EARLY CHURCHES WORSHIPPED IN THE 1ST DAY OF THE WEEK. ACTS 2:46-47 TEACHES DAILY WORSHIP.

THERE IS TO BE NO DESPISING OF THOSE WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS OF NON DOCTRINE ISSUES.

IN VERSES 7-12 PAUL BRINGS ONWARD HIS TEACHING ON LIBERTIES UNDER JUDGMENT.

NO MAN IS FREE FROM THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND PSALM 23 TEACHES US HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD.

LUKE 13 TEACHES US OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD OF THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE AND LUKE 16 TEACHES THAT THOSE WHO DO ARE MOVED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH.

SO WE ARE SHOW REVERENCE TO HIS AUTHORITY AND LEAVE ALL JUDGING TO HIM, NOT US.

OUR ROLE IS TO HELP IN LOVE ALL WHO NEED TO GROW IN FAITH OR TO ASSIST UNBELIEVERS TO FIND THE PERFECTION OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, NOTHING MORE.

VERSE 9 STRONGLY SAYS JESUS IS WORTHY TO JUDGE, AND OF COURSE, WE ARE NOT.

ULTIMATELY ALL WHO LIVE ON THE EARTH ARE UNDER JUDGMENT AND PAUL REMINDS HIS READERS OF THIS FACT AS FIRST TAUGHT BY ISAIAH 45:23.

 “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW & EVERY TOUGUE CONFESS”

PAUL WILL LATER TEACH IN PHIL 2 THAT GOD HAS EXALTED JESUS TO A THRONE OF SUCH JUDGING.

THE ACCOUNTING OF THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS WILL BE A PURE REWARD TIME CONSIDERING HOW WELL WE HAVE SERVED THE LORD AFTER OUR SALVATION.

IN VERSE 13-23 PAUL OPENS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TEACHING ON THE USE OF LIBERTIES WITH CAUTION.

HARMFUL JUDGING OF NEWER MEMBERS HARMS THE CHURCH AND ROBS GOD OF HIS PROPER GLORY AS SHOWN IN EPHESIANS 3:21.

THESE JUDGINGS SHOULD END ABSOLUTELY AND QUICKLY.

THE MATTERS OF MEAT AND WORSHIP DAYS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO FURTHER CREATE DIVISION OR A STUMBLINGBLOCK FOR THESE ARE NOT BIBLICAL COMMANDS.

PAUL EVEN SAYS THAT IF EATING MEAT DESCRIBED HERE OFFENDS A BROTHER, THEN HE WILL REFRAIN SIMPLY TO AVOID ANY CONFLICT.

HE HAS THE LIBERTY BUT CHOOSES TO USE IT IF IT OFFENDS, THEREBY HE PRACTICES CAUTION AND SO SHOULD WE.

JESUS HAD FULFILLED THE LAW AND THEREBY REMOVED IT AS A LAW OVER CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS. (COL 2:14)

IN ACTS 10 GOD TOLD PETER NOT TO ANY LONGER CALL UNCLEAN THAT WHICH GOD HAD CLEANSED.

THEREFORE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO USE CAUTION TOWARD OTHERS AND NOT TO OFFEND THEM OPENLY ON MATTERS OF NON DOCTRINE CONVICTION.

THIS TYPE OF LOVE PAUL IS EXPRESSING HERE IS AGAPE LOVE, MEANING LOVING THE BROTHERS & SISTERS COMPLETELY WITHOUT RESERVATION OR EXPECTATION OF LOVE IN RETURN.

THIS TEACHING HERE BY PAUL IS A CLEAR AND SURE EXTENSION OF THE LORD JESUS SHOWED AS HE MINISTERED DURING HIS EARTHLY TIME.

VERSE 16 TEACHES THAT OFFENDING SOMEONE BY NOT USING CAUTION IS NOT WISE.

HE SAID IN ROMANS 12:10 THAT IF POSSIBLE WE ARE TO LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN, AND THEREFORE THAT INCLUDES NEWER MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT YET MATURED IN FAITH.

NOW IN VERSES 17-22 PAUL SAYS THIS MANNER OF LOVE TOWARD OTHERS IS ACCEPTABLE SERVICE TO GOD, IS BENEFICIAL TO ALL BRETHREN, CREATES NO OFFENSE, AND SHOWS OUR CAUTION IN USING OUR GOD GIVEN LIBERTIES.

IN VERSE 22 PAUL ASKS A MEMBER A RHETORICAL QUESTION WHICH WAS “HAVE THOU FAITH?”

THIS WAS NOT A QUESTION OF SALVATION BUT RATHER A QUESTION TO REMIND THAT FAITH WILL COMMAND SERVICE TO GOD BY LOVING OTHER MEMBERS MORE.

USING RESTRAINT IN FAITH TO THE LORD SHOULD LEAD TO HAPPINESS IN THE HEART OF THE ONE WHO DOES SO.

THIS HAPPINESS INCLUDES A SENSE OF SATISFACTION AND GLADNESS AS GOD HAS BEEN SERVED AND NO OTHER MEMBER, NO MATTER HOW NEW HE MAY BE, IS OFFENDED.

WHEN IN DOUBT ABOUT WHAT TO DO, A BELIEVER SHOULD TAKE NO CHANCE ON CAUSING HARM AND IT IS BETTER TO DENY SELF RATHER THAN CAUSING ANOTHER TO STUMBLE.

IN OUR FEW VERSES ASSIGNED FROM CHAPTER 15, PAUL TEACHES OF THE NEED TO BE UNSELFISH TOWARD OTHERS IN VERSE 1-4.

STRONGER BELIEVERS ARE TO SEEK TO HELP OTHERS RATHER THAN SELFISHLY PLEASING THEIR SELVES.

THEY ARE TO BUILD UP THOSE BELIEVERS OF LESS STRENGTH, HELPING THEM TO GROW IN THE LORD.

VERSES 5-7 TEACHES THAT TO DO SO, UNIFIES THE CHURCH TO PROPERLY REFLECT THE GLORY OF GOD.

GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL AND PATIENT AND LOVING TOWARD EACH OF US AS WE GREW, AND WE ARE TO REFLECT THOSE SAME ATTRIBUTES TO BE CHRISTLIKE AS WE SERVE THE LORD BY HELPING OTHERS.

IN VERSES 8-12 PAUL REMINDS THE ROMAN CHURCH THAT GOD HIMSELF WELCOMED OTHERS TO FURTHER HIS CHURCH AFTER TO HIS GLORY.

HE DID SO IN MERCY EVEN TO NON JEWS.

MANY SCRIPTURES PROVE THIS POINT MADE HERE BY PAUL:

• ROMANS 15:9&10&11

• PSALM 18:49

• DEUT 32:43

• PSALM 117:1

• ISAIAH 11:1 & 10

PAUL WANTED THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AT ROME WHETHER JEW OR GENTILE TO PUT AWAY ANY SELF PRIDE AND HAVE HEARTS FILLED WITH THANKSGIVING AND THE GOODNESS OF GOD EXTENDED TO ALL BELIEVERS.

ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE GOD AND ALL SHOULD HAVE NO DIVISIONS BETWEEN THEM AS ALL ARE TO SERVE THE LORD TOGETHER.

DOING SO WILL FILL THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITH JOY & PEACE AND HARMONY WITH THE GOD GIVEN HOLY SPIRIT TO FULFILL THE WILL OF THE LORD.

Romans 15-16: The Gospel of Grace & Paul’s Plans

ROMANS 15:14 – 16:27

Application: The student will commit to serve God faithfully and trust Him with his future.

OUR LAST STUDY STOP IN ROMANS BEGINS WITH A GREAT TRUTH FOR BELIEVERS.

IT IS THAT AS A CHRISTIAN WE ARE NOT TO BE CONCERNED WITH OUR STATUS IN THE WORLD BUT RATHER TO CONSIDER OUR SUCCESS TO BE HOW WE HAVE FAITHFULLY SERVED OUR LORD.

THE 500 QUESTIONS OF THE WESTMINISTER CONFESSIONS BEGINS WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF ALL FOR BELIEVERS: “WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MAN?”

THE ANSWER IS STRONGLY BEAUTIFUL:

 “THE PURPOSE OF MAN IS TO GLORIFY GOD AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER.’

PAUL CONCLUDES HIS IMPORTANT TEACHINGS IN THE LETTER TO THE ROMAN CHURCH BY REVEALING HIS OWN PLANS WHILE CONTINUING TO SERVE GOD.

HE BUILDS ON HIS EARLIER CHAPTERS BY SENDING THE FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH FOR THE BELIEVERS IN ROME:

• BE FAITHFUL WHEREVER YOU ARE

• PLAN YOUR LIFE WITH THE KINGDOM IN MIND

• TRUST GOD TO GUIDE YOU ALWAYS

WITH TENDERNESS AND PATIENCE PAUL CONTINUES THE MATTER OF CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE AND LIBERTY.

THE STRONG AND WELL KNOWLEGEABLE BELIEVERS MUST TOLERATE AND BEAR WITH THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET COME TO DEEPER FAITH.

THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP DOES NOT REQUIRE PERFECT UNITY OF MINOR POINTS OF FAITH.

THE FELLOWSHIP IS BUILT UPON THE FOCAL POINT OF EVERY BELIEVER’S CENTRAL FOCUS THAT FAITH IN THE MESSIAH SENT IS PRIORITY OVER ALL OTHER THINGS.

EVERY BELIEVER IS TO BE RECEIVED AND WELCOMED WARMLY & OPENLY REGARDLESS OF HIS VIEWS ON NONESSENTIAL MATTERS.

PAUL CITES JESUS HIMSELF IN VERSE 3 AS REMINDING THAT HE DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF, CONSULTED HIS OWN PLEASURE, NOR SOUGHT HIS OWN GRATIFICATION.

HE SUFFERED THE REPROACHES OF EVIL & SINFUL MEN WHO MEANT HIM NO GOOD IN ORDER TO SET THE BEST EXAMPLE FOR ALL WHO WOULD COME AFTER HIM.

PSALM 69:9 REMINDS US OF HIS WILLING HUMILIATIONS.

LUKE 22:42 REMINDS US THAT HE PRAYED NOT FOR HIS OWN WILL BUT FOR THE WILL OF THE FATHER.

MATTHEW 20:28 REMINDS US THAT HE CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED TO BUT TO MINISTER.

THE LORD RECEIVED CONSTANTLY WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN WEAKER BROTHERS TO HELP THEM GROW IN FAITH.

HE ALLOWS EACH OF US “SUFFICIENT FAITH” TO ENABLE US TO IMITATE HIM.

HE HELPED US BY EXAMPLE AND THEN HELPS US BY HIS OWN HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING US TO TEACH & GUIDE US.

IN VERSE 7 HE ADMONISHES BOTH JEW & GENTILE MEMBERS TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER.

HE HAS MANY TIMES IN ROMANS CLEARLY TAUGHT US OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS, BUT AT THE END BOTH BECOME BELIEVERS AND BOTH ARE TO REMEMBER THEY ARE MEMBERS OF ONE BODY.

IN VERSE 8 HE TEACHES THAT JESUS CAME AS A MINISTER TO THE JEWS, FULFILLING THE ENTIRE MOSAIC LAW IN HIS PERSON AND WORK WHILE SINLESS IN NATURE.

HE VALIDATED AND CARRIED OUT THE PROMISES MADE TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB.

MATTHEW 10:6 REMINDS US THAT HE CAME TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

PAUL REMINDED US IN ROMANS 1:16 THAT SALVATION’S POWER WAS FIRST SENT TO THE JEWS.

THE POINT HERE IS THAT GENTILES ARE NOT TO BE IN CONTEMPT OF JEWISH BELIEVERS WHO STILL SOUGHT TO MAKE SENSE OF THEIR CHANGE FROM LAW TO FAITH.

AND JEWS ARE NOT TO BE IN CONTEMPT OF THE GENTILE BELIEVERS WHO INSISTED ON THEIR FREEDOM IN FAITH FROM CIRCUMCISON, RULES, FEAST DAYS, AND LAW WHICH NEVER SAVED ANYONE.

IN VERSES 10-12 PAUL QUOTES FROM PSALM 18:49 & ISAIAH 11:10 THAT GENTILES ARE TO REJOICE BECAUSE GOD HAD ALREADY COMMANDED THAT GENTILES WOULD BE UNDER A ROOT OF JESSE WHO RISES TO GOVERN AND RULE THOSE WHO WERE ONCE PAGANS.

AND IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST.

THE SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT MADE BY PAUL IS:

• WELCOME THE WEAKER BROTHER

• DO NOT DESPISE ONE ANOTHER

• DO NOT PASS JUDGMENT ON YOUR BROTHER

• DO NOT CAUSE YOUR BROTHER TO SIN

• ACCOMMODATE ALL IN A SPIRIT OF LOVE

• SHOW THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN ALL WE DO

WE MUST NOT ALLOW POINT 5 TO SLIP BY WITHOUT NOTING THAT THE LOVE MENTIONED HERE GOES FAR BEYOND BROTHERLY LOVE, AND IS MEANT TO COMMAND AGAPE LOVE WHICH IS LOVE EXPECTING NOTHING IN RETURN.

JESUS CLEARLY COMMANDED US TO LOVE AS HE HAD LOVED.

IN VERSE 14 PAUL BEGINS THE CONCLUSION OF THIS GREAT EPISTLE, REFLECTING THE WARMTH OF FELLOWSHIP OF ALL BELIEVERS.

HE WAS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK OF HIS HOPED FOR VISIT TO THE CHURCH IN ROME.

HE REFERS TO BOTH GOODNESS AND KNOWLEDGE.

GOODNESS WILL CAUSE THE STRONGER IN FAITH FROM DOING DAMAGE TO THOSE WEAKER IN FAITH.

KNOWLEDGE WILL ALLOW THOSE TO CORRECT GENTLY THE NEED FOR DEEPER FAITH TO THOSE IN THAT NEED.

PAUL REMINDS THE CHURCH IN VERSE 15 THAT HE HAS WRITTEN BOLDLY OF CERTAIN THINGS PUTTING THEM IN MIND OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE OF GRACE GIVEN HIM BY GOD.

GENTILES ARE TO BE ACCEPTED APART FROM THE LAW AND CHRIST WAS SENT TO THEM AS WELL AS TO THE JEWS.

PAUL SAW HIMSELF AS AN INSTRUMENT IN THE HAND OF JESUS BRINGING THE GENTILES TO OBEDIENCE AND THE JEWS TO UNDERSTANDING TO ACCEPT THEM.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CLOTHED HIM WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY.

WE LEARN IN ACTS THAT A HANDKERCHEF OR AN APRON WORN BY PAUL HEALED ILLNESS.

HE CAST OUT UNCLEAN DEMONS WITH POWER.

WHEN SOME OTHER JEWS TRIED TO COPY PAUL AND EXORCISE DEMONS, THE DEMONS ANSWERED SAYING:

“WE KNOW JESUS AND WE KNOW PAUL BUT WHO ARE YOU?”

IN VERSES 20-21 PAUL TEACHES THAT HE IS LAYING THE FOUNDATION AND OTHERS WILL COME TO BUILD UPON IT.

IN VERSE 21 WE SEE THE LAST OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY FULFILLED AS FORETOLD IN ISAIAH 52:15, THAT THOSE WHO HAD NOT HEARD WILL HEAR AND UNDERSTAND.

IN 22-23 PAUL AGAIN WISHES TO VISIT ROME AND SAID THAT HIS MINISTRY HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED “IN THESE PARTS”.

UNFORTUNATELY WE KNOW THAT PAUL DID ARRIVE IN ROME BUT NOT AS A CHURCH PLANTER BUT AS A PRISONER.

PAUL REVEALS HIS FUTURE PLAN TO VISIT SPAIN WHERE THE GOSPEL WAS IN GREAT NEED TO SPREAD.

HE MENTIONS IN 25-28 THAT HIS IMMEDIATE GOAL WAS TO GO TO JERUSALEM TO DELIVER THE COLLECTED DONATIONS TO THE POOR SAINTS WHO LIVED THERE.

IN VERSES 30-31 PAUL ASKS THE MEMBERS OF THE ROMAN CHURCH TO PRAY THAT HE MIGHT COME TO THEM “WITH JOY BY THE WILL OF GOD.”

IN VERSE 33 HE BLESSES THEM ASKING THAT THE GOD OF PEACE BE WITH THEM.

IN CHAPTER 16:18 PAUL KNEW THAT THE JUDAIZERS WOULD APPEAR AT THE ROMAN CHURCH AND BRING THEIR CONSTANT EFFORT AT DIVISION.

HE WARNS THE ROMAN BELIEVERS TO AVOID THEM AS THEY ARE DECEITFUL AND WERE BRINGING THEIR OWN PURPOSES, NOT THE PURPOSES OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

HERE PAUL PROVIDES A WARNING THAT IS AS PROPER TODAY AS IT WAS WHEN HE WROTE IT.

THERE IS DANGER OUTSIDE THE CHURCH AND THERE IS DANGER INSIDE THE CHURCH.

THE DANGERS OUTSIDE COME FROM FALSE TEACHERS WHO GLORIFY ONLY THEMSELVES.

WE SEE THIS TODAY EVERY SUNDAY MORNING ON TV WHEN CERTAIN MEN CLAIM TO PREACH THE GOSPEL BUT ALWAYS GIVE ONLY THEIR OWN 800 NUMBER FOR OUR MONEY.

THEY LIVE IN MILLIONAIRE MANSIONS AND BUY PRIVATE JETS TRYING HARD TO NEVER ALLOW US TO KNOW.

THE DANGER INSIDE THE CHURCH IS THE SPIRIT OF PRIDE, DISCONTENT, JEALOUSY, AND ALL THE OTHER WORKS OF THE FLESH. ALONG WITH FALSE DOCTRINE.

THESE DANGERS FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN ARE ALL THE WORKS OF OUR EVIL ADVERSARY AND ALL ARE PERMITTED BY THE LORD TO VISIT US TO TEST AND TRY OUR FAITH ALREADY DELIVERED TO US.

THIS STUDY HAS BEEN POWERFUL AND ELOQUENT AND HAS REVEALED THE ETERNAL PLAN OF GOD TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY PROPHET PAUL.

JUST AS JESUS TAUGHT IN HIS MINISTRY, SALVATION WAS FIRST SENT TO THE JEWS WHICH REJECTED IT ALMOST COMPLETELY.

HE CAME TO HIS OWN AND HIS OWN RECEIVED HIM NOT.

THE PLAN OF GOD WAS NOT DELAYED WHATSOEVER, IT QUICKLY MOVED TO THE DAMASCUS ROAD AND A POWERFUL AND VIOLENT CONVERSION CAUSING BLINDNESS TO HIS CHOSEN VESSEL.

A MAN WE NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE OR AFTER WAS SENT TO DELIVER THE HOLY SPIRIT, CLEANSE THE BLINDNESS, AND BAPTIZE THE CHOSEN VESSEL WHO WE STUDIED FOR THESE MANY WEEKS.

HE REVEALED TO US THAT BECAUSE OF THE FALL OF THE JEWS, SALVATION CAME TO THE GENTILES.

BUT HE ALSO REVEALED THAT GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH THE JEWS.

AFTER THE FULLNESS OF TIME WITH THE GENTILES COMING INTO THE KINGDOM, THE LORD’S NEW CREATION, HIS CHURCH, WILL BE REMOVED AND THE END TIMES WILL APPEAR WHICH WILL END WITH EVERY KNEE BOWED AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESSING HE IS LORD.

OUR NEXT STUDY TAKES US BACK INTO THE DEEPEST PORTION OF THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES AS WE TRAVEL THROUGH LEVITICUS, NUMBERS, & DEUTEROMONY.

Romans - Chapters 3-5

THE MEANS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – FAITH IN CHRIST

Romans 3:21 – 5:21

Application: Righteousness acceptable to God only comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Self-righteousness gratifies people – only God’s righteousness saves them.

FOR THIS TERM OF SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDY WE ARE FOCUSED BY OUR WRITERS ON THE BOOK OF ROMANS.

TO KEEP US ON THE PROPER ROAD THIS TERM, THEY HAVE PROVIDED 17 LESSONS, AND EACH ONE DETAILS SOME ASPECT OF THE TERM “RIGHTEOUSNESS”.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO BEGIN WITH CONSIDERATION OF THE DEFINITION OF ANY FOCUS WORD.

WEBSTERS DEFINES RIGHTEOUSNESS AS:

“BEING IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT IS JUST,

HONORABLE,

FREE FROM GUILT FOR WRONG.”

ALL THREE DEFINITIONS WONDERFULLY DESCRIBE WHAT ALL BELIEVERS HOPE TO DISCOVER & ACHIEVE AS WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO JESUS AND AS HIS PERFECT COMFORTER TAKES UP RESIDENCE WITHIN EACH HEART.

NO DISCUSSION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS CAN BE COMPLETE WITHOUT INCLUDING THE SUBJECT OF THE HUMAN CONDITION OF SIN AND WE WILL NEED TO CONSIDER IT TO UNDERSTAND OUR LESSONS IN THE WEEKS TO COME.

FOR ALMOST 2,000 YEARS CHRISTIAN WRITERS HAVE PRESENTED THE ISSUE TO ALL WHO STUDY THE WORD THE MYSTERIOUS TRADE  THAT JESUS CAME TO BRING TO THE WORLD.

OF THOSE WRITERS PERHAPS PAUL HAS REMAINED THE STRONGEST OF ALL TEACHERS ON THE IDEAS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS & SIN.

IN THE EARLY CHURCH DAYS, SOME CALLED THIS SUBJECT “THE GREAT EXCHANGE”. 

IT WAS AN EXCELLENT SHORT WAY TO EXPRESS THE ATONEMENT GRANTED TO THE ELECT BY JESUS, 

HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCHANGED FOR OUR SIN.

I HOLD TO THE IDEA THAT WE AS BELIEVERS HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN THE BEST END OF THE BARGAIN MADE IN THE EXCHANGE.

ALL WE ARE ASKED TO DO IS:

1. REPENT.

2. BELIEVE IN HIM.

3. ACCEPT HIS GOSPEL INTO OUR HEARTS.

4. LIVE FOR HIM.

5. TELL OTHERS.

FOR THOSE SIMPLE REQUESTS, CHRIST GAVE HIS LIFE.

HIS SACRIFICE AND MINISTRY WAS THE MEANS GRANTED TO OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

HE CONQUERED THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS DEMONS, THE WORLD AND ALL ITS DECEPTIONS, AND SIN AND ALL ITS DESTRUCTION.

THROUGH FAITH IN HIM, AND HIM ALONE, DO WE SHARE IN HIS VICTORY.

THE ETERNAL TRUTH IS THAT HIS VICTORY SECURED OURS, AND BROUGHT THE PATH TO RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EACH OF HIS ELECT ALONG WITH AN EVER INCRESING JOY IN LIFE THAT IS LIVED FOR HIM.

WE ARE JUSTIFIED BY THIS SACRIFICE. THIS MEANS WE ARE MADE RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE FATHER, RENDERED NOT GUILTY OF ALL SIN BY THIS ACT.

WE ARE REDEEMED AS WELL BY THIS ACT OF SACRIFICE. THE PRICE REQUIRED FOR EVERY SIN TO BE COVERED WAS PAID BY HIM.

BY THESE WORKS, JESUS CHRIST BECAME THE PROPITIATION, THE COVERING, OR PAYMENT, FOR ALL SIN FOR ALL TIME FOR ALL HIS ELECT.

ONE OF MY BEST BIBLE TEACHERS MANY YEARS AGO HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THIS MYSTERIOUS ACT BY SAYING:

“SUFFICIENT FOR ALL  - EFFECTIVE FOR SOME”

ALONG THIS PATH WE SHOULD NOT MOVE ONWARD WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE IMPUTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

IT IS ONLY BY FAITH AND ACCEPTANCE THAT RIGHTEOUNESS IS GAINED. 

PAUL REMINDS US IN ROMANS 4:2-3 THAT EVEN FATHER ABRAHAM WAS CONSIDERED RIGHTEOUS NOT BY ANY WORKS THAT HE MAY HAVE DONE, BUT BY FAITH AND FAITH ONLY.

WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WITH THIS THOUGHT ON ABRAHAM BECAUSE THERE ARE THOSE WHO SAY THAT HE WAS FOUND RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE OF THE COVENANT GOD MADE WITH HIM.

THIS COVENANT WAS A SINGULAR EVENT MADE BY GOD WITH ONE MAN WHO WAS CHOSEN OUT OF A PEOPLE OF IDOL WORSHIPPERS.

BUT THE COVENANT WAS NOT THE REASON ABRAHAM WAS FOUND TO BE RIGHTEOUS.

IN ROMANS 4:10 LISTEN TO PAUL USE OUR OWN LANGUAGE FROM THE SOUTH TO EXPLAIN:

“HOW WAS IT THEN RECKONED? WHEN HE WAS IN CIRCUMCISION, OR IN UNCIRCUMCISION? NOT IN CIRCUMCISION BUT IN UNCIRCUMSION.”

ABRAHAM WAS JUSTIFIED IN GENESIS 15:6 BUT HE WAS NOT CIRCUMCISED UNTIL GENESIS 17-25-27, WHICH TOOK PLACE WHEN HE WAS 99, A NUMBER OF YEARS LATER.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES FACED BY JEWS FOR IF FATHER ABRAHAM WAS FOUND BY GOD TO BE RIGHTEOUS WHILE HE WAS IN A GENTILE STATE OF BEING, THEN CIRCUMCISION IS NOT NECESSARY TO JUSTIFICATION. PAUL PREACHED THIS FACT AGAIN AND AGAIN AGAINST THE JUDAIZERS WHO TRIED TO MAKE THE GENTILES BECOME JEWS TO BE TRULY SAVED.

THIS ATTRIBUTE OF ALL BELIEVERS CANNOT BE EARNED. THERE IS NO WORK THAT MAN MAY DO TO EARN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS NECESSARY TO STAND BEFORE THE LORD.

ONE’S STANDING BEFORE GOD IS BASED UPON THE FREE GIFT OF HIS GRACE, NOT OF WORKS THAT NONE MAY BOAST.

SINCE IT RESTS ONLY UPON GRACE FROM ABOVE, ONCE GIVEN, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR LACK OF WORKS TO REMOVE IT. WE ARE ETERNALLY SECURE AND WE REJOICE IN THE JOY OF THIS WONDERFUL PROMISE.

BECAUSE NO MAN EVER KEPT THE LAW, NOR HAS ANY MAN EVER KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS, GOD PROVIDED A MEANS OF FORGIVENESS FOR SIN BEFORE JESUS WAS INCARNATE AMONG US.

THAT MEANS WAS THE ALTAR IN FRONT OF THE PORTABLE TABERNACLE AND LATER THE GREAT ALTAR IN THE FRONT OF THE TEMPLE OF STONE IN JERUSALEM.

GOD ALWAYS KNEW THAT MAN’S SIN NATURE WAS PERMANENT AFTER THE GARDEN, AND HE PROVIDED WAYS FOR SACRIFICE TO ATONE FOR THAT SIN NATURE.

WHEN JESUS CAME, THE PATH FOR FORGIVENESS WAS FOREVER CHANGED FROM THE BLOOD OF BULLS & GOATS TO HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD, SHED ONCE AND FOREVER SUFFICIENT.

ONLY GOD INCARNATE COULD MAKE A SACRIFICE THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE LORD FOR OUR SIN.

JOHN 1:14 CLEARLY DEFINES THE GOD MAN WHO ACCEPTED THAT COMMANDMENT FROM THE FATHER TO COME AND DIE FOR EACH BELIEVER.

HE WHO FULFILLED THE LAW, AND LIVED WITHOUT SIN, BECAME SIN FOR US AND EXCHANGED HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR OUR SINFUL WAYS.

FROM THE MOMENT WE SAY YES TO HIM WE HAVE DIVINE LOVE ABIDING IN US

• THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING IN US

• THE JUSTIFICATION BY JESUS’ BLOOD FOR US

• SALVATION FROM WRATH RESERVED FOR US

• JOY FOREVER LAID IN FRONT OF US

• SIN’S FORGIVENESS APPLIED TO US

• ETERNAL LIFE GRANTED TO US

THIS IS THE PLAN OF THE AGES FOR THOSE WHO BECOME HIS CHILDREN.

ALTHOUGH WE ARE SAVED FROM WRATH, AND WE SHOULD BE FOREVER THANKFUL, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT OUR THANKS SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE MEANS GOD SUPPLIED TO CONVEY CONTINUED FORGIVENESS TOWARD US.

BOTH ISAIAH & JAMES TEACH US THAT PRAYER AND CONFESSION MAINTAINS OUR PART OF THE GREAT EXCHANGE AS LONG AS WE REMAIN HERE BEARING HIS FRUIT.

PAUL REVEALS CLEARLY AND EXPLICITLY IN 5:12-21 THAT SIN HAS PASSED FROM PARENT TO CHILD SINCE ADAM.

NONE ARE WITHOUT IT AND WITHOUT CHRIST NONE ESCAPE IT.

ADAM’S SIN REMOVED HIM FROM PERFECTION AND SEVERED THE CLOSENESS HE SHARED WITH GOD.

ALL MEN & WOMEN SINCE, SAVE ONE, INHERITED THAT INCLINATION TOWARD SIN.

PLEASE BE SURE WE REMEMBER TODAY IN THIS LESSON THAT SIN IS NOT WHAT WE DO, SIN IS WHAT WE ARE.

PAUL KNEW THIS FACT AND THAT IS WHY HE TAUGHT THAT WE ARE NEW CREATURES AFTER SALVATION.

JUST AS SIN CONDEMNED MANY, SO MANY WERE SAVED BY THE ONE PAUL CALLED THE SECOND ADAM, JESUS CHRIST.

ADAM BROUGHT DEATH (SPIRITUAL & PHYSICAL) TO ALL MEN. 

JESUS BROUGHT NEW BIRTH SPIRITUALLY AND LIFE ETERNAL TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE AND ACCEPT.

ADAM BROUGHT DISOBEDIENCE RESULTING IN SIN.

JESUS BROUGHT PERFECT OBEDIENCE WHICH BROUGHT SALVATION.

ADAM BROUGHT LOSS AND MANKIND CAST OUT.

JESUS BROUGHT GRACE AND MANKIND RECONCILED.

ADAM BROUGHT THE CURSE AND CONFLICT.

JESUS BROUGHT PEACE AND LOVE.

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL NEW MESSAGE BROUGHT BY PAUL TO THE ROMANS.

ALL THEIR GODS WERE FIERCE ANIMAL GOD OR BEINGS OF MYTH. THEIR LEADERS INSISTED ON BEING WORSHIPPED AS GODS THEMSELVES.

PAUL BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS THAT A LOVING FATHER AWAITED ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE AND ACCEPT AND THAT THIS LOVING FATHER HAD CONQUERED SIN FOR US AND PROVIDED THE PATH TO HIS PEACE THROUGH HIS SON.

MEN CAN BE FORGIVEN OF THEIR SIN, HAVE ETERNAL ACCESS TO GOD, AND FIND THEMSELVES RIGHTEOUS  THROUGH FAITH, NOT WORKS.

THE MESSAGE IS AS PURE AND PERFECT TODAY AS IT WAS IN THOSE LONG AGO DAYS IN ROME.

WHAT A SAVIOR !!!!!!!!!!!

Romans - Chapter 6

VICTORY OVER SIN

ROMANS 6:15-23

AS WE JOURNEY DOWN THE ROMAN ROAD WITH PAUL, THERE ARE SEVERAL THEMES THAT WE MUST UNDERSTAND IN ORDER TO PROPERLY FOLLOW HIS TEACHINGS.

AMONG THOSE ARE:

The righteousness of God is a continual attribute and is expressed within creation.

Christ is the new Adam who, by taking on the likeness of human nature, has summarized all of human history since the fall, and has reversed that history which was moving toward destruction.

Faith is the human response lit by the fire of the Word kindled by the Holy Spirit.

God, through Christ, not only declares those He called righteous, but has made them so.

Imputation of this righteousness is a physical reality.

Sin is not a collection of mistakes or missteps along the journey of life. Since Adam, sin is what we are. It is the nature of mankind and is only  resolved when each one He calls to himself becomes a new creature with a new and holy second nature.

WE MUST TRAVEL BACK TO CHAPTER 2 TO BEGIN THIS UNDERSTANDING. 

THERE PAUL IS STRONGLY CRITICAL OF THE JEWS FOR TWO MAJOR FLAWS IN THEIR THINKING AND BEHAVIOR.

HE FIRST SAYS THERE IS PROFESSION WITHOUT PERFORMANCE.

THEY HAD DISPLEASED GOD WITH THEIR DISOBEDIENCE OF GOD'S COMMANDS.

THEY KNEW THE TRUTH AND THEY DID NOT LIVE IT.

THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNBELIEVERS BEING MISLED AS THEIR JEWISH LIVES WERE NOT IN ACCORD WITH THEIR PROFESSION OF FAITH IN THE LAW AND THIS FAILURE ALLOWED GOD'S NAME TO BE DESPISED.

THE ORACLES OF GOD WERE GIVEN TO THEM AND THEY NO LONGER HONORED THE GIFTS GIVEN.

PAUL WAS ALSO CRITICAL OF THEIR RITUAL WITHOUT REALITY.

HE USED THE LONG HELD VIEW OF CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH AS A FACTOR AGAINST THEM.

PAUL WAS SURE THAT THIS SIGN OF THE COVENANT IN THEIR FLESH HAD LOST SIGNIFIGANCE AND WAS NOT VALID TO THE REALITY OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS IDEA (ALONG WITH THE CONCEPT OF IMPUTATION) WAS NOT A NEW IDEA, CONTRARY TO MANY WHO SEEM TO THINK SO.

JEREMIAH HAD SAID THE IDENTICAL THING IN JEREMIAH 4:4 WHEN HE TOLD THE CHOSEN PEOPLE TO  “... TAKE AWAY THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEARTS...”.

NOW THIS TEACHING WAS VIEWED AS A THUNDERBOLT OF HERESY AS THIS ONE TEACHING WAS SACRED IN THE TEACHING OF THE RABBIS.

PAUL WAS NOW EMPHASIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RITUAL AND REALITY. 

THE MARK IN THE FLESH WAS SUPPOSED TO CARRY SPIRITUAL MEANING, BUT THE SPIRITUAL REALITY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT WAS NO LONGER EVIDENT.

NOW IN CHAPTER SIX PAUL UNFOLDS HIS RADICAL TEACHING ON HOW THOSE WHO COME TO BE “IN CHRIST” WIN VICTORY OVER SIN.

EVEN IN THE 20TH CENTURY THERE WERE SOME WHO TAUGHT THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF “CHEAP GRACE”.

IT MEANT THAT SINCE ONE IS SAVED AND SINS ARE FORGIVEN BY THE REDEMPTION OF THE SACRIFICE BY JESUS ON HIS CROSS, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE WISH, SIN AS MUCH AS WE WISH, BECAUSE ALL SIN IS COVERED.

PAUL ATTACKS SUCH AN ABSURD IDEA IN CHAPTER 6.

WITHOUT INTRODUCTION OR WARNING, IN VERSES 1-7 PAUL TELLS HIS READERS (INCLUDING US) THAT ONCE SAVED, SINNERS WHO ARE THEN SAINTS HAVE “DIED TO SIN”.

PAUL THEN BEGINS HIS CORE TEACHING THAT SIN IS TO BE HANDLED THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

IN VERSES 8-10 PAUL EXPLORES & REVEALS THIS RELATIONSHIP.

HE SHOWS THAT THE OBEDIENT SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM UNITES THE BELIEVER TO JESUS AND IS THEREFORE A PARTICIPANT IN THE EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST.

HE HAS DIED TO SIN, BEEN BURIED AS HE GOES DOWN INTO THE WATER, AND IS THEN RAISED AGAIN AS HE COMES FORTH BEING THEN IN “NEW LIFE” WITH THE LORD.

GENERALLY BAPTISM WAS IMMEDIATE AFTER REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION IN THOSE DAYS. 

REMEMBER THE MOMENT BETWEEN PHILLIP & THE EUNUCH.

PAUL USES THE KEY PASSAGE HERE TO TEACH THAT JESUS DIED TO SIN ONCE FOR ALL. 

HERE PAUL IS SAYING THAT SINCE WE HAVE COME TO BE IN CHRIST IN OUR OWN BAPTISM, AND SINCE HE DIED TO SIN, THAT WE NOW HAVE DIED TO SIN AS WELL.

JESUS LIVED OVER THIRTY YEARS SURROUNDED  BY THE WRECKAGE OF SIN AMONG THE PEOPLE IN THE PROMISED LAND.

BUT PAUL CLEARLY TEACHES US IN 2ND COR 5:20 THAT HE HIMSELF KNEW NO SIN.

GOD MADE HIM TO BE SIN SO THAT HIS SACRIFICE WAS ACCEPTABLE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN.

PAUL IS TEACHING US THAT WE ALSO MUST BE DONE WITH SIN AS WE SEEK TO LIVE IN CHRIST.

HE ALLOWS US THREE REASONS WHY THAT IS SO:

The person we were before Christ has been judged, condemned, sentenced, executed, and buried. We are finished with him forever and a new creature now lives.

The body, which is quick to yield to sin's temptation has now been placed in a position where this domination of sin is no longer the normal daily life.

The justified believer has now the freedom to walk away from the dominating power of sin in his life.

IN VERSES 11-14 PAUL EXPRESSES THE SAINT'S RELATIONSHIP TO TEMPTATION.

HE BEGINS WITH TWO STIPULATIONS:

• First, we are dead to sin.

• Second, we are alive to God.

BECAUSE OF THESE TWO THE BELIEVER MUST NO LONGER LET SIN REIGN IN HIS MORTAL BODY.

THERE IS NOTHING MYSTERIOUS IN THIS TEACHING.

IT IS SIMPLE AND DIRECT.

WE, AS BELIEVERS,MUST SIMPLY SAY NO IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS TO TEMPTATION.

THE OFF – SWITCH HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO US AND THE ABILITY TO USE IT IS THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST, NOT OUR OWN.

HIS STRENGTH HAS BEEN IMPUTED TO EACH BELIEVER IN ORDER TO ALLOW EACH BELIEVER TO BE VICTORIOUS IN HIS INDIVIDUAL BATTLES ON A DAILY BASIS.

AS WE STUDIED IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6, WE KNOW THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD IS GIVEN TO THE BELIEVER AND IT PROTECTS US AGAINST THE ATTACKS OF SATAN ALLOWING US TO WIN THE DAILY BATTLES.

WE ARE NOT PREDESTINED TO AVOID TEMPTATION BUT WE ARE ALSO NOT PREDESTINED TO LOSE THE WAR.

TEMPTATION IS NOT SIN. YIELDING TO IT IS SINFUL.

IN VERSES 15-23 PAUL DEVELOPS THE RELATIONSHIP OF EACH SAINT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THE FIRST LETTER FROM PAUL WENT TO THE CHURCH AT GALATIA.

IN THAT LETTER HE WROTE A SENTENCE (GAL 2:16) THAT ROCKED THE JEWISH WORLD OFF OF ITS FOUNDATIONS.

“...by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified...”

HERE PAUL TAUGHT THAT THERE IS NO LEVEL OF OBEDIENCE THAT WILL BRING SALVATION TO THE SONS OF ABRAHAM.

NO MAN (EXCEPT JESUS) EVER FULLY OBEYED THE LAW FOR THE NATURE OF MAN SINCE ADAM MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE.

MAN HAD BECOME INFESTED WITH THE CURSE OF SIN FROM ADAM.

THEREFORE BEFORE CONVERSION ALL BELIEVERS PLUS THOSE STILL LOST WERE SERVANTS OF SIN.

BUT NOW, THROUGH THE ONCE AND EFFECTIVE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST, BELIEVERS HAD BECOME SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THOSE WHO, THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD HAD BECOME UNITED WITH CHRIST HAVE BEEN MADE FREE FROM THE CURSE OF SIN AND HAD TRADED THEIR SLAVERY TO SIN FOR A SLAVERY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR WHICH CHRIST STOOD AND WHICH HE ALLOWED EACH BELIEVER TO EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE GIFT OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

WHAT IS THE RESULT?

VERSE 22 IS VERY CLEAR. 

THIS NEW LIFESTYLE IN CHRIST LEADS US TO A LIFE OF “... FRUIT TO HOLINESS, AND THE END, EVERLASTING LIFE.”

WE CANNOT END THE MORNING STUDY WITHOUT DWELLING A MOMENT OR TWO ON THIS IDEA OF THE IMPUTATION OF ORIGINAL SIN TO EVERYONE AFTER ADAM (SAVE JESUS), AND THE IMPUTATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY BELIEVER THROUGH CHRIST.

WE MUST RECALL THAT ADAM & EVE WERE THE LAST HUMANS TO ENJOY A RELATION WITH GOD WITHOUT SIN UNTIL JESUS CAME IN THE LIKENESS OF OUR FLESH.

ROMANS 5:19 IS VERY CLEAR:

“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

JUST AS OUR POINT EARLIER ON CIRCUMCISION WAS FOUND TO BEGIN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, SO THE THOUGHT OF IMPUTATION IS AS WELL.

DAVID KNEW THIS FACT SURELY AND HE VOICED IT IN HIS GREAT PSALM OF CONFESSION (PSALMS 51:5):

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

MOSES SPOKE OF IT IN EXODUS 20:5:

“... visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children...”

ADAM'S SIN IS TRULY OUR SIN.

LEVI WAS SAID TO BE WITH HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER ABRAHAM WHEN THE TITHES WERE PAID TO MELCHIDEZEK EVEN THOUGH LEVI WAS NOT YET BORN. (HEBREWS 7:5)

OUR SOLIDARITY WITH ADAM IN SINFULLNESS THROUGH OUR HUMANITY IS IMPORTANT  TO NOTE FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING OUR SOLIDARITY WITH JESUS AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS PAUL EXPLAINS IN ROMANS 5.

HE DEFENDS THE WHOLE NOTION OF ONE MAN'S DEATH AS THE BASIS FOR ALL MEN'S RECONCILIATION WITH GOD.

SINCE WE GLADLY ACCEPT THE IMPUTATION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE SHOULD NOT BE HESITANT TO ACCEPT WHAT IS IMPUTED AS TO SIN AND CONDEMNATION.

JUST AS ADAM WAS CREATED UNIQUELY SO TOO WAS JESUS.

BOTH REPRESENT HUMANITY.

THE FIRST ADAM REPRESENTS ALL BORN OF FLESH AND JESUS, THE LAST ADAM, REPRESENTS ALL BORN OF THE SPIRIT.

JESUS, BORN OF THE SPIRIT OF HEAVEN, KNEW NO SIN BUT BECAME SIN SO THAT WE COULD BECOME RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD, JUSTIFIED AS IF WE HAD NEVER SINNED OURSELVES, OUR VICTORY.

AND WE SEE THAT VICTORY ANNOUNCED IN ROMANS 8:1

“THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS...”

HOW DO WE 2,000 YEARS LATER CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THAT VICTORY IN OUR OWN LIVES?

THE DEVOTION OF THE BELIEVER  IS MEASURED ONLY BY THE DEPTH OF HIS SURRENDER.

OUR VICTORY OVER SIN IS SHOWN CLEARLY WHEN WE FINALLY

COME TO DEEPER SURRENDER OF OUR LIVES TO THE LORD.

Romans - Chapter 8

The Practice of Righteousness – Walking in the Spirit

Romans 8:1-25

Application: Believers may live righteously in this world as they deny the flesh and walk after the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit results in life, peace, and freedom.

FIRST WE SEE A GREAT CHANGE FROM CHAPTER SEVEN LAST WEEK TO CHAPTER EIGHT TODAY. 

THE OUTLOOK IN CHAPTER 7 WAS INDWELLING SIN, WHILE THE OUTLOOK IN CHAPTER 8 IS THE INDWELLING SPIRIT OF THE BELIEVER.

IN CHAPTER 7 THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT MENTIONED ONCE.

IN CHAPTER 8 WE SEE IT MENTIONED 20 TIMES.

NOW WE SEE PAUL’S IDEA OF THE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL WHO ACCEPT AND BELIEVE.

PAUL TEACHES US THAT TRUE LIBERTY IN LIFE IS THE PRODUCT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD.

IF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT IS WITHIN US, WE ARE MADE FREE.

IF HIS HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT DWELLING WITHIN US WE HAVE NO FREEDOM NOR LIBERTY AS WE ARE STILL SLAVES TO SIN AND ITS DESTRUCTION.

AS WE BEGIN, LET’S THINK BACK TO THE STORY OF THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN IN JOHN 8.

WE ALL REMEMBER THE STORY AS THE PHARISEES TRIED TO TEMPT JESUS TO BREAK THE LAW OF MOSES BY DRAGGING THE WOMAN BEFORE HIM.

THIS STORY IS THE ONLY TIME IN SCRIPTURE THAT DESCRIBES JESUS WRITING. HE WAS QUIETLY WRITING IN THE SAND AS THESE HYPOCRITES ASKED HIM IF THE PENALTY FOR THIS SIN, STONING UNTIL DEAD, SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HE WROTE. 

PERHAPS HE WAS WRITING THE SINS OF EACH MAN STANDING WITH A ROCK IN HIS HAND.

JESUS GAVE THE WONDERFUL INSTRUCTION THAT STOPPED ALL QUESTIONS WHEN HE SAID THAT HE WHO WAS WITHOUT SIN SHOULD CAST THE FIRST STONE.

SLOWLY EACH SINNER DROPPED HIS ROCK AND SLIPPED AWAY LEAVING ONLY JESUS AND THE WOMAN.

IN THE MOST COMFORTING WORDS POSSIBLE, JESUS ASKED THE WOMAN “WHERE ARE THY ACCUSERS?”

SHE ANSWERED “GONE LORD”.

HE THEN TOLD HER “NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU, GO AND SIN NO MORE”.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE MAN THERE THAT DAY WHO COULD HAVE CAST A STONE AND IT WAS JESUS AS HE ALONE WAS WITHOUT SIN. 

BUT INSTEAD OF IMPOSING THE PENALTY OF THIS SIN GIVEN BY THE LAW, HE OFFERED HER FREEDOM FROM CONDEMNATION.

ONCE SHE MET CHRIST, SHE WAS FREED FROM SIN AND NO LONGER CONDEMNED.

THIS LESSON IS THE SUMMARY OF THE ENTIRE STUDY GUIDE MESSAGE TODAY.

WE EITHER WALK IN FLESH AND REMAIN IN SIN’S GRIP, AND HURRY TOWARD ETERNAL DEATH OR WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND TRAVEL ONWARD TOWARD ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST.

IF JESUS WALKED INTO OUR CLASS THIS MORNING HOW WOULD HE DESCRIBE THE MEANING OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE?

I THINK HE MIGHT SAY:

FROM THE DAY YOU SAY YES TO ME FORWARD, I WILL NOT CONDEMN YOU. THERE SHOULD NEVER BE FEAR IN YOUR HEART OF CONDEMNATION.

THE WORLD MAY CONDEMN YOU.

EVEN THE CHURCH MAY CONDEMN YOU.

YOUR FAMILY MAY CONDEMN YOU.

BUT IF YOU ARE IN ME, YOU ARE FOREVER SAFE.

DESPITE THE FOREVER STRUGGLE WITH SIN AND SATAN’S TEMPTATION, YOU ARE FREED FROM MISERYAND HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH & JUDGMENT.

WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO THE FLESH AS PAUL TEACHES, FOR WE WHO ARE HIS WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

PAUL ALSO IS TEACHING THAT WHEN WE STAND OUTSIDE OF THE SPIRIT WE ARE STILL WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH BUT WE SEE IN VERSE 3 THAT GOD SENT HIS OWN SON ON ACCOUNT OF SIN.

NOTICE PAUL SAYS THAT HE WAS SENT IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, NOT IN SINFUL FLESH HIMSELF.

IN VERSES 3 & 4 PAUL IS TEACHING US THAT CHRIST FULFILLED FOR US THE RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW WHEN HE WALKED UP GOLGATHA’S HILL AND TOOK OUR SIN AND SIN ITSELF UPON HIMSELF.

THE CUP THAT JESUS PRAYED ABOUT IN GETHSEMENE WAS THE CUP OF GOD’S WRATH AND HE DRANK OF IT FOR EACH OF US.

AT THAT MOMENT HE MADE US AND ALL WHO CAME BEFORE AND ALL WHO WILL COME AFTER RIGHTEOUS THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE IN BLOOD FOR US.

NOTICE HOW CAREFULLY PAUL DESCIBES IN VERSE 5 THE MIND SET OF THOSE WHO’S FOCUS OF LIFE IS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, NOT OF THE SPIRIT.

THE TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH AND THIS WORLD WILL BE OURS UNTIL WE LEAVE HERE, BUT THE QUESTION IS, “WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF OUR LIFE?”

VERSE 8 CLEARLY REMINDS US THAT WE CARRY THE ORIGINAL SIN INCLINATION OF OUR FIRST PARENTS AND THIS CURSE, ALONG WITH THE WORLD’S CONSTANT TEMPTATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO TAKE US DOWNWARD ON THE ROAD OF FLESH.

MAKING THOSE THINGS OUR FOCUS WILL NOT ALLOW US TO PLEASE GOD AND THOSE WHO LEAD LIFE ON THIS ROAD NEVER FIND HIS WILL FOR THAT LIFE.

NEXT IN VERSE 9 PAUL TEACHES AGAIN THAT WE SHARE THE VICTORY OF CHRIST IF INDEED THE SPIRIT DWELLS WITHIN US.

HERE IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ALL OF CHRISTIANITY.

IF THROUGH FAITH, WE ACCEPT HIM, AND ARE BORN AGAIN IN HIS SPIRIT, WE CAN BOTH SEE THE KINGDOM AND ENTER IT.

OUR FUTURES ARE SEALED AND REDEEMED FOR ETERNITY IF THAT TRUTH IS WITHIN US.

JESUS MADE THIS POINT SO CLEARLY TO NICODEMUS WHEN NICODEMUS SOUGHT THE TRUTH IN THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT. JESUS REVEALED TO HIM THE LIGHT.

NOW IN VERSES 9-17 WE ARE GRANTED AN EVEN FURTHER LOOK INSIDE THE FAMILY OF THE LORD.

WE SEE THE WONDERFUL TEACHING OF PAUL THAT WE ARE NOT ONLY CONSIDERED SEALED AND REDEEMED FOREVER IN THE SPIRIT BUT WE ARE NOW TO BE CONSIDERED “SONS OF GOD” AND WE CRY OUT TO HIM “ABBA” WHICH IS HEBREW FOR FATHER.

THINK ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF 1ST JOHN 3, WHICH SAY:

“BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HATH BESTOWED UPON US THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED THE SONS OF GOD”.

AS WE ARE NOW TRANSFORMED INTO HIS CHILDREN, VERSE 11 TEACHES US THAT HE WHO RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD WILL ALSO GIVE LIFE TO OUR MORTAL BODIES THROUGH HIS SPIRIT WHO DWELLS IN US.

HERE IS THE ASSURANCE OF OUR SALVATION FOREVER. 

ONCE WE ARE HIS, THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS.

ONCE SAVED – FOREVER SAVED.

IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO THINK ABOUT THIS ASSURANCE AND REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE FOUR KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WITH RESPECT TO SALVATION:

1. SOME ARE NOT SAVED AND THEY KNOW THEY ARE NOT SAVED. THEY ARE NOT IN A STATE OF GRACE AND ARE NOT REGENERATED.

2. SOME ARE SAVED AND HAVE THE FULL ASSURANCE OF THEIR STATE OF REDEMPTION.

THEY ARE SAVED AND KNOW THEY ARE SAVED.

1. SOME ARE SAVED AND SEEM UNSURE OF THEIR 

STATE. THEIR SOULS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY

REST IN CHRIST AND SAFETY.

IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE FIRST 3. WE HAVE SEEN THEM ALL OURSELVES.

THE 4TH IS THOSE WHO ARE NOT SAVED BUT THINK THEY ARE. THEY ARE UNDER FALSE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION WHICH THEY DO NOT POSSESS.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THIS 4TH TYPE:

1. THEY HAVE A FALSE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IS NECESSARY TO BE FULLY SAVED. THEY FEEL DOING WELL AND GOOD DEEDS WILL BRING ETERNITY IN THE HEAVEN OF THE LORD.

2. THE OTHER REASON IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS NO GOOD DEED THAT BRINGS SALVATION, AS IT IS NOT OF WORKS. IT IS THROUGH GRACE THROUGH FAITH ALONE.

THESE PEOPLE DECEIVE THEMSELVES AS TO THE CONDITION OF THEIR HEART AS THEY DO NOT TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION. 

THIS DECEPTION DOES NOT BRING THEM UNDER GRACE.

SALVATION IS FOUND BY SURRENDER OF SELF AND HEART AND TRUSTING ONLY HIM TO LEAD OUR LIVES ONWARD.

IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE MAY INDEED BE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR US TO REACH.

BUT WE ARE COMMANDED TO TRY.

FINALLY PAUL CONCLUDES THE THOUGHTS ON ADOPTION WITH THE DEEPEST AND HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE FOUND IN VERSE 16:

“THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARS WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT”.

HERE IS THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION AND LIFELONG CONVERSATION ALL BELIEVERS SEEK.

OUR FINAL ASSURANCE COMES BY THE TESTIMONY OF GOD IN HIS HOLY SPIRIT THAT WE ARE INDEED HIS CHILDREN.

THIS FINAL ASSURANCE IS NOT WHISPERED INTO OUR EAR IN SOME HOLY MOMENT.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ASSURANCE IS WITHIN HIS WORD, COMMUNICATED THROUGH HIS WORD AND ACCEPTED IN OBEDIENCE BY EACH WHO WALK IN HIS SPIRIT.

THEN VERSE 17 SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOW EVEN MORE THAT CHILDREN. WE ARE NOW HEIRS, JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST, IF WE LIVE FOR HIM IN OUR OWN LIVES, AND IF SO, WE WILL BE GLORIFIED TOGETHER.

NOW PAUL EXTENDS THIS TEACHING BY GRANTING US SOME PARTICULAR AND PERSONAL ASSURANCE THAT ANY SUFFERING WE AS BELIEVERS MAY HAVE IN THIS LIFE IS NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED TO THE GLORY TO BE REVEALED IN THE NEXT LIFE, THE LIFE ETERNAL.

HE ALSO TEACHES THAT ONCE SAVED WE SHOULD NO LONGER HOLD HOPE FOR THOSE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, THAT WHICH WE CAN SEE, BUT RATHER OUR HOPE IS TO BE IN THOSE THINGS WE CANNOT SEE, AND WE SHOULD EAGERLY WAIT FOR THOSE THINGS.

PAUL NOW MOVES FAR BEYOND THE SALVATION AND GLORY OF THE INDIVIDUAL BELIEVER TO THE DELIVERANCE OF THE CREATION ITSELF.

HE TEACHES THAT THE CREATION ITSELF WILL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE IT HAS ENDURED SO LONG.

THAT BONDAGE WAS TO CORRUPTION AND SIN AND WILL NOW BE REPLACED BY GLORIOUS LIBERTY FOR UNTIL NOW THE CREATION HAS GROANED JUST LIKE THE PAIN OF LABOR.

THIS IS THE HOPE FOR WHICH WE ARE SAVED.

THIS IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL FAITH, THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE LORD, AND WE ARE CERTAIN IN OUR HEARTS OF THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PROMISE FOR THAT GREAT TOMORROW.

EACH SAINT WHO HAS BECOME A MARTYR FOR GOD HAS TAKEN THIS BELIEF AND ASSURANCE TO HIS OR HER DEATH.

EACH KNEW WHERE THEY WERE GOING AND THAT THE GLORY TO COME FAR OUT SHINES THE LIFE HERE.

THIS IS WALKING IN THE SPIRIT AND SO IS THE LIFE OF EACH BELIEVER WHO IS WILLING TO FOCUS OUR LIVES HERE ON THE SPIRIT AND NOT THE FLESH.

WHEN WE DO SO, WE FIND MORE ABUNDANT LIFE, PEACE, AND THE FREEDOM PROMISED IN PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS.

Romans - Chapter 9

THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

ISRAEL’S CONDEMNATION

Romans 9

Application: God’s righteousness always comes by faith and never by works. The people of Israel – and any people anywhere – are only saved by grace through faith in Christ.

OUR STUDY GUIDE BEGINS TODAY’S LESSON WITH ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND SENTENCES OF ANY LESSON IN RECENT WEEKS.

IT BEARS QUOTING WORD FOR WORD AND BEGINS OUR LESSON TODAY WITH THE MAIN ISSUE WE NEED TO CONSIDER.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF ISRAEL TO JESUS CHRIST IS ONE OF THE CONTINUING MYSTERIES OF THE BIBLE.

IN MY TRIPS TO ISRAEL IT TOOK ME SEVERAL YEARS TO BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND THE MINDSET OF THE JEWS.

TO THE JEWS THE LAW IS THE CHRIST.

TO US CHRIST IS THE LAW.

ROMANS 9:1-5

LET’S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT TO MANY DEVOUT JEWS, PAUL WAS A TRAITOR TO ALL THEY HELD TO BE HOLY.

THEY FELT HE WAS CHANGING THE SACRED LAW OF MOSES AND THAT HE WAS PREACHING THAT GENTILES COULD HOLD THE SAME HOLY POSITION IN THE EYES OF GOD AS DID THE JEWS.

PAUL WAS A MASSIVE THREAT TO THE ENTIRE RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT IN ISRAEL JUST AS JESUS HAD BEEN BEFORE HIM.

REGARDLESS OF ALL THE ILL WILL TOWARD PAUL BY THE JEWS, PAUL NEVER LOST HIS HEARTFELT LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE, THE JEWS.

HE CARRIED THIS LOVE AS A BURDEN THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND VOICED HIS LOVE FOR THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN IN SCRIPTURE.

HE OPENS THE 9TH CHAPTER OF ROMANS WITH A THREE PART TESTIMONY OF THIS BURDEN OF LOVE.

1. HE DECLARES THAT HE SAYS THE TRUTH IN CHRIST.

2. HE TELLS ALL WHO READ HIS WORDS THAT HE DOES NOT LIE.

3. HE TEACHES THAT HIS OWN CONSCIENCE BEARS HIM WITNESS IN THE HOLY GHOST.

WITHIN THE FIRST VERSE PAUL HAS INVOKED 2 OF THE 3 MEMBERS OF THE GODHEAD AS HE BEGINS TO REVEAL HIS BURDEN OF LOVE.

HE OPENS WIDE HIS HEART OF LOVE BY SHOWING THAT HE ENDURES GREAT HEAVINESS AND CONTINUAL SORROW.

PAUL WANTED THE JEWS TO GAIN THE SALVATION CONVERSION HE KNEW TO BE REAL AND HE WAS ANGUISHED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THOSE HE LOVED REJECTED THE ONE HE HAD COME TO LOVE MOST.

HE IS SO TROUBLED ABOUT THESE LOST SOULS THAT HE MAKES THE AMAZING STATEMENT THAT HE COULD WISH HIMSELF ACCURSED FROM CHRIST FOR THESE BRETHREN.

PAUL WOULD HAVE SACRIFICED HIMSELF FOR THE JEWS HAD IT BEEN POSSIBLE.

MOSES HIMSELF HAD MADE A SIMILAR STATEMENT WHEN GOD THREATENED TO DESTROY ALL THE HEBREW PEOPLE AFTER THE GOLDEN CALF INCIDENT.

MOSES OFFERED HIS OWN NAME TO BE BLOTTED OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE IF GOD WOULD SPARE THE HEBREWS AND GOD DID.

PAUL NOW BEGINS A NINE PART DEFINITION TO DESCRIBE THESE PEOPLE:

1. THEY WERE ISRAELITES – GOD HAD NAMED THEM HIMSELF BY CHANGING THE NAME OF JACOB TO ISRAEL, MEANING PRINCE OF GOD.

2. THEY HAD THE ADOPTION – GOD CONSIDERED THEM AS HIS SON AND HIS FIRSTBORN AND A TREASURE ABOVE ALL PEOPLE.

3. THEY HAD WITNESSED GOD’S GLORY – THE TABERNACLE AND THE CLOUD IN THE DESERT HAD REVEALED HIS GLORY TO THEM.

4. THEY HAD RECEIVED THE COVENANT – THROUGH ABRAHAM AND MOSES AND DAVID GOD HAD CREATED AGREEMENTS WITH HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.

5. THEY HAD RECEIVED THE LAW – THE LAW OF MOSES HAD RULED GOD’S PEOPLE FOR 1500 YEARS.

6. THEY HAD THE SERVICE OF GOD – NO PEOPLE WERE CLOSER IN SERVICE TO THE LIVING GOD.

7. THEY HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISE – GOD HAD PROMISED LAND, A GREAT NAME, A SPECIAL STATUS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE MESSIAH HAD BEEN GIVEN.

8. THEY HAD THE FATHERS – ALL THE PATRIARCHS HAD SERVED THE LORD AND WERE REVERED BY THE JEWS.

9. THEY HAD THE BLOOD LINE OF THE MESSIAH HIMSELF WITHIN THEIR NATION.

ALL THESE BLESSINGS GOD HAD PROVIDED TO THE NATION AFTER CHOOSING THEM AND YET THEY STILL WERE STIFFNECKED AND REJECTED THE CHRIST SENT TO SAVE THEM.

9:6-8

HERE PAUL TEACHES ONE OF HIS MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS OF ALL HIS WRITINGS.

NOT ALL THOSE WHO ARE OF ISRAEL ARE ISRAEL.

HERE PAUL IS CLEARLY TEACHING THAT JUST AS IN ABRAHAM’S OWN FAMILY, NOT ALL WERE CONSIDERED SONS OF PROMISE, NOW NOT ALL WHO ARE JEWS WILL BE CONSIDERED AS SONS OF GOD.

THE PROMISE IS FOUND WITHIN THE FAITH IN GOD 

AND HIS SON. TRUE ISRAEL IS THE NATION OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED, NOT THOSE WHO WERE SIMPLY BORN OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.

JUST AS TODAY, THE TRUE CHURCH IS NOT DEFINED BY BAPTISTS, NOR METHODIST, NOR BY ANY DENOMINATION. 

THE TRUE CHURCH IS MADE UP OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIS MINISTRY, HIS ATONING DEATH, AND HIS RESURRECTION, ALL OF WHICH WE WHO BELIEVE SHARE.

ABRAHAM HAD 8 SONS, ISHMAEL, ISSAC, AND 6 SONS BY KETURAH, BUT THE PROMISE APPLIED ONLY TO ISSAC.

IN VERSE 9 PAUL FURTHER TEACHES THAT GOD HAD CLEARLY SPECIFIED THAT THE PROMISE WOULD BE HELD ONLY BY A SON FROM SARAH, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS PAST THE AGE.

ABRAHAM ALSO WAS PAST THE AGE OF VITALITY.

THE SON GIVEN WAS BY DIVINE INTERVENTION AND COMMAND, EVEN AFTER ABRAHAM & SARAH TRIED TO HELP GOD ALONG.

THE SON GIVEN TO ISRAEL WAS ALSO BY DIVINE INTERVENTION AND COMMAND.

ONLY THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND ARE TRUE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM, NOT JUST HIS FLESH, ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD AS WELL.

TO MAKE THE POINT EVEN STRONGER PAUL TEACHES IN VERSE 11 THAT EVEN AMONG TWINS BORN FROM REBECCA, BORN OF ONE MOTHER AND ONE FATHER, GOD MAKES CHOICES AS TO WHO WILL OCCUPY THE FIRST POSITION AS HE CHOSE JACOB OVER ESAU BEFORE THEY WERE BORN.

LET’S LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE VERY CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY SO THAT IT CAN CARRY THE WEIGHT IT DESERVES:

(FOR THE CHILDREN BEING NOT YET BORN, NEITHER HAVING DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS, BUT OF HIM THAT CALLETH:)

THIS VERSE, ALONG WITH JEREMIAH 1:5 ARE FULL PROOF THAT THE HUMAN EFFORT, OR WORKS, ARE SWEPT AWAY BY THE MIGHTY WATERS OF GRACE.

GOD ASKED NO MAN FOR PERMISSION TO MAKE JEREMIAH A PROPHET BEFORE HE WAS IN HIS MOTHER’S WOMB.

GOD ASKED NO MAN FOR PERMISSION TO LOVE JACOB MORE THAN ESAU. 

IN THOSE DAYS THE ELDEST SON WAS THE SON OF INHERITANCE, BUT PAUL IS TEACHING THAT GOD’S PURPOSE IS NOT FOUND IN TRADITION NOR EVEN IN ORDER OF BIRTH.

GOD’S PROPOSE IS SERVED BY HIS OWN WILL, AND PAUL SHOWS IN VERSE 12 THAT THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER, REVERSING CENTURIES OF JEWISH CUSTOM BY HIS CALL.

NOTICE THAT IN VERSES 15 & 16 THAT PAUL REMINDS US THAT IN GOD’S CONVERSATION WITH HIS CHOSEN LEADER, MOSES, HE WAS MOST CLEAR THAT IT IS HIS WILL ONLY THAT BRINGS MERCY OR COMPASSION.

VERSES 17 & 18 GO EVEN FURTHER TO SHOW THAT GOD RAISES UP MEN SUCH AS EGYPT’S PHAROH, FOR THE ONLY PURPOSE OF DISPLAYING HIS POWER.

PAUL SAYS THAT GOD ONLY DECIDES WHO WILL RECEIVE MERCY AND WHO WILL BE HARDENED.

JUST AS THE POTTER CAN CRUSH THE CLAY TO MAKE ANOTHER VESSEL, SO CAN GOD DO THE SAME.

PAUL INTRODUCES IN VERSE 24 THE CONCLUSION OF THIS TEACHING BY CALLING US AS BELIEVERS “VESSELS OF MERCY”. GENTILES AS WELL AS JEWS.

THE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IS NOT NEGLECTED BY PAUL IN THESE WONDERFUL PASSAGES.

PAUL QUOTES THE WORDS OF HOSEA 1:10 TO REMIND ALL THAT IN DUE TIME THE CHOSEN PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT WELCOMED THE LORD JESUS WILL, AS A PEOPLE, ACCEPT HIM AS MESSIAH.

VERSE 27 ASSURES THAT A REMNANT OF ISRAEL WILL INDEED BY SAVED BY THE LORD FINISHING THE WORK.

THIS LAST EFFORT WILL OVERCOME THE FACT THAT ISRAEL HAD STUMBLED OVER THE STUMBLINGSTONE THAT WAS THE LAW. 

THEY HAD SOUGHT RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT BY FAITH BUT THROUGH THE LAW BUT PAUL TEACHES THAT IT WILL BE SHORT WORK TO RETURN THEM TO GOD WHEN THE TIME IS CHOSEN.

ONCE MORE, GRACE WILL OVERCOME THE WORKS OF MAN AND WHEN ISRAEL IS GRAFTED BACK INTO THE HOLY VINE, ALL WILL BE RIGHT ON THE EARTH.

IN THOSE DAYS WE ARE TOLD THAT THE MYSTERIES WILL NO LONGER BE MYSTERIOUS AND THAT WE WILL UNDERSTAND IN FULL THOSE THINGS WE CAN NOW ONLY UNDERSTAND IN PART.

KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!!!!

Romans - Chapter 13

THE SUBMISSION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – THE LAW OF LOVE

ROMANS 13:1-14

APPLICATION: Jesus always submitted to his father’s will, and He is our example. Christians show obedience to God by submitting to God ordained authority.

WE COME TODAY TO A VERY PRACTICAL LESSON. IT DEALS WITH HOW THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVER SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF TOWARD GOVERNMENT AND ITS RULES.

OUR FIRST TEACHING IN TODAY’S LESSON IS THAT OUR CHURCH AND ALL OTHER CHURCHES ARE NOT ORDAINED BY GOD TO BE THE AGENTS OF POLITICAL CHANGE.

CHURCHES ARE ORDAINED BY GOD TO BE THE MEANS BY WHICH HIS WILL IS ORDAINED AND IMPLEMENTED IN HIS CREATION.

ALL BELIEVERS ARE ULTIMATELY CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, LIVING ONLY TEMPORARILY ON THE EARTH AS RENTERS OF OUR PORTION OF GOD’S WORLD UNTIL WE ARE BLESSED TO GO HOME.

WITH THE LORD AS OUR GUIDE THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT AND HIMSELF AS OUR LANDLORD IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BEHAVE IN A WAY PLEASING TO HIM AS LONG AS WE ARE HERE.

EACH OF US IS ALSO CHARGED WITH THE MISSION TO BRING HONOR TO OUR TITLE OF “CHRISTIAN” AS WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE WORLD BUT ARE NOT OF THE WORLD.

THE SECOND STRONG LESSON WE GAIN FROM TODAY’S MESSAGE IS THAT THE GOVENRMENTS OF MAN ARE RAISED UP BY GOD HIMSELF AND WE ARE TO RECOGNIZE THIS FACT BY OUR BEHAVIOR TOWARD THOSE GOVERNMENTS.

JESUS, AS IN ALL OTHER THINGS, LEAD THE WAY IN THIS MATTER BY EXAMPLE.

IN JOHN 19:11 WHEN CONFRONTED BY PILATE WHO REMINDED JESUS THAT HE HELD POWER OVER HIM INCLUDING THE POWER OF LIFE OR DEATH, JESUS ASNWERED PILATE THAT HE HAD NO POWER OVER HIM THAT HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN FROM ABOVE.

IN MATTHEW 17:27 JESUS TOLD PETER THAT NO OFFENSE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO AUTHORITY AND SHOWED PETER A MIRACLE WAY TO PROVIDE THE MONEY FOR THE TEMPLE TAX.

THE PRINCIPLE OF THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN BELIEVER IN A WORLD OF GOVERNMENTS IS DIRECT AND WELL TAUGHT IN THIS CHAPTER OF ROMANS.

WE ARE ALWAYS TO OBEY THE AUTHORITIES OVER US UNLESS THOSE AUTHORITIES COMMAND US TO DO SOMETHING GOD FORBIDS, OR FORBIDS US TO DO SOMETHING THAT GOD COMMANDS.

WE ARE NOT TO DISOBEY CIVIL AUTHORITIES BECAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE OR SUPERFICIAL DISAGREEMENT WITH THEIR WISDOM.

AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE NOT TO GIVE SLAVISH OBEDIENCE TO ANY AUTHORITY WHO CLEARLY WORKS AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD.

THE POINT WE MUST BE SURE OF IS THAT WE ARE TO BE OBEDIENT TO GOD OVER MAN, EVEN IF THAT OBEDIENCE BRINGS US INTO CONFLICT WITH OUR LEADERS.

WHEN PETER WAS ORDERED NOT TO PREACH THE GOSPEL ANY LONGER HE STRONGLY DISOBEYED. WHEN HE WAS CONFRONTED ABOUT THIS DISOBEDIENCE HE CLEARLY STATED THAT HE WAS TO OBEY GOD NOT MAN.

IN THIS REGARD THIS IS LIKELY A GOOD TIME TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WHILE WE ARE TAUGHT BY SCRIPTURE TO SEEK OBEDIENCE TO AUTHORITIES AS LONG AS THAT OBEDIENCE FOLLOWS OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD, THERE ARE TIMES THAT A GREATER GOOD MUST PREVAIL.

REMEMBER AGAIN THE EXAMPLE OF PILATE WHEN HE ASKED OF JESUS “WHAT IS TRUTH?”

WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THE EXAMPLES GIVEN US IN HOLY SCRIPTURE OF THOSE WHO SERVED THE WILL OF GOD ABOVE THE WILL OF THEIR OWN CIVIL AUTHORITIES.

RAHAB LIED TO PROTECT JOSHUA AND HIS PEOPLE AND WAS INCLUDED IN THE ROLL CALL OF THE SAINTS IN HEBREWS 11:31.

THE MIDWIVES OF EGYPT WHO WERE INSTRUCTED BY PHAROH TO KILL EVERY HEBREW MALE NEWBORN DID NOT OBEY AND LIED TO THEIR AUTHORITIES ABOUT IT.

EXODUS 1:20 TEACHES US THAT BECAUSE OF THAT, GOD DEALT WELL WITH THE MIDWIVES.

ROMANS 13:7 ALLOWS US UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ISSUE BY COMMANDING TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHOM TRIBUTE IS DUE.

THE CHILD OF GOD IS LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH PROVIDES HE OR SHE WITH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOOD VS. EVIL. IT IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF RIGHT VS. WRONG.

PAUL EVEN USES THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF DARKNESS VS. LIGHT IN VERSE 12, TEACHING US TO PUT OFF THE DARKNESS THAT MAY BE BROUGHT BY CORRUPT HUMAN GOVERNMENT AND TO PUT ON THE LIGHT OF PERFECT GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL BE BROUGHT BY JESUS AT HIS RETURN.

HE ALSO REMINDS US VERY CAREFULLY OF THE OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO OBEY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, + THE EXTRA OBLIGATION CHRIST GAVE US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

PAUL FINDS IT NECESSARY TO REMIND US OF THOSE THINGS WE ARE NEVER TO DO IN VERSE 13, WHICH ARE TO INVOLVE OURSELVES IN THE CHACTERISTICS OF EVIL LIVING.

HE CLOSES THAT THOUGHT WITH THE CONSTANT TEACHING TO PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND MAKE NOT PROVISON FOR THE FLESH.

PAUL GIVES US A LESSON IN THESE LAST FEW VERSES OF CHAPTER 13 THAT ARE AS ALIVE TODAY AS THEY WERE IN HIS OWN DAY. 

HE SAYS THAT OUR PRIMARY AND FIRST FOCUS OF LIFE IS TO OBEY THE LORD, DO HIS WILL, AND NOT TO MAKE A PLACE IN OUR LIVES FOR THOSE THINGS THAT TEMPT US TO LEAD US AWAY FROM CHRIST.

MY GRANDMOTHER USED SUCH LESSONS WHEN SHE WAS RAISING ME.

SHE ONCE TOLD ME THAT IF A MAN WANTED TO OVERCOME DRUNKENESS, HE SHOULD NOT TIE HIS HORSE IN FRONT OF THE SALOON.

MARTIN LUTHER SPOKE OF THIS LESSON ALSO WHEN HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT STOP SPARROWS FROM FYLING OVER HIS HEAD, BUT HE COULD STOP THEM FROM NESTING IN HIS HAIR.

OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE OF LIFE ON EARTH AFTER SALVATION IS TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL.

IF WE LIVE BY THE TEACHING OF THE LORD AND HIS PROPHETS AND APOSTLES, OUR LIVES WILL DISPLAY THAT GOSPEL EVERY DAY.

WE WILL BECOME SUCH A MIRROR OF THE LORD’S WAY THAT ALL WHO SEE US WILL KNOW WHAT WE ARE AND WILL WANT TO BE LIKE US.

JESUS LED US BY HIS EXAMPLE WHILE HE WAS HERE AND AS WE SEEK TO FOLLOW HIM WE CAN LEAD OTHERS STRAIGHT TO HIM.

SOMETIMES THE BEST EVANGELIST IS A LIFE WELL LIVED.

A GREAT TEACHER IN THE EARLY CHURCH WROTE THAT WE ARE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL DAILY, AND WE SHOULD USE WORDS ONLY IF NECESSARY.

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE STRONG LESSON OF ROMANS 13.

Romans - Chapter 14

THE DUTY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS – CONSIDER OTHERS

ROMANS 14

Application: Stop judging other Christians and follow Christ's example by considering the needs of others more than your own.

STEVE HAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES IN HIS GREAT TEACHING SERMONS THAT ONE WAY WE CAN COME CLOSER TO THE LORD IN OUR LIVES IS TO REMEMBER AND LIVE BY THE ACRONYM J-O-Y

LIVE FIRST FOR JESUS, SECOND FOR OTHERS, LASTLY FOR YOURSELF.

THIS SMALL REMINDER IS AT THE HEART OF THE LESSON FOR TODAY. THIS LESSON PROVIDES US WITH BOTH OF THE FIRST TWO LETTERS OF JOY.

VERSES 14-23 ARE FOCUSED UPON THE KINGDOM WALK WITH JESUS AND THE FIRST 13 VERSES ARE FOCUSED UPON HOW WE ARE TO TREAT OTHERS, IN THIS CASE USING THE EXAMPLE OF A WEAKER BROTHER.

THE EXAMPLE OF A WEAKER BROTHER DOES NOT MEAN ONE WHO IS PHYSICALLY WEAKER, NOR DOES IT MEAN THAT THERE ARE BROTHERS OR SISTERS IN CHRIST WHO ARE SAVED BUT ARE LESS SAVED THAT WE ARE.

AS BROTHERS JOIN THE CHURCH, BEING YOUNGER IN FAITH, THEY NEED TO BE FIRST FED UPON THE MILK OF THE WORD BEFORE TRYING TO DIGEST THE MEAT OF THE WORD, EXACTLY LIKE A NEWBORN CAN ACCEPT ONLY MILK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

EACH OF US WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SALVATION THROUGH GRACE FOR SOME TIME HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO ACCEPT THE YOUNGER BELIEVERS INTO THE ASSEMBLY, UNDERSTANDING THEIR NEEDS TO GROW AND WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO EDUCATE THEM IN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL.

MATTHEW 28-20 SO TEACHES IN THE WORDS OF JESUS:

“TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU...”

PAUL DEALS IN THIS CHAPTER WITH THIS MATTER BY USING TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF LESSONS, FIRST BY TEACHING CONCERNING THE FOODS WE EAT, AND SECOND BY THE HOLIDAYS WE CELEBRATE.

SOME OF THE NEWER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH REFUSED TO EAT MEAT AT ALL, WHILE OTHERS ATE MEAT, AND MANY WERE NOT OFFENDED TO EVEN EAT MEAT THAT CAME FROM ANIMALS SACRIFICED TO OTHER GODS.

IN VERSE 3 PAUL USES VERY STRONG LANGUAGE ON THIS ISSUE, EVEN INCLUDING THE WORD DESPISE. HERE IS MEANT TO MAKE OF NO ACCOUNT OR TO TREAT WITH CONTEMPT, AND TO CONDEMN.

MANY OF THE CONVERTS WERE JEWS WHO HAD ACCEPTED CHRIST AND WERE NOW TRYING TO RECONCILE THEIR LIFELONG DIET RESTRICTIONS WITH THE LIBERTY & FREEDOM GRANTED ON THESE MATTERS IN THEIR NEW FAITH.

PETER HIMSELF HAD TO HAVE A DIVINE REVELATION ON THIS VERY ISSUE AND THE LORD PROVIDED THE VISION THREE TIMES TO PETER BEFORE HE WOULD ACCEPT. (ACTS 10:9-17)

THE LESSON PAUL BRINGS ON THIS MATTER IS THAT NOTHING THAT IS GIVEN BY THE LORD FOR FOOD IS UNCLEAN IN ITSELF. ALL FOOD IS A BLESSING FROM GOD.

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THE STRONG TEACHING JESUS ALLOWED US ON THIS MATTER IN MARK 7:20 WHEN HE SAID IT IS NOT WHAT GOES INTO THE MOUTH THAT DEFILES THE MAN BUT RATHER THAT WHICH COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH THAT DEFILES HIM.

NOW PAUL ALSO ENTERS INTO THE ISSUE OF DAYS OF CELEBRATION. 

SOME WANTED TO CELEBRATE NO HOLIDAYS AND BELIEVED THEY WERE HONORING THE LORD TO DO SO.

OTHERS WANTED TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE STANDARD JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND THOUGHT THEY WERE HONORING THE LORD TO DO SO.

REMEMBER THAT THE JEWS CELEBRATED THE 7 ANNUAL FEASTS, THE SABBATH OF THE LAND EVERY 7 YEARS, THE SABBATH OF THE JUBILEE EVERY 50 YEARS, AND LIFE WAS GUIDED BY THESE FEAST TIMES.

PAUL PROVIDES A NICE RESOLUTION IN VERSE 5 BY TEACHING THAT EVERY MAN SHOULD BE PERSUADED IN HIS OWN MIND. BUT PAUL WAS CLEAR IN HIS TEACHING IN COL 2:16-17 THAT THESE MATTERS WERE BUT SHADOWS WHICH HAD PASSED AWAY WHEN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ARRIVED, FOR CHRIST WAS THE TRUE SUBSTANCE.

“LET NO MAN THEREFORE JUDGE YOU IN MEAT, OR IN DRINK, OR IN RESPECT TO ANY HOLYDAY, OR OF THE NEW MOON OR OF THE SABBATH DAYS:

WHICH ARE A SHADOW OF THINGS TO COME; BUT THE BODY IS OF CHRIST”.

PAUL USES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THE ROMAN MEMBERS THAT NOTHING IN THE LAW OF MOSES WAS AN END OF ITSELF, BUT RATHER ALL PARTS OF THE LAW WERE SHADOWS OF THE TRUTH TO COME IN THE MESSIAH.

PAUL IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING THAT THESE ARE MATTERS OF PREFERENCE OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND ARE NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH SERIOUS DOCTRINE.

EACH OF US SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHERS FOR THEIR PREFERENCES, NOR ARE WE TO IMPOSE OUR PREFERENCES ON OTHER BELIEVERS. PREFERENCES ARE SMALL ISSUES, NOT TO BE THOUGHT OF AS MOUNTAINS OF FAITH.

PAUL GOES EVEN FURTHER TO SAY THAT CHRIST HAD DIED FOR ALL BELIEVERS AND WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THIS IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

OUR LIVES AND ACTIONS AND FOCUS SHOULD BE ONLY ON BRINGING GLORY TO THE LORD, NOT CENTERED UPON OURSELVES OR THE PREFERENCES OF OTHERS.

HERE PAUL WANTS TO REMIND US AGAIN THAT ONCE WE ARE IN CHRIST, WHETHER WE LIVE OR DIE, WE ARE HIS AND NO LONGER OWN OURSELVES.

OUR BODIES ARE THE LORD'S AND WILL BE PRESERVED BY HIM UNTIL THE RAPTURE WHEN THEY WILL BE RETURNED TO US IN HIS GLORY.

OUR SOULS ARE THE LORD'S AS WELL ONCE WE ARE SAVED AND WILL RESIDE WITH HIM IN HAPPINESS AND GLORY UNTIL HE REUNITES THEM WITH GLORIFIED BODIES.

WE ARE HIS, EITHER WAY.

NOTICE THE STRONG LESSON GIVEN TO US IN VERSE 17, THAT GIVES BOTH A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT.

IT IS NOT MEAT OR DRINK.

IT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE AND JOY IN THEIR HOLY GHOST.

NOTICE HOW THESE THREE THINGS PAUL MENTIONS ALL OPERATE IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS:

RIGHTEOUSNESS MEANS OUR STANDING WITH GOD, IMPUTED TO US THROUGH THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST AND THIS HAS AN UPWARD DIRECTION.

PEACE MEANS A STATE OF UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND ITS DIRECTION IS OUTWARD.

JOY HAS TO DO WITH OUR OWN ENJOYMENT OF THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD AND ITS DIRECTION IS INWARD.

PAUL IS REMINDING US TO BUILD UP THOSE WHO ARE YET WEAK IN FAITH OR HAVE NOT YET BECOME STRONG IN THE WORD BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE SEPARATE HERE, IN THE LATER KINGDOM, WE SHALL ALL BE TOGETHER FOREVER.

A FAR MORE INVOLVED LESSON IS GIVEN US IN VERSES 21-23.

WE ARE NOT TO DEMAND OUR OWN PREFERENCES BE ACCEPTED BY THE NEWER BROTHER, WHO IS TEMPORARILY WEAKER UNTIL HE LEARNS.

OUR ACTIONS AND ASSISTANCE IS MEANT TO STRENGTHEN HIM, NOT TO MAKE HIS GROWTH DIFFICULT OR MAKE HIM DOUBT.

WE ARE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE PREFERENCES OF OTHERS AND ARE NOT TO JUDGE THEM ON SMALLER THINGS, THAT ARE NOT IN OFFENSE TO GOD'S WORD, BUT ARE SMALL CONSIDERATIONS THAT JUST HAPPEN TO DIFFER WITH OURS.

OUR HELP TO OTHERS IN CHRIST IS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND NEVER TO BE DIVISIVE. 

WE ALL LOVE THE LORD AND WE ALL SEEK TO DRAW CLOSER TO HIM AS EACH OF US SEEKS TO KNOW HIS WILL FOR OUR LIVES.

WE MAY NEED TO GIVE UP OR NEGLECT SOME OF OUR OWN PREFERENCES AS WE HELP THE WEAKER BROTHER. 

ARE WE WILLING TO DO SO TO BE OF HELP?

WILL WE SEE THIS EFFORT AS A BLESSING OR A BURDEN?

DO CHURCH MEMBERS TEND TO JUDGE ONE ANOTHER OVER MINOR MATTERS?

DO EACH OF US CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AHEAD OF OUR OWN?

DO WE VIEW BEING JUDGMENTAL AS SOMETHING THAT IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS NOT HELPFUL IN OUR CHARACTER AND SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE LORD IN PRAYER ASKING FOR HIS HELP TO ALLOW US TO OVERCOME IT?

ARE WE WORKING ON ALL THESE MATTERS CONSISTENTLY SO THAT WE ARE DEVOTED TO LIVING A LIFE THAT BRINGS GLORY AND HONOR TO THE ONE WHO GAVE SO MUCH FOR US?

LET'S THINK ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS IN LIGHT OF THE LESSONS PAUL GIVES US IN ROMANS 14.

Romans - Chapters 15 & 16

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

WORK TOGETHER

ROMANS 15-16

APPLICATION: The way we treat one another is to be rooted in the way Jesus Christ treats us, As we follow His example, we will worship and serve in unity for His glory.

WE ENDED LAST WEEK'S LESSON CONCERNING THE WEAKER BROTHER WITH THE THOUGHT THAT EACH OF US WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED FOR SOME TIME MAY HAVE TO FOREGO SOME OUR OWN PREFERENCES FOR THOSE OF THE WEAKER BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEWLY ARRIVING IN THE FAITH.

WE REMEMBER THAT THERE WERE TWO STRONG REASONS:

1. IT DEMONSTRATES OUR UNSELFISH LOVE WHEN WE PLACE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS AHEAD OF OUR OWN.

2. JESUS SET THE EXAMPLE IN THIS AREA, AS IN ALL OTHERS, AS HE GAVE ALL FOR EACH OF US AND IF WE TRULY BELIEVE, WE ARE TO SHOW OUR BELIEF IN OBEDIENCE.

WE REMEMBER THAT WE DISCUSSED JOHN 13:35 THAT TEACHES US IN THE WORDS OF CHRIST THAT WE SHALL BE KNOWN AS HIS FOLLOWERS BY THE LOVE WE SHOW ONE FOR ANOTHER.

HE IS OUR EXAMPLE.

HE IS ALSO OUR PRIMARY HELPER BY PROVIDING HIS TEACHING TO US WHICH REMAINS PURE & TRUE AFTER 20 CENTURIES.

JOHN'S GOSPEL ALSO REVEALS THIS VERY FACT IN 14:16 WHEN JESUS WAS TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME.

WE SHOULD NOTICE THAT JESUS TAUGHT THAT HE WOULD PRAY  THE FATHER TO GIVE ANOTHER COMFORTER, WHO WOULD ABIDE FOREVER. HIS WORDS CLEARLY SHOW OUR FIRST COMFORTER IS JESUS HIMSELF.

SO PAUL CONCLUDES THE LETTER TO THE ROMAN CHURCH WITH CLEAR AND STRONG TEACHING THAT WE ARE TO BE OF ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH, GLORIFYING GOD BY RECEIVING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, WORKING TOGETHER.

HIS INSTRUCTIONS HERE REFER TO THE MOLDING TOGETHER THE JEW AND THE GENTILE TO BE OF ONE MIND AND ONE PURPOSE, LOVING GOD AND EACH OTHER IN THAT ORDER.

JESUS HAD FOUND REMARKABLE FAITH AMONG THE GENTILES DURING HIS MINISTRY. WE REMEMBER THE MOMENT IN MATTHEW 8:10 WHEN THE ROMAN CENTURION ASKED FOR HEALING OF HIS SERVANT, TELLING JESUS THAT HE WAS UNWORTHY OF CHRIST'S VISIT TO HIS HOME. JESUS HEALED THE SERVANT WITH A WORD FROM AFAR, BUT HE ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN SUCH FAITH IN ALL OF ISRAEL.

PAUL REACHES BACK TO THE OLD TESTAMENT TO ARRANGE SCRIPTURE REFERENCES TO MAKE HIS POINTS:

1. (PSALM 18:49) ISRAEL IS TO GLORIFY GOD AMONG THE GENTILES. ISRAEL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A WITNESS OF THE LORD'S SAVIOR, BUT THEIR UNBELIEF CAUSED THE TIME OF THE GENTILES TO TAKE THE PRIMARY POSITION INTENED FOR THEM.

2. (DEUT 32:43) ALL NATIONS WERE TO REJOICE WITH THE JEWS. BUT ISRAEL DID NOT REJOICE IN THE LORD SO THEY WERE NOT AN EXAMPLE AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

3. (PSALM 117:1) JEWS AND GENTILES WERE TO JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAISING GOD. UNITED PRAISE CANNOT OCCUR AS LONG AS ONE GROUP REFUSES TO PRAISE.

4. (ISAIAH 11:10) JESUS IS SAID IN PROPHECY TO REIGN OVER BOTH JEWS AND GENTILES. OBVIOUSLY SINCE ALL NATIONS WILL SUBMIT TO HIS MILLENIAL RULE, AND EVERY KNEE BOW, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE PLAN WILL CERTAINLY INCLUDE ISRAEL.

AFTER PAUL USES THE OLD COVENANT TO MAKE HIS TEACHING POINTS HE CONCLUDES THAT WE SHOULD BE FILLED WITH HOPE.

HE TEACHES THAT KNOWING THESE THINGS, HOPE SHOULD ABOUND IN US THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST.

THIS HOPE SHOULD DISPLAY ITSELF IN THE UNITY OF THE BELIEVERS AS THEY ACCEPT EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER, UNITED IN WORSHIP.

HE KINDLY NOTES THAT IN HIS OPINION, THIS SPIRITUAL UNITY HAD ALREADY BEGUN IN THE CHURCH AT ROME.

IN THE FIRST 11 CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS PAUL TEACHES ALL HIS READERS VERY STRONG MATTERS OF THEOLOGY. 

WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT AFTER PAUL'S MIRACLE CONVERSION ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, HE WENT INTO ARABIA FOR THREE YEARS TO BE INSTRUCTED BY THE LORD HIMSELF AS PREPARATION TO BE THE LORD'S CHOSEN VESSEL.

SO THE THEOLOGICAL LESSONS THAT PAUL IMPARTS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS WAS REVEALED TO HIM FROM ABOVE.

NOTICE HOW PAUL SHARES THIS THOUGHT WITH US IN GALATIANS 1:12 : “FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”.

AFTER THESE FIRST 11 CHAPTERS PAUL TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO FAR MORE PRACTICAL MATTERS.

CHAPTER 12 DEALT WITH PLEASING GOD THROUGH OUR LOVE AND DUTY.

CHAPTER 13 DEALT WITH SUBMITTING TO CIVIL AUTHORITY AND THAT WE WOULD SHOW OUR LOVE BY SUCH OBEDIENCE TO THAT AUTHORITY THAT DID NOT COMMAND US TO DISOBEY GOD.

CHAPTER 14 DEALT WITH HOW WE TREAT AND WORK WITH WHAT PAUL CALLED THE WEAKER BROTHER. PAUL TAUGHT THAT WE ARE NOT TO CONDEMN ONE ANOTHER FOR SMALL DIFFERENCES OR PERSONAL PREFERENCES.

CHAPTER 15 DEALS WITH NOT PLEASING OURSELVES BECAUSE JESUS DID NOT DO SO, AND HE IS OUR EXAMPLE. THE STRONG IN FAITH MUST BUILD UP THE WEAKER IN FAITH. OBEDIENCE IN THIS MATTER SHOWS OUR LOVE AND STRENGTHENS HIS CHURCH.

CHAPTER 16 DEALS WITH VARIOUS PRAISES FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSISTING PAUL IN HIS EFFORTS TO BUILD UP CHURCHES AND ARE CLOSE WITH HIM IN WORKING TO PRAISE THE LORD.

ALL THESE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS, GIVEN AFTER SO MANY WEIGHTY THEOLOGICAL CHAPTERS, SHOW CLEARLY THAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IS FAR DEEPER THAN ACADEMIC LEARNING. OUR FAITH IS ONE THAT GUIDES US IN EVERY PHASE OF LIFE.

IT IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY IN WHICH GOD HIMSELF RESIDES IN OUR HEARTS AND GUIDES US ONWARD TOWARD OUR FINAL GOAL OF SHARING ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HIS GLORY.

PAUL WAS ALWAYS AWARE THAT HE CARRIED A MOST DIFFICULT BURDEN  PLACED UPON HIS SHOULDERS BY JESUS HIMSELF.

HIS DUTY WAS TO COMMUNICATE THE FULL PURPOSE OF GOD TOWARD HIS PEOPLE, THOSE CHOSEN AND THE GENTILES.

THAT BURDEN HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY EACH AND EVERY MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL SINCE THE DAY OF PAUL.

EACH MINISTER WHO STANDS IS TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FULL COUNSEL OF GOD IS EXPRESSED BOTH TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED HIS SALVATION AND TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET GIVEN THEIR HEARTS & LIVES TO THE LORD.

PAUL SHOWS HIS UNDERSTANDING IN 15:15 THAT HE HAD BEEN GRANTED THIS BURDEN ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

PAUL EXPRESSES HIS BURDEN FOR THE GOSPEL IN ALL HIS WRITINGS AS THE MYSTERIES OF GOD. HE REVEALS THESE MYSTERIES TO US AS DIRECTLY AS GOD REVEALED THEM TO HIM:

1 COR 4:1 – GOD'S MINISTERS ARE MADE CARETAKERS OF THESE MYSTERIES.

COL 2:1-4 – MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY.

1 TIMOTHY 3:16 – MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION.

ROMANS 11:25 – MYSTERY OF ISRAEL'S BLINDNESS.

EPHESIANS 6:19 – MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL ITSELF.

EPHESIANS 6:27 – MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH.

1 COR 15:51 – MYSTERY OF THE RESURRECTION.

2 THESS 2:6 – MYSTERY OF INIQUITY.

1 TIMOTHY 3:9 – MYSTERY OF THE FAITH.

EPHESIANS 1:9 – MYSTERY OF THE WILL OF GOD.

EPHESIANS 5:31 – MYSTERY OF THE MARRIAGE RELATION.

PAUL HAD NOT EARNED THIS POSITION OF THE MINISTER OF MYSTERIES. HE WAS GRANTED IT THROUGH GRACE SO THAT ALL WHO KNEW OF HIS LIFE OF PERSECUTION BEFORE COULD SEE THE REMARKABLE TRANSFORMATION HE HAD UNDER GONE.

THE ONLY THING THAT PAUL HAD EARNED FOR HIMSELF WAS THE TITLE  HE GAVE HIMSELF IN 1 TIMOTHY 1:15:

“THE CHIEF OF SINNERS”

PAUL OPENS THE BOOK OF ROMANS BY SHOWING HIMSELF AS A BOND SERVANT OF CHRIST.

HIS ENTIRE LETTER HAS PROVED BY HIS TEACHING THAT HE STILL CONSIDERS HIMSELF AS THAT SERVANT, BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THOSE IN NEED, AND WILLING TO SUFFER WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO TEACH IT & PREACH IT.

NOW AS A LAST AND PERHAPS BEST LESSON TO THE CHURCH OF THE ROMANS PAUL REVEALS IN 16:20 THE ULTIMATE GOAL WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE CHURCH:

“AND THE GOD OF PEACE SHALL BRUISE SATAN UNDER YOUR FEET SHORTLY. THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU. AMEN.”

THESE BELIEVERS, EXACTLY LIKE US TODAY, KNEW THAT THEY THEMSELVES DID NOT HAVE THE POWER TO BRUISE SATAN.

WHILE HE IS OF GREAT POWER, HE CANNOT EVER EQUAL THE POWER OF GOD.

HE CANNOT BRING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.

HE CANNOT BRING LIFE OUT OF DEATH.

ONLY GOD CAN BRING SUCH THINGS TO HAPPEN.

AND ONLY THOSE TO WHOM HE HAS GIVEN GRACE TO DO SUCH THINGS CAN STAND AGAINST THE EVIL ONE.   

PAUL SHOWS THOSE BELIEVERS THEN, AND US TODAY IN 15:19 THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS ARE BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. LET'S BE SURE WE REMEMBER THAT MESSAGE.

PAUL MENTIONS THEM ONLY TO REMIND READERS THAT HIS MINISTRY IS FROM ABOVE AND THESE SIGNS ARE ALSO FROM ABOVE TO REINFORCE THE FACT THAT HIS MINISTRY IS AUTHENTIC AND IS FROM GOD, NOT MAN.

PLEASE BE SURE WE DO NOT OVERLOOK THE LAST VERSE IN ROMANS:

“TO GOD ONLY WISE, BE GLORY, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST FOREVER. AMEN”.

FOR 2000 YEARS THE GLORIOUS WRITING OF PAUL HAS BEEN DEBATED AND TAUGHT. 

PAUL SUFFERED HERETICS, FALSE TEACHERS, PHYSICAL TORMENT, DISTORTIONS OF HIS WORDS BY OTHERS, AND TERRIBLE PERSECUTIONS, INCLUDING NEAR DEATH STONING.

BUT STILL HE BORE WITNESS ONLY TO JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.

NOW IN HIS FINAL WORDS TO THE ROMANS HE ONCE MORE SHOWS HIS DEVOTION TO THE FINAL TRUTH, AND HE LEAVES US WITH TWO GREAT QUESTIONS AS WE END OUR STUDY:

1. HAVE WE COME TO PLACE WITHIN OUR OWN LIVES THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH THAT HE DEMANDS OF US IN 16:26?

2. IF WE HAVE, ARE WE ALSO TRULY GIVING TO THE LORD ALL THE GLORY THAT IS HIS ONLY?

Abraham & Romans

Genesis 12:

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great;and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed...”.

This passage is know as “Abraham's call” and we see that it was more than a call, but was also a promise. The promise was unconditional. There are no IF statements within it. He was chosen by God by no works that he had done. He was not at the time of the call said to be a righteous man. As a matter of fact, he was born and raised in a land and family of pagan idol worship. 

Paul wants to show us from the Old Testament, what the true foundation of righteousness is. This message from Paul to the Romans was a shocking testimony to the gospel of grace alone through faith to arrive at justification. 

Genesis 15:6:

“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness”.

How do we know Abraham was chosen from the pagan idol worship and his own family being so?

Joshua 24:2:

“And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods”.

Paul teaches us in Romans 4 that before circumcision, and without works of any kind, faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 

Romans 4:16:

“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed...”.